Page 37 of Advocate Omega (Unforeseen Paths #1)

Lucan

It’s sharp—how quickly awareness floods my psyche. The air surges through my lungs, filling my nose with the sweetest scent. Electric, abrupt, and so profound I can hardly register it, I break free of the poison’s chains and open my eyes.

The warm palm nestled in mine acts as a lifeline, and I cling to it, squeezing my fingers tightly. I’m in an unfamiliar room, a soft bed cradles my body, and heat surrounds my right side. Carefully, I angle my head and peer down at the sleeping omega.

Zander.

He’s filthy, mud and gods know what else covers his clothes, cheeks, and hair. Since I don’t detect any pain, I roll onto my side and curl my limbs around him.

How many times has he insisted he’s a light sleeper? A weak chuckle bubbles out of my mouth as I nuzzle the top of his dirty head and breathe a sigh of relief that he’s safe.

Hell, I’m safe.

“Precious,” I rasp, my throat a little dry, but other than that, I feel good as new.

Zander grunts in annoyance and wiggles in my hold. Then a soft snore follows.

Unable to help it, I slide my hand under his shirt, feel his skin, and kiss his cheek. Another grunt, some more wiggles, and an even louder snore. “Baby,” I try again, louder.

“Stop,” he whines, and then shimmies his leg between mine. I bend further so I can kiss his lips, and his entire body goes stiff. Slowly, his eyes peel open one by one, and then round into saucers. “Luc?”

“Hi.” I grin.

Those pretty blues swell with tears instantly.

“Don’t cry,” I coo, wiping them away and leaving dirt trails in their wake. “I’m alright.”

His arm shoots up to wrap around my neck and hauls me on top of him completely. The other arm follows suit, and he shakes. “I was so fucking scared, Luc.”

I tuck my hands under his head, coccooning him. There’s no doubt in my mind that the only reason I’m alive and we are safe is due to him. Scared he might’ve been, but Zander is nothing if not resilient. He made sure we survived. “Gods, I love you so much. So much, Zan.”

He whimpers, pressing kisses to my neck and collarbone. Carding his fingers into my hair, he tugs, forcing me to lift my head. “You passed out. You were dying , and I—we didn’t—Morgana—the chicken bones! Luc! You can’t fucking do that to me again, and you promised! You promised never to make me—”

I silence him with my lips. I’m not trying to ignore his feelings, but after tasting my own death, I would much rather replace the flavor with his. He must realize it too, because he kisses me back harder, deeper.

“I’m sorry, my heart,” I whisper against him. “Please forgive me.”

“I’m so mad at you ,” he growls before spearing his tongue deeper.

Lifting his legs to anchor around my hips, he digs his claws into my scalp, savagely attacking my mouth.

When he moans loudly, his pheromones pumping out in heady doses, I reach down to cup his ass.

“Don’t ever make me leave you. Don’t ever do it again. ”

“I won’t.”

“Promise.”

I groan, nip at his swollen bottom lip, and swear it. “I promise.”

“And don’t break it.”

“Never.”

With a sad whimper, he stops kissing me and settles for holding me as tightly as possible. “I wasn’t supposed to be attached,” he mumbles. “I wasn’t supposed to love you so much. But I do, Luc. I’m in love with you. We’re a…pod. You and me.”

“You and I,” I agree. “My mate.”

Our failed mission has cast a gaping chasm throughout the Kato Clan.

After what was easily the longest, filthiest makeout session of my life, Zander and I begrudgingly left Morgana’s spare bedroom and filed downstairs.

A mob had gathered outside her home. The news of my awakening spread like wildfire through the territory, and everyone who lost someone barked out their questions to which I had no answers.

Other than those we knew for sure were dead, like Iris, we couldn’t verify what happened to their kin. Even one missing wolf is too many for a clan. And we lost easily a dozen. We underestimated the Terra Clan, a mistake that I won’t make twice.

With my arms folded, I lean against the porch railing while Oberon and Arlo try to reason with their clan members.

I’m happy to shoulder the blame for it all—none of them would have been there if it wasn’t for my orders.

Zander chews his lip nervously, his eyes bouncing around.

The newcomer and the only reason we all made it out alive, Seamus, hides inside Morgana’s house.

Something about crowds and smells triggers him.

As much as I want to understand how a wolf like him exists, now isn’t the time.

Tensions are rising fast, screams and raised fists. These people want vengeance; they want answers.

Swallowing their pride, Oberon and Arlo look to me, then they all do.

I stand up straighter and raise my palm.

Silence falls over the crowd as a knot forms in my throat.

I’m not cut out for this role—I never was.

My sire was the wolf for the job, not me.

But he’s not here. All the responsibility for the clusterfuck I created falls on my shoulders. Ultimately, I know what I have to do…

And Zander isn’t going to like it.

“What happened in the Terra territory was… fucking horrible.” There’s no point in sugar coating it, and I lack the professional speaking skills to make this anything other than an alpha admitting his wrongdoings.

Clearing my throat, I lift my chin. “Their clan is strong, I’ll give them that.

But mine is stronger.” Zander growls and glares at me in aggravated confusion.

“If we have any hope of taking the Terra Clan down, we need the Moon Clan— my clan . There really is no other option in my mind. You are all capable wolves, but you aren’t Great Wolves.

Our species is older, bigger, and stronger. ”

“But what about the traitor?” someone hollers.

“Yeah!”

“We don’t know who can be trusted!”

I raise my palm again. “And for that reason alone, that is all the information I’m willing to give you. Any further plans will be kept a secret.”

With that, I turn my back to the crowd and take Zander by the wrist. We flee inside while they scream at me and insist I do more, but I can’t.

This is how it has to be. If the fates are on our side, the traitor among them might’ve gone with us before, and thus is either dead or captured.

There’s no way to be sure, though. I shut the front door, tune out the angry wolves, and face my even angrier mate.

“The Moon Clan. ”

“Not here, sweet.”

He groans and huffs. “When, then?”

I glance around, my eyes falling on the shaman who seems completely unbothered and is gnawing on a rib, then to Gabe and Griffin, and finally Seamus, who is also eating a fucking rib.

He’s sharing directly off of Morgana’s plate with one of her many cats curled up in his lap.

I drag my hand down my face, feeling the scruff on my cheeks, and sigh.

“Tonight, when we leave.”

“Tonight?” he balks, then places his hand on my chest. “Won’t they like…attack us?”

I scoop up his hand and bring it to my lips, pressing a kiss over the knuckles. “There’s only one person I’m worried about. I take care of him, and the rest…”

The moment he understands what I’m insinuating, he nods. “What about…him?” He hikes a thumb over his shoulder.

“Seamus is more than welcome to stay here in the meantime,” Morgana says through chews. “Tuna Chip loves him.”

“And you think it’ll be okay?” Zander asks, worried. “After what happened…I just—what if—”

“No one will hurt me,” I insist. “And no one will hurt you.”

“How can you be so sure? Cyan punched me in the fucking face.”

I growl at the mental image.

“I’ll be sure to return the favor.”

“But seriously? How do you know?” he urges.

Leaning down to kiss his forehead, I let my lips linger for a few seconds and then gaze down at him. “Great Wolves shouldn't exist without a true leader. It’s time they remember that fact.”