Brilliant Green Eyes

Duncan

“Shit,” Julian said. He took the keys from me and unlocked the cell door, leaping out of the way once he’d gotten it open.

I rushed to her side. She looked impossibly small, lying curled up on the cot. Smaller even than she had seemed in the vision I’d had. I tentatively reached out to brush the hair from her face as Kayla joined me by her side. Faint tingles flew up my fingers as I touched her. Too faint. She was fading.

Kayla moved quickly, finding the water bottle that was hidden under the blanket. She opened it and handed it to me. “Try this. Maybe it will help.”

I picked Seren up and sat down with her on my lap. This extraction would go much easier if we didn’t have to carry her out, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.

“Seren. Beautiful, open your eyes for me. Come on, Seren. Wake up,” I said to her, stroking her cheek. Her face was still black and blue from the attack, so I was trying my best not to cause her any more hurt, even if she was unconscious. I tried to get her to drink, but it just ran down her face.

“Okay then, the hard way it is. I’ve got her. Lucian, Julian, are the vehicles ready for us?” I asked.

Julian nodded. “They’re out front, and everyone is loaded in. They’re just waiting for our signal.”

“Perfect. Now we just need to sneak out past the ball attendees without causing suspicion while carrying an unconscious woman.” I sighed.

“Actually, we can help with that. We’ll take the servants’ corridor. It will take us to the foyer, and at this stage, most of the omegas should be in their rooms. Alpha James doesn’t like us to be about during an event like this unless we’re directly serving guests in the ballroom, and with the ball wrapping up, staff should be minimal. Getting through the front foyer is going to be the hardest part.” Kayla said.

I stood with Seren in my arms. She weighed next to nothing. She shifted slightly and let out a little groan. Thank the goddess, she at least made some response. I met Kayla’s eyes. “Lead the way.”

We made it to the foyer without any issues. Once we reached the door, Louise came to the front of the group. “Let me go first. It won’t set off any alarms if I’m just checking on the area before tucking in for the night,” she said. She turned the knob and then looked back at us. She put her finger in front of her lips in the universal “shh” sound, then stepped out.

The corridor was not soundproof, so we all stayed as quiet as we could. Sounds from the foyer reached us in our spot behind the door.

“Louise, what are you doing here?” Alpha James demanded.

“I’m sorry, Alpha, I was just completing my rounds before turning in tonight. I wanted to make sure there was not a mess left for guests to see on their way out in the morning,” she said, loud enough for us to hear but quiet enough to remain respectful.

There was a pause, then, “You’re always such a conscientious omega. Carry on then. We’ll get out of your way.” We heard footsteps and Louise moving around in the foyer, then the door opened.

“We’re clear. Alpha James took Alpha Brian to his office. Quickly now,” she said as she held the door for me. We rushed through the foyer and out the front door. Thankfully, this pack house had a circular drive, which allowed vehicles to come right to the front, much like receiving at a hotel. We were able to get Seren into the back of an SUV, followed by Kayla and Louise, without being seen. Lucian went around to the driver’s side, and Julian headed for the back. I grabbed his shoulder.

“I need to sit with Seren, please.” He nodded, then got in the passenger seat while I jumped in the back. We all took a deep breath as the engines started and Lucian led the convoy down the drive. We reached the gate, and they waved us through. The lack of security on the way out benefited us, but I was surprised. They should have at least stopped and confirmed who we were.

I heard another moan and focused back on Seren now that we were out of the pack and on the road. She was breathing at least, though not deeply. Her breath would stutter a little here and there, and I suspected that was because of the broken ribs she was bound to have. Kayla was looking at her, concern in her eyes.

“Stop at the first gas station you see, Lucian. I want to get some water and switch around seats,” I said. I wanted to move Seren to the far back seat where she could lie down and give Kayla a chance to sit closer to Julian. He nodded, and within a few minutes we were pulling off, Lucian headed inside the store.

“Kayla, why don’t you go ahead and sit in the second row with your mom, so you can be near Julian and still see Seren. I’ll sit with her in the back row, where she can lie down.” We got ourselves organized just as Lucian came back out. Once again, we were on the road. “Now may be a good time to renounce your pack, if you’d like. Unless you’d rather wait until we’re in Crescent Moon?” I asked Kayla and Louise. I kept my focus on Seren, though, lightly brushing hair out of her face. Her head was resting on my lap, and I’d covered her with my suit jacket. She had finally settled her breathing with this new position, though she still hadn’t opened her eyes. I kept one hand on her arm. As her mate, the contact with me should help bolster her wolf if she had one, and it should help them heal.

“I think I’d prefer to wait until we’re inside your territory. I want the distance before we break the bond so that he doesn’t come after us,” Kayla said, looking over at her mom.

“I agree. While we’re just omegas to him, he’ll be furious that we snuck out without approval. He’ll send warriors to search as soon as he feels the bond break. Omegas who escape are never brought back alive.” Louise held Kayla’s hand in the middle seat and took a deep breath. “I suspect he’ll put two and two together quickly, Alpha Duncan. And once he realizes Seren is gone…he’ll come for us. I’m sorry in advance for the trouble this is going to cause.”

“No need. We’re more than capable of handling it,” I reassured her. “It’s several hours to Crescent Moon. You two should get some rest.” They nodded and then settled themselves in for the long ride.

‘Conn, can you feel her wolf?’

‘Yes, she’s there. She’s the only reason that they’re not dead yet. She’s healing what she can, but they need medical help,’ Conn replied.

‘Julian, contact the pack hospital with our ETA and get a medical team ready. Seren needs care as soon as we can get her there. Also, contact my parents and have them meet us; we need to tell them what’s happened.’ I linked my beta.

‘Of course, Duncan. Can you feel her wolf? Does she have one?’

‘She does. Conn said they’re both exhausted from the injuries, but that they would have been fatal injuries if she didn’t have her wolf. We need to get them both help. She weighs nothing and is clearly malnourished. That isn’t helping them. I’m hoping the mate bond gives her enough strength to get us home,’ I told him.

She moaned again, her head shifting a bit. She turned a little, nuzzling further into me. She took a breath, and her eyelids fluttered. “That’s it, Seren, wake now, beautiful. Come on, wake up for us. Let us know you’re still fighting,” I said to her. Kayla quickly turned around in her seat to look at us.

“Wake up, Seren! Please wake up. You’re safe; you can wake up now,” she said, her voice breaking.

Seren’s eyelids fluttered again, and her breathing and heart rate increased. She was clearly starting to surface. “Come on, beautiful. I want to see what color eyes my beautiful mate has. Wake up for me now, yeah? I’ve got you now, I promise,” I said. She took another breath, and her eyes finally opened. Though I suspected it, shock still struck me right in my stomach.

Beautiful, brilliant green eyes. Eyes of a color I’d only seen on one other person. Eyes she shared with her brother.

I needed to contact Gideon.