Page 9 of Wanted by the Wolves (The Last Shifters #2)

Chapter 8

Gage

T he fierce little omega snarls at me before her teeth sink into my arm.

Shit. That stings.

Dex growls at me as if it’s my fault his mate is feral. This was his damn idea.

She backs herself against the headboard, her body crouched to strike again. The sight of her naked in my bed does stupid things to my insides, even if she is a violent bed partner.

There’s no denying she’s beautiful. And wild.

“I know it hurts, sweetheart, but I promise Gage will give you something to help. He’s a healer.” Dex repeats the same shit he’s said twice since we walked back into my bedroom and found the omega ass up in the air, fingers buried in her pussy.

When I first saw her, I almost lost myself to my wolf. The fact that neither of us has caved is some kind of magic because the room is an absolute sea of heat and slick. The air is so sweet and thick I feel as if I’m drowning in her. I don’t know how much longer either of us can last.

Reality hasn’t seemed to stop Dex from trying though. The giant alpha is doing his best to get her to comply. In my dickish opinion, the time for consent has passed. He needs to find some way to give her this potion or his knot. The full moon is here, and we’re out of time.

Not to mention I’m sick of being bitten. That’s the third time she’s taken a chunk out of my arm.

“This isn’t working. She’s too far gone.” I step back, shuffling toward the door.

“Wait,” Dex barks.

I groan and plaster myself against the wall. “Last chance. Then you’re on your own.”

“Just wait,” he barks again.

The omega looks between the two of us, poised to strike.

Dex doesn’t bat an eye. Slowly, so fucking slowly, he takes a seat at the edge of the bed and holds out his hand. The loud rhythmic sound of his purr beats into the room, and its power soothes even me.

The omega moves toward him. She’s all wolf, even in her human skin, sniffing the air as her eyes track the two of us. It’s slow going, but Dex keeps up his purr until she’s practically in his lap. He whispers soft words I can’t hear, and she melts for him, a whine of need building in her throat.She latches onto his neck, sucking his skin as she grinds against him.

His big hands find her back, soothing her in long strokes. “That’s a good girl. Thank you for coming to me, sweetheart.”

She fumbles with his jeans, trying to take him out, desperate for a knot as she sucks along his chest.

Dex doesn’t stop her or his purr while he glares at me. Through gritted teeth, he mouths, “Now.”

I’m not as quick as the hunter, but I manage to plunge the needle into her neck before she’s noticed I’ve moved.

She roars, clawing Dex as he cages her to his chest. It only takes a minute for the concoction to work, but it’s a long fucking minute.

The tiny omega finally stops fighting and collapses against him.

At least the magic worked. Normally, what I would give an omega to suppress heat is an herbal tea, but it’s too late to suppress it now. The best I can do is try to manage it. I hodgepodged a completely new potion out of desperation. Hopefully, it’s strong enough to dull her pain and make her sleep through the full moon.

The big alpha has tears streaming down his cheeks, but something tells me they aren’t from the damage her nails caused.

I pat his shoulder, trying to reassure him. “It was either that or give her your knot. I promise it won’t hurt her.”

I don’t know why I’m even trying to comfort him. He and his brother brought this mess to me. I want nothing to do with omegas, but my heart can’t help but soften at the normally grumpy alpha’s tenderness toward the little wolf.

Dex doesn’t acknowledge my words. He situates the sleeping omega on the bed, kissing her forehead and tucking her in, before he checks on his sleeping brother. I almost wish I could trade places with Briggs. At least if I were half dead, I wouldn’t be awake for this shit. I force myself not to think about her or her scent. It’s too tempting. If I let myself contemplate the reality of her situation, I’ll end up just like Dex.

“Come on. You can shower while I round up something passable in the kitchen.”

After I forced Dex to at least shower and eat, he returned to his brother and the omega. He’s torturing himself, but the big alpha refuses to leave their sides.

It’s been days of coaxing him out long enough to eat before he goes back to his vigilant watch. Even after three nights, her scent is strong with heat, but she’s sleeping, and her previous wounds are healing. Already her neck looks better, and her pain has lessened with the combined power of my potion and Dex’s steady purr.

Briggs is healing on schedule, but I’m guessing it will be another day or two before he wakes. Probably the same for the omega.

I take one final peek at the three before closing the door. They are a broken, beautiful mess.

Part of me wants to join them. My wolf is compelled in a way he’s never been before. This isn’t the first pack or omega to come to this cabin to hide. I’ve spent over a decade trying to heal omegas and mating magic.

Eight wolf packs. Eight omegas.None of them survived.

The omegas die. The alphas pass soon after. Lilliana was the last. She made it through the birth, but an hour later, everyone in the pack was gone.

She was thought to be the last omega.

Now, another has found her way to my door. No name. Practically feral. Held captive. And just as likely to meet the same end as the others.

My soul is heavy with regret, already weighed down by the eventuality. After a decade of losing packs, I’m no closer to understanding why. It’s as though the birth drains an omega of all her magic. By the time it's over, nothing is left. They waste away, and their alphas follow.

In all that time, the only thing I’ve managed to do is develop a thick skin and a taste for whiskey.

I flee the house, unable to stand her scent any longer. If I don’t get myself under control, I’ll end up cuddling next to Dex and trying to soothe her with my purr.

Outside, the round, glowing moon lights the dark forest. Coming snow is in the air, and a storm is brewing. Once the storm hits, we’ll be here for winter.

It feels as though fate is asking me to fuck around and find out.

Fine. I hear the universe loud and clear. The omega and her pack stay. It doesn’t mean I have to like it.

Resigned to the fact that they won’t be leaving, I take my wolf’s skin. They’ll need fresh game when they wake, and I’ve been living like a dying man for too long.

My wolf is happy to hunt for the omega. He yips and takes off into the forest.

I’m so fucked.

I’m never going to survive this feral omega and her pack. Already, she’s blown apart my world.