"W-who are you?" Percy asked. He wished he could say that he sounded brave, but his voice was shaking.
The man grinned. "Alpha Octavian, at your service. Over there leaning against that wall in the corner is my Beta, Bryce Lawrence."
The kid who'd been smiling at the dead body of Kurt raised a hand in a wave.
"That pitiful body in the corner is my mate, Luke." The boy stiffened at Octavian's words.
Percy's eyes widened. That was his mate? What kind of person does that to the one they're destined to be with?
"Why do you have such bad history with Jason?" Percy asked timidly.
Octavian stiffened slightly at the question, then relaxed. "Let's just say that Jason isn't the perfect, rule-follower you think he is." he practically spits.
Percy's mind whirred, trying to figure that statement out. Jason? Do something bad? It seemed practically unheard of in the Olympian Pack.
"Now, I have a few questions for you, Omega." Octavian smirked. "If your precious Jason does fail-"
"He won't!" Percy interrupted. "He'll be coming for me."
"But if he doesn't," Octavian hissed, "what will we do with you?" He started to pace around the sixteen-year-old like a predator circling its prey.
Percy was silent. He had faith in Jason. He knew his Alpha would be coming for him. But what if something terrible did happen?
"I mean, we could always kill you, but where's the fun in that?" Octavian shrugged. "I could also hand you over to Bryce for a while, right? He's been in need of a new play toy…"
"What?!" Percy yelled.
"Oh, did I forget to mention?" Octavian smirked. "My dear Beta is fond of toys. He's been dying to try them out on new flesh…Goddess knows how much more Ethan can take."
"According to my results, Alpha," a cold voice said from the shadows, "Ethan will be able to last for as long as I want him to."
Percy shuddered. The Alpha Rogue chuckled. "You're a sick, twisted bastard, Bryce. Never change."
"I know!" Octavian said after a while. "If your mate fails to get you back and defeat me, then I can have you! It's the perfect solution!"
Percy stopped breathing.
"I have no real need for Luke, anyway. I just keep him there as a reminder for who's in power. I suggest you remember that, Percy."
Percy shook his head desperately. "I-I don't want to be y-yours, I can't, you already have a m-mate, he's supposed to be e-enough."
Octavian stopped circled Percy. The enormous chamber was silent.
Percy saw his shadow move before the Alpha disappeared from his vision.
"Wrong answer."
Octavian struck the back of Percy's head, sending him to the floor. He smacked his head against the concrete, and his thoughts went fuzzy.
"Bryce, you can have him for now. But this is an order: do not break my new Omega."
"Of course, Alpha."
Percy felt someone grab his legs. He struggled weakly, but his movements were sluggish.
"Hello, my new toy. I hope you like playing with me..."
Jason and Zeus stood at the Olympian Pack border lines. Jason breathed in deeply as he waited for the rest of the men to show up.
"They're taking an awfully long time," he muttered.
Zeus chuckled softly. "Impatient, huh? Not that I don't understand why. Just like your old man."
"What?" Jason asked.
"You should have seen your mother and I…" Zeus trailed off, an old light shining in his eyes.
"What? What happened with you and Mom?" Jason asked incredulously. When Zeus said nothing, Jason grabbed him by the shoulders. "What. Are. You Talking. About?!"
Zeus shook his head. "Hmm? Oh, nothing son."
Jason growled in frustration and left the topic. He saw mean approach them, but at the front of the lines were Nico, Will, Frank, Reyna, and Leo.
"Guys," Jason said, "what are you doing here?"
Leo snorted. "We heard the news. Did you really think we were going to let you look for our Luna all by yourself?"
"And you didn't even inform your Beta." Reyna shook her head. "What an Alpha."
"Percy's our friend too." Nico said. "If it wasn't for him…" he eyed the ground, lowering his voice. "I wouldn't have been around anymore if it wasn't for Percy." When he looked up, there was a fire in his eyes. "I'm going to help you bring him back."
Will grabbed Nico's hand, and Nico squeezed it, glad for the comfort.
"Not that I don't appreciate the help," Jason said, "But Leo, Frank, what about Hazel? She'll be extremely weak if both of you leave the pack grounds."
Leo and Frank looked at each other. Both wanted to come along, but the thought of Hazel slowly getting weaker and weaker the farther they traveled…
"I'll stay." Leo said. "Frank is the Gamma. He's needed with the warriors and the strategy."
Leo got up on his tippy-toes and kissed Frank. Frank wrapped an arm around Leo's waist. "Bring him back for us, okay, Shapeshifter?"
Frank smiled and let Leo go. Leo nodded at all of the men, and ran back in the direction they just came from.
"All right." Jason clapped. "That's everyone."
"People!" He yelled. They instantly quieted. "Shift!"
The sounds of bones cracking filled the air. Caelum stood at the head of the pack with his father's wolf, Rex and Reyna's wolf, right behind them.
Let's go get back our Luna. Caelum said to the entire pack.
They howled and set off into the woods.
Caelum had the strange scent fresh on his nose, so he followed it wherever it led him.
This way! He snarled.
His pack members growled and followed the Alpha into the forest.
I'm coming, Percy.