Chapter 6

Keiran’s POV

Still half asleep, I reflexively try to push the hand away from my throat, but the shifter above me only tightens their grip. Panic floods my body and I become a wild thing, struggling and kicking to get away. One of my heels lands a hit against a hard chest and the hand around my throat

disappears as the shifter lets out a grunt. The lamp on my bedside table falls with a crash and between that and the blackout curtains, my room is plunged into darkness.

Heart racing, I leap to my feet in a fluid move that leaves me crouched by the head of the bed, my fisted hands raised in a defensive position. My nostrils flare with quick breaths as I wait for my eyes to adjust. Tension thrums throughout my body, everything in me preparing for an attack.

An attack that doesn’t come.

I know the other shifter is still here. I can almost sense him.

“Who’s there?” I stammer.

“Keiran—”

Too close.

My elbow flies toward the voice with very little input from my brain, and the joint cracks against someone’s face.

“Fuck!” yells the shifter.

The door to my room flies open, letting in the meager light from the hallway which silhouettes a second shifter in the doorway. He’s big—though most people are compared to me—and the sight of the shadowy figure combined with the situation and the disorientating effect of being

startled awake sends me into overdrive.

My instincts scream conflicting instructions to my brain—hide, run, fight, run, hide—leaving me frozen in place. A whimper breaks free from my throat and I’m teetering on the edge of an involuntary shift, something that hasn’t happened to me since that night with my uncle.

Someone’s hand lands on the nape of my neck, squeezing gently.

“Shhh… calm down.” There’s the edge of a growl in the voice, but no command. The calming hold, something mothers often use on their pups, does as intended and my body relaxes, all the tensed muscles going limp.

“I’m going to let go and you’re going to stay put and talk to us, okay?”

I nod as best I can with the hand still on my neck.

The person releases me and takes two big steps backward, his hands up by his chest in a placating gesture. As he gets closer to the door, the light illuminates his face. Dante. My gaze flies to the second shifter, too large to be Remy, so he must be the second bodyguard from earlier.

Eying them warily, I press my back against the wall and wrap my arms around my knees. My heart rate has finally slowed to something almost normal, but the lingering adrenaline has left me jittery.

“How did you find me?” I croak out.

Dante tilts his head toward the other shifter. “Brody asked your boss for your address.”

“And he just gave it to you?” I huff. Of all the things I thought might lead to my death one day, my boss’s disregard for confidentiality was not one of them.

Brody nods as Dante takes a step forward. I almost instantly close my eyes and bare my neck to the larger, stronger shifter. Stupid pack dynamics. Stupid submissive instincts. But at least I know how to play this.

“I’m sorry. Please.” Another whimper escapes from my chest. “I didn’t want to hurt him. I just wanted to be left alone.”

The two men share a look, their brows furrowing.

It’s Brody who crouches down in front of me. “You’re not in trouble,” he says. “We just have some questions.”

I guess they’re not falling for it. Oh well.

“I don’t have one,” I snap out.

Another shared look.

“Don’t have what?” asks Dante.

“An Alpha.” I say. “That’s what you want to know, right?”

Brody shrugs. “I suppose that’s one thing we were curious about, but what we really want to know is why an omega is running around unprotected.”

My heart stops in my chest and I inhale sharply.

“That’s what you are, right? An omega?”

My mouth is too dry to form words. There’s no point in lying, they’d know. I nod slowly. Both men grin and not in the way I expect. It would make sense for their expressions to be malevolent or disgusted, but they’re… pleased? Dante even looks awed.

“I’ve never seen one in person,” he mutters.

“Me either,” says Brody. The corners of his mouth twitch as he glances at Dante. “I can’t believe you figured it out before Remy.”

Dante chuckles. “Me either.”

My gaze bounces back and forth between them. I know omegas are rare, but not quite like what they’re implying. Back home, the cleric always talked about how special and blessed packs were to have an omega. My pack didn’t have one—unless you count me—so I just thought… I’m not sure what I thought.

They both stare at me expectantly.

Oh. Brody’s question about why I’m on my own. They still want an answer. But I don’t really have one, so I shrug.

“Where’s your pack?” asks Dante. “Did something happen to them? Is that why you’re alone?”

“Alabama,” I say, ignoring the other questions. “About eighty miles outside of Tuscaloosa.”

“You’re a long way from home.” Dante’s gaze strays toward my halfpacked bag. “Where were you headed?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then what…” Brody starts, but Dante holds up his hand.

“First of all, we’re indebted to you for what you did for Remy. His brother, Julian, is our Alpha. As Julian’s second, I’d like to extend a formal invitation for you to visit our pack,” says Dante.

“And your Alpha wouldn’t… take offense at my presence?”

Brody scoffs. “He’d be honored to host an omega, even if you’re just passing through.”

Either everything I was taught is a lie or these guys have no idea what it means for me to be a male omega.

“I’ll need to pack my stuff.” I slide off the bed, then head toward my bag, an agreeable smile plastered on my face.

The two men nod, watching as I pick up my lamp and set it upright. A little fiddling with the bulb—not broken, thank fuck—gets the thing lit again, casting a yellowish glow into the room.

“Should probably change too,” I say, gesturing at my still bare chest and tiny shorts.

“Of course,” says Dante. “We’ll give you some privacy.”

I wait until the door is shut behind them before slipping out of my work ‘uniform’ and tugging on a t-shirt and some sweatpants. And some running shoes.

Would it be nice if they were telling the truth about their Alpha and his acceptance of me? Sure.

Am I going to take that risk? Hell no.

Dante and Brody have been really nice and Remy seemed cool enough, but the last thing I want is to meet an Alpha, especially when the situation sounds a little too good to be true.

I rifle through my drawers and my closet, using the noise to cover the sound of me pulling back the blackout curtains and opening the window. I can’t say I ever thought I’d actually use the rusty old fire escape, but I learned early on in my life on the run to always, always have more than one exit.

As quietly as possible, I slide out the window and onto the metal landing, then make my way down the rickety stairs. I have to jump the last bit since the ladder is missing, but that’s no problem for me. Adjusting my hold on the backpack, I jog toward the street.

It won’t take the two shifters long to figure out I made a run for it.

As I round the corner of the building, someone grabs me by the arm, twisting it up behind my back. How’d they get down here so fast?

“Look, I appreciate the offer to visit and all, but I think it’s better if—”

“Shut up.” The shifter who has hold of my arm twists the limb farther, sending a jolt of pain through my shoulder. He shoves me forward so we’re by the front of the building where the other two frat bros from the club wait.

“Look what I found, Paulie. Seems like he saved us the trouble of going up to get him.”