VESPER

 

“How many?”

“Including Megan? Six.”

“That’s more than I need.”

Kai gave me a smirk.

“You would go on this expedition by yourself if it were possible,” he said.

“I have no other choice. This is my decision. As long as the hunters roam the Timberlands, nobody will ever be safe.”

“You would be safe if you stayed here in the sleuth. The bear camp would protect you.”

“But then—”

“—You wouldn’t be able to live in your cabin, all by yourself.”

Kai always seemed to be in a good mood. Despite the circumstances, there was always some silver lining he was able to smile about. It was one of the reasons why everybody respected him as lead Alpha of the sleuth. I respected him just the same even though I no longer lived with him.

“I remember when you were younger,” he said.

“You’re not that much older than me.”

“But I’m still older. You were a young cub running around. So much pep and energy. The thought crossed my mind that you would one day challenge me to become lead Alpha.”

“Ha!”

I scoffed at the thought and shook my head.

“I have no interest in leading the sleuth,” I said. “You’ve done a fine job. Everybody here loves and admires you.”

“Even those who have left.”

I gave him a smile and nodded.

“The snow will be coming by the end of the week,” he said. “You should begin your journey before then. However, the past few days have been quite eventful. I’d advise you to rest as much as you can. The hunters are dangerous people. Anybody who would hunt their prey for sport can’t have much good in their hearts.”

“Any hope they have in their hearts would be for their sake. I’m willing to show them mercy but after everything I’ve seen them do, I wouldn’t expect them to have any compassion regardless of the situation.”

“Rest easy now. You will confront the hunters when the time comes.”

Kai gave me a hearty thump on the back and took a seat next to a bonfire near some of the others.

It had been a day since I left Rudy back at the herd. I managed to make it back to the bear camp faster than I expected, so I had the entire day to prepare and see who was willing to come with me.

It was nice to be able to relax among my brethren but I couldn’t deny that there was a hole in my heart.

Rudy was still in my thoughts. He was back there with his herd, helping them recover from the devastation. And there were still others who’d been abducted.

I would have pushed myself until the business with the hunters was settled but my body was forcing me to rest. So many miles walked through the Timberlands had left me more exhausted than I was willing to admit.

As I walked through the camp, I saw a stranger off to the side of the clearing. The young Omega sat next to a fire and stared into the flames in silence.

I walked up and greeted him.

“You don’t mind the company, do you?”

He jerked his head suddenly, his eyes wide.

“No,” he said. “Please. Sit.”

I took a seat across from him and sighed a deep breath.

“How are you feeling, George?”

“I feel fine. I’m a little tired but your elders didn’t find any other injuries on me.”

“I’m glad. Journeying through the Timberlands is no easy feat. Do you need anything else?”

“I have more than I need really…”

A skewered fish on a stick burned in the flames before him. I watched him as he pulled his food in and out of it.

“Am I doing this right?” he asked. “I wanna make sure that I cook it properly.”

“There’s no proper way to cook a fish. You can eat it raw if you like.”

“Oh… Well… It seems more appetizing if I heat it over the flame. Something about the way it smells…”

“A cooked fish will make anybody’s mouth water and stomach growl. You’re doing just fine.”

“I’ve never had fish before.”

“What do you usually eat?”

He shrugged.

“Just what everybody else does in the camp,” he said. “Nuts and berries. Sometimes they prepare some of the leaves from the brush but I was only just learning how to do it properly.”

He pulled the fish away from the flames and held it up. It was blackened to a crisp with the steam rising up from it into the night sky.

“How’s this?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” I said, holding back my laughter. “Give it a try.”

“Okay…”

He gently used his fingers to dig into the meat and pick some of it away. I watched as he tore away the flesh and stuffed it into his mouth. A few bites and his eyes filled with the wonder I always saw in him.

“How is it?” I asked.

“It’s… good.”

“There’s plenty of fish in the lake. You can have as much as you like. There’s no need to be shy. If anything, the others want you to know you’re enjoying it.”

George nodded with a big grin on his lips. He put the whole fish near his mouth and took another big bite out of it. I watched in amusement at how much fervor he had.

He looked around the camp as he chewed on his food.

“I’ve never been to another camp before,” he said.

“Is that so? Rudy tells me that your herd is quite isolated.”

“Knox doesn’t see much need to go out. We have peaceful lives. Everybody is happy and content. Shelter. Food. There are others to play games with me. There is nothing to complain about.”

“I see.”

“But…”

He took another bite and stared into the flames as he chewed on it. It was clear there was something on his mind.

“…The Timberlands are so large,” he said. “Sometimes I wonder what’s out there.”

“And that’s why you look up to Rudy?”

