Page 38 of Guarding the Runaway Omega

“Wait! Does anyone know what happened to my father?”

Elam’s features fell. “I’m sorry, Jasper, I forgot to tell you. Your father’s dead. Hawk killed him.”

* * * *

Hawk fought to open his heavy eyelids, his brain barely able to comprehend his surroundings. A dull ache in his right arm was experienced through a veil of fuzziness and after another moment or two of contemplation, he realized he was in a hospital.

Not a shifter one.

That could be a very bad thing if the siege at the prison had been discovered by humans. Here he and his fellow Alliance members had risked their lives to free shifters being experimented on by other shifters, and instead, he and his fighting comrades might end up being experimented on by humans.

“Hey, slacker. You’re finally awake.”

Cameron?

“Hey, bro. What happened, where am I?”

Cameron leaned forward from the chair next to his bed. “Let’s see. For starters, you got shot.”

Hawk snorted then immediately regretted his action when it jostled his bandaged arm. “Yeah, that much I figured.” His struggle with Jasper’s father came to mind. “Was I shot twice? I remember the gun going off again, but that’s it.”

“We’re guessing you passed out from blood loss, because you were only hit once.” Cameron sighed. “The second round pierced Jasper’s dad’s heart while you guys were fighting. He died instantly.”

Hawk had wanted to make Jasper’s father pay for what he’d put his son through, but he hadn’t intended to kill him. Yeah, maybe he’d fantasized about it, but telling his mate he’d been responsible for his father’s death wasn’t a conversation he was looking forward to having.

“You had no choice.” Cameron’s voice pulled him from his musings.

“I guess.” He sighed, his throat so dry he thought it might crack. “Is there any water?”

Cameron picked up a big plastic jug with a bendy straw from the bedside tray table then handed it to him. “Here’s your sippy cup, big fella.”

“Funny.” Hawk attempted to reach for it but remembered too late about his fucked-up arm. “Gah.”

“Hold on, hold on. Let me help you.”

Cameron wrapped his hand around Hawk’s nape and assisted him so he could take a drink. After he’d finished, Cameron lowered him back onto the pillow.

Thank gods Jasper wasn’t here to see that.

“Has anyone spoken to Jasper yet? I don’t want him to worry.”

Cameron sat down again. “Everything’s been handled. Jasper knows what happened to you, knows Sascha’s safe and knows… Well, he’s aware of the whole dead father thing.” Cameron tapped his chin with one finger. “What else? Oh yeah. Nic told me to tell you that Elam says Jasper is doing much better, loves you very much and can’t wait to speak with you later.”

Hawk blinked repeatedly, not sure which piece of information he wanted to tackle first. “Wow. Um, I… You’re handling the part about Jasper very well, Cam. I appreciate it. All of what you did for us. You’ll always be my best friend, even though I’ve found my fated one.”

Cam fidgeted, folding and unfolding his hands with his gaze averted. “I meant it when I said I had your back no matter what.” He chuckled and gave a small shrug. “Who knew you were an Alpha this whole time. I feel kind of stupid that I never figured it out.”

“Dude. Even I didn’t know for sure.”

Cam lifted his eyes. “I guess you won’t be coming back to the Guardians.”

“No. But I might get free housing at the Alliance jail up in the fucking Arctic Circle.”

Cam peered over his shoulder as if making sure they were alone. “You didn’t hear this from me, but I caught a conversation between Nic and a couple of the other pack Alphas. They’re recommending to the Alliance that all charges against you be dropped because of how you helped take down the rogue Deltas and freed the omegas.”

Tears burned in his eyes and he attempted to swallow them back down. Damn painkillers fucking with me.

“So…the omegas are okay? I remember…” The images of slaughtered young men filled his mind.