Forsaken Omega
Chapter 5

"I'm not scared," Rain blurted. "Anyone in my position would feel intimidated."

A lesser omega would've probably turned tail and run, Kieran thought, but no. Rain stood her ground, ignored the whispers and looks of speculation, and sat next to him like the queen he knew she was. He needed a strong female to stand by his side, after all. "Let me introduce you to the members of my inner circle," he said. "You already know Damien and Scarlett. There's Markus, Gray, and Annabelle." Rain looked at each of his enforcers, not lowering her gaze once. Call Kieran impressed, but most omegas couldn't meet the eyes of a more dominant pack mate easily.

"What if she betrays us?" Markus asked Kieran outright. "Kieran, you barely know this omega. What if Felix intended all along to plant her to spy on our pack?"

Kieran regarded the other wolf coolly. He knew Markus had started the rumors about him. That Kieran had made a bad call killing two of Felix's men and taking Rain back with him. He had a network of eyes and ears within the pack house. Nothing went on without his knowledge. Markus had always resented the fact Kieran had become lead alpha by default after Kieran's father died. Markus's betrayal would happen sooner or later.

"She won't. Will you?" Kieran asked Rain.

"I'm not stupid enough to take on all of you," Rain said. "I didn't ask to be here."

"See?" Kieran told Markus, who looked unconvinced. "You and Annabelle are in charge of patrols today. Am I wrong? You two should be going."

Reminding Markus of his duties only made the enforcer scoff. Markus left the table with Annabelle, grumbling under his breath.

"He'll cause trouble," Damien remarked. "And Annabelle's his cousin. She'll side with him."

"You're not worried about Markus? Why?" Rain asked him.

"I welcome any challenger to my throne," Kieran said.

"You're confident you'd win?"

"I always win," Kieran answered. "Now eat up. You're all skin and bones."

Rain finally looked at the spread before her. Her stomach growled, making Kieran laugh.

"I'm glad I amuse you," she told him.

She hesitated, then grabbed one of everything until she had a plate full of food. First, she started on her pancakes, then a pile of bacon. Kieran always liked a female who could eat.

When he first met Rain, she'd already looked thin as a pole. Did Felix deprive her of food? Thinking about that coward only angered him, so he pushed those thoughts aside. He'd make sure she was healthy again.

The other enforcers finally left the table, leaving Kieran alone with Rain. Most of his pack mates had also left for their duties. Kieran believed in a fair system. Everyone, including the dominant wolves, rotated chores. "What are your plans for the day?" he asked her.

"I was thinking of going for a walk," Rain said, chewing on a piece of waffle.

"Perfect. I'll go with you, give you a tour," Kieran said. "I know these grounds better than anyone. I grew up here, after all."

He smiled, showing her a bit of teeth. Rain seemed unhappy about that for some reason. "Don't you have more important tasks to do?" she asked. "Playing tour guide to a nobody like me is a waste of your time."

Kieran gripped her chin and she stared at him, all defiance and heat. She tensed, as if expecting a blow, but Kieran only thumbed her bottom l!p. "Don't ever let me hear you call yourself a nobody again, Rain. You're a survivor. A fighter. Be proud of that." Kieran released her. Rain looked a little shaken by his little speech. "A fighter. Only my dad called me that. In the eyes of Felix and the rest of the pack, I'm nothing."

"You can be something much more here," Kieran said.

Rain didn't speak for the rest of their meal. He didn't mind her silence. She was probably gathering her thoughts. Once she was done, Kieran rose from his seat and offered her his arm.

Rain hesitated, then took it. The brush of her small and slender fingers against his hard and callused ones woke his inner wolf. Kieran led her out the hall and the pack house.

He showed her around the grounds. A few of his pack mates greeted them. The adults seemed warier of Rain than the children. Then again, that was to be expected.

A pair of werewolf pups ran past them. A third pup, smaller than the first two, tripped over a branch. Kieran let go of Rain and helped the pup up.

"Gia," he told the pup. "What did I tell you about being more careful when playing with the older kids?"

He picked Gia up. Gia wagged her little stubby tail at him. Rose, Gia's mother, came running up to them.

"Sorry for the trouble, Kieran. She ran out of the nursery when I wasn't looking," Rose explained. She glanced at Rain and flashed her an apologetic smile.

"It's no trouble at all," Kieran said, handing Gia over. The pup seemed reluctant to leave him and whined. He only rubbed at her ears and allowed Rose to take her. "Shall we continue?" Kieran asked her.

He started on a stoned but even footpath that would lead to the woods. Rain had been confined in bed for days. A walk and some fresh would do her some good. Admittedly, Kieran did have a number of matters he had to attend to, but Damien and Scarlett agreed to cover for him. He wanted to make time for Rain and get to know her better. "You're nothing like what I expected," Rain said once they were alone.

"What did you expect?" Kieran asked.

"Someone like Felix."

