Secret Omega Page 10

  "Why shouldn't I?"

  "Your pack wants us to die."

  "Erdik wants you to die. Not the pack."

  "I can't really blame them with how chaotic it is out there." One of the others, Drakken, chimed in. He looked like he could really be handsome if he weren't half-starved to death. "If give the choice to go home or stay in captivity here, I might just choose to be a prisoner the rest of my life."

  "How cowardly of you." Another called out. Jeroc. Always loud and opinionated. Peregwin was trying to be diplomatic with all of them, but Jeroc could be difficult.

  "At least we get some food here. Back home I’ve seen you munching on sticks just to put off your own hunger a little longer."

  Jeroc sulked back, not enjoying being called out.

  "The lean season feels like it's eternal," Greyl said. "We left the Twilight Blood because we truly thought we could do better as rogues."

  Peregwin raised an eyebrow. "You chose to be rogues instead of belonging to a pack?"

  "It wasn't like we were being fed," another alpha, Pax, piped up. "When things get lean, the alphas in power hoard everything. Food. Omegas."

  Hoarding omegas like a commodity. Like they were things, not people. Peregwin hated reminders of where he came from. "There are still a lot of omegas in servitude back in your old pack, I suppose."

  Greyl nodded. "Seems that your people got away though, and you're really doing quite well for yourselves."

  "Why is that so surprising?" Peregwin snapped back. "We have heads on our shoulders. We have to rely on being clever. We can't just punch and claw at things until everything goes our way."

  "I'm just observing. You have ways of getting food, you have ways of defending yourself. I never would have suspected that out of an omega."

  "You never gave us a chance. We were born and raised to be subservient. To gather food and bear children, and not to have any thoughts otherwise." Peregwin crossed his arms. "I think we've proven that we can contribute and build a harmonious society right along you thick-headed alphas."

  "The venom," the elder laughed. Peregwin was almost offended, but swiftly noticed it was a playful one. He calmed down, and took a breath. "Do you think there's any way that your pack could ever accept us into your pack?"

  Peregwin thought to himself. "We follow a majority rule, and we follow our omega pack master."

  "I still don't comprehend that," Drakken said, shaking his head.

  "Well you're going to have to comprehend it. Briar is the wisest of us all. All but two of us are omegas. We're terrified of going back to the way things were with the Bloody Fang."

  Greyl nodded. "Rightfully so. You have the power. You don't want to give it up. You shouldn't give it up."

  "We don't want to abuse it either." Peregwin let out a breath. "We talked about once trying to liberate the other omegas from those packs. It pains us to think of them. Yet we're so much on the defensive right now, we can't even dream of doing such a thing."

  "If they're still under some alphas thumb, it's there own fault."

  "Quiet, Jeroc!" The elder one yelled out. He likely would have smacked him if his hands weren't still chained. He turned back to Peregwin. "We could help your pack, you know."

  "I know that." Peregwin let his thoughts roam. "But the pack needs to be convinced that we can trust you."

  "And we do that... how?"

  "I need to talk to the pack master.” Peregwin nibbled his lip. “Propose something… maybe… maybe if we were to send you back to your old pack to free some omegas, everyone here would see that you can be trusted."

  Greyl rubbed his chin, clearly planning something. “There are a few omegas back in the Twilight Blood that I've been developing a regret for. One who even had my pups."

  Peregwin grunted. "If you can liberate them, free them, and bring them to us, I'm sure the pack will look fondly upon you. They'll give you a chance without having you in chains and forced to do cruel, menial labor."

  "If you can promise us a chance, I think we can manage that. Right, fellas?" He looked to the other members of the pack.

  Jeroc sneered. "They want us to get more omegas they can fill with these crazy ideas of theirs? Count me out."

  "Those crazy ideas of theirs seem to be working. And we agreed to work as a pack," the elder proclaimed. "We have an opportunity for freedom and not starving and dying in the wastes. We should take any chance to make that happen."

