Semua Bab Rise Of The Betrayed Omega : Bab 201 - Bab 210

**Shawn's POV** (Moments prior...) I'm leaning against my car at the Black River border waiting for Stella and her guards to arrive when my phone buzzes with an update from Joe. [Ten minutes out.] [Okay.] I type back and hit send before pocketing my phone and stare down the empty road, my jaw tight while my mind drifts back to Cole's call at 4 AM. I'm certain that he was calling to tell Stella that Maya is missing but I'd been so focused on making sure she rested after what Ezekiel—or whoever—did to her, that I didn't allow him speak to her. 'Well, you should have given the guy a chance to explain himself,' my wolf snarls. "I know," I mutter aloud, guilt twisting in my gut. 'You failed Stella.' "Shut up," I tell my wolf. But he's right. I fucked up. And now a five-year-old girl is still missing because I let my pride get in the way of asking the right questions. Headlights appear in the distance. I straighten, pushing off the car. The black SUV comes in

**Stella's POV** Everything happens too fast. One second Shawn's arm is tense under my hand while I try to pull him back from fighting Cole. The next—he's shifting. "Shawn, don't—" But it's too late. The crack of bones fills the courtyard like gunshots. His frame expands and his clothes tear at the seams. The man I spent last night clinging to disappears into something massive and terrifying and beautiful all at once. I gasp at how Shawn's dark wolf is huge—like that of an Alpha. His eyes burn with the same fury that was in Shawn's face moments ago. Cole is already shifted beside me—his wolf dark brown with flecks of gold. "Hrrss!" They snarl at each other, sizing each other up. Both furious and completely beyond reason now. Oh Goddess, someone needs to stop this fight... The head warrior—a tall man named John with a scarred jaw—steps forward immediately. He raises his hand, commanding and absolute, I think he is about to intervene. "Warriors. Stand down," Joh

**Stella's POV** "Let me see." "I'm fine —" "Stella." I let him look. He turns my face slightly to get a better angle, thumbs resting light against my jaw. Completely gentle. A man who had another man's throat between his teeth thirty seconds ago is holding my face like it's something fragile. "It's not too deep," he murmurs, more to himself than to me. "But it needs cleaning before it can heal." "We don't have time —" "Two minutes." "Shawn —" "Two minutes." He pulls back enough to look me in the eye properly. "That's all I'm asking. Two minutes, and then we go find her. Okay?" I want to argue. But his face stops me — the way he's looking at me, like the wound on my cheek is causing him actual physical pain — and I let it go. "Fine," I say. "There's a medical station inside the pack house." I lead him to Cole's med station, tucked into the side entrance. Once inside, Shawn guides me to the exam table and I sit on the edge while he works through the supply cabi

**Shawn's POV** I have watched Stella hold herself together for hours now through sheer force of will and I am watching the will start to run out. It's in the way she walks — too fast, like speed alone will make up for everything else. In the way she flinches every time one of the trackers calls out found something before they confirm it's a false lead. In the way she stops calling Maya's name for long stretches and just moves through the trees with her mouth pressed into a line, like if she opens it something will come out that she can't put back. Her hands shake when she thinks nobody's watching. So, I stay close. Not hovering in a way that would make her feel managed. Just close enough that she knows I'm there. Close enough to catch her when she trips on a root, which she does twice after scaring the little girl she thought was Maya by the creek. "Careful," I say the second time, steadying her elbow. She nods and doesn't say a word. Suddenly, a Black River warrior gla

**Stella's POV** [Flashback continues..] "Why can't you just buy it?" Maya crosses her arms. "If it was Daddy he would have just bought it already. Or Sabrina. They don't have to stand there counting coins." "Maya—" I force a smile to defuse the awkwardness she is causing with her tantrums. "What, mommy? Everyone is looking at us." She glances toward the door. "You're embarrassing me. Can we just go?" How can a five year old be embarrassed of their parent? I swallow the words I wanted to tell Maya and finish counting the little change i kept for fuel. Set the deposit on the counter. Don't look up until I have my receipt in my hand. The attendant glances between us and says, gently, "Luna, if it would be easier I can always bill the remainder to the Alpha's account—" "No." I fold the receipt and quickly tuck it into my purse. "Thank you. But I'll will personally finish paying for it myself." "As if," Maya rolls her eyes and immediately starts walking toward the exit.