Page 38 of Advocate Omega (Unforeseen Paths #1)

Zander

We are going to the Moon Clan to kill Ulric.

Even though Lucan hasn’t said as much, I know it. He’s going to kill him and become their Prime Alpha. Once that happens, he will make them fight with us, invade the Terra Clan, and save the day—eventually, at least.

I’m not sure if I’m becoming more cynical or if I can just read his body language. But there’s a silent lethality to his energy right now. His grip on my hand lax, but sure. The other holds the steering wheel while we drive down an unfamiliar dirt road through endless trees.

Turns out, the Moon Clan is located in Thorn Valley.

I’ve heard about the secluded mountain area, but it’s always been said to be uninhabitable.

Maybe to other people, but not them. Not Great Wolves.

According to Lucan, they’ve lived there for centuries—one of the best-guarded secrets of the wolf-shifter kind.

I do feel a smidgen of pride knowing he trusted me enough to cough it up finally.

But even though I’m confident in our plan of action, and it all sounds good on paper, I’m still unsure where that leaves me.

Before we found out we are fated, Lucan said he refused to take up his role as Prime Alpha because that would mean he had to leave me.

I never understood that part, but to be fair, I don’t think I wanted the answer either.

However, I want it now.

“Luc?” I ask softly.

He stops grinding his jaw to glance at me. “Yes, precious?”

I squirm a bit, nerves getting the better of me, but I need to know before everything changes. “You and me, right?”

“Always.”

“Even if you have to be a leader?” The question squeaks out, and I stare at my lap.

Untangling our fingers, he tucks two under my chin and lifts it. I hesitantly look at him, bracing myself for some horrible rejection. “Nothing will make me leave you.”

“But you said—”

“In a moment of weakness. I said it when I didn’t know where we stood. When I wasn’t sure if you’d…”

“Choose you.”

He nods. “I wouldn’t have forced you to be at my side if it wasn’t your choice. I wouldn’t have done that to you, baby.”

I lunge across the center console to steal a quick kiss. “I love you,” I whisper.

“I love you too.”

Satisfied and a little peckish, I rub my stomach and tell it to wait. If all goes to plan, I can stuff my face after. “So we are going to kill Ulric.”

Lucan chokes. “What?”

“Isn’t that the plan?” Did I read this wrong?

His eyes flick over me, suddenly heated. Then his nostrils flare. “Sweet, are you feeling okay?”

“Um…yes?”

“Hungry?”

“A little.” My stomach growls impatiently and gives me away. Blushing, I tuck my hair behind my ear and shrug it off. “I had a light lunch.”

“You had a full rack of Morgana’s ribs after insisting they weren’t good.”

I swallow.

“Come here.” He beckons me closer, and I lean over.

Slowing down, he puts the car in park and pushes my hair away to bare my throat.

I’ve wanted to maul him since he woke up earlier, but it wasn’t the right time.

I wet my lips while he drags his nose along the column of my throat, a growly rumble coming from his.

My hole clenches involuntarily. “Fuck,” he murmurs.

“What?” I rasp, suddenly hot. I take the opportunity to inhale deeply because he smells strong .

“Well,” he says tightly. “I hadn’t planned on killing anyone, but that might just be what ends up happening.”

Another swallow. “Would it be a bad time to say that you smell really good?”

“Bad time, my heart. Bad fucking time. I’ll have to make this quick.”

“I don’t understand.” Okay, I’m panicking now. It hasn’t even been two weeks! I should have at least another month and a half before anything like this even happens. “It’s too soon.”

“Morgana,” he growls. “She used your essence to revive me. Fucking shamans.” Shoving the car into gear, he slams his foot on the gas, jerking us forward.

“How much time do I have?” My hand flies to my chest, trying to control the beating of my heart from the outside.

“If your first was any indicator, and we are running off the theory I triggered it, maybe a day.”

“Fuck.”

“And because I’m going to have to order an entire clan, that could trigger your baser instincts as well and… potentially speed it up further.”

“Double fuck.”

“This is feeling a lot like deja vu,” he grumbles. “It’ll be okay, love. Just…fuck!”

“I’m sorry,” I whine.

“Don’t apologize.” He brushes his knuckles over my cheek while somehow still keeping the car moving in a straight line. I lean into the touch, warm and tingly all over. He looks so hot driving—the way his forearm flexes, with those veins roping over the top of it.

A teeny tiny moan slips out, and he growls. “If I ask you to stay in the car, will you?”

“Not a chance,” I say matter-of-factly, leaning over to stuff my nose into his shirt.

As it would turn out, one can’t simply waltz right into the Moon Clan.

We are met with a group of wolves at a stone bridge.

The narrow river beneath it rushes, and a cool breeze flutters the overhead canopies.

Little sprinkles of moonlight shine through them, and there’s even an owl hooting somewhere.

In all honesty, now that I’m not in fight or flight mode, it’s pretty out here.

No wonder all Lucan wanted to do before we met was hide out in the woods.

He stops the car and gently pries me off his body. I fight him a bit, not wanting to get down to business just yet, but eventually he succeeds, and I flop back into my seat with a huff. Stern eyes find mine while his jaw clenches.

“Let me talk to them,” he says.

