“Well if it isn’t Kent’s little mate,” one of the alphas said. “What’s the hurry?”

“I’m not his mate!” I shouted before I could even consider acting like I had no idea what he was talking about.

“Sure you’re not,” he said as they both walked closer to us. “Come on, then. We’re having a little gathering. You don’t want to miss it.”

I tried to run and pull Payton with me, but these alphas were faster, and caught us almost immediately on the narrow path. I fought back as hard as I could while screeching at them to let go of us, but their holds were firm.

“Stop kicking me, you psycho!” the guy holding me yelled. “You’re not going anywhere!”

“Especially not with you!” I shouted and kicked him again.

The man had enough of me and pushed me hard against a wall and held me there while I gasped for air.

“I will fucking hit you if you don’t stop!” he growled in my ear. “Grant told us to bring you up, so I will drag your ass up one way or another, got that?”

“Joni, please, just stop…” Payton begged, his voice high pitched.

“Fine,” I hissed at the alpha, and he slowly pulled me back up on my feet.

“Good. Fucking psycho-ass bitch…” he mumbled and started dragging me up the path while his friend followed us with Payton.

I kept glaring at the guy all the way up to our camp, but because Payton was scared, I chose not to try to attack him again. I doubted I could even get away because this alpha was bigger and way stronger than I was. I had to make sure they wouldn’t hurt Payton as well.

Then we reached our camp, and I stopped to stare at the view. The whole clan – what was left of us after the raid – had gathered around the campfire. Everyone held their heads down and stayed quiet as they sat partly in the shadows, just waiting for something.

And Grant was there, sitting on our most comfortable chair with Kent sitting on the ground next to him with a busted lip and a swollen eye. He turned to glare at me when he spotted us.

“Ah! There you are,” Grant spoke in a cheerful manner, holding a gun in his hand. “Kent’s mate, right?”

“I’m not his mate,” I spat at him.

And I realized they all had been waiting for me. My omega nearly freaked out because of it, but I did my best to keep it calm.

Grant frowned, his smile vanishing, and turned to Kent. “Wrong guy?”

“No! I swear, that’s Joni,” Kent said, still glaring at me.

Grant turned back to me. “Kent here says you have my money.”

“What money?” I asked harshly.

Grant turned back to Kent, and his smile returned. “What money, he says. You did not lie to me, did you?”

“I didn’t! I told him to get the money! He’s just a fucking disobeying bitch! This is all his fault!” Kent said, almost shouting.

“Ah, but you see…” Grant said, leaning closer to him. “I don’t fucking care. You lost my guns. You were supposed to get them back. Your issues with your mate doesn’t concern me.”

I relaxed a little when I understood I wasn’t in trouble, and Kent was.

“So, how’s it going to be?” Grant asked him, sitting back up. “Do you have my money or not?”

“I will get your money,” Kent told him. “I just need more time.”

“I already gave you time, but the rumor has it you were drinking with the mafia last night instead of trying to get my guns back,” Grant said in disapproval.

But Kent was a weasel, and quick with his mouth if his life depended on it.

“I was trying to get on their good side so I can buy the guns from them as soon as I have the money!” he said. “They’re the only people dealing in this area!”

“Did you just say you were going to pay me with cash?” Grant asked, raising his eyebrow in amusement.

“I was… I was hoping they’d sell them for cheaper… Nine hundred is a lot of money…” Kent quickly explained. “I could’ve gotten your guns back sooner if they did.”

“So? How did that go?” Grant asked.

“We made progress…” Kent muttered, glaring at me again.

Grant turned to his friends, who shrugged a little, then he sighed. “Fine. I’ll give you time. You have a week.”

“Thank you! Thank you…” Kent said in relief.

“But… I can consider an exchange,” Grant continued.

And turned to look at me.

Kent followed his gaze and frowned. “What… are you talking about?”

“Give me this omega, and I’ll forgive your debt.”

He was still staring at me. So was Kent.

“What? No! Absolutely not!” I shouted. “I’m not his to give! I’m not a slave!”

“You… Want Joni?” Kent asked in disbelief. “Why?”

“Big omegas give birth to strong babies,” Grant said, and stood up to take a few steps closer to me. “And I need heirs.”

“Absolutely fucking not!” I yelled again, getting a little panicked now.

This was not happening…

Grant watched me closely, but stayed still. Then he sighed and shrugged. “Shame. I’m sure you’d give strong boys.”

Even at a time like this, his words hurt…

“I’m not anyone’s babymaker,” I hissed.

Grant ignored my words and turned his attention back to Kent. “My offer still stands, but it looks like you’ll just have to get me my money.”

“I’ll get it,” Kent said, but his anger was rising again as he stared at me.

“You have one week. You better have it the next time I’ll drop by,” Grant said, and turned to gesture for his guys to follow him.

