Chapter 22 - 21. Let Him Go

The sounds around him were muffled like under the water. Glen's eyes fluttered, then opened on the darkness. A forest landscape trapped in the cold of winter was exposed, magnificent, before the alpha's eyes. He tried to move and he felt a weakness in his limbs that prevented him from straightening up. What happened? Where was he?

The werewolf searched for the last memories he remembered. Whispers reached him. Thanks to his overdeveloped hearing, he immediately recognized the owners of the voices and his body tensed when he remembered the sensation in his neck just before dark. Someone pricked him with a syringe and injected him with something. No. It's wasn't just someone. Connor. He tried to clench his fists, but he didn't have enough strength. His wolf was taking over. Like every evening for several weeks already. He could feel his pheromones invading the cabin of the car.

Tonight even more than the others, he didn't have any strength to fight him. What did Connor do to him? Where was he? He could hear the voices, but couldn't understand what they were saying. Greg seemed to be arguing with Connor about something. He felt a motion and realized he was still in the car. He looked in the direction of the window and gathered his strength to sit up.

"en ? … Glen? … hear me? "

The voices were still muffled. He could barely make out the words and his wolf kept stomping impatiently. He managed to stand up and leaned against the rear passenger door. He tried to swallow but his mouth was dry and mushy. His voice was a hoarse trickle when it finally came out.

"Where… ?"

".... hood."

Connor had just answered him, but he didn't catch his words. He turned his head outside and saw the landscape slowly pass by. The car took a barely visible path through the forest. He had no recollection that such a place existed near Red Creek. He squeezed his eyelids together and shook his head to clear the fog that still surrounded him. The voices grew louder but still indistinct. The exchange between Connor and Greg has turned from arguing to worrying.

"Here we are."

He had finally understood the words but felt a strong tension in Greg's voice. The car paused and Glen heard the sound of the window mechanism. An icy wind entered through the driver's side.

"Red Creek?" Said an unfamiliar voice. "You're very late. All other guest packs arrived late morning or this afternoon at the latest. "

"Yes, we had urgent matters that needed to be taken care of."

"Hm…" the voice answered. "Well, anyway, nothing has been decided yet. I think they are continuing the interviews. Go for it."

"Thank you."

What's going on? What was this conversation? Who was this man? His senses were numb. The alpha felt his wolf growl. He couldn't wait. Yes, but for what? He pushed the question away in a corner of his head. The sound of the window's mechanism echoed once more.

"I can't believe it worked."

"I told you it would be fine."

"Yeah, we're not out of there yet so don't get too excited."

Once again Glen looked out the window and saw the landscape of a forest frozen in the cold of winter. Suddenly in the distance, he saw lights appear and his heart started to race in his chest.

"Connor… Where are we?"

His voice was weak, but he felt his senses sharpen. The car stopped in front of an entrance, and Connor got out immediately to open his door. The frozen wind cleared the fog. He looked around and saw that Greg had walked up to him. A small lamp in his hand, he was checking his eyes. Glen slapped his hand aside, annoyed. He tried to take a step away and his legs flexed. His senses were back, but not yet his strength. He turned his head to Connor who had rushed to catch up with him before his legs gave up. The man gave him an innocent smile, which he answered with a glare.

"I don't know yet what you did or why you did it, but as soon as I'm back on my feet I'm gonna kick your ass so badly that you'll need a wheelchair."

"Yeah, I knew you would react like that."

Just a step ahead, Greg handed a cardboard box to a woman who was staring at Glen. She struggled to hide his discomfort.

"Is there a problem with him?"

"Hm, yes sorry. He happens to be sick in the car and that makes him unable to control his pheromones. "

"Oh, I see. I didn't know it could happen. Do you want me to take you to a place to lay him down while he ... calms down? Our omegas are in another place, but his pheromones are very strong. Other dominants can react in a bad way."

Glen tried to speak, but Connor beat him. "Yes, that would be really kind of you. Thank you."

He added low enough that only Glen could hear him. "If you don't want the three of us to die, you better shut up and follow my lead. "

The alpha swallowed his words. The woman led them inside then through the halls and they came to a cave of a smaller size. She pushed aside the curtain that blocked the entrance to invite them in before walking away.

The interior was laid out as a small waiting room with a three-seater sofa with a woven water hyacinth frame and two more round armchairs on either side. A wooden coffee table was placed in the center. Nothing more. The place exuded minimalism. As Connor sat Glen down on the sofa, Greg was busy looking at every corner of the room. Never had a human entered the heart of a pack, let alone a traditional pack. His scientist self was ecstatic despite the Damocles' sword hovering above their heads.

Glen leaned back and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He felt feverish and his heartbeat echoed in his head. Now, rather than numbed, he felt his senses sharpening.

"Speak !" The alpha snarled, giving Connor a cold look.

"Um, maybe we should wait until you feel better."

"I told you as soon as I get better I'll kick your ass. Explain and give me a reason if you want it to be only a beating."

"You really don't look well."

"Speak. Now."

His low, domineering voice came out like a deep growl and Connor instantly recognized the alpha command the man instinctively used against him. If the WIA agent were a werewolf, he would undoubtedly be affected. He stared at his friend who was glaring at him steadily. Connor could feel that Glen was overwhelmed and restless. He assumed it was because of his wolf. No one had ever taught him what to do in these situations. Connor took a deep breath.

