RUDY

 

I’d never met a city Beta before. I’d never met anybody from the city before. But the man who sat in front of me wasn’t like anything I expected.

His brown hair was messy despite it appearing like he combed it over. His skin was blemished. His clothes were wrinkled. And his teeth were yellow when he smiled.

But that same smile was as big as anybody else’s I’d ever seen. He didn’t seem to care too much about his appearance even though it made me slightly uneasy about trusting him.

“Go ahead,” the man said. “Drink up.”

He held his hands out and encouraged me to drink from the glass in front of me. I turned to Vesper for some kind of guidance and he shrugged.

“York said we could trust him,” Vesper said.

“You’re damn right you can trust me,” the man said. “If you can’t trust me, you can’t trust anybody.”

I sighed a deep breath and picked the glass up. Knowing there probably wasn’t any other way, I put the glass to my lips and took a huge gulp.

“I know that they don’t have any beer in the Timberlands,” the man said. “I’ve been there myself. It’s one of the reasons I can’t go back.”

Vesper took a sip from his mug and the man did the same. I was too distracted by the bitter taste to pay attention to their reactions.

“People actually drink this regularly?” I asked.

“You’ll get used to it,” the man said. “Some people even get addicted to it. Don’t do that though. Nothing good ever comes of that.”

“I don’t see how anybody could get addicted to this.”

“Give it a few more sips and a few more hours. You’ll see.”

There was something infectious about the way he smiled. When he winked at me, I couldn’t help but laugh at him despite my reservations.

“All right,” Vesper said with a nod. “We appreciate your hospitality. But—”

“I know, I know,” the man said. “York said you had some serious business you needed to discuss. That’s why I’m here. I’ve had enough experience in the Timberlands and in Dirge. I’ve seen it all.”

“Okay… Saxon, was it?”

“That’s right.”

“Saxon… You mind telling me where this came from?”

Vesper laid the knife down on the table. Saxon didn’t have to look at it for more than a second before his eyes widened in surprise.

“Where did you get that?” he said.

“From someone in the Timberlands. Someone who attacked me.”

“Is that right?”

“That’s right. He attacked me with it.”

“And where’s the man now? I can’t imagine a fight with a bear went too well with him, even if he had a weapon.”

“He got away before I could get any answers from him,” Vesper said. “He dropped it in a hurry.”

“Yeah…”

Saxon grabbed the knife and started examining it.

I looked around the place and wondered if anybody cared that Saxon was holding a weapon but everybody seemed to be minding their own business. The place was just as Saxon first described before we came here. Just a place for people to get away and drink. A bar, he called it.

“You know where it’s from?” Vesper asked.

“Not for sure. But I got an idea.”

“An idea is better than anything we have.”

“The thing is…”

Saxon put the knife on the table and pushed it forward.

“…The man who used this knife is dangerous.”

“I know,” Vesper said. “He attacked both of us.”

“He’s more dangerous than that. Any person willing to go to the Timberlands and attack innocent people can’t be thinking straight.”

“That goes without saying,” I said.

“But that’s just it. You’re planning on finding this person and getting some answers from them. Is that all you plan on doing?”

“We’re going to stop them,” Vesper said.

“Stop them? You make it sound like you can just politely tell them to stop doing what they’re doing. It won’t be that simple.”

I sighed in slight frustration and held my hands out.

“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “We have to do something. Even if this person is intent on killing every living thing in the Timberlands, we can’t stop.”

“That just might be what he’s intending.”

Saxon looked around and breathed through his nose before leaning forward across the table.

“I just wanna make sure you two know what you’re getting into,” he said.

“We’re already into it,” Vesper said. “There’s no turning back now.”

“That’s what I thought you’d say.”

Saxon took another gulp of beer and leaned back in his seat.

“Now, this is just a rumor,” he said. “I hear things. Sometimes people are just talking and telling stories. Other times there’s some truth to it. Take what I’m about to tell you for what it’s worth.”

Vesper and I both nodded.

“His name is Tyrus,” Saxon said. “He has a small shop a few blocks from here. He’s a toolmaker.”

“Toolmaker?”