Kieran growled at the mention of that name. He couldn't believe Rain would think to compare him to Felix. Then again, she didn't know him well yet, so he'd forgive her for that wrong assumption. "I'm wrong, obviously," Rain said. "I haven't been here long, but your pack feels different from the one I left." "How so?" Kieran asked.

Rain had a faraway look in her eyes. "The day Felix took over from the former lead alpha, everything went to hell. The Silverbite Pack lost its way, but the Crimson Maw Pack ... is full of life. I thought you would rule with fear, like Felix, but everyone here respects you." "You can tell all that from a single day of observation?" he asked her.

"I've been here for longer than that," Rain reminded him. "Even when I was a kid, I'd always been good at observing. Watching. After my father died, most of my pack mates chose to pretend I didn't exist."

"Sounds like a lonely existence," Kieran said. Rain might act tough, but she still needed what all wolves needed-companionship and a sense of belonging to something greater. "Tell me about your father, Rain. Felix called you the daughter of a traitor. Is that true?" Rain shrugged. Kieran didn't think she'd open up to him that quickly, but she answered him. Maybe because she simply needed someone to share her burdens with.

"My father and three other werewolves believed Felix should be replaced. That if the pack continued under Felix's leadership, it would be doomed." Rain paused. She looked at a cluster of maple trees before continuing. "My dad tried to get another young alpha to challenge Felix. Felix found out about my father's schemes and put an end to them. Felix killed both my father and the young alpha."

"What of the three others who aligned themselves with your father?" Kieran asked.

"They denied they were part of the rebellion and swore their oaths to Felix again," Rain answered dully.

The two of them continued their way, but halfway through the forest, Rain grasped his left bicep. She panted, and Kieran narrowed his eyes. He saw flecks of blood on her shirt.

"We will head back. I shouldn't have pushed you to walk this far," Kieran said, shaking his head. He was angry at himself. Kieran should have seen through Rain's act. She pretended like she was fine, all healed up. Truth was, she was still in recovery. "I wanted to push myself," Rain whispered. She stumbled, but he caught her.

Rain protested weakly as Kieran placed his hands on her waist, careful of her wound. He hefted her easily in his arms.

"Put me down, Kieran. This is ridiculous. You can't carry me back to your pack house like this," she said.

"I can and I will," he said.

Seeing how serious he was, she eventually stopped fighting him. She rested her head against the curve of his shoulder, her breathing even. Possessiveness gripped him. He didn't understand it, but he'd move heaven and earth for this female.

For generations, his family ruled the Crimson Maw Pack, and the lead alphas always took mates from the current pool of pack mates. By choosing Rain, Kieran deviated from the norm.

"Grace gave me directions," she whispered.

He touched her forehead, concerned that she'd become delirious. "What do you mean?" he demanded, focusing on her words.

"I planned on escaping today. I wanted to see if I could make it out on my own, but then you insisted on going on a walk with me," she said.

Her words wounded him more than she realized. A growl slipped from his l!ps. Fury kindled inside him. So Grace told Rain how to leave the pack lands? Grace wanted Rain gone? Scarlett hinted that Grace might be a problem, that Kieran should find a replacement for her, but the pack only had one healer. Kieran wanted the best for Rain.

"Hey," Rain murmured, suddenly touching his cheek.

Thunder rumbled in the horizon. Kieran's sensitive nose could smell the incoming rain. The skies had been clear when they started their walk. The weather change reflected his mood. Restless. Angry.

"I can sense your wolf. Don't be mad," Rain said.

What she said was an impossibility. Only a mated pair could sense each other's wolves and emotions. Then again, Kieran always sensed Rain was special.

"I'm not angry at you, little wolf," he told her. "You felt trapped and frightened. Seeking escape from those you perceive to be your captors seems rational."

"That was before I got to know you a little better," she whispered.

He relaxed. "I think I prefer you this way, Rain. When you're open and honest with me. Most of the time, you put up walls around your heart. Those walls are daunting to climb." "They protect me," she said.

"You won't need them anymore when you're with me," Kieran said, then kissed her.

He merely wanted a taste of her, nothing more, but she clung to his shoulders. She kissed him back fiercely with the passion of a storm.

When he pulled away, she dug nails, then claws, into his upper arms, ripping at fabric, then skin. The wolf that shared his skin howled. Both the beast and human part of Kieran wanted to take and mark Rain. No.He'd waited this long. He refused to take advantage of her when she was in this state. He wanted her to heal. When the time came, it would be Rain begging Kieran to claim her.

"Stop making me fall for you even more," he said. "Do you have any idea how fragile my control is when it comes to you?"

"Hearing you admit I'm your weakness makes me happy," she told him.

Kieran stood only a few feet from the pack house, but he didn't enter. Droplets of water dripped down his face. Rain raised her head, closing her eyes.

"I love it when a storm comes," she said. "The sound of rain in an empty room. The rain keeps me company. Makes me feel less alone."

Kieran planted a kiss on her cheek. "We can enjoy the rain together, but I can't keep you out here for long. You might get sick. We'll stay awhile," he said. "Deal," she agreed.