Omegas In Love

Chapter 9

Tyler leaned against the door at the sound of Katrina’s voice, as if he could pass through the metal. He had found her. Lightheaded, he took a deep breath. The lock didn’t appear heavy duty, just a simple thing to keep humans out. The muscles in his back and arm contracted while he applied pressure to the knob. If he broke it, the lock would go too.

It took all his willpower not to bust down the door, but noise would attract attention. Concentrating supernatural strength in his hand finally snapped the knob. Its shattered pieces tumbled into his palms.

He shoved the door open.

Katrina stood on shaky legs. The most radiant smile spread across her face like moonbeams and night skies.

In three strides, he gathered her in his arms and squeezed tight. Nothing short of a crowbar would pry his arms from her.

Or her flinching at his touch.

He let go right away. She hadn’t reacted to him this way since they’d first met. Stepping away, he scanned her from head to toe. Torn dress, bruised face and limbs, her bottom lip swollen with a split. That bastard! She splinted her side as she moved toward him as if it hurt to walk.

“No.” The denial grated in his throat with contained rage. His pulse pounded behind his eyes. Had she already gone into heat? Was he too late?

Chen. Would. Die.

He’d tear that alpha’s heart out and eat it. Never had he wished harm on anyone until tonight.

Tears sparkled on Katrina’s eyelashes. “It’s not what you think. He only beat me.” She reached for him.

“Only?” He could barely speak. This time he gathered her in his arms gently. “I’m going to kill him.”

“No, you’re not.” She gazed into his eyes as she rested her head on his chest. “You will take me home. Let the warriors fight. I can’t lose you.” She sobbed once. “I’m so sorry.”

He gave her a chaste kiss. “We need to go.”

“Wait.” She whispered. “There’s something you need to know. I will be in my season soon. Very soon.”

“I know.”

Her shocked, confused expression was priceless.

“I had someone translate your diary.” He met her stare without shame. He’d have done it again if it meant saving her.

“The whole thing?” A deep blush crept up her cheeks then she shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. Chen’s gathered other females. He’s going to do terrible things to them. We have to help.”

“First, I get you off the ship. Then I’ll come back with help.”

“I have to stay.”

“Katrina–”

She placed a finger over his lips. “It is non-negotiable. I won’t be separated from you.”

They could argue about this all night, but it wouldn’t get her home faster. “Fine. At any sign of trouble, you shift and run.” He turned toward the door.

“I can’t shift.”

“Shit, Spice told me. I forgot.” He’d have to stay in human form so she could keep up. “How long before it wears off?”

“I don’t know.”

“Fuck.” With a gentle hand, he guided her to the door. His acute sense of smell had led him to Katrina. She was his mate. He could recognize a trace of her scent, but strangers were a different thing. The ship was full of shifters.

They left the sleeping quarters and followed the stairs back to the deck where he’d set his trap by the rope winch. How would he lure Chen here?

They followed close along the cargo crates stacked on the deck three boxes high. Guards on the control deck came out to scan the dock once in awhile. However, they did it half-heartedly. Maybe they didn’t think the Vasi would retaliate? Or that Eric had died in the explosion? The reasons didn’t matter. It meant they could search the ship if very careful.

At the winch, he pointed to the rope, which traveled up to the top of the three-crate-high cargo stack. “By triggering this switch, it will pull those containers down on whoever is standing next to them.” He prayed it would work. Rube Goldberg machines were his hobby, but he’d never built one on this scale. Without testing it, anything could happen.

Faint voices got closer. Tyler backtracked, pulling Katrina along, until they reached a gap between cargo containers. They were both thin enough to squeeze into the tight space.

He pushed Katrina in first, then sniffed the air. They’d be downwind from the voices, so there was a good chance their scents would get mixed in with everyone else’s.

Pressed close together, Katrina’s small fingers entwined with his. He’d gotten her back! Another wave of relief washed over him. He leaned his forehead against the hard metal and listened as the guards drew closer.

They chatted in what must be Mandarin.

He sensed Katrina stiffen next to him. Glancing in his direction, her wide eyes danced with his.

The guards passed, too busy chatting to notice them.

Tyler made Katrina wait before letting her speak.

She whispered, “Those guards just placed two girls in an empty cargo container. They’re waiting to trade them or something?”

“They want to swap them for Spice.” Those girls must be Tony’s sisters. Since they were waiting on the unconscious shifter, that meant the ship wouldn’t be taking off anytime soon. “First, we need to take care of Chen. Once he’s out, we’ll have a better chance of setting the girls free.” The pack should be here by then.

“There are hundreds of boxes on this ship. We need to track where the guards have been before their scent fades.”

He wanted to slam his head against the metal container. “If I wanted to live dangerously, I’d cancel Daedalus’s NFL TV subscription.”

A grin bloomed on Katrina’s face, then she kissed his cheek. “I missed you.”

“The winch I showed you. If we get a chance to bait Chen there, we should take it. Prisoners or not, okay?” They didn’t have a chance in hell of getting off this boat alive.

She nodded.

He stroked her cheek. At least she knew he’d risk everything for her. “Let’s go.” They crept out from their hiding space and Tyler bent close to the ground, sniffing. The guards’ scent remained strong.

They followed the trail away from where Tyler had climbed onto the ship. This was a terrible idea. With Katrina unable to shift, everyone relied on him to defend them, a huge, massive, terrible, terrible idea.

He detected a trace of sour anxiety in the air. Sweat and fear grew stronger as they traveled along the length of the deck. Each cargo container stood well over six feet tall and at least eight feet wide. They could easily hold people.

The barbarians couldn’t even house the girls in a room.

Ignoring the pain with each breath, Katrina followed Tyler until he stopped at a container on deck level. Her stomach clenched and sweat beaded her skin even in the cool night air.

“The scent is strongest here.” He gestured to the sealed doors.

They’d found them. Knocking lightly, she spoke in Mandarin for someone to knock back. Her fear seemed amplified by the small amount of noise she’d made.

Multiple loud bangs answered her. She met Tyler’s concerned gaze. Someone had to have heard that.

Her mate took the padlock with both hands and braced his foot against the door. The muscles along his sturdy shoulders bunched and he twisted the lock back and forth until it broke. He was so much stronger than he thought.

Katrina lifted the handle and unlatched the closing mechanism. The metal door swung open on oiled hinges.

Two young Asian women swarmed out and into her arms. Their tear-stained faces said more than any words could. They complained about not being able to shift.

She didn’t have time to explain. They needed to get off the ship. Now. She faced Tyler. “Show us the way off.”

Tyler scooped her into his arms.

The pain blinded her. “What are you doing?” Her mouth could barely articulate through her clenched teeth.

“We need to hurry and you’re too hurt to run.”

She rested her head on his shoulder and focused on his face, ignoring the jarring hurt as he raced along the deck. The girls followed close behind. They looked so much alike, they had to be related.

Stopping by the rail, Tyler pointed over the side. “You speak English?”

“Yes.” The girls both answered.

“Climb down this ladder. When you get to the docks, stay together and run for the shadows by those warehouses. Hide until we or someone from the Vasi come get you.”

Tyler set her down. “Lead them. I’ll guard your backs.”

She shook her head. “I am not leaving you. They go first.” She leaned against his chest and watched the girls climb over the rail.

“Your turn.” Tyler guided her.

Someone behind them coughed.