Page 45 of Ruined Omega

“Tal, we have to do something!” I say, struggling to keep my voice hushed despite my emotion.

Tal casts a troubled glance my way, then turns his attention to Baen, who has appeared on my other side, also lying down to hide himself.

“I told you to keep her away,” Tal growls in annoyance, talking to Baen over my head.

“She is…very quick.”

I look at Baen, and his face colors with embarrassment. He’s embarrassed that I fooled him with such a silly, childish trick. With my look, I try to let him know that I won’t let Tal know about that. I turn back to the other Alpha.

“It’s too late,” I whisper. “I’ve already seen. Now we have to do something. Tal, please…”

His face darkens. His jaw tightens and ticks.

“I’ve already told you, Hines. The risk is too great. If any harm should come to you, I—“

His whispered words are cut off by a sharp bark from below. It’s the trapped omega. Though she is small and outnumbered, she’s not going to allow herself to be taken without a fight. She shifts into a fighting stance, curling her fingers like claws. She turns slowly in the opposite direction of the circling Farlander Alphas, snarling at then and gnashing her teeth.

God, she is courageous. If I were in her position, I would be cowering in fear right now. But this young omega isn’t going down so easily.

Her courage inspires me, and I draw a deep breath, preparing to shout at the Farlanders. Before I can do so, however, Tal clamps his hand over my mouth.

“Don’t,” he says in a low snarl. “Don’t you dare.”

“Come on, Tal,” Baen says. “We can take these fuckers. Shit, I could take six Farlanders on my own, no problem. What are you afraid of?”

“I’m not afraid,” Tal answers, still covering my mouth. He is speaking to Baen, but his eyes are locked on me. “At least not for myself. But if even one of those Farlanders managed to get away, he would alert his brethren. And the last thing we need is a pack of Farlanders on our tail as we head into the woods. It will put Hines in danger. It’s out of the question.”

Baen lets out an annoyed grunt, but he doesn’t move.

I whine against Tal’s palm and raise my eyebrows in a pleading look. He looks away, unwilling to give in.

I turn my eyes back to the shallow valley below.

The circle of Farlanders are tightening around the wild omega like a noose. Their excitement is mounting. Lurid hoots and yips are spilling from their lips. Something else is spilling from their disgusting, erect members.

I want to scream, but Tal’s hand won’t let me.

With a blindingly quick motion, the omega lunges at one of her attackers, raking her fingers down his twisted face. Her sharp nails draw four red scratches. The Alpha stumbles back with a grunt of pain.

My heart leaps at this small victory.

But it is short-lived.

Another Alpha darts forward, catching the omega by the arm. She shrieks with fury, and poises to strike with her free hand, but another Alpha catches her wrist. A third comes from behind, fisting her matted hair.

I struggle to pull away from Tal’s clamped hand, but his heavy arm falls across my back, pinning me in place

“Be still,” he hisses. Then to Baen, he says. “We need to get Hines away from here.”

Down below, the scratched Alpha swipes his fingers over his marred face, inspects the blood, licks it. He glares at the omega struggling in his companion’s hands, and a twisted grin spreads across his face as if carved by an invisible knife.

He balls his bloodied fingers into a fist, swings low. His knuckles hit the omega in her belly with a sickening thud. The air rushes from her lungs in a pained wheeze and she doubles over.

My own gut pangs suddenly, as if experiencing a faint echo of that punch. I feel like I’m going to throw up.

Even Baen and Tal tense on either side of me.

The awful anticipation of what is coming twists in my guts like a cold iron chain.