Easing his arm from beneath Kai, Ian went to the cave entrance and took a peek out.

Behind him, he heard Kai shifting around. "It's still raining," Kai said.

"I think we have our window of opportunity." Ian picked up his jacket.

It was a wrinkled, ruined mess. Better than nothing, he slipped it on. "We need to move and get our head start. Do you know a fast way down the mountain?"

Kai was on his feet at once. He stretched his arms high overhead, his shirt lifting to show a sliver of skin. An enticing show that Ian couldn't afford as a distraction.

"I have an idea, but I can't make any guarantees, considering the amount of rainfall, that it's not washed out."

"Well have to take our chances."

Ian toed at Kai's backpack. "Is there anything you absolutely need in here?"

"It's just clothes and some money." Kai dug around in it to pull out a wad of crumpled bills. He held it out to Ian.

Ian waved it off. "Keep it. We might need it when we get to town. But ditch the bag."

The look of confusion on Kai's face was almost comical, as if Ian had asked him to put on a rubber nose and dance a jig.

“What's wrong?” Ian asked.

"You want me to hold on to it?" 

What the hell went on with this pack that the omegas were completely unable to be independent? 

“It's your money, Kai, of course I want you to hold on to it."

Kai still stood there, looking at the money before he tucked it away in a pocket. He looked conflicted and uneasy.

Ian scrubbed at his face. If the other omegas were like this, he was doubly thankful for Ezra. The beta had a way with omegas that was damn near magical, and the very reason why he was the liaison between the Alphas and the omegas in the pack and not Ian. 

"Shift and watch your footing. We'll be moving fast to cover as much ground as possible."

Kai zipped up the bag and stuck it behind an outcropping of rock to hide it from casual view. It wasn't necessary as Ian had no intention of coming up this mountain again. There was no amount of money Pharrell could throw at him to get him to do it.

Both shifting to their wolf forms, Ian darted out into the rain and waited for Kai to take the lead on the best path down the mountain.

— 

They ran through the rain, but as the front continued to move west, it slowed to a light rain. The sun was still trapped behind the heavy clouds, but judging by the light levels, it was moving closer to sundown.

Every so often, Ian would stop and take stock of where they were, eyes closed and nose to the wind to gauge their surroundings.

Were they being followed? Not that he could sense.

How close were they to town? Growing closer.

The elevation tilted steep for a while, slowing them down as they picked their way across the rocky outcroppings and the slippery forest floor. When it was finally leveled out, Ian could hear traffic off in the distance.

Once they were close to the small town, Ian motioned for Kai to duck behind a large boulder at the wood line. They shifted back to human form. They were still wet, but at least the rain was an annoying drizzle instead of the downpour that had dogged them for most of their run.

Kai peeked above the boulder. "Where to now?"

Ian didn't feel the need to hide. He brazenly stepped out and headed in the direction of the road. “I gave your fellow omegas instructions to get to the gas station on the south side of town. That's where I stopped to fill up on my way in. If they didn't panic, my pack Alpha should already be there to pick us up."

"Ian! Wait! What if Barry is out there?"

"He won't be stupid enough to move against us in town, I don't care what kind of bully he is. He's not going to involve non-shifters in his sick power play."

Kai jogged to catch up, falling into step with Ian. “How do you know that?"

"Because that's the kind of bully he is."

"You don't know him!"

Ian stopped and turned Kai around to face him. “I know his type. I get it that he wasn't above disregarding the chain of command.”

“By killing them!" Kai's voice was on the edge of hysteria.

“Yes, by killing them," Aaron continued patiently. "But he can't afford the kind of trouble a human situation can bring on his head. It's way too risky. Shifters are, for the most part, open now in society. It doesn't mean we're completely free of prejudice and fear against us. Whipping the human population into a frenzy wouldn't serve him. Barry is arrogant, mean and a bully, but he's not stupid."

Kai dropped his gaze and nodded slowly. I guess you're right."

Ian cupped Kai's chin and lifted it so they could meet eye to eye.

"It's okay to question, Kai, and to make sure all the facts are covered. It just so happens, in this.case, I am confident I'm right. However, you're also right that he's dangerous and we need to get out of this town as quickly as possible so we can report this to my pack Elders. They'l handle it."

"Okay, Ian. Thank you."

Kai 's lips curled in a small smile.

It sent a flutter through his stomach.

Now was not the time to be taken in by the innocence of an omega who was not promised for him.

The township of Aura wasn't very large in comparison to city life. Walking from one end to the other would only take an hour or so. He was growing tired and Kai was like the walking dead by the time they got to the small gas station on the edge of town.

Parked alongside the small store were two Escalades. The rearview windows bore the parking stickers for the Blue Moon Pack's office building.

Ian didn't want to telegraph his relief but it unclenched in his gut when his Alpha strode out of the convenience store with a half-eaten Moon Pie in one hand.

He waved when he saw Ian and motioned for them to head to the vehicles.

Ian rested a gentle hand on Kai's shoulder and nodded.

"That's my Alpha."

"If that's an RC Cola in his other hand, I may change my mind about your pack."

"It most likely is." Ian smiled warmly at Kai when the omega looked up at him. "He's that kind of Alpha."

“Jesus on a wheat thin, Ian, it took you long enough," Pharrell grumbled around a bite of the Moon Pie.

"There was this spectacular lighting show that we just had to stop and watch." Ian embraced his Alpha, who held him tightly for a moment. "I take it you got my message."

"I did. The omegas are already on their way to the mansion." Pharrell released Ian and gave Kai the once-over. "This is the one who ran away, right?”

Kai's head ducked. “I'm so sorry, Alpha."

"Whoa whoa," Gage said. "I'm not pissed. If what the other omegas said is true, you may have saved their lives. Ian wouldn't have been forced to step in and contain the situation proactively. I'd be pretty pissed if I lost a brave Alpha like that."

Ian's spine stiffened. "I'm offended that you don't have confidence in my ability to control any unexpected

situation."

Pharrell looked him over with a snort. “You should see your suit. You'd understand why I may have had that moment of doubt."

Ian snorted. "I'd like very much to get the hell out of here. You didn't bring the helicopter?"

“Weather.” Pharrell finished off his Moon Pie and crumpled his wrapper to toss it in the garbage bin. “We broke land records getting here, though."

"I'll drive," Ian said while holding out his hand.

"Like hell." Pharrell tapped on the glass of one of the Escalades. The passenger window rolled down. A beta leaned out the window.

"Yes, Pharrell?"

“You'll be driving Ian and our new omega — ”

Ian opened the back seat door. “His name is Kai."

"Ian and Kai back to town. I'll meet you at the mansion," Pharrell said to Ian.

"In the morning." Ian climbed in behind Kai and lowered the window. "I need a bath, a shave. something decent to eat and a full night in my own bed."

"And Kai?"

Kai slid up close to Aaron until their bodies touched. The move wasn't lost on Pharrell and he looked from Kai to Ian before lifting an eyebrow.

"It's been a traumatic day, Pharell. Don't be a dick. He can stay with me until morning. Have Ezra send over clothing for him."

After a pause, Pharell nodded and slapped the top of the SUV. “See you in the morning. Bright and early, alright?”

"Your bright and early or household bright and early?" Ian asked with a taunting undertone.

Pharrell chuckled and backed away so the driver could back out of the space.

Once they were on the road and the small town was in the rearview mirror behind them, Ian slumped

in the seat and let out a breath. The worrisome thought he had was he knew they hadn't seen the last of Barry. Ian's only problem was in not knowing when Barry would pop up next or what time.

What an eventful day.