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"And just what will you do?" Phoenix asked, amused.

"Whatever I can," Lars said.

"Hold that rage, Lars," Griffin said. "It pleases me to see such resolve in my Omega."

Phoenix's eyes shifted for a moment, but he otherwise didn't react to his brother using Lars's name.

The caravan rolled through Estria, the town that was contained within Zone E. Except for the main road passing through the center of the town, most were cobbled. The buildings were old, made of cracked brick and stone, and some overgrown with ivy. The largest structure was the banquet hall, which acted as a meeting place for the town council, lodging for visiting dignitaries and royalty, and where holidays were celebrated. The town pub and inn were right next door.

This was the real Ekdol. Lars stared out the window, watching a pack of wolves guiding a herd of sheep through the streets. Xyletian soldiers, in both human and wolf form, patrolled with weapons and fangs bared as passing Ekdolian citizens kept their heads low. A couple of pups bounded and played in the mud as an old man sat on a porch and watched. His eyes flicked to their caravan and followed after them until they were out of sight. Lars wondered if the man could see them through the tinted glass. Of course no one would know who he was. No one even knew he existed.

They passed through the Estria into the forest, where signs of the war grew vivid. Tangled coils of rusty barbed wire lined the road like a vicious thorn bush, the muddy, cratered earth beyond pocked with spiked wolf traps and the splintered remains of trees.

A line of wolves sat at attention as the brothers alighted from the vehicle. Lars followed after, however, this time he didn't feel invisible. Eyes followed him and wet, slobbering tongues lolled from their muzzles. These weren't the same elite soldiers from the base who knew Phoenix and Griffin and their reputation. These were ordinary foot soldiers, young and undisciplined, easily riled by the potent smell of a rare fertile Omega, marked or not.

"Commander Greer." One of the wolves, a captain, shifted into his human form and saluted.

"Captain Luna," Phoenix said.

The captain ushered for them to follow, briefing them on some situation that was going on in the Zone. The only thing that Lars could gather from the conversation was that they would be staying in Zone E for some time. They went to the captain's tent, where he offered the brothers cups of coffee.

"I wasn't expecting you to bring a guest," Luna said.

"He is our mate," Phoenix said, taking the coffee. There was something about the way he said it, like there was something else behind the words. Whatever it was, Luna seemed to understand. He nodded.

"Dangerous to bring an Omega to the Zone."

"We had no choice," Griffin said.

Luna nodded. "Well, I've come this far. I trust your judgement."

"It will make sense," Griffin said.

The captain eyed Lars, stroking his chin. He looked like he was about to ask him something, but decided better of it. He turned to his coffee and took a sip. "We're playing a dangerous game."

"The pieces are in place," Griffin replied. "And soon, all questions will be answered." He put his coffee cup onto the table, and with it, slid across a folded piece of paper. The captain quickly picked it up and tucked it into the inner pocket of his coat. Nervously, he adjusted his golden collar. As they were leaving, after saluting the brothers, Luna added a quick and formal bow. It reminded Lars of the type of bows he and his parents received from members of the court. Deep, with a slight bend in the back knee, the right hand covering the heart.

The three of them were shown to their quarters, a spacious officer's tent. Instead of a bed, a plush sleeping fur was spread out across the floor—a common arrangement for sleeping in wolf form.

"You're plotting something," Lars said, sitting down on the sleeping fur. "What does this all have to do with me?"

Neither brother responded. Griffin unbuckled the combat belt strapped around his waist and across his chest, which held his pistol and de-shifting rod, and hung them on a rack.

"Tell me," Lars demanded. "I saw you passing a piece of paper to an officer today," he said to Phoenix. "Just like you did to the captain."

Phoenix smirked. He bent over and grabbed Lars's chin with his hand.

"Don't do that," Lars said, pulling away.

"You're feeling bold," Phoenix said, chuckling. His smirk turned to a grin. His canines gleamed, and Lars felt his body react to the sight of them, arousal pulsing down to his groin. His base wolf desire wanted those teeth to hold him by the scruff of his neck, to pin him in place while he was mounted from behind. Phoenix grabbed him again, more forceful this time. "We will not be denied."

Then Phoenix pulled him into a kiss. Lars shuddered with pleasure, unable to stop himself from enthusiastically returning it. He bit Phoenix's lip and tugged. It was defiant but surprisingly playful. Phoenix snarled and shoved him so that he fell back against the fur, grinning as he touched his swollen lip.

Griffin came over, removing his coat and shirt. "What else have you seen?”

"Nothing," Lars said. His chest rose and fell with each heavy breath. He tried to detach, as he had all the times before, but his efforts were fruitless. The men just had too much power over him. And wasn't this what his body had been craving the entire day, since he'd been punished in the empty office that morning? Hadn't he been waiting for the moment the two Alphas would finally sate him?

"Are you lying, Omega?" Phoenix rumbled into his ear.