  Drakken, Pax, and Rogel nodded. They looked toward Jeroc and he finally relented, nodding that he'd go along with the elder alpha's plan.

  "I'll talk to Briar first thing tomorrow." Peregwin said. "I'm sure I can convince him to accept our proposal."

  ***

  "Absolutely not."

  "What? you're not even going to consider the idea?"

  Peregwin didn't expect Briar to be so definitive. He had entered the pack master's home with grand intentions, and yet with the strength of the shut down, he knew he wasn't going to be able to convince him.

  At least not easily.

  The pair had been sharing hot tea between them. It was a remedy that was supposed to alleviate the turmoils of pregnancy, and although Peregwin wasn't as far along as Briar, they were both heavy enough now that they were coping with sore muscles.

  "So, what, we're just going to continue to work them until they keel over?"

  "I don't know. I can't think of a better idea, Peregwin. Letting them free without any supervision though, that just seems like we're asking for trouble."

  "We have to give them a chance, Briar."

  The pack master took a long sip of tea, clearly trying to buy himself time. "How do you even know they would be on board with such heroics?"

  Peregwin averted his eyes. He had left the part about him meeting with the alphas out. He knew he was already on thin ice with the whole Stone issue, so he wasn't going to press his luck by revealing he’d broken even more of the pack's rules. "Do you think they're thrilled about just being used as Edrik's slaves? I think they would jump at the chance of proving themselves. You more than anyone should know how prideful alphas are. Freedom or death? It's right up their alley."

  "Or they can take everything they've learned from being under our control, run back, and calculate an attack on us that we can't defend against."

  Peregwin scowled at Briar's words.

  "You've been hinting at it yourself. Alphas overlooked the fact that we omegas can be clever. We shouldn't make the same mistake and assume all alphas are simply mindless brutes. They're capable of subtlety and deception just like we are."

  "Not everyone is out to get us, Briar. Most people are just trying to survive. If we offered it to them, we might be able to save more poor omegas, and get some alpha muscle our pack needs."

  Briar sighed. "We don't need that muscle if it means endangering our pack."

  Peregwin slammed his hands on the table. "What is it? Did Edrik get to you?"

  "No. I'm trying to see both sides of the issue, Peregwin."

  "If we had the same mindset as Edrik, a father of the pup growing inside me would be dead." Peregwin chose his next words carefully. "If we had that mindset, Rohan would be dead as well."

  "You just want to trust everyone, Peregwin, and I love you for it, but an attitude like that will get you killed.”

  All Peregwin could do was growl silently to himself. He didn't want to go to a verbal war with Briar. He knew he meant well for the pack. He was being careful. Yet it all just bothered him. "Are we really going to let our drive for security rob us of our hearts?"

  The pack master sat back, his eyes closed. "I know where you're coming from, Peregwin. I want to follow your spirit. But the world is too chaotic right now. We're not certain this growing food thing is going to pull through just yet. We need to take it slow. When our society is safe and steady, then we can be compassionate. If we're going to open ourselves up and try to bring kindness to this harsh place, we need to be doing it from a position of strength."

&n
bsp; Peregwin sulked. He hated that he agreed with everything that Briar had said. But that he had one disagreement. "There are people suffering now."

  "We can't save the world until we save ourselves."

  He let out another long breath, standing up. "I understand."

  "That's it?"

  "What else is there to say?"

  "You just understand?"

  "Yes, I understand that I can’t convince you."

  Briar's face softened. "I'm sorry, Peregwin. I really wish I could be more open. Your heart is too good for this world."

  The other omega had nothing else to say, nodding to his friend and heading out of his hut. His thoughts were so heavy from their conversation.

  He truly did respect Briar as a leader. He wished he had been a better follower.

  But he had rebelled once, and it turned out well. Twice? He had to try.

  Briar could wait for a better tomorrow. Peregwin couldn't.

