Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 63709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
“What do I pack? Extra clothes?”
Rogue tugs down three dresses and rolls them into a ball. The quilt soars off the bed and wraps around the makeshift pack.
“Good enough,” I mutter.
I stop at my washing bowl to splash some water on my face. I’m so hot. Is it the fever? Did I catch the illness, or am I going into estrus already?
I pull my collar away from my neck, releasing a burst of floral scent like a thousand moonflowers blooming between my breasts. This must be the Omega perfume.
“Get me a moonflower,” I say to Rogue, and it races to the window to let in a vine. I pluck a bloom and tuck it behind my ear. Maybe I can fool people into thinking my scent is from rolling in a patch of moonflowers.
Ma meets me at the door with a pack of food and a waterskin. “Go.”
I kiss her mauve cheek. “I’ll be back. This will all pass, and things will get back to normal.”
“Ulf make it so,” she intones a prayer. Her eyes are worried.
I make good time, reaching the river with no problems. “Almost home free,” I whisper to Rogue. Famous last words.
A sound stops me in my tracks. Some young Ulfarri females are coming up from the river, singing, with bunches of moonflowers in their hair and arms.
It’s a lovely sight—except for the patrol of Alphas bringing up the rear.
I stand aside to let them pass, but a hard-eyed soldier motions for me to join the group. Head bowed, I obey, falling in with the ladies. The wind blows a few moonflowers in my direction and I snatch them to my chest, fixing a dopey smile to my face so I look as excited as the others. They’re all Betas.
“Isn't it exciting,” one of them sighs. She reminds me of Leelah. “The king will choose a bride. Our village is the first to hold the Queen Covenant.”
“Fantastic,” I reply. She breaks into a wide grin and keeps walking. Like I said, they don't get sarcasm on this planet.
The soldiers close ranks around us, herding us towards the village. Maybe once we get there, I can slip away.
But no, we're marched right into the center of the square, where the market booths have been pushed back to make room for a large platform. The soldiers help each Beta female up onto it in turn. I scramble up before anyone can touch me, and try to make my way to the center of the group so I’m somewhat hidden.
“I need a distraction,” I whisper to Rogue. It darts away, blowing through the crowd, ruffling people’s hair and knocking back their hoods.
I inch to the back of the platform, looking for an escape route. The soldiers have formed a wall around the perimeter. One of them leans in, his nostrils flaring as he breathes in our combined scent.
I tug my hood over my face and hope the moonflowers can cover the floral musk emanating from my pores. Damn this Omega business. I’m human. How is it fucking possible that I’m going into estrus?
“Look! The windmill!” someone cries.
The wood creaks as the blades go faster and faster until they blur.
“It’s going to fall!”
All around me, people are screaming and rushing off the platform. I let myself get swept along and leap off, darting through the crowd.
“Hey!” A soldier grabs at my cloak but I duck into the tavern, racing past shocked servers and customers until I burst out the back door. A group of villagers has gathered there, toasting the king. They turn as one, and someone’s ale splashes over me. That’s the least of my worries.
Shouts go up behind me. An Alpha soldier is growling, pushing his way through the tavern towards me.
I put my head down and run. Rogue catches up, puffing on the back of my neck as I race down the road.
“Good distraction,” I tell it.
The ale does me a favor, covering my scent, but it’s mostly worn off by the time I reach the river.
There’s another patrol of soldiers nearby. Somehow, I can smell them—a woodsy scent with a pinch of salt and a sour note, like fermented grapes. I wrinkle my nose.
I’ve almost reached the water’s edge when a meaty hand grabs my arm.
The Alpha soldier yanks me up against him.
Byrol.
His eyes are glazed. “I knew you would run. But I scented you first, and you will be mine, Omega.”
Rogue whips up suddenly, blowing my cloak over his head.
I twist out of Byrol’s grip and flee, leaving my cloak behind. The vines part before me and reknit behind me, cutting the soldier off. The little wind caresses my face.
“Go,” I tell it. “Get help!”
I don't know what the heck Rogue can do, but maybe it knows better than I do.
It gusts ahead of me, parting the vines wider. Moonflowers bloom as I pass, and I risk a glance back to check the thorny briars are still weaving into nets behind me, slowing the Alpha’s advance.