The Omni-Wolf’s Choice novel Chapter 21

Chapter 21 A shopping trip

Bridget’s POV

Nothing’s different. Shopping is still a marathon. This mall is so huge it feels like they should issue golf carts at the entrances. Every time I’m sure we’ve reached the finish line, the girls spot one more place to raid.

At least we nailed the ball dresses. I walked out with three gowns-one of them so outrageous I honestly wondered if Ryder would ever let me leave our room in it. Total head-turner.

And, as promised, my closet has been rebuilt from the ground up. Now we’re in a lingerie boutique, and Evelyn has been a lifesaver. Adrian is, too-apparently she’s a natural-born personal shopper.

The second the staff recognized us, they shut the entire store down. Security swept the rooms and now waits at both the front and back entrances. Lucas and Pierce stayed inside, posted near the door like statues. I’m pretty sure I’m not allowed to breathe without them noticing.

“I’m just happy we finally get you to ourselves,” Evelyn says, sliding hangers along a rack of sleep sets. A glass of sparkling cider rests in her hand. I’d read wolves can tolerate alcohol better, but being an Alpha’s daughter still means underage drinking is a hard no.

Across from her, Adrian is already pulling silky slips and gowns for me. I never pictured myself as a silk kind of girl, but she’s got taste. I’ve already tried on a few, and honestly? She can shop for me

forever.

“Nknow,” I tell Evelyn. “Training has been eating up all my time.”

I blow out a breath and finish my cider just as a saleswoman tops my glass off again. We’d ordered

food so we could eat privately.

A special table sits in the center of the showroom, laid out with sandwiches, salads, and soups.

“Or is it because of all the sex you’ve been having?” Adrian asks, wide-eyed like she’s discussing

homework.

“Adrian!” Evelyn gags a little, shaking her head. “That is information I absolutely do not need.”

“Oh, come on,” I tease Evelyn. “You don’t want a detailed report on your brother’s sex life?”

“I want a detailed report on her brother’s sex life,” Sienna announces, leaning into my shoulder and

waggling her eyebrows.

My wolf surges forward for a heartbeat. Heat rushes up behind my eyes, and I know they’re glowing.

<Chapter 21 A shopping trip

* Get 5>

Merki

Sienna freezes. “Okay-wow. Your eyes. Incredible. Sorry, that was a joke. I want to know nothing. Nothing at all about your man’s sex life.”

She backs away with her hands up like she’s negotiating with a bomb. My eyes fade back to normal, and laughter ripples through the room.

Archer leans in, voice low. “I just hope we finally find out who Evelyn’s mate is. I’m hoping it’s you-

know-who.”

“Oh goddess,” Adrian groans, taking a savage bite of a turkey-avocado sub. It’s wild how grown-up she can sound for sixteen. “If I hear ‘you-know-who’ one more time-”

“Whatever,” Evelyn huffs, pouting in full Connor-ese.

“I seriously can’t wait for the ball,” Sienna says, pinning her hair up while pressing a dangerously sexy top against her chest. “And did you see that wall of hot named Montgomery? I need to speak to him.

Immediately.”

“I don’t know,” Evelyn says, adding another set to my order like she’s building an army. “Montgomery keeps to himself.”

“If anyone can drag his attention out of hiding, it’s you,” Archer says, digging into her butternut squash

soup.

I’m still learning these girls all over again, but being back with them feels easy. They’re hilarious.

I drift toward the front of the boutique where mannequins are dressed in cute floral outfits. I’m about to wave someone over when a prickling sensation crawls up my spine.

Watched.

Through the storefront I can see the food court-crowds everywhere, movement in every direction. Still,

the feeling won’t let go.

“Luna?” Lucas is suddenly beside me, so close I hadn’t even heard him approach. “Are you okay?”

My stomach turns. “Lucas… something’s wrong.”

Pain detonates in my calf, so sharp it makes my vision stutter. Like my leg is being torn straight down

the middle.

“Owwww!”

Pierce appears on my other side. “Luna, what is it?”

“I don’t know,” I gasp, clutching my leg. “But it’s pain-Ryder’s. He needs me. He has to.”

<Chapter 21 A shopping trip

They both shake their heads.

“We protect you no matter what,” Pierce starts.

“And Ryder can handle himself,” Lucas adds. “They’re hours away.”

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Menu

I flare. “So I’m supposed to sit here and do nothing while I feel him hurting? What’s the point of all

these powers if I never use them?”

Adrian steps closer, eyes bright with worry. “Can you reach your wolf? If you can find her, maybe she

can help.”

“Adrian,” Sienna cuts in, “she’s brand-new to all this. Even if she could-this is insane.”

Evelyn takes my gaze and doesn’t look away. “Try to find Mystique. Clear your head and call her. Just

try.”

Lucas gives Evelyn a warning look, but she shrugs like she’s already accepted how this ends. “We all know Bridget’s going to do it anyway. We might as well help her do it right.”

Evelyn and Adrian clasp my hands. I force myself to go hollow, like an empty cup waiting to be filled.

Enough running from me, Mystique. I need you-now.

