Page 25 of Wild Omegas (Wild Skies Ranch Omegaverse #1)

Josie

The day of the rodeo competition is filled with layered anxiety like the worst layer cake in existence. I try not to use the metaphor as more validation for why I feel at fault for all of this, especially not after the conversation I had with Brooks days before.

He and Carson accompany me now as we wander about the competition grounds.

It’s being held in a huge field outside of Fairwater Falls.

The sun beats down on everyone in attendance, adding heat into an already dry and dusty day on the thin grass and dirt.

My cowboy boots kick up clouds of dirt as I traverse the grounds with an alpha on either side of me.

So far, they’re both apparently having issues with the “let me be alone to draw Damien out” part of the plan.

Honestly, for the moment, I’m grateful for it because it feels like all eyes are on me. It’s stupid to think that but I can’t help it. It’s like everyone here knows who I am to Damien and what I did to him, even though everyone here is one-hundred percent occupied with their own lives.

I squeeze my alphas’ hands tighter as we make our way past an area filled with festival games and liquor stands and the audience seating for the rodeo competition itself.

We pick something close to the bulls’ entrance where Luke will eventually make his entrance.

My heart squeezes knowing Damien might already be here, and that Luke is alone.

I know he can handle himself, but Damien was able to sneak onto Wild Skies Ranch and start that fire.

What’s to keep him from screwing with the bulls or the competition grounds, too?

“It’s okay,” Brooks says as if he can read my thoughts.

No, not my thoughts. I’m sure it’s written all over my face.

“I’m just worried,” I admit.

Carson wraps an arm around me. I rest my head against his shoulder. “There’s plenty of back-up here. Nothing will happen to you or any of us.”

Sure enough, I catch Brooks nodding at someone in the distance. A man dressed innocently enough in plaid, jeans, and boots, but even I can spot the holster under his shirt. Brooks didn’t specify how many agents he called in, but I get the impression it’s a significant amount.

This knowledge soothes my frayed nerves just a little. “I know, I’m still on edge anyway.”

“Use it to your advantage,” Brooks suggests. “If you see anything off, say something.”

I take that as the okay to obsessively check for Damien in every part of the crowd.

I don’t see him or anyone who looks like they may work for him anywhere nearby.

While the first contestants for the rodeo competition start their various activities, I scout beyond the stands of people watching and out into other parts of the festival.

It's about thirty minutes into the competition before I finally see him.

Dark hair, dark eyes. A man shorter than my alphas but still taller than the average man standing beside a dart-throwing booth with a lethal look directed at me .

We lock gazes and I can’t turn away. My breath hitches as an icy knife slices right down my chest to my navel—dread in its purest form.

Damien Malova has been chasing and taunting me for months, long enough that finally seeing him in person has me glued in place.

As if this is the first time the fear has actually been real.

I grip Brooks and Carson’s hands tight but still can’t turn away from Damien. “He’s here.”

I know Damien can read my lips. He knows I know, and that the men beside me will know. And by now, I’m sure he’ll know exactly who my alphas are.

Damien smirks and disappears behind the dart-throwing booth as Carson and Brooks turn their heads to follow my line of sight. But Damien is already gone by the time they’re asking where he is.

I point to the booth. “There, he went behind it.”

Carson moves to get up. “We should go after him now.”

Brooks reaches over me to hold Carson in place. “No. If anything, we need to both walk away from Josie and leave her here to draw him out.”

“He’ll wonder where we went,” Carson argues. “We know he’s here, let’s move on it.”

Brooks sits back—a clear indication he wants Carson to, too. “He won’t wonder. He’ll know we went after him. So let’s give it a few minutes and we can leave one at a time.”

Carsons’s eyes narrow. I have to admit I’m feeling the same. “I know I agreed to this plan, but now that we’re here I can’t say I’m behind the idea of leaving Josie here alone for that alpha to grab her.”

“He won’t get far,” Brooks says cooly.

I wish I had Brooks’s confidence. “What if he or his people have screwed with something in the competition?” I have no idea what that could even be. Would it be possible for him to have riled up the bulls and made things more dangerous or something?

“We have back-up for a reason,” Brooks reminds us, although it does nothing to ease my nerves. “We have to trust in them.”

Carson’s eyes narrow. “How can you be so calm about this?”