"We're at Bloodhood pack's banquet. "

"What?" Glen growled and his voice reverberated against the walls. A few seconds later, the same person who had just left them stormed in. She announced herself before stepping inside.

"Is everything alright ?" Her tone was worried. Glen gritted his teeth and looked away, waiting for the woman to leave. Contrary to her expectations, she turned to him.

"If you're feeling better, can I take you to Alpha Silver and Eden?"

The question elicited an unexpected reaction from the werewolf who stood up abruptly, then sat back like he had changed his mind.

"N-No… I…"

"Give us a moment, please. He's a little nervous. " Greg had intervened with a polite smile.

"Alright, call me as soon as you're ready."

She took her leave and Glen made sure with his hearing that she was a safe distance away then resumed his quarrel with his best friend.

"Can you tell me what were you thinking when you brought me here? I thought we were friends! Don't tell me my dad paid you?"

"It's because we are friends that I brought you here. Glen, you've been a mess since you met this omega."

"And you're helping me by drugging me and forcing me into an arranged mating?"

"It's him, Glen. The omega you met that day in your uncle's office. He is Bloodhood Pack's omega. If I brought you here, it's because if you don't do anything, your mate will be bonded to another alpha. "

"What?"

The emotion that emanated from the werewolf was pure anger. Something dark was exuding from his aura that alerted Greg. The man immediately grabbed Connor to pull him away from Glen, his other hand hovering near his belt. Glen's claws and fangs spread.

Suddenly, screams and howls reached them. The werewolf sniffed the air and immediately disappeared into the corridors of the cave.

_______

"So... Still nothing?"

Dante was standing at the entrance of Eden's cave. The teenager had retreated there for a break. He had met more than fifteen alphas sent by their pack across the country and the interviews were far from over. He wanted to crawl back into his nest but he couldn't.

The banquet was a large gathering of alphas. With all the pheromones in the air, his clothes stank and he refused to let his precious nest be contaminated. He sat down in the chair in front of his desk. The werewolf was wondering if the smell would disappear from his clothes or if he would have to get rid of it when Dante's voice disturbed the course of his thoughts.

"Still nothing?"

The male omega turned his head to his friend's spot. "Do I look like I have a crush on someone?" He sighed and leaned back. "If I don't make up my mind tonight, my dad will eventually make a decision for me so anyway, I guess I don't have to worry."

The young beta didn't react but continued to stare at his friend who was now slumped on his desk. His forehead was slightly furrowed as if in pain.

"Is everything fine ?"

"Yeah, just… Headache, I think… Where is Cherry? She really intends to ignore me until the end of the banquet ?"

"If you ever decide that you like someone, she will surely appear like some berserk warrior even if it means attracting Alpha Silver's wrath." Dante chuckled and Eden responded to his remark with a bitter smile. The omega had made up its mind. He was sure of his decision and yet something inside him was broken. He knew it was the best choice, but a part of him still hoped. He closed his eyes and rested his head on the desk.

"Eden?"

The sub didn't answer. His head was spinning and his heart was pounding. A growl sounded nearby. It was the voice of an alpha. But what kind of alpha would dare to growl like that in another pack's territory? His senses were on alert, watching for any noise from outside. He paid no attention when Eden passed him and came out of his cave. The teenager walked without hesitation into the large dining room that had been set up for the occasion. Intrigued by his behavior, Dante followed him as he was frantically looking for something. The beta moved closer.

"Eden? What are you…"

The scent that reached him felt like a stab in the stomach. It was a sweet smell, appetizing. A smell of apples and sugar that invited, provoked, teasing. Dante shook his head to regain his senses and realized that he had released his fangs and claws. He turned to the omega and the beta's eyes widened in fear as he realized what was going on.

He snapped his head and saw half a dozen alphas staring at his friend. The omega was restless and tried to escape, but the beta grabbed and restrained him. Dante deployed his pheromones in an attempt to cover the male omega's ones. But his efforts went wasted. Eden's seductive pheromones filled the room. The werewolf was in heat and his pheromones were out of control.

"Eden, please calm down!"

"He's here!"

"What?"

"Let me go! He's here! "

The young man's voice was desperate and he wriggled out of his friend's shackles. Dante considered releasing him but one glance at the alphas around them, watching for weakness, dissuaded him. Fortunately, dominants of Bloodhood arrived and made a protective barrier between Eden and the alphas started to approach slowly.

The beta was looking for a way to escape with his friend when a huge growl made the walls shake. A man landed in front of them after leaping over the other alphas. Eden calmed down immediately. His eyes fixed on the stranger and his pheromones exploded one last time, making the air absolutely unbreathable. The alphas waiting for an opening lost all patience at the olfactory invitation. They were about to attack when a wave of pheromones rose up and completely covered Eden's.

The long dark-haired man had just released his pheromones. Dante, overwhelmed and defeated, collapsed to the floor in a submissive position. The black-haired man opened his arms and the omega rushed to snuggle up against his torso without hesitation. Glen retracted his claws and hugged tightly the teenager who started to feel the backlash of his first heat. Trembling and sweaty, the omega moaned and his face contorted with the pain he felt.

Glen looked up. Most of the alphas dared not approach, but some stayed on hold. The bonded dominants who had come to protect the omega were on the ground, still reeling from the overbearing pheromones. Glen's instinct wanted him to get out of here as quickly as possible and get his omega to a safer place. While he pondered his options, a voice rose. All of the werewolves moved aside to let in a huge black alpha with golden spots on his chest.

"Let him go, right now."