Page 119 of Shared Omega

As we travel across the landscape of the Zone, I look at my Alphas.

We certainly are a motley pack. We’re all so different.

But it occurs to me that there is one thing we all have in common. One thing that binds us all together.

We’re a band of misfits.

As the only female soldier, I was a pariah in the corps. Likewise, as a “tame” Alpha, Dog was despised and feared by his own teammates. The half-breed Truk was treated as an outcast for being a Farlander even though he wanted nothing to do with those brutes. And Kane—stern, cruel, Kane—he lived in self-imposed exile as he wrestled with the loss of his sister.

Now, however, we are no longer alone.

Now, we have each other.

Fate brought us together.

We journey together across the Zone, heading toward our home in the city ruins. I can’t wait to get back and tell them the good news about our success. Most of all, I can’t wait to tell Lily. She has worked so hard and risked so much to get the truth out there, and now that has finally happened.

The morning is cool. The sky is cloudy, providing shade, and a thin veil of mist lies over the meadows and forest.

Around midday, however, the clouds dissipate, and the sun comes out, blazing hot, and before long we are all dripping sweat.

“You’re hot, little one,” Kane says.

I shake my head and press forward.

“I’m fine,” I say. “It’s nothing.”

It’s true too. I’ve been through so much in these past days, a little hot weather isn’t going to stop me.

Kane smiles appreciatively.

“You may be fine, but I’m not,” he chuckles. “We should stop and rest. Let’s find someplace to get out of this sun for a while.”

I know damn well that Kane could travel for days without getting tired. Obviously, he has something else in mind. And the knowing glance he casts toward the other two Alphas just serves to make that clear.

“I know a good place just ahead,” he says. “Follow me.”

As we travel onward, the landscape around me looks more and more familiar. I’m certain that I’ve been to this part of the Zone once before. Then, as we come over a rise, I realize where we are.

“The collapsed overpass,” I gasp.

“That’s right,” Kane says, “The first place where we were all together.”

The shade beneath the ruined structure provides a welcome coolness. A light breeze ghosts over my naked skin. Even the Alphas sigh with pleasure at the sensation.

Last time we were here, this broken structure shielded us from the downpour of rain. Now it shields us from the scorching sun.

It feels good.

But I feel a bit guilty.

“Guys,” I say. “We need to get back to the city. Everyone must be worried about us. We need to let them know we made it, and we need to let them know the mission was a success.”

Kane smiles and smooths his hand over my head. He seems to enjoy petting the fuzz of my buzzcut.

“Patience, my little omega,” he purrs. “They have waited for us for several days now. Another hour or two will make little difference.”

I smile back at him.