I now knew enough of Anarchy’s politics to be sure a large enough group of allies could take out nine alphas with ease if they wanted to. The cell was safer, since it was at the end of a hallway, with the Emerald pack nearby.
That’s why Sin was working on a deal with the Redgraves, and the others were confident it would offer better protection than twenty bodyguards.
He better make it happen.
“How big is this place?” she asked in a small voice.
Anarchy was all dead end hallways and various wings housing alphas, with a couple of general gathering places. The cafeteria and the square were the only ones she would be seeing—no way could she go anywhere near the fucking rut cages. That was about all I knew of the layout.
I looked at my packmates to answer her.
“Big,” Sin said. “Mostly one level, though some parts are taller than others.”
“It’s on a slope,” Phantom clarified. “Up where the contraband room is, there are windows and everything. It’s above ground. But go the other way and it takes you down into the bowels.”
She fell into a hush when we set foot in the cafeteria. Heads swung to look at us, and I put my hand possessively on the small of her back as the rest of my pack crowded closer. Sin kept his chin held high, daring anyone to call him out for committing the faux pas of claiming this omega when she wasn’t meant for us.
Little did they all know, she was.
She wasmeantto be ours. We were linked together now, scent matched and bonded.
“Let’s get you some food,” I said to Crescent.
She gave a shaky nod, completely incapable of giving off the aura of confidence the rest of us had. Those wide golden eyes were like a deer in the headlights as she stared around, shying closer to my side.
Only yesterday, she’d offered herself up to these alphas as perfect omega bait, and yet she was terrified. Fuck me, she really believed that she would corrupt us if she stayed close, and to save us she faced her fear all alone.
We were only here right now because I caught her in time, before another alpha’s dark bond graced her pretty throat.
Reaching up as we walked, I held the side of her neck and caressed the bonding mark I left on her skin. Eyes caught the movement from around the room, and I heard a murmur going up from those seeing the feral claiming for the first time.
“What do you like to eat?” I asked as we approached the long counter.
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “Pick for me?”
She was so damn cute. Leaning down, I kissed the side of her head. It was hard to ignore the tension all around us, but I did my best for her. If we all acted uptight, she was going to panic.
“Any allergies?” I asked.
She shook her head, and I stepped up to the counter. I pointed out a few dishes for her, letting the alpha behind the counter plate them. He kept glancing up, sneaking peeks at her, and I made a point of baring my teeth at him.
From then on, he kept his attention on the food.
It felt, as we meandered down the food line, that we had the whole prison up in arms, walking on a tightrope as they waited to see who would make the first move.
Because someone was going to try and steal Crescent back from us.
I hoped she ate fast so we could end this attempt at a show of force. She was much safer back in the room, coming all over my tongue. My cock tried to wake up at that thought, but I didn’t let the urges take over. I’d been feral enough for a fucking lifetime, and I was sure I would be again, but now wasn’t the time.
I could save it for when we really needed it.
Plate of food in one hand and the other still touching Crescent, I ushered her through the room with everyone else behind. Some of the others had grabbed food, sitting at surrounding tables, but were only half focused on it with the tension in the air. I intended to eat from her plate, and Karma and Sin had gone to claim our table, eating with feigned nonchalance. Phantom didn’t even bother to grab a plate—too on edge, I bet.
But she seemed pleased to have her walk and her snack. It would be worth a little tension.
We had eight days until the appeal.
Keeping her trapped in the cell the whole time was just unrealistic.