Page 2 of His Snowbound Omega

If Thorn wanted even a small chance at a future, this was his only option. Run for the sick fucks his father had borrowed coin from, and pray he made it to the safe zone before one of them caught him.

Technically, the event didn’t end until morning, but Thorn wasn’t naïve enough to believe he’d be able to last that long out in the open. No, anyone who didn’t find shelter would be hunted down and taken.

Or they’d die of hypothermia.

“Maybe you’ll get lucky,” a female omega comforted a male standing close to Thorn. “Maybe the alpha who catches you will be…gentle.” It was obvious she hadn’t been able to bring herself to say the wordnice.

“My cousin ran in the White Hunt four years ago,” another voice chimed in, a pretty male omega who stepped closer so they could hear his whispers. “She told me there’s a chance you can still get your debts cleared. When you’re caught, do everything they tell you. If the alpha is satisfied, he’ll cover the costs of your debt for you.”

“That can’t be true,” the female said hesitantly, and it was obvious that she wished it was, despite her skepticism.

“It is,” another omega a few paces away chimed in. “I knew someone who bedded one of the alphas and he really did wipe her debt clean.”

“Leviathan allows that?”

“Yes, it’s part of their bonus.”

Thorn had heard the rumors before; it’d been one of the reasons he’d taken the chance to come here.

The other had been the location.

His head tipped back, and he stared across the blanket of white toward the mountain that stood proudly beyond the tree line. Wintersoll Peaks was far from the city, and not a typicalspot for hikers or the like, but when things had been better, Thorn’s father used to bring him out here to hunt.

The connection between their last name and the mountains had been the reason, a funny little similarity his father used to find entertaining. That’d been years ago, too far back for anyone in his current life to know about it.

Including the mafia.

The omegas weren’t given maps or clues. The man who’d gone over the rules with them a little over half an hour ago had made a point to explain that was by design. They wanted them frantic and scrambling. Wanted this to be as realistic a hunt as possible. Primal and raw.

Thorn shivered. How long had it been since he’d last had sex? Things with his boyfriend hadn’t been great in the months leading up to his father’s death. They’d probably only done it a handful of times.

Since the breakup, he’d taken to going through most of his heats alone, so his last one-night stand had probably been…Six months ago?

Shit.

Maybe he should have prepared himself, just in case…

No.

No, he could do this. No doubting himself now. Unlike those around him, Thorn knew these woods.

He knew where at least three of the cabins were as well.

That was his big plan. His ace in the hole.

As soon as the hunt began, he’d make a beeline for safety, and maybe, just maybe, luck would finally be on his side.

He didn’t want presents or a feast, all he wanted for Yuletide was to clear his debts and get back to his brother. Fate had already made him an omega on a planet where domineering alphas were considered culturally appropriate. Given him parents too weak to stick around and protect their children.

Surely he was due some good.

Surely the fact the White Hunt was being held here, of all places, was a sign his fortune was turning around, right?

Was that really so much to ask?

“Good Light, is that the Leviathan?” one of the omegas who’d been chatting grabbed the arm of another and shook them. They were staring at the wooden building roughly sixty yards away from their tent.

Two alphas had just stepped outside, both in crisp suits under thick winter coats. They were about the same imposing height, though one had hair pale enough to rival falling snow, and the other had dark, inky locks that fell just past their ears.