“Yeah… I guess it’s just my curiosity getting the best of me. It would’ve been best if I just stayed in the camp that day. I should’ve convinced Rudy to do the same. The hunters would’ve never found us.”

“Hey.”

I leaned forward and put a hand on his arm.

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” I said. “Nobody did. Only the hunters are to blame for what happened. If you did nothing, they would’ve come for you eventually. That’s why they must be stopped.”

“Yeah,” he said with a nod. “I suppose you’re right.”

He took another big hunk of fish between his teeth. His fervor hadn’t been satiated as he nonchalantly chewed on his dinner.

“Where is Rudy?” he asked.

“Rudy is with the herd. They need his help to rebuild. There’s no better place for him right now.”

“Rudy… You really care about him, don’t you?”

“I do.”

There was no point in trying to hide my feelings. Everybody in the herd knew I’d mated with Rudy. Even a younger Omega wouldn’t have embarrassed me by talking about it.

“I wonder if I’ll ever find an Alpha,” he said. “To find a mate I’m fated to… That must be special.”

“I’m sure you will. Once you’re older, one of the other Alphas in the camp will surely take an eye on you.”

“What about one of the Alphas here?”

His eyes started wandering. He looked around the clearing. I couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of him.

“I mean, you mated with Rudy,” he said. “Who’s not to say that one of the Alphas here would mate with me?”

“Perhaps you’re right,” I said with a chuckle. “You’ll find out later when you’re old enough.”

“If Rudy can do it, I’m sure I can do it.”

“…You admire him.”

“I look up to him. He’s like a brother to me. We’re both Omegas but he’s a few years older. He’s experienced all of the things I haven’t yet.”

“Rudy seems to get in a lot of trouble back in the herd.”

“He does. The others are always talking about him exploring and wandering so far from the herd. Knox gets upset sometimes but he never gives Rudy anything more than a scolding. He never scolds me though. He says I’m too young to know what I’m doing.”

I looked into George’s eyes. Despite his youth, I knew he’d been through a lot. The attack on his camp by the hunters would have been enough to frighten even the strongest hearted but he didn’t appear too upset about it. He was hiding whatever worry he had well enough that I couldn’t see it.

“I should get back to camp,” he said. “The people need me.”

“I will have some of the others guide you when the time is right. For now, there is no safer place for you than here. You’re among friends, George. I want you to remember that. There’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“Thanks…”

He finished the rest of his fish and put another on the skewer. He nonchalantly stuck it into the flames.

“Like this?” he asked me.

“You’re already an expert. Maybe you can teach some of the herd how to do it.”

“We’d have to learn how to catch fish first.”

“I’ll teach you,” I said with a laugh. “When the time is right.”

I got up from my seat and put a hand on his shoulder.

I was just about to retire for the night when I heard something in the darkness next to me.

I gazed between the trees, my eyes squinted. I closed my eyes completely to strengthen my senses.

Something was there.

I took a step forward toward the darkness and the sound grew louder. I kept watching until a figure emerged from between the trees.

“Rudy?”

He looked the same as he always did. He was bare except for a small cloth. His body was lean and covered in sweat, glistening underneath the moonlight.

He walked toward me and sighed a deep breath with a smile on his lips.

“Rudy, what are you doing here?”

“You,” I said with a nod. “I came back here to see you.”

“But the herd—”

“It’s all right. Knox gave me his blessing. He knows that I had to come with you. And you know it, too.”

“Rudy…”

I looked into his eyes. Shimmering green that seemed to sparkle underneath the moonlight. The man I’d mated with had me under his spell and nothing could break it.

“I want to come with you,” he said. “I want to be by your side when you confront the hunters.”

“You know how dangerous that would be. I can’t—”

“All the time I’ve spent with you is dangerous. I’m not leaving your side. You’re the father of my child. No matter what it takes, I will make sure that you’re there when our child is born.”

I clenched my jaw as I stared at him. He took another step toward me and wrapped his arms around me before I could do anything more.

It was useless to try and fight the feelings I had. I held him tight in my embrace, not wanting to let him go.

“My Omega…”

I whispered the words and he tightened his arms around me. I ran my fingers through his hair and patted his head softly.

He pulled away and smiled up at me. His eyes were slightly glazed over but he was still smiling.

“Rudy? What are you doing here, Rudy?”

We both turned toward George. He was sitting in front of the fire, a confused look on his face and a mouth half-full of fish.

“George…”

Rudy walked over and took a seat down next to him.

“…You’re all right, George?”

“Never better. This place is nice. Real relaxing.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Have you tried fish before? I know you’re hungry. It’s a long walk from the herd.”

Rudy turned to me and smiled.

The biggest task was still ahead of me. I was happy knowing Rudy would be by my side when I faced it.