“Orion!” Atlas bellows, his rough, aching despair jabbing my eardrums like blades. I stumble into the backup nest and shut the door behind me. Thundering footsteps echo, and for a heart-squeezing second, I think the alphas are on their way to me. But the shouts fade upward as they dash desperately toward their real omega. I huddle into myself, hugging my ribs tight. If one of them comes, I’ll break. I’ll jump into their arms, all my plans of escape shot to hell. If I even smell one of them, I’ll melt. But no one comes for me. Not to check if I’m hurt. Not to check if I’m alive.
