Free The Omega's Heart (Wilde Creek Four) by R.E. Butler Page B

and
talk to the alphas.”
    She was worried about what the dawn would
bring, but at least she wouldn’t face things alone. She didn’t know
how it was possible to feel so connected to a total stranger, but
she did. Her wolf was basking in the afterglow of finding her
perfect mate, and Honey had finally found some peace.
    “I’m glad I followed your scent.”
    “Me, too, sweetheart.”
     
    * * * * *
     
    Mia missed the rabbit by an inch, its furry
little butt darting right out of reach. Huffing in annoyance, she
sat on her haunches and looked for Honey, wondering if she’d had
any better luck. Mia was not the best hunter. Her wolf had good
instincts, but Mia had never cared much for practicing or training
like the males did when they were younger. She’d never taken down a
deer or anything bigger than a rabbit, although once she’d lunged
and caught a bird in flight. She’d been pretty impressed with
herself, but it wasn’t worth the kill. Freaking feathers
everywhere.
    She didn’t see Honey. Alarms went off in her
head — she was supposed to stay with her. She lifted her muzzle and
sniffed, but scented nothing but the snow and the trees. Canting
her head, she listened carefully, hoping that Honey was nearby
hunting and wasn’t actually injured or in trouble. When she didn’t
hear anyone in trouble, she knew she was the one who was
going to be in trouble for losing Honey.
    She lowered her muzzle to the ground and
inhaled, moving slowly and trying to catch Honey’s scent, but she
couldn’t find any trace of her. Deciding it was best to go back to
Brynn’s house and wait for Acksel, she raced through the woods as
quickly as she could, hoping she’d find Honey waiting for her on
the alphas’ back porch.
    When she skidded into the backyard, the snow
fluffing up around her with the motion, the only person in the
backyard was her brother Malachi. She could tell he was about to
shift, so she hurried and shifted herself, calling for him.
    “Mal, wait! I need you to stay in your shift
and go find Acksel!” She ran through the snow toward her brother,
who turned to look at her in surprise. “Please! I’ll explain
later.”
    Malachi barked sharply, cast a glance at the
back door where his mate Nila stood holding her son, Jack, and then
hauled ass into the woods. Mia grabbed her clothes from the porch
and hurriedly dressed, thanking Nila as she opened the back sliding
glass door and let her in.
    “Is everything okay?” Brynn asked, coming
into the kitchen.
    “Honey took off, so I don’t think anything’s
okay right now. Acksel’s going to kill me.”
    Brynn shook her head and came to Mia and gave
her a hug. “I won’t let him, I promise. Hopefully it’s just a
misunderstanding and he’ll have one of the protectors find her and
bring her back.”
    Mia certainly hoped it was something as
simple as a misunderstanding, for all their sakes.
     

 
     
    Chapter 8
     
    Jeremiah adjusted the blanket so Honey was
more fully covered as she slept next to him. Her head rested on his
shoulder, and one arm and leg were thrown over his body so she was
tucked very close to him. He inhaled slowly and let her sweet scent
saturate his senses. The name Honey fit her, since she really did
smell sweet. She was gorgeous — curved in all the right places,
with soulful brown eyes and long black hair. He wasn’t sure what
he’d done to deserve such a beautiful mate, but he sure as hell was
going to do his best to take care of her. He was kind of surprised
by how right everything felt. To hold her, to call her his mate, to
know she’d be there when he woke up; it must be how mates felt when
they connected. He and his wolf were very content.
    She was worried about her father. He knew
that some alphas were very ruthless. Acksel was a fair alpha, but
he had a temper, and before he mated Brynn he hadn’t been as kind
as he was now. He’d had his inner circle of wolves, pretty much
ignoring the rest of the pack in favor of his