Blue Moon III: Call of the Alpha (11 page)

Omega wasn’t going to sit back and wait for Lion to gather his wits and think of his next move. True to Omega’s fighting style, he was going to fool his opponent. When he put Lion on his large ass, he’d be justified in rebuffing the man’s proposal – the one that he knew was coming soon. He wouldn’t be partnering with anyone. Besides, he doubted anyone could keep up with him. Alpha had been the best, and supposedly only a few assassins still living had mastered an animal style.

While he was shocked to see Lion was a master as well, it didn’t scare him. He was actually pretty impressed. He and his brother had been under the impression that they were probably the only two left in their Order who’d been trained in an animal style. It was common for them not to interact with each other or outside influences when in schooling or during training. They were typically masked and hidden from each other. Each one trained by their own teacher until they went out into the world to fulfill their duties.

Omega tried a series of moves that he’d been known to end lives with, but somehow Lion knew where his strikes were about to land and Omega was getting angry and suspicious. Lion shouldn’t know him like this. It was as if he was reading him. Who the hell was Lion? Had they been tricked? Did Lion just reveal his cards too soon? No sooner than the thought crossed his mind, he reacted. He’d brought this killer to his brother’s home. The home he shared with his cherished.

Lion was watching him carefully, so Omega had to clench down on the urge to widen his eyes in fear or take a dramatic swallow of nothing. His feeling turned to sorrow when he thought of what Alpha would do to him if he endangered Call, knowingly or not. If Lion was a traitorous bastard, he’d pay with
his own
life first.

Omega came at Lion full power and the big man recognized it. This was no longer a game of will and yielding. They kicked up dirt, twigs, and hard earth with spinning kicks. Their punches cutting through the air sounded like slices made with a knife. Omega hissed his anger with every strike. “Think you can fool us?” He struck out again, just missing Lion’s kidney, convinced now that he was a part of the rebellion and not seeking their help to end it. “You will die slowly, along with your shame. I’ll tell stories of the great Lion that I killed, who was fool enough to think he could betray Alpha and Omega… and survive.”

Lion wasn’t responding, he looked focused and charged. But not denying the accusations was, in Omega’s mind, as good as Lion admitting his guilt. “Goddamn you,” Omega snapped. He probably wouldn’t’ve reacted the same way with anyone else, but he’d thought Lion was different. The first man he’d ever seen from the Order without a hood besides his brother had come to cheat him. The rebellion had probably counted on using Lion’s unquestionable beauty against them.

The madder Omega got, the smoother Lion’s moves became, until he was too graceful a predator for Omega to touch. Lion maneuvered around him like he was an insignificant object that’d been annoyingly placed in his path. For as large as he was, he fought surprisingly like a dancer. Fluid and smooth. Like a large cat.

Omega wasn’t sure what was pissing him off more. The fact that Lion was there to lure them into a trap, or that he had yet to put him on his ass. He wasn’t used to this. When he struck… men fell. With a newfound surge of anger and meanness, Omega slithered low and tried to attack Lion’s most sensitive glands. He knew it was a cheap shot, but it was one of the few places that Lion’s large build had trouble protecting. He was good at blocking kicks but he’d miss one of the many fast strikes Omega was firing on him. Had to. It wasn’t wise to be so close to his opponent. He needed to strike fast and pull back. Why was Lion making him break all his rules?

Lion

He listened to every single accusation and insult Omega hurled at him while he carefully blocked each venomous blow from Omega’s speared fingertips. Tips that felt like fangs piercing the skin if they made contact. Lion wasn’t sure how they went from testing each other’s skills to Omega actually trying to hurt him. Any one of those strikes could seriously injure him. When he saw Omega go down and aim for his nuts, he’d had enough. Time to show him who the alpha predator was.

Lion let Omega come close to him, and with a swift side step, Lion threw his strong back into Omega’s chest and used his force to push him back. He didn’t give Omega room or time to attack him in return. Steeling and spreading his fingers wide, Lion reached over his shoulder and gave Omega a few warning scratches to his hood. If Lion had been really fighting him like Omega was doing, Omega’s hood and scalp would be torn through.

Lion wrenched forward and out of Omega’s striking distance. He watched as the man stumbled backwards, stunned that Lion was able to defeat him. Omega heatedly reached up and rubbed the top of his head to see if his hood was damaged.

“If I wanted it… I could’ve seriously hurt you,” Lion said calmly. “If I wanted it....” Lion looked Omega in his icy eyes. “You’d be dead right now.”

“Fight me, you traitor,” Omega snarled, coiling up again.

Lion walked a few feet, his hands tucked behind him. He gave Omega a wide berth as he no doubt figured out his next move. After Lion’s display of skill, he was certain that Omega didn’t know how to defend himself against his tiger style. He was confused, though. Omega should’ve been his equal… right? If they were meant to….

Lion continued to pace, his head lowered, remembering the day he visited his local marketplace thirteen years ago. He was between missions and enjoying some much needed rest at his secluded home in Isfahan when a prophet from his village told him his destiny. Told him he’d work alone for many moons, until he met his match, until he met him. His “him.” Lion never questioned the wise man and he certainly didn’t ask who “him” was or when they’d meet, but he’d always believed the words. The prophets were a dying breed in their lands, but the few that remained were heavily relied upon for their advice and premonitions.