Evelyn and Adrian begin chanting in a language I don’t recognize. Behind them, Sienna paces in tight loops. Archer gnaws at her nails, nervous. Lucas and Pierce mind-link the guys to bring the vehicles

around.

I can hear everything, but I can’t find her.

Then my awareness drops-like I’ve stepped through a thin membrane-and suddenly I’m standing in a place that isn’t the boutique at all.

The labyrinth.

The one back at the castle.

My feet move with certainty, turning where they should, passing hedges like they’re familiar friends. And there-finally-she is.

Mystique lies in the grass, licking her leg. She’s breathtaking, almost painfully luminous, like her presence was built from light. Golden eyes lift to meet mine.

“Well,” she says, amused, “it took you long enough.”

“Our mate is in trouble,” I snap. “We need to act. Right now.”

“We will,” she answers, unbothered. “I’ve been waiting for you. You’ve developed nicely on your own

<Chapter 21 A shopping trip

with training.”

“What do we do? You felt that pain too.”

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“We teleport in,” Mystique says, stretching into a literal downward dog. “We create a diversion.”

“Fine. Then do it. Let’s go.”

“You need cover,” she warns. “I’m not at full strength, and you’re a wild card. We take a warrior-

protection.”

“Tell me how.”

“Choose your warrior,” she says, “and give me control. I can help for a short time. That’s it. So we must

be fast. And exact.”

“Okay. Stand by.”

I wrench myself out of that in-between state.

“Listen,” I tell Lucas and Pierce, forcing my voice steady. “Lucas-you’re coming with me. We teleport in, help, and then I’m going to be drained. You get us out.”

Pierce’s jaw tightens. “Alpha is not going to like his mate-our Luna-walking into a fight zone.”

“Lucas will be in charge,” I insist, “with Mystique. We go in, we go out. I’m not sitting here while he suffers. If the roles were reversed, Ryder would burn the world to reach me. He should already know I’ll

do the same.”

I glance around and realize everyone is staring like I’ve grown horns.

“What?” I demand.

Sienna swallows. “Bridget… your eyes were glowing. And you were floating.”

“Great,” I say, shoving the shock away. “We can compare notes later. We’re leaving.”

Energy floods me, sudden and electric. My hands find Lucas’s, and he grips back, nodding once

toward Pierce.

The moment we connect, I’m shoved backward inside my own head.

I’m not driving anymore.

Teleporting isn’t cinematic. No swirling tunnel, no dancing lights. It’s a violent snap of force-and then

the world changes.

<Chapter 21 A shopping trip

Mystique surges forward.

And we’re gone.

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We land in a forest, just outside what looks like a cave mouth carved into rock. I let go of Lucas, but

my body wants to move.

Lucas stops me with a hand and scans the trees, the shadows, the ground. When he speaks, I know

he’s not addressing me.

“What’s the plan?”

‘We fight, right?’ I push at Mystique.

“We distract,” Mystique replies. “And we leave unseen.”

‘No-wait. We came to do more than that. He needs us.’

“Let’s do this,” Lucas says, already committing.

‘Mystique, please-‘

Her voice turns sharp inside me. ‘Bridget, we are one. I can feel our mate, which means he can feel us. Talon is blocking the bond so Ryder can focus. You’re wasting time. We strike, we vanish, and we don’t make this worse for him. Do you understand?’

‘I… guess.’

Defeat tastes bitter, but the bond is there-his heart racing, the fight still happening. Alive.

“We create a disruption,” Mystique says aloud, and her hands begin shaping that strange language again. The words make our palms glow. Lucas stands between us and the dark, guarding.

A fireball forms instantly, heat swelling in my skin. Mystique hurls it to the ground just outside the

cave entrance.

The explosion hits like thunder.

Rock shudders. Air slams into my chest. The ringing in my ears is so loud I clamp my hands over

them.

And in that heartbeat of chaos, I bolt.

I get maybe three feet into the cave before Lucas catches me and yanks me back.

For a second everything slows, like the world is holding its breath.

< Chapter 21 A shopping trip

I see him.

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Ryder is down-unconscious-but breathing. His heartbeat thumps against my senses as if it’s inside my own ribs.

I lunge, desperate, but Lucas keeps his grip.

Deeper in, Montgomery-massive in Were Bear form-barks orders, directing evacuation and

movement toward the other wolves. My gaze sweeps the scene, burning every face into memory: my pack fighting because of me.

Montgomery’s eyes meet mine.

I nod once. ‘Protect him. Get him home. Safe.’

‘YES, Luna,’ he answers through the mind-link, dipping into an inquisitive bow. He can speak to me the same way I can speak to him.

Lucas’s hand softens around mine.

Mystique pulls.

The forest, the cave, Ryder-gone.

We’re back in the SUV with the girls, the world tilting. Exhaustion crushes down, and my vision collapses into dark.

The last thing I hear is Lucas explaining what happened to Pierce as someone clicks my seat belt into

place.

And even as sleep takes me, I know it.

I’m going to have to answer to Ryder for this.

< The Omni-Wolfs Choice