Chapter 20

Lincoln

“How is she?” Deacon rushed forward as I took the last step and into my private quarters. I had a second to recognise that his face was drawn and pale apart from the thin line of blood that trickled down from a cut in his hairline before he spoke again. “You brought her here?” His eyes were wide. “What the hell are you thinking Lincoln?”

I shifted Hopes weight in my arms easily. After all she could be double the weight she was and I could still carry her for miles without breaking a sweat. She was so small compared to me and as light as a newborn bird.

“Where else was I meant to take her?” I growled out. I loved Deacon like a brother but this was my house and he was here in a position of power and trust because I wanted it so. That didn’t give him the right to question me. Not now and not ever.

Again I took in his face, my eyes fixed on the trickle of blood. “What happened to your face?”

He paled even more. “That’s what I was trying to tell you. The other alphas are here.”

It was my time to pale. If they were here then they knew about Hope. “Where? How long?”

“In the meeting room.”

I let out a sigh of relief. That was on the other side of the building. They shouldn’t be able to smell her and they wouldn’t be able to hear us either. “When?” I lowered my voice to a growl. “Did they arrive?”

“About thirty minutes ago.” He whispered back. “I told them you were out and that they should make an appointment.” His hand lifted to touch his head. “But they were insistent.”

I frowned. That was just polite for aggressive. “You did the right thing. Here take her from me.” It took everything I had to shift her weight into his arms when I wanted so desperately to hold her close to me. “Take her down to the bedrooms on the lower floor. She will need food and water and-“ my eyes drifted over her still sleeping body. Her head lolled over his arm so her red hair fell like a waterfall of blood. But it was to the steady rise and fall of her chest that my eyes lingered.

Sleep was exactly what she needed because-

My nostrils flared and I didn’t quite bite back the groan.

Deacons eyes turned as round as saucers. “Shit.” He gasped. “Is she in season?”

I couldn’t talk there was nothing but her. It was like I had tunnel vision.

“Lincoln.” Deacons voice was sharp and it snapped me out of it.

“No.” I breathed through my mouth which made her beautiful scent almost bearable but only just. She still filled every cell of my mutated body.  “Not yet but she’s close. You will need to find her a suppressant.”

“That is illegal.”

“I am aware but it’s the only way to make sure I don’t do something that will bring ruin down on us all. Or are you telling me you don’t know where to get it?”

“I know where you get it.” Deacon muttered. His muscles strained with the strain of her weight. Betas were so much weaker. “I was just pointing out that it’s illegal.” His eyes darted down to the unconscious girl in his arms. “I’ll look after her , Lincoln. You need to go and talk to the others before they come looking for you.”

I knew he was right but it took all of my self control to move away.

I waited until I knew he had enough time to get her away before moving through the maze of corridors towards the meeting room.

The door was open so I saw them before they saw me.

“Friends.” I stepped into the open doorway and the four heads sat around the long conference table turned towards me. None of their faces were friendly.

“What do I owe for this unexpected visit?” Hand pressed to my head I bowed my head in fake politeness. None of the men gathered deserved my respect but I had to give it anyway.

“You went after the omega. The one they call Hope.” One said half rising out of his chair with a growl that I answered with a louder much more aggressive one of my own.

“You are in my house. Uninvited I would add.” I slammed the door shut behind me with a bang that rattled the windows and left a crack in the plaster. “You will not threaten me.”

The man sank down.

“You have been with her?” Jenkins was suddenly right in front of me. So fast that I hadn’t seen him move at all. Thrusting his nose into my shoulder he sniffed loudly. “You have been with the fire haired one. Her scent is all over you.”

Using both hands I shoved him backwards. I hated blood suckers more than anything in the world. I always had. Their mutation was disgusting to me.

“And you are the one who attacked my man. You will show respect in my house Jenkins.” The growls were coming thick and fast. “Or you will leave. Either through the door or out of the window I don’t care.” I cocked my head to the side. “Shall we find out if the stories of you being able to fly are true?”

In answer to my threat he just laughed. “I do not worry about myself with the feelings of betas. We have heard the rumours Lincoln. You have been seen visiting her and now-“ taking his seat again he motioned to me. “Here you are as naked as the day you were born and smelling of one of our omegas. What have you been doing , I wonder?”

Yanking our the chair at the end of the table I fell into it. “I am naked because I needed to free my beast to find her. And I carried her here so yes her scent is on me. Or are you asking me something else?” One by one I met their eyes. “Are you asking me I rutted her?” Not waiting for a reply I leant forward. “I have not. But I did stop her beta father from rape. He was going to defile what is ours. I can’t say for certain whether it was the first time or not but that doesn’t matter.”

It did matter to me.

A angry murmur went around the table.

“The moment she was marked as an omega he had no right. So yes when I found out she had run I went to fetch her. There’s so few omegas coming forward now I knew I couldn’t let her escape.”

“The man-“ anger made the Alpha I thought was called Mal, asked. “Raping an omega is punishable by-“

“I have secured him as well and will deal with him appropriately.”

A nod of approval around the table.

“We would like to see -“ That was from Jenkins. And I had to fight not to close my fists and punch him in his too pale face.

“Omega Hope is sleeping. You will all see her at the next gathering. But we do need to move fast now. Who knows how many of our omegas are going through what Hope was at home.”

“What do you suggest we do?”

I shrugged. “Round them up and bring them here. I have the room and the security.”

Jenkins' eyes narrowed into slits. “You think I trust you with a home full of omegas?”

“I don’t think you have any choice.” And I knew by the looks on their faces that I was right. They didn’t have a choice. They would rather lock their would-be  companions up in my tower then have some filthy beta scum touch them.

“Fine.” Jenkins' shoulders slumped. “Let’s discuss how this will work for all of us.”