Omega Mine

Josie’s mouth was dry and her stomach ached as urgent voices nearby stirred her awake. She blinked groggily, staring up at David who held her bridal style, clutched protectively to his chest.

Her head was pounding, her stomach hurt like hell, and she felt physically weak, like she’d gone weeks without food or water.

“Why can’t she get checked out here?” David asked, a bite to his voice she wasn’t accustomed to hearing. “I don’t think she’s just in shock. She needs immediate care.”

The male in front of him rolled his eyes. “I’ve told you, we’ll treat what we can, but she needs to be looked at properly, and we can’t do that here. Aside from that, the longer we stay in this location, the more likely there’s another attack. You need to come with us back to base.”

“Base?” Josie asked hesitantly, startling both men.

She pushed at David’s chest and reluctantly, he set her on her feet. Her legs were shaky, but they supported her nonetheless. She pointed at the stranger, though he did look vaguely familiar, as was his scent. He was tall, well built, and had blond hair that was cut close to his scalp.

Where did she recognize him from?

“What’s going on?” she asked. “You’re not with the city guards.”

Hadn’t they been running from the humans? Josie scented him again, her nose twitching. Whoever this male was, he wasn’t human. And based on the glowing green of his eyes, he was definitely a Beta.

She glanced around, surprised to find that they were back toward the center of camp, which was now teeming with people. Blood splatters were prominent all over the ground and the lower portions of some trees. Several long, rectangular black body bags were strewn on the ground, all of which looked filled.

Jesus.

How many people had died?

Aside from the addition of body bags, dozens of men dressed in military grade equipment wandered around the camp, speaking with some of the townspeople that were still alive, and packing up supplies. A large tent had been erected, with pictures of medical crosses sewn onto the sides.

The tent itself was full of people, some soldiers, some civilians seeking care. From what she could tell, most of the townspeople were still alive, though some of them looked worse for wear. Did that mean the body bags were filled with city guards?

She hoped so. Enough of her kind had died in this war.

“The rebellion arrived while we were fighting Samuel. Only a few minutes behind the humans,” David answered. “They killed all the city guards, and now they’re packing us up to take us to base.”

Josie furrowed her brow in confusion. “We weren’t expecting them for another day.”

Why had they shown up so early?

“A source reached out and informed us of an impending attack,” the other Beta supplied. “We got here as soon as we could.”

For some reason, that information left a sour taste in her mouth. It was lucky that they’d shown up when they did. A few minutes more and their entire camp would have been slaughtered.

Josie rubbed at her tender stomach, anxiously reaching out to Grayson through their bond.

Are you alright? Please answer me, Grayson! I’m worried.

A heavy weight pushed onto her chest, and it hurt to breathe as the seconds ticked by while she waited for an answer. But just like before, she was met with silence.

A sharp, agonized wail echoed in her mind, threatening to escape as her vision blurred with tears. Why wasn’t he responding?

Grayson wouldn’t ignore her.

He wouldn’t.

What had happened to her mate? She pushed away the idea of his death, refusing to accept for one second that he’d been killed. She’d know if he was dead, because she’d die too. Maybe not physically, not right away. But if their mating bond severed, she’d be nothing but an empty shell without him.

Even without the mating bond, Grayson was her person. He was hers. She’d break completely if he was gone from this world.

He’s not dead, she repeated over and over in her head like a prayer, the words becoming louder in her mind as she tuned out every tumultuous, soul-shattering thought. He wouldn’t leave me. Not like this.

That thought steadied her, if only barely.

Grayson was alive, but why wouldn’t he respond to her? Was he unconscious? Sedated? If that was the case, then he could already be on his way back to the arenas, where he’d be tortured and either killed, or forced to fight his own people to the death again.

Her lower lip trembled as she fought back tears, holding her aching stomach protectively. He’d already been hurt, she could feel it. The residual pain had to be from her mate, but what had happened to him to cause this hurt? Shouldn’t he be healed by now?

“We can’t leave until we find Grayson,” Josie added resolutely, pressing harder on her stomach to alleviate some of the soreness. She blinked furiously until the tears threatening to spill down her cheeks dissolved.

“Unfortunately, that’s not up to you,” the unknown male stated.

Josie scoffed, narrowing her eyes on him. “My mate is the Alpha Prime,” she snapped. “If my decision to stay isn’t up to me, who is it up to?”

“His mother, the Omega Prime,” the male stated. He sighed. “I’m Topher, her second in command.”

That was why he’d looked so familiar. She’d met him initially when she’d first applied to work with the rebellion. Then she’d met him again when she’d been accepted.

She’d met Bethany that day too, and had been so awestruck by the Omega that she’d completely disregarded everyone else.

“I can assure you that Bethany wants her son returned safely, just as much as you do,” Topher continued. “Already, we’ve sent three squads of soldiers to search for him. It’s only a matter of time before he’s located.”

Josie crossed her arms in front of her chest, her anxiety not dwindling in the slightest. “Good. That’s the least she should do. But that doesn’t change the fact that I don’t want to leave. I can’t,” she whispered.

“I can understand your hesitancy. I’m a mated male, and if I was in your shoes, I’d be beside myself with worry. But you need to understand that we can’t stay here. We’ve already taken out nearly thirty human soldiers, and there will be more coming as soon as they realize the rebellion is responsible for their deaths. Believe that. Evacuation is your only option.” His voice hardened. “Whether that’s willingly or not is up to you.”