“Probably the best in the city. I don’t know if you noticed, but there’s a lot of construction going on in Dirge. He makes a good deal of money making all of the construction equipment for the people who need it. Sledgehammers. Wrenches. Screwdrivers. That sort of thing. I’ve never dealt with him personally but people say he’s the best in town. They’re made with the same kind of precision this knife was made with. If he didn’t make it, he knows someone who did.”

“Tyrus,” Vesper said.

He grabbed the knife and stuffed it back into his pocket.

I went over all of the information in my head.

We were another step closer to figuring out who the hunter was. If Tyrus didn’t make the knife, he knew who did. The answers we were looking for were right there in front of us.

“Thank you,” Vesper said as he got up out of his seat. “We really appreciate it—”

“Hold on now,” Saxon said as he put his hands up. “Take a seat. We’re not finished yet.”

Vesper gave me a puzzled look before sitting back down.

“What is it?” Vesper asked.

“York told me you spent some time with the Omegas today,” Saxon said.

“That’s right.”

“They’re an energetic little bunch, aren’t they?”

“They sure are,” I said with a laugh.

“I spend every single day with those kids. There’s a little young girl. Name’s Emily. She’s as cute as a button. You look into her eyes and you wanna do everything you can for her. But…”

His words trailed off. He took another gulp of beer, leaning back in his seat and not saying anything.

“But what?” I asked.

“It’s tough work. Even though York got all of the funding he needed, there are still more Omegas out there who need help. I do all of the work I can but it’s exhausting. Sometimes… Sometimes you just wanna sit back, relax, and have a beer. And beer is always better when you have someone to drink it with.”

He grabbed his mug and held it up to Vesper and me. I shrugged as I held my glass up. Another gulp of the bitter beer poured down my throat and made me forget about the conversation about the hunter we had just moments ago.

“So…” Saxon said. “What’s the deal with you two?”

Vesper and I looked at one another.

“You’ve already mated,” Saxon said.

My cheeks started to redden as Vesper smirked at me.

“Don’t worry,” Saxon said. “I already figured it out as soon as I met you. Just because I’m from the city doesn’t mean I don’t still have my senses about me. I could smell it on you.”

“I was in heat,” I said. “We were caught in the middle of a snowstorm and Vesper was the only person near me.”

“That’s how it happens sometimes. We’re fated to the ones we’re least expected to. It’s a beautiful thing, really. Can’t be ashamed of that. Can’t be ashamed at all. That’s something you should be proud of.”

“How about you, Saxon?” Vesper asked. “What’s your deal?”

“You don’t need to worry about me,” Saxon said. “I’m just fine where I’m at.”

He took another gulp of his beer and smacked his lips in satisfaction.

“I’m just a Beta. I’m not wired like you Alphas or Omegas. That’s not what drives me.”

“And what does drive you?” I said.

“If you were to ask me a few years ago, I would have said the gold.”

“Gold?”

“Money. Currency. It’s what we use to get by here. That’s how we get all of the things we need to survive. But it’s not just about survival for me anymore. No, the most important thing isn’t to find a mate or have some kids of my own. There are too many Omegas out there who need help and I wanna help them. I’d ask you two to do the same but it looks like you already have your hands full.”

Saxon leaned forward and looked me right in the eye.

“You’re an Omega,” he said. “You’re pregnant. I’d tell you that your only priority right now should be taking care of your child but that won’t stop you. Especially with a strong Alpha by your side. I can’t help you with talking with Tyrus. But I just want you to remember what’s really important if you’re going to go through with this.”

I understood the point Saxon was trying to make. Vesper and I could have been better off just retiring together. We didn’t need anybody else in the world besides each other. At least, that’s how I felt.

But my herd was still out there. They were still important to me and I wasn’t going to rest until I knew for sure they were safe, regardless of how Knox felt about me.

“I know what’s important,” I said. “I know exactly what I’m getting into.”

“I thought as much,” Saxon said. “You remind me of York?”

“In what way?”

“You’re Omegas but not like the typical ones I’ve met. Stubborn. Foolhardy. Hard-headed. You’re the ones that are going to make a difference.”

I looked at Vesper and he smiled softly at me. The way he looked at me was enough to make me blush.

“Come on,” Saxon said. “Drink up so I could order another round of beers. It’s not a celebration until you start to feel the alcohol.”

“Celebration?” Vesper said.

“It’s your first time in Dirge. It’s not the experience it should be unless you’re drinking.”