Brooks’s free hand balls into a fist. “I’m not, but I’m also trusting the team out there who are dedicated to keeping Josie safe and arresting Damien. I know that might be hard for you, Carson, as someone used to being in charge, but I assure you that this is how it works, and it succeeds.”

Carson bites his cheek. His jaw locks hard. I can see where Brooks is coming from but I’m more inclined to panic like Carson, especially when Brooks gets up to leave.

“Where are you going?” Carson growls.

“To get some popcorn,” Brooks answers. “Want some?”

Is he actually going for popcorn or to start hunting down Damien? Maybe not being sure is the point. Maybe if Damien watches Brooks leave to attend to something as innocuous as snacks he’ll be less likely to see the arrest coming.

All eyes on us is less eyes on the undercover cops in attendance.

I finally see where Brooks is coming from and try to calm down. The itchy tape holding a wire against my skin underneath my shirt is also a fair reminder. We’ve planned for this. “It’s okay, Carson. Let him.”

Carson relents but only at my words. Brooks gives us a nod and heads back down toward the festival area with the game booths and food stalls.

Carson’s arm around me doesn’t leave for even a second. “I only want you to stay safe, that’s all.”

I tuck my head under his chin. “I know, and I love you for it. But we have to trust Brooks, too. We’re being watched by plenty of people here to protect us all.”

“Yeah.”

Carson settles for a bit and we watch another thirty minutes of competition before realizing Brooks never returned. It sends anxiety clawing at my insides and it’s hard to ignore. This gut feeling that something is wrong.

“Brooks should have been back by now,” I say.

Carson shoots a glance toward the food stalls where Brooks—or Damien, for that matter—should have been. “Agreed.” His brow creases deeply with worry. “We could go investigate.”

My stomach twists into knots because what I want to say and what I need to say are two vastly different things.

“You should go investigate. I’ll stay here to watch Luke.

I think he’s on next.” I look over to check and, sure enough, I can see his hat-covered head bobbing around behind the high fencing of the bull-riding ready area.

Carson’s eyes darken. “Josie.”

I straighten away from him. “This is the plan, Carson. Go look for Brooks. Law enforcement is keeping an eye on me. Go.”

Carson looks anything but okay with this, but he did agree to the plan. The other alphas in our pack are currently acting according to that plan. So, finally, he relents. “Stay here where they can see you.”

I nod. “I will. Find Brooks and make sure he’s okay.”

Carson kisses me and then nods. “We’ll all be home safe tonight, you have my word.”

Then he leaves me to watch Luke alone. Leaving me alone for Damien to find.

But I’m not alone, not anymore. Not really.

My pack will watch me. The undercover cops already are watching me. And Carson is right, we’ll all make it home safe tonight. I have to believe that.

Twenty long minutes pass before Luke’s turn is up.

Not a single minute of that is filled with Carson or Brooks returning, and after the first ten, I stop trying to find them—or Damien—in the crowd.

It’s hard, but I accept that whatever will be will be.

I can’t force Damien to appear any more than I can Carson or Brooks.

The emcee announces Luke’s name and the gates open to Luke riding a bull into the rodeo ring.

I scoot to the edge of my seat to watch him carefully as the timer in the corner counts up the seconds.

His grip is tight and he stays atop the bull with practiced ease for the first several seconds before I see it.

Red along the bull’s leg, which it’s bucking up beneath Luke. Luke’s experience with wild horses and previous bull riding is the only reason he’s staying on.

That bull is injured and, worse, it’s pissed about it. Its nostrils flare wide and it grunts loud enough for me to hear even here.

Why is no one stopping this?

My heart sinks—Damien. Did he do this? Did he injure Luke’s bull before he went on?

I stand and watch as the bull tries to throw Luke three times in quick succession—and almost succeeds on the third.

Luke’s body falters off the side but he manages to keep hold.

I grip my chest as I watch Luke wrangle this untamed and very scared and injured animal.

I know all too well how cornered and hurt creatures react.

With anger.

“He’s doing well, all things considered.”

The cool voice fills my ears and heart with dread. Damien.

He slips into the stands beside me and places a hand on the small of my back. “I’m so happy to see you again, Josie. Even if it’s at your alpha’s funeral.”

As if his words are divine providence, I watch the bull buck one last time and send Luke flying through the air.

My heart shatters.