My clan stayed silent and seated while they made their leave. Payton shifted close to me, and we changed worried looks. Our clan mates finally dared to look up, and many of them hurried into their tents when they noticed how angry Kent was getting. At least Derek stayed close by, looking worried as well.

“You didn’t get me my money,” Kent then spoke when Grant and his men had reached their cars. “Do you even care about what happens to us, huh?”

“I didn’t lose your guns! I didn’t even touch them! It was you who ran! This is not my fault!” I yelled at him.

He jumped up to his feet and growled at me in anger. “That doesn’t matter! I ordered you to get me that fucking money, and you better fucking get it, or I will give you to Grant so he can do whatever he pleases with you!”

“I’m not anyone’s slave! I will never be a slave!” I shouted now almost at the top of my lungs. “And you know damn well I can’t have children! You’re just trying to fool him to save your own fucking hide!”

Kent looked so mad that I was sure he was going to launch at me. He was heaving, his body was screaming threat, and his teeth were bared at me.

“If you try to give me to him, I’ll make sure he’ll learn all about your little lies,” I spat at him before he could open his mouth.

“Then you better fucking get my money,” he growled at me in a low voice. “And you better fucking go get it now.”

“No, I won’t,” I said, and turned my back to him.

“So you’re just going to leave your clan in trouble, is that it? You don’t care about what happens to us, huh?” he asked, and I heard him taking steps after me. “Because Grant will ruin us.”

“I’m not cleaning your problems!” I shouted at him.

“Then you’re fucking out.”

I stopped, my heart freezing. I slowly turned around to meet his angry eyes.

“Finally listening, huh?” Kent asked. “You will go get that money right now, and don’t fucking come back without it.”

“It’s eight in the evening,” I said. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Yes, you are,” Kent said, taking a threatening step toward me. “And don’t come back without my nine hundred.”

“You’re throwing me out?” I asked.

“If you don’t get my money, yes,” he said almost calmly now. “Try not to get caught by slave traders. You might end up regretting not becoming Grant’s bitch if they get you.”

I could only stare at him. My omega was in great distress. My heart was still frozen in fear.

“Fucking leave!” Kent shouted and marched at me with his fists balled. “Get the fuck out of my sight!”

“Joni…” Payton begged, pulling me toward my tent.

“You’re not going anywhere, Payton! I have another job for you!” Kent shouted and tried to grab him, but Derek stopped him.

“Leave it!” he yelled at his face and pushed back, then he turned to us. “Pack your bags and go! Both of you!”

“Joni…” Payton tried again.

“No! That little bitch isn’t going anywhere!” Kent yelled.

And Derek hit him hard in the face, sending him sprawled on the floor. He took in a deep breath as he stared down at our leader, who was holding his jaw. Kent was so shocked he couldn’t even move.

“Come…” Payton told me, and I finally followed him to my tent.

But there, all I could do was stand in the middle of the tent while Payton hurried to get all our bags. We didn’t have many of them, and he quickly filled them up with the little I had.

“Hurry up!” he told me in a muffled voice. 

He was crying…

“Payton… You don’t have to come. It’s dangerous,” I said, but he got angry at me.

“You heard what he said! He has a job for me, and we both know what that is!” he hissed at me quietly, a tear running down his cheek. “We’re leaving. There’s no other way. We can’t stay here, or he will make us work as whores.”

Seeing him cry hurt so much… But he was right. There was no other way. I hurried to help him pack, and once we were done in my tent, we went to get the rest of his belongings.

There were a few of our clansmen watching us, looking miserable and worried. Derek was also there, breathing heavily, but Kent was gone now.

No one stopped us when we went to get Payton’s things, but when we stepped back out once we were done, Derek was standing close by.

“I’m sorry,” he said, taking something from his pocket. “Get somewhere safe.”

He gave me… money. I didn’t take it.

“You don’t have to…” I told him, but he gave the money to Payton instead.

“Get a hotel room or something. Don’t sleep outside,” he told us. “And in the morning, you go to the homeless society and ask them to help. If they won’t, go to the mafia.”

“Come with us,” I asked him.

“I wish I could, but Kent is out of his mind. I have to stay and take care of the clan,” he said quietly. “But we’ll see again. I promise. I’ll come find you.”

“What are you going to do?” I asked.

“I’ll figure it out. But you should leave before he comes back. I don’t want him to hurt you,” he said. “Good luck. Stay safe.”

“We will,” I said, and Payton nodded, trying to look brave, but he was still sniffing quietly. “Thank you, Derek. You’re a good one.”

He chuckled a little. “Don’t know about that. Go. I’ll find you one day.”

I nodded and hugged him quickly. “I’ll see you soon.”

I stepped back, and Payton hugged him as well, holding onto him longer than I had, but he stepped back as well.

“Goodbye,” I told him.

“Bye,” he said quietly.

And we left.