  ***

  The moon took its place in the center of the sky, and Peregwin opened his eyes. Stone had already fallen asleep, Ollas right next to him. Their growing relationship made Peregwin so proud. Stone was truly one in a million, but that didn't mean that there weren't other alphas almost as good as him.

  He stood up, dressed himself, and grabbed his knife. Even as he believed strongly in the redemption of the alphas, he wasn't stupid. Even if there was only good in the captured alphas, plenty of other dangers lurked in the night.

  The village was silent as he snuck through it toward the school. He had the little extra rations he could manage, hoping to give them strength for what he was going to ask the captives to do. He grabbed an axe that had been left next to the building by one of the workers and knocked on the door

  “Are you awake?” he whispered before lifting the latch and stepping inside. “I’m going to free you tonight.”

  "What?" Greyl’s mouth fell open

  "That deal I said I would try to negotiate... it didn't go well."

  "I see." The elder leaned back.

  "Briar wants to wait until everything is steady and safe before making radical changes to how the pack works."

  "That makes sense."

  Peregwin lifted the axe. "So we're going to have to tempt fate and prove that you can be contributing members to our society, even without a direct blessing."

  The elder recoiled a bit from the axe, but Peregwin brought it down on the wall where their chains were attached to. The wood groaned, and with another blow, broke, letting the chains fall to the floor.

  "What in the good moon is this?" Greyl exclaimed, unable to believe his sudden liberation.

  "I'm not going to sit by while you’re treated as slaves and cruelty spreads through the pack.” Peregwin handed them the food. “If you make it back with some rescued omegas, the pack is sure to trust you."

  "I can't imagine they'll tolerate you doing this."

  Peregwin shrugged and smirked. "I guess the clever alphas gnawed through their own chains finally."

  The elder took stock of the remnants of his rogue pack. They were as shocked as he was. He nodded their way. "Come, brothers. Let us prove both our power and our wisdom."

  They all nodded back to him. Peregwin stepped aside, still smiling.

  Greyl took the omega's hand into his. "We will return. We've talked much in our captivity. I've made the other alphas believers in your vision."

  Peregwin thought to himself a moment. "What made you believe? Are you just impressed by our pack?"

  The elder alpha rubbed his chin. "I used to have an omega that I could call my own before he was stolen from me. I’d like to see him again… especially now that I know a better life is possible."

  Peregwin nodded. "Good luck. I hope your venture goes well."

  "Stay safe, omega brother."

  The elder took off to catch up with the rest of his pack.

  Peregwin watched as they ran off. He was proud. Even if they didn't succeed in their gambit, they would at least have their dignity.

  They would come back though. He knew it. He would prove Briar wrong. He would help keep Mount Liberty's soul intact.

  His work done, he turned to go back to his home, hoping that Stone wouldn't rise in the night and notice him missing. He had to keep his activities a secret.

  His thoughts shifted to getting enough sleep before the rounds. There was still always so much work to be done.

  As he started on his path, there was a rustling in the trees behind him. He looked, but as he did, a hand came out of the darkness and wrapped itself around his mouth. The grip was tight, and he screamed, but the sound came out muffled.

  He reached for his knife, but someone was faster, yanking the blade away before he could get a good grip.

  "I can't believe how stupid you are."

  Chapter fourteen

  Stone

  Stone felt a whole lot colder than he usually did when he awoke. He was used to awakening with a beautiful creature in his arms, one he could kiss good morning. But the spot beside him was empty.

  The alpha pushed himself and quickly searched the hut. The only other creature there was Ollas, and he was still snoozing away in his cupboard.

  It was morning. Did Peregwin already take off for some errand he needed to run?

  No, he always took Ollas with him wherever he went. The pup was still at the age where following his dada around doing nothing exciting was somehow the most exciting thing in the world, and Peregwin savored their time together.

  For him to be here and Peregwin to not was odd.

  "Dada?" The pup poked his sleepy head out of the cupboard. "Dada not here?"

