The Lycan King's Outcast Omega (by Cara Anderson) novel Chapter 76

Chapter 76

Alaric

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“The healing pack abilities are a threat to pack stability,” Lord Marcus declares. “History shows us the dangers of unchecked power. Already she gains followers, already she challenges our traditional ways—‘

“By healing our wounded?” I counter, barely containing my beast’s rage. “By saving lives when our usual methods fail? If that’s the trade off then I don’t give a fuck what history shows!”

“It’s not just about healing,” Victoria’s father interjects. “These abilities… they’re unnatural. The old texts speak of powers that could control wolves‘ very natures. What’s to stop her from—”

The howls that cut him off carry notes I haven’t heard in years – pure terror mixed with desperate warning. My beast recognizes the threat before my human mind can process it. These aren’t normal patrol signals. These are primal, urgent.

A warrior bursts through the council doors, bleeding from multiple wounds. “Mutant wolves… breached the borders… attacking the gardens…” He manages the stilted words before collapsing to the ground at my feet.

I should be helping my wounded warrior. I should be shouting orders, rallying my forces to defend the pack. But the only thing I can focus on is the one thought reverberating in my head: Sage could be in those gardens.

–

My beast explodes forth before he finishes speaking. Bones crack and reform as I shift into my Lycan form twice the size of a normal wolf, midnight black fur threaded with silver, a king’s form passed down through ancient bloodlines. Council members gasp as I knock furniture out of my way, racing toward the threat, but I ingore them completely.

Her scent hits me first – honeysuckle and rain tinged with fear and blood. Sage stands in the garden with several younger wolves behind her, facing down three mutant creatures that barely resemble wolves anymore.

Their flesh ripples unnaturally, scales glinting between patches of mangy fur. Their bones crack and reform with every step. But their eyes… their eyes hold intelligence and malice.

The mutant wolves move like nothing I’ve ever encountered – faster than natural wolves but with jerky, wrong movements that make them hard to predict. My claws tear through one’s flesh, but it barely seems to notice, its wounds knitting together with sickening speed.

Blood matts my midnight fur as I position myself between the creatures and my mate. Every instinct screams to get Sage to safety, but they’ve cut off all escape routes. More pour from the shadows until we’re surrounded by glowing eyes and twisted forms.

Their coordinated attacks prove this is no random breach. They know exactly where to strike, how to separate us from help. My beast roars as we tear through another attacker, but for every one we drop, two more appear. These aren’t mindless beasts. They’re hunting with purpose.

The first bite to my side burns like liquid fire. Not normal wounds – something corrupted pulses through their saliva, spreading poison through my veins. I stagger but keep fighting, even as my movements grow sluggish.

Then teeth find my throat.

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Chapter 76

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I throw the creature off, but the damage is done. Black lines spread from the wounds, carrying darkness through my blood. My legs give out as the poison reaches my heart. Even my beast’s natural healing can’t fight this corruption.

The world spins, darkness creeping at the edges of my vision. But it doesn’t dim the fear settling like ice in my veins. If they can this easily take down my lycan, the most powerful beast in the entire kingdom, what chance do normal wolves have? What chance does my wolfless mate have?

“Alaric!” Sage’s scream holds raw terror as she runs to me, heedless of her own safety. Blood trickles from cuts on her face, her arms, but she doesn’t seem to notice.

“No, no, no…” she kneels beside me, begging me for something I can’t promise her. “Don’t you dare leave me. Don’t you dare…”

Her hands press against my wounds, trying desperately to stop the bleeding. But we both know these aren’t normal injuries. The corruption spreads visibly under my skin, turning veins black, stealing my strength.

“Stay with me,” she begs, voice breaking. “Please, please stay with me. I can’t lose you. I can’t…”

Her tears fall on my fur as she cradles my massive head in her lap. I try to warn her about the approaching mutants, but can only manage a weak growl. I shift back but it takes all the strength I have left, my arms falling limply to my sides.

“I love you,” she whispers fiercely, pressing closer despite my blood soaking her clothes. “I love your strength and your gentleness. The way you look at me like I’m precious. The way you believe in me even when I don’t believe in myself. You can’t leave me, not now. Not when I’ve finally found where I belong.”

I manage to pull her down for a kiss that tastes of blood and salt and desperation. Her blood from various cuts mingles with mine where she holds me close. Something ancient stirs in the air – power recognizing power, heritage calling to heritage. The moon seems to pulse brighter overhead.

The mutant wolves lunge as one, sensing their chance to finish us. But the air crackles with building energy. Where our blood mixed, light begins to pulse.

Sage rises slowly, power rolling off her in waves that make even my beast want to submit. The creatures falter in their attack, sensing something they didn’t expect.

Light explodes from her in a concussive wave, driving the mutants back. Some try to press forward but recoil as if burned. Others turn tail and flee, their corrupted forms disappearing into shadows.

The remaining mutant wolves retreat, but not before I catch something in their eyes – not just malice now, but fear. They recognize what’s awakening in her, what power has been unleashed.

Through my pain–hazed vision, I watch Sage sway slightly, the effort of whatever she just did clearly draining her. When she kneels beside me again, her hands on my wounds burn like pure moonlight. But her hands remain steady, that strange moonlight–burning sensation continuing to fight back the poison in my blood.

The worst of the poison recedes, though the injuries themselves only partially heal. Enough to keep me alive, but nowhere near full recovery. When she’s done all she can, she stands as if in a trance and takes a step back.

I manage to focus my fading vision on her, and what I see makes my beast howl in triumph and awe. This

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Chapter 76

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