37- The Omega’s Claim
POV Lunara Grimwald:
“Are you the type who does things just to receive compliments, and when you get them, you pretend you don’t know how to handle them?” She blinked, batting her long lashes slowly.
I tilted my head to the side, glaring at her.
In my mind, she exploded and died a tragic death, sparing me from having to live with her presence. But that only happened in my mind, unfortunately.
“Actually, I do things because they matter to me, not because I expect applause. Compliments are nice, of course, but they’re not the fuel for my actions. I know my worth, with or without them,” I cut in, hissing.
I felt at my limit. My wolf, who never got involved in these stupid provocations, was ready to take over. To her, it was an offense to be in the same room as the omega.
Andrei and Lyris engaged Edric in conversation, as if trying to break the tense atmosphere that had stretched. Even Nicoleta didn’t speak, withdrawing in a few steps and disappearing upstairs, as if she wanted to escape the confrontation.
I turned to the oven, ignoring them, and crossed my arms as I stared at the timer, praying for it to run down so I could put the cakes in. I would go to the lake to bathe and enjoy the hot day. There, there would be no Thalira or Edric.
The lake and my room had become my favorite places. It was easy to ignore them, and I could be alone with the only book I had, rereading the same story for the hundredth time.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed movement nearby, but I kept ignoring it. When the oven beeped, I sighed with relief.
Thalira was leaning on the counter, very close to where the batter rested. I stopped by her side and yanked the bowl away abruptly before moving to the molds, greasing them, and pouring the right amount into each one. Then I slid them into the oven, choosing the perfect time for them to bake.
I walked out of the kitchen, heading toward the door.
“Where are you going?” Lyris asked.
“I’m going to get some fresh air,” I replied, my back to them. “I’ll be back as soon as the cakes are ready so we can take them to the pups.”
She didn’t answer. I only heard Edric’s low growl, as if he disapproved of my attitude.
I smiled, satisfied.
(...)
POV Edric Eldoria:
I shoved my hand into the wolf’s chest, tearing through skin and muscle, shattering the ribs. Blood spread across my palm, hot, thick, and pungent. I closed my fingers around the heart and pulled my arm back, ripping it out.
The howl of pain that escaped him was like music to my ears.
The wolf’s pupils dilated before he collapsed, dead, at my feet.
I squeezed the organ tightly, crushing it into countless pieces. Then I opened my hand, letting the remains fall.
I scanned the forest, searching for more of them. I sniffed the air, but the overpowering stench of the blood of the wolf I had killed clung to everything around me.
Footsteps sounded to my left, crunching the dry leaves.
I turned quickly and spotted Andrei walking toward me.
"Once again, is this your ‘not angry’ side?" he mocked, making air quotes with his fingers.
He was covered in blood, yet bore no wounds. Andrei, though still young, just a little over a hundred years old, was one of my best warrior wolves.
"Let’s just say I’m losing my patience with these invasions."
He laughed loudly and leaned sideways against a tree, folding his arms.
Anton appeared right behind him, dragging a male by his long hair. He approached me and threw the captive at my feet.
"He was trying to escape," he said, fixing his bright green eyes on the invading male. His jaw was clenched, and his fangs elongated. Every cell of his instinct screamed to kill the wolf, but his loyalty to me screamed louder.
I crouched in front of the male, who stared at me with wide, fearful eyes. I released pheromones, feeding his terror. He inhaled the scent and began to tremble, the color draining from his pale face.
A smile tugged at my lips.
"What’s your name?" I asked, tilting my head.
His clothes were dirty and torn, and scratches marked his arms, chest, and legs. Countless dry leaves clung to his long black hair and thick beard.
Anton had played with him before bringing him to me.
A little older than Andrei, Anton was just as skilled a warrior. He was my most trusted man. Logical and precise about both the business and the pack’s growth. One day, he would be my successor.
"Max," he answered, keeping his brown eyes fixed on the ground.
"What are you doing in my territory, Max?"
"I’m just following orders, my lord. Please, let me go."
I despised, with every fiber of my being, when they begged for mercy. He was an alpha—I could smell it—and alphas never, absolutely never, begged.
I knew exactly what he wanted. I knew the moment one of my wolves caught their scent and told me of the new invasion.
"Answer the fucking question!" I roared, releasing even more pheromones.
Anton and Andrei stepped back, sensing the fury radiating from me.
"I came for a she-wolf, an omega. Her name is Lunara. We were told she’s here."
"And who sent you?"
He lifted his face, watching me as he replied:
"Alpha Alessio, heir and leader of the Eastern Eclipse pack. The omega belongs to him, but she fled without consent. She’s a traitor. We just want her back, nothing else."
I was furious with the little wolf. She had been avoiding me, ignoring me, treating me with contempt. She barely spoke to me, never even looked at me.
I didn’t know what had happened, why she was acting that way, but she was testing my patience.
She treated me with indifference, while I had to deal with the shitstorm of her problems, killing males who were only invading my territory because of her.
"Then why doesn’t your alpha come personally to talk to me and take her back?" I asked, smiling with scorn.
"Alpha Alessio only wants peace," he answered, lowering his head in submission. "And the girl. Give us the girl; we promise never to set foot in your territory again."
I tilted my head, observing him.
"I can’t give you the girl."
He shifted uneasily and lifted his eyes to mine.
"She… she’s dead?" he asked, horrified. I shook my head. He sighed in relief.
"I can’t give you the girl, because she belongs to me. And neither you, nor anyone else, will take what’s mine."
His brows furrowed.
"There’s something wrong here. Lunara belongs to Alpha Alessio. She was given to him in marriage years ago. He’s the one who has the right to her."
I moved so fast, he didn’t even catch the motion. I wrapped my hand around his throat and squeezed.
"Lunara is mine, and only mine. Do you understand? Neither you nor any of your fucking packmates will ever lay a hand on her. And if you keep invading my territory, I’ll personally wipe your fucking pack off the face of the earth," I snarled through clenched teeth.