I quickly glance through the windshield at the six betas standing guard.

If not for their scents, you would never guess they were wolves.

They look like average humans. One of them seems too young even to be a guard.

The rest aren’t much older. As plain as they might seem, I know they aren’t.

They're still Great Wolves; these people are stronger than normal betas, and there are six of them. If they all decide to attack at once, I’m not sure how well Lucan will fare.

They might attack him , but they won’t attack me—an omega.

Chewing my lip for a few seconds, I shake my head. “I’m coming too.”

“Zan,” he warns, but I’m already getting out of the truck.

It’s wild to me that two weeks ago, I would have been the first to stay behind.

Hell, I wouldn’t have come at all. I had all these ideas and crazy dreams that made no sense.

I clung to them like lifelines just to convince myself I wasn’t a victim, and that I was only biding my time, not hiding like a coward.

The things I’ve lived through and seen used to control every step I took, too afraid to branch out or make relationships.

I don’t know when I stopped seeing other wolves as my enemy and started viewing them as extensions of me, but I am now.

And I’d bet my left nut that these betas are just as miserable as everyone else in this clan.

I have every intention of finding out, too, but Lucan is at my side in a flash, ushering me behind his back.

Frowning, I grumble protests before setting my gaze on his ass.

Such a nice ass, truly. Biteable. Firm. I almost reach out to squeeze the cheeks, but I resist when Lucan growls.

Right. Everyone can smell me now. Fantastic.

I tear my eyes away, fold my arms, and try my best to look menacing.

“Move aside. I need to speak to Ulric.” Lucan’s voice makes their backs go rigid. Meanwhile, it has the same effect on my cock. Since I’m shielded behind him, I quickly adjust myself.

The youngest of the betas folds first, dipping his head and whining low in his throat. The other five shuffle their feet and exchange confused looks before easily moving out of the road.

“It’s okay,” I tack on. “We’re here to help.”

A chubby male with thick brown hair dangling into his eyes scoffs. “Help? With what?”

“Back off, pup,” Lucan growls, and the young beta whimpers. With a big hand on the small of my back, Lucan guides me back to the truck, but I spot the balled-up fist of the mouthy beta. He’s pissed.

Once we are back to driving, I twist around in my seat to look at the group whispering and waving their hands around.

Grunting, Lucan grips the steering wheel tight enough to make the leather creak. “I suspect more of the same reaction.”

“What are they saying?” I don’t have the hearing he does.

He focuses while his upper lip curls. “That Prime Alphas aren’t supposed to be real. They’re confused and arguing.”

“The angry one looks like he’s my age, though. Even I know about Prime Alphas.”

“Matthew is nineteen.”

“You know his name?” I gape at him.

“I know all of their names. Every wolf in my clan.”

“Wow…that’s…why?”

“My sire insisted I knew everyone. And so I did. Learned their names, family histories, and everything in between. My studies even went as far as learning the leaders of other clans.”

So that’s how he knew Oberon’s name when we first got to the Kato clan. A pleased purr slips past my lips, and I angle my body over the center console to kiss his cheek. “That talent is going to be super useful when we save everyone.”

Chuckling, he steals a real kiss, and my entire body lights up. “Again,” I demand when he pulls away.

Always so careful, Lucan slows the car down and lays one on me. Tongue and everything. I groan helplessly, deepening the kiss, clawing at his chest. My hole clenches, a dull ache blooming. Not good. “Hang on, baby,” he rasps. “This won’t take long.”

I’m tempted just to say fuck everyone so that I can get him naked. Ugh.

Since I still have some control over myself, I lower into my seat and grumble under my breath. He laughs before holding my hand.

It takes another five minutes, and then we are in the heart of the Moon Clan.

Their town looks like something out of a history book with occasional splashes of modern tech.

It looks so different now that I’m not scared to death.

Fairy lights are strung between buildings, casting a really pretty yellow glow over the paths.

People are coming and going, eyeing us warily.

Something cooking nearby makes my stomach growl.

To my surprise, Lucan doesn’t stop the car. He keeps driving until we end up in front of a quaint two-story house. That’s when he parks and takes a deep breath.

“Ulric might challenge me,” he starts. “His lineage is strong; his parents were powerful wolves. It’ll be difficult for him to do it; his instincts will demand that he obey me, but he can fight it. If he does…well…I just don’t want you to get in between us, okay, love?”

My brows furrow as I glance at the house. “What about the beta inside? Ryker?”

“I nearly killed him last time we saw one another, but he might rise to defend his alpha.”

Stomach knotting, I swallow hard and ask, “And Ian?”

Lucan sighs. “I’m not sure. But don’t listen to him.”

“He’s going to talk to me?”

“Precious, this is going to be a shitshow.”

“Oh.”

Gently bringing his finger under my jaw, he lifts my chin and kisses me. “I’ll take care of it, though. Okay? And then I’ll get us somewhere safe and comfortable.”

I nod, forcing myself not to keep kissing him. “Can I do…anything?”

The front door opens, and that little girl, Thalira, explodes through it like a rocket. “Keep her out of it, okay?”

“I can do that.” I think.

With one final peck on my lips, he lets go of me and leaves the car. “LULU!”