Lion knew now. His master had taught him how to defend himself against any enemy and too many weapons to name, but he’d been adamant he learn to defend against one animal style, one particular style… the snake. He didn’t understand why he needed to know it at the time. But it was disrespectful to question your teachings. Every lesson was a blessing.

The man chosen to be his was to be his equal. His match in every way. Omega was more than competent, but hardly on Lion’s fighting level. He’d been trained to not only fight for this “him,” but to also protect himself from and fight with him. Discipline him. Love him and cherish him. Lion’s eyes widened. Cherish? Not possible. Had the Order really granted him a cherished one, groomed only for him? While Lion was consumed with his thoughts, with overwhelming happiness, Omega used the opportunity to try a sneak attack on him again.

Lion caught Omega’s fist in one hand and twisted it hard enough that he heard it pop but not break. But even that move affected Lion, upsetting him. Omega’s eyes broadened as he had no choice but to turn in the awkward direction his arm was being bent. Lion growled that it had come to this. If he was right and Omega was trained for him, then he had no right to hurt him. He did have a right to discipline him, however. Lion had one arm in his grasp but he had yet to secure the other, and as if on cue, Omega was exceptionally fast as he slung a sharp two fingers at Lion’s left eye. Lion blocked him when the tips were only a couple inches from touching his pupil. Lion had both of Omega’s wrists, and in a couple rapid maneuvers he crossed them in front of him and pushed until his huge body had forced Omega’s back into one of the trees. Omega grunted when they collided and Lion roared angrily in his face, showing him his own anger. Anger over actually having to fight his intended cherished.  

“Enough!” Lion commanded.

Omega squirmed, obviously trying to figure out how to unlock the complex hold Lion had on his wrists. His frustration and disappointment rolled off him and embedded itself into Lion’s soul. This was not how it was supposed to be. Well the prophet never said that his “one” would fall head over heels into his arms upon meeting. But as he’d been taught – anything worth having is worth fighting for.

Lion held tightly to Omega and crowded into him as much as he could. Omega hissed his disapproval. “Back off me.”

“No,” Lion said easily. “A fool is someone senseless, lacking in courage and strength. Do you truly believe this of me? Do you think I’m here to deceive you? You think I’m a traitor to my brothers, to my Order… to you?”

“My brother will kill you slow—”

“Not your brother!” Lion yelled, his heated voice rising up into the cool air. It seemed even the creatures of the night wanted no part of this, when they heard the noises of scurrying and fleeting feet. “I’m asking you!”

Omega was panting, but Lion wasn’t sure why. Neither of them were even close to being out of steam. “It’s not about what I think. It’s what I see.”

“Your own eyes can trick you, Erik.”

“True. But they didn’t this time.”

Lion ducked his head, wanting to bury his nose in Omega’s neck, but he knew better. Patience. Lion’s long hair blew over his shoulder on a gust of cool air and brushed across Omega’s cheek. He watched, fascinated as Omega’s dark lashes fluttered closed before he snapped them back open. He said a silent plea to the gods that the man who was meant for him was at least somewhat attracted to him. “Maybe they did. Your eyes are not open far enough for you to fully see me, Erik.”

“Stop calling me that. You have no right.”

“I thought we were past the formalities and rules.”

“Never.”

Lion clamped his heart. Omega couldn’t have meant that. He simply didn’t know who Lion was to him. Sighing, he leaned in even more, needing this man to hear him. “I’m not a traitor. I’m not your enemy. Everything I told you is the truth and you know it. Stop fighting me.”

Omega’s form went slack, but Lion still held on tight. This could be one of his many tricks. “Then how did you defend against my animal style?”

“It was taught to me.”

“By who?”

“My master, of course.”

After a long pause, Omega finally asked, “Who was your master?”

Lion paused at that one. This was one of their cardinal rules. One assassin didn’t ask the identity of another’s master. That was sacred. But Lion thought that maybe Omega needed his full trust now. If they were to be together, there’d be no secrets anymore.

“Shaolin Grandmaster Heng Ju.”

Omega’s eyes widened and then narrowed to fine slits. “Liar. Impossible. He was Alpha’s master. Alpha was his one and only student. He’d never take—”

“Don’t call me a liar. And be very careful what you say about my master,” Lion said heatedly.

Omega swallowed hard. “Why are you here?”

“I now believe I’m here for more than one reason.” Lion eased back and gently lessened his grip on Omega’s arms until he was loose. He was ready for an attack but another never came. Omega looked confused, like he wanted badly to believe Lion.

“If you cross Alpha, it’ll be the last thing you ever do.”

Lion rushed at Omega, grabbing him in his large arms and holding him tight to himself. He couldn’t resist anymore. Yes, he’d come to seek Alpha’s counsel, but he was leaving with that and so much more. Omega’s body was tight and compact against his bulk and he wanted to moan as soon as they fit together. Omega had to be able to feel it, too. Lion let his hair cocoon them as he leaned down and buried his nose in the top of Omega’s dark hair. He smelled like soap, a soap not known to him, but he liked it still. “You smell good,” Lion whispered, lost in the embrace.