Page 3 of Advocate Omega (Unforeseen Paths #1)

I gather our trash, dump it in the nearby bin, and scan the area. It’s a busy corner, plenty of witnesses, but I spot the unmarked van parked down the street with blacked-out windows, no plates, and no one in the driver’s seat.

It could be nothing. It could mean I’ve been discovered.

For the last five years, I’ve been flying under the wolf radar, so to speak. I’m what some would consider a hot commodity . My genes, my lineage, all of that crap that shouldn’t matter in the modern world still does to a fuckton of clans.

They want my baby maker.

And my dry as fuck ass.

“Gabe,” I bark, and he hurries to my side. “Go home.”

“But—”

“Go home, Gabriel.”

“Come with me,” he begs, clutching my arm and giving me his best sad puppy eyes.

I cup his cheek. “They’ll never allow that.”

“I can talk to Griffin; he’ll make the other alphas listen. There’s even a pod that doesn’t have an ome—”

“No,” I growl. “That’s not happening. I’m not a damn brood cow.”

“Please,” he cries. “I can’t bear it if something bad happens. You’d be taken care of. They’d love you, Zander.”

“Go home and I’ll text you whenever I get where I’m going, okay?”

Big, streaming tears roll down his plump cheeks. “Why is the Moon Clan after you? They are like…isolated and old .”

“Don’t know, don’t care. But if both of us want to avoid a load of crap, I have to go, and you need to go. Right now.”

He throws his arms around my neck, clinging to me like this is the last time. It very well might be. I’m going to have to go full hermit mode and dig out a hole in the woods somewhere. But, for good measure, I squeeze him just as tightly.

“Thank you…for everything,” I say, my voice cracking.

“Please be careful. Some of these clans…”

“I will. Nothing and no one is going to take me against my will.”

He pulls back just enough to press a tear-coated kiss on my cheek. “I love you, Zander.”

“I love you too,” I whisper. “Go.”

Nodding once, he darts over to his car and gets inside. The engine revs, and he’s jetting out onto the street. I watch him go, my hands clenching at my sides to stifle the shake, and I scent the air.

Alphas.

At least four.

You can tell a lot about a wolf by its scent. And I do mean a lot.

One of the four alphas chasing me through town recently went through a rut.

The potent stank of slick is wafting off the guy, and mingled within it is the rancid cum aroma that only comes from a virile alpha.

Okay, it’s not rancid. It smells fantastic, which is another reason why I’m using all of my inhuman strength to outrun the bastards.

I might be determined to be a one-wolf-man-pack, but I’m not immune to the smells, alright?

Mind over matter and all that.

I push my arms and legs with more force, round a corner and dart in between a gas station and a fast food joint. I’m unsure where my pursuers are. For all I know, they’re scaling the rooftops like spider monkeys.

I can’t get caught.

Most of my childhood was spent behind metaphorical bars. My sires and father caged. Wolves aren’t meant to be bound, not the way they were. It took their lives to give me this freedom, and I will die before I let it be taken from me.

Back out on the street, I whip my head left and right before deciding to go left.

I’m not far from my little apartment, where I’ve been living in secrecy with a bunch of rowdy vampire college students.

They think I’m human. I mean, why wouldn’t they?

I don’t smell like an omega, I don’t produce slick when I’m horny, and I haven’t shifted since I was like… four?

There might be a chance I can slip inside without these alphas finding me.

Maybe the odors of death and blood will confuse them.

But if Griffin’s warning is valid, these aren’t just any alphas. They’re from the Moon Clan.

Old as dick wolf-shifters are what they are.

Old as dick.

Sweat drips off my forehead, blurring my vision, so I swipe it away with the back of my hand.

Adrenaline thumps through my veins, and if I wanted, I could outrun these bastards in my true form.

But that’d garner too much attention. Everyone and their uncle would wonder why a wolf was running through the streets. Ugh.

The roar of an engine pricks my ears; it’s speeding up, gaining on me.

Shit. Shit. Daring a look over my shoulder, I spot the van from earlier and catch my first glimpse of the driver.

I can’t focus hard enough, but he looks…

terrifying. Without my say so, I scream and run even faster.

Not today! Not to fucking day. There’s no way I’ll be able to sneak into my apartment now.

So, I do the only reasonable thing in this situation. I jump into the street and stop.

If they kill me, then I won’t end up like my parents.

If they kill me, at least Gabe will write something cool on my gravestone.

If they kill me, I won’t be ripped apart by greedy alphas trying to utilize my Sorrel Clan blood.

The van hits the brakes, the tires squeal from the force, and it swerves out of control. I brace myself, ready for impact. However, the vehicle continues to swerve and eventually tips onto its side, sliding across the asphalt.

“Fuck yes!” I shout, pump my fist, and take off.

I hear the doors fly open, the crunch of boots hitting the ground, and their scent floods my nostrils. They’re determined, I’ll give them that. Honestly, these aren’t the first wolves I’ve had to outrun in my life, but the others were never of this caliber. They might just catch me.

Reaching my apartment building in record speed, I fly up the staircase, ram my shoulder into the door, and send it almost off the hinges. My roommates, Ashley, Brittany, and Olgra, are mid-bloodbag consumption when the light streams into the apartment.

They hiss, fangs in all their glory, and dart to the shadows.

“What the fuck , Zan?” Ashley shrieks.

Brittany frantically pats her face. “I just got rid of the last oopsie burn .”

Olgra burps.

“Hide me!” I beg.

The girls exchange confused looks. “Rub your vampire tits all over me, something! Cover me in blood!” I glance back at the doorway, the scent of male only getting stronger.

They all can smell it too, judging by their scrunched-up noses and Ashley’s audible gag.

“Why are there wolves coming?” Brittany asks.

“ Please !” I clap my palms together in prayer.

I don’t know why I’m begging. These vampires don’t give a shit about me, but I’m banking that they’ll have a thing or two to say about wolf-shifters invading their home. That’s what they care about more.

Olgra squares her shoulders, chucks the now-empty bloodbag, and moves me deeper into the apartment. “I got this.” She cracks her thick neck; her short hair, slick with gel, glistens under the synthetic lights. “I fucking hate wolves.”

Not waiting to see what happens, I hurry to my room.

My get the fuck out of dodge bag sits right inside my tiny closet, ready to go.

After putting it over my shoulder, I head to my window and push it open.

Loud crashes sound off behind me, vampire shrieks so loud it makes my eardrums nearly pop.

Blood permeates the air, and burning flesh.

“Did you guys really kill Ashley, Brittany, and Olgra?” I cry out, hesitating.

They were…nice vampires.

Never once tried to eat me.

Not that they could, they’d die. But still!

When I don’t get a response, I say a silent goodbye to my fallen roommates and leap from the window. I land with a thud, my knees holding, and just as I go to run, something hard punches me right in the face.