  Stone didn't know what to say. He was just as clueless as Ollas was.

  There was a tiny speck of dread building inside of him.

  He stood up, straightened himself out, and ruffled Ollas's hair. "I'm going to go find what your Dada is up to, okay?"

  He grabbed for the sling Peregwin always carried Ollas in, and slung it over his back, unsure of how exactly the straps and buckles were supposed to work, but Ollas clambered up into it with complete confidence. His soft little body curled against Stone’s back and he almost instantly fell back to sleep. Stone stepped outside the hut and immediately noticed something was amiss, a rabid commotion on the outskirts of the village.

  He dashed over, deathly afraid that something terrible had happened to Peregwin.

  Desperately, he searched through the crowd to find his omega.

  He wasn’t there.

  Edrik and Rohan were standing in front of the empty school.

  "What's going on?" Stone asked.

  "The alphas escaped," Edrik growled.

  Stone scratched his head a moment. He really didn't mind that fact. He hadn’t exactly liked watching the pack treat them like slaves. It was unnecessary cruelty. It wasn't his fight however, given he was already on shaky ground with the pack already.

  Edrik, though, zeroed in on the alpha in the chaos. "Where's Peregwin? Where's your omega, Stone?"

  "I don't know, I came out here to find that out myself."

  "How do we know you didn't let them out? Still playing the long game are you?"

  "What? No. I'm not jeopardizing my pup on some dogs I don't even know." He wouldn't. Peregwin would.

  "Settle down, Edrik." Rohan was stooping over the sight. "I seriously doubt any of this was Stone's doing."

  "What makes you say that? He's who we trust here the least."

  "Because of this." Rohan stood up, and held up a very familiar dagger. Bone handled. The one Stone had gotten to know incredibly personally.

  "That's Peregwin's."

  Rohan shook his head. "He must of released them."

  "Then got himself kidnapped." Edrik crossed his arms, pacing about the scene. "He's a damned fool. I'll almost say we'd be better off without someone like him."

  Stone had enough. He thrust his chest out and met Edrik eye to eye. "That is my mate you're talking about. He is the sweetest, mo
st generous creature I have ever met. He's given so much for your pack and now you're talking like this about him?"

  "He released a bunch of rogue alphas. Rogue alphas who know the inner workings of our village! He's going to doom us all! He's an absolute fool!"

  Stone shoved Edrik, who stumbled back.

  "Watch yourself, alpha. The chains are right there for you, you know."

  "Coward. That's what you are. You're so afraid of losing it all that you won't even keep your soul." Stone shook his head. He looked to Rohan, and then to Briar, who was standing off to the side. He took Peregwin from his back and handed the sleeping child to Briar. "Take care of him for me while I’m gone, please."

  "Wait, you're just going to leave over that?" Rohan raised an eyebrow.

  "No. Peregwin made a mistake. Too much bravery, too much faith, whatever it was, I'm going after him. I'll bring him back. This pack needs him more than ever." He glared at Edrik.

  "Fine. I'll come with you." Rohan started toward the other alpha.

  Stone put a hand on his chest stopping him. "No. We need to be prepared in case they are going to try to attack us. Mount Liberty needs muscle here."

  Rohan growled. "Aren't you a little new to be giving orders?"

  "Are you saying it's a bad idea?"

  He smirked. "Fine. Go. If you don't come back with Peregwin, I'll kill you myself for that."

  "If I don't have Peregwin I won't be returning."

  Rohan nodded in approval, as did several omegas of the pack.

  Stone wasn't going to waste anymore time. He hit the ground running, finding traces of his omega's scent.

  He was hopeful in a strange way. The outside of the Mount Liberty village was so desperate for omegas that they wouldn't end Peregwin's life. No, he was far too valuable alive.

  It bought him time. Nothing more. He wasn't going to abandon him to the life of an enslaved omega. He'd seen too much to ever allow anyone close to him experience such horrors again.