Omega by Kassanna Page B

stomped toward her. “You have a lot to learn, Ms. Carlyle, about respect and I am just the man to teach you a lesson.” He raised his hand across his body, high above his head.
    Robbie formed fists at her side. “Try me, you sorry son of a bitch.” Her voice radiated rage.
    He took a menacing step forward, crowding her. She sucked in a deep breath and swung. Colin appeared between them, catching her fist in his palm. He shook his head and released her wrist. He spun around, quick enough she couldn’t keep up with his movements. In those few seconds, he’d partially shifted. Incisors curled over his bottom lip, his eyes took on an eerie glow underneath the florescent lighting. He clutched Tom by the throat and hefted him, the soles of the older scientist’s shoes dragged on the linoleum floor as Colin marched him backward.
    Tom hit the wall with a thud and plaster cracked around him. Colin wrinkled his nose as he sniffed him and slid him higher up the wall. “Are you scared yet, human? You should be.”
    Robbie twisted to the side, searching for the children. They were still where she’d last seen them, avidly watching the scene unfold before them, chattering in a language only they understood. Behind her Tom was sobbing out words, begging for his life. Between Colin’s growls and grunts, material ripping sounded the air. She crouched to hide what was happening and the girls eased to the side, staring past her.
    “Leave those experiments alone!” Tom’s scratchy tone was a rough whisper.
    She turned in time to see Colin pull him away from the wall only to