Josie stiffened. “You can’t force me to do anything.”

Topher sent David a long look before returning his attention to her. “I can. Your safety is paramount to Grayson’s. If anything happens to you, he’s lost to us all.”

Josie’s shoulders slumped, and David pulled an arm around her in comfort. “I don’t want to leave him,” she said softly, feeling as if the world was closing in on her.

The Beta made excellent points, and if Josie had been thinking rationally, she’d agree that this was the correct next move. Staying here, waiting for another onslaught of enemies to arrive in the hopes that Grayson showed up would only get her killed. She needed to be strong. For him.

I don’t know what I’ll do if you’re not okay. Please don’t leave me, she whispered down their bond, jaw clenching to keep her chin from wobbling. Please come back to me, Grayson.

“It won’t be long until he’s found,” Topher stated, his voice dropping to a soothing pitch. “The best males possible for the job are out there searching, and they are going to find Grayson soon,” he assured her. “Now, will you please follow me?”

Josie nodded, wiping at her nose with the back of her hand.

Topher looked over his shoulder toward the medical tent. “We’ll get you cleared for evac through medical, and you can speak with Bethany.”

Josie’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Oh? Is there a satellite phone over there?”

“No.” Topher smiled. “Bethany insisted on being here. She’s been desperate to see her son.”

Desperate? Josie almost rolled her eyes. She probably would have, if her attention didn’t snap to the tent, her gaze narrowing as she tried, and failed, to locate the Omega Prime.

Why would Bethany come here to meet Grayson? Not only was it risky for her to venture so close to a capitol city, but surely she had to know her son wouldn’t want to see her like this? After everything?

That woman had so much to answer for, and she had the gall to just show up like a worried, distraught mother?

She didn’t have the right!

Unless…maybe Bethany didn’t believe she was in the wrong for any of her actions. Maybe she didn’t think she’d done anything to make Grayson or Josie wary of her.

Could it really be that simple?

Topher turned, striding to the tent with purpose. David stepped closer to Josie, bending slightly before suddenly scooping her up into his arms. She squawked in surprise, smacking his shoulder.

“Put me down, David!”

David grunted when she smacked him again, hurriedly following after Topher. “No can do. Grayson will kill me if you faint again.”

“I’m feeling better,” she insisted, shoving at his chest. She wasn’t exactly telling the truth, but he didn’t need to know that.

The Beta ignored her struggling, shaking his head as he followed Topher. “If you really felt better, you’d quit clutching your stomach every two seconds. Not to mention that your pupils are dilated, and you’re cold to the touch. You’re likely still in shock.”

Josie sighed, deflating in his hold like a balloon that had been popped.

Soon enough, they reached the tent, heading inside and to a gurney surrounded by people. Gently, David placed her onto the gurney, and then he was quickly scooted out of the way as several medical personnel invaded her space, blocking the Beta from view.

Topher murmured a few words to one of the doctors before turning back to her. “Dr. Lopez is going to check your vitals, and then he’ll give you a shot to help with any pain you’re experiencing.”

“I’m fine,” Josie argued, immediately back on edge. She hated needles. “Where’s Bethany?” she asked, mostly for a distraction.

“Right here.” The sweet smell of frosted cranberries and vanilla filled Josie’s nose as a tall, lanky woman stepped toward the gurney, a bright smile on her scarred face. She pushed past David, taking Josie’s hands in hers and squeezing. They were cold to the bone, even colder than Josie’s own, and she shivered.

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Bethany said hoarsely, her clear eyes filling with tears. She reached out, brushing a hand down Josie’s hair. “I’ve prayed to be reunited with my sweet Grayson for decades, and you’ve brought him home to me.”

Was this woman being serious?

“I hope you’re still praying,” Josie all but spat, her temper immediately flaring to life as she pushed the Omega’s hand away from her. “Because your son is missing.”

Bethany’s smile stilled on her face before she looked away, nodding toward the doctors. “I think Josie needs a sedative to help with her nerves.”

“I don’t want a sedative. I want my mate.”

God, how she wanted Grayson to be here, holding her in his arms.

“I understand,” Bethany said softly, turning her attention back to Josie. The people surrounding them departed, leaving only Dr. Lopez and both Omegas. The doctor wandered over to Josie’s side, grabbing her wrist to check her pulse. “I’m doing everything in my power to find him.”

Josie wanted to believe her, but given that it had taken years to extract Grayson from the arena in the first place, she didn’t exactly have a great track record when it came to–

A sharp sting prodded her bicep and Josie hissed, jerking her arm forward.

“What the hell?” she shouted, looking up to see Dr. Lopez holding an empty syringe beside her. “I said I didn’t want anything!”

“I’m afraid this is for your own good,” Bethany murmured, her voice sounding slightly off.

Josie turned toward the Omega, and the room around her spun. “What did you give me?” She blinked hard, her head swimming. “I don’t–I don’t feel right,” she whispered faintly.

Bethany pursed her lips. “What did you give her?”

Dr. Lopez answered hesitantly. “The experimental injection, just as you asked.”

Bethany smiled. “Good.”

The experimental–

Josie collapsed onto the gurney.