Chapter 59

Caleb’s POV

I stood at the back of the kitchen, listening to Draven and Luka speak with the omegas who worked in and outside the mansion. They did have a compelling offer for those who wished to leave and make a new start. The world she spoke of sounded attractive even to me. A new home, a job of their choosing, and all the supplies they needed to get started. How could a kingdom provide such luxury to all its pack?

I couldn’t help but wonder what it looked like and why it had stayed hidden for so long. I was stunned when many of the omegas knew of Draven’s arrivals in the past. And found many of the omegas we thought were runaways had actually gone with him.

With my shoulder against the wall, arms crossed, it irritated me that Luka wouldn’t look at me. All her focus was on her task. This was important to her, but I should know that. I cursed myself. Had I ever truly seen her or did I see what I wanted and that was it.

The browns and golds of her eyes reflected the room like glass. Her hair was up in a soft bun, and her cheeks and lips were rosy. She looked fit, like she had continued to train in her homeland. Images drifted to my mind of our time together training. I missed that.

Hands darted into the air, and it was then I saw that these were the omegas wishing to leave. Luka hugged Draven.

“We will leave in a few days. I must go into town and speak with the omegas there, and we will leave. Please let your head omega know if you will be leaving. And please help get things in order so when you leave, it isn’t disruptive.”

I straightened. Disruption. What did she mean by disruption? Surely there would not be so many omegas leaving, which could cause problems. The room was alive with chatter and excitement, but also anxious faces from those who didn’t raise their hands.

Draven strolled over with his hand out. He was young by the look of his clean, smooth complexion. However, there was a weight he carried like most Alphas. He was as tall as me and just as wide. I thought of the other male, Noah, and considered the size of his wolf, if his stature was an indicator of that from his homeland.

“Thank you, Alpha King, for making this process straightforward. With your bond to Luka, we need to make changes.”

He knew of the mate bond. I glanced at Luka, who was now walking this way. She told him. My pulse jumped.

“I hope your visit is not wasted.” I shook Draven’s hand.

“Why would it be wasted?” Luka said. “Did you not see the hands of the omegas that wish to leave?”

I didn’t want to fight. So I didn’t answer.

She cast a dark look at me. “Let’s go to town Draven I don’t want this to take any longer then it has to.”

“Sister, don’t worry, word will spread as it often does. There will be more by the end of the day.” Draven glanced back at me. “Is it okay if those wishing to leave, camp near the forest?”

“Yes, that is fine.”

“Thank you again.” Draven bowed and made his way through the servants, talking.

Luka went to follow. I caught her arm, needing to touch her. She looked at my hand and then my face. “Let me go.”

A knot choked me, and I barely found the words. “I can’t.”

She reached up and cupped my cheek. I kissed her palm, still holding her. I gently drew her nearer. “Please, Luka. Tell me we can work this out.”

Her eyes stormed with emotion. Her thumb ran over my cheekbone. “I wish they could, I just don’t see how.” She smiled broken heartedly and strolled away.

Within a week, there was a camp near the forest of at least ten dozen tents. I called Mia and James into the study. “What is the head count so far?”

Mia eyed James and swallowed hard. “There are nearly three hundred omegas.”

“Sir, there have been some slowdowns already in the mill, and the kitchen is struggling to prepare food.”

“Damnit.”

“What do you want us to do?” asked James. “Should I go bring the omegas back?”

“How? With ropes and chains? No. I gave my word that they could go. Let them go.”

Mia looked worried. Hell, I was concerned. Was the treatment of the omegas truly bad enough that they wanted to leave? It had me doubting everything. Luka had been right to be concerned about their treatment. Had the Alphas, me included, just expected them to do what we wanted because we could make them or punish them. My stomach turned. This wasn’t the King I wanted to be.

Luka’s POV

It took weeks to travel to all the other packs and gather the omegas who wished to leave. Draven and I were worn out and decided it was time to take who we had through the gateway. We would return later in the year.

Once we arrived back at the forest with all the other omegas. We spoke to them and let them know we would be leaving in the morning.

Draven and I set up camp. I didn’t want to go to my apartment or to the mansion. Sitting by the small fire, I saw Mia coming on foot. I stood, happy to see her before we left for Omegas.

“Mia, I’m so happy to see you. Draven and I only just arrived this evening.”

Mia looked like crap. “I need you to come talk to Caleb.”

“Why, what is wrong?”

Draven sat up, studying Mia curiously.

“Caleb, we can’t get him to leave his room. He has been in there for two weeks. You are his mate. He needs you.”

A stab of guilt lay buried in my chest. I felt his despair and doubt growing since my meeting with the servants in the mansion. And the pull of the mate bond had become quiet.

“I can’t leave. I have responsibilities to these people. We go in the morning.”

Mia’s face turned red. “He helped you when no one else did. He got you stronger and healthier. You owe him.”

Mia came nose to nose with me. I knew she was upset, and I understood why she was afraid. But I had others to think about. I knew the quickest way to shut this down was to show her what it feels like to be on the short end of the stick. A bitter revenge stirred inside me.

“It was not so long ago that I sat with you on a bench begging you to talk to Caleb for me and tell him I had nothing to do with Declan’s advances, and you turned me away and wouldn’t help me. You left me broken and alone. So, don’t you dare get mad at me. He was my mate then, too, even if I couldn’t feel the bond. He could.”

Tears ran down her face, and Draven’s expression hardened. “Luka, please help him. He needs you.”

“I can’t help him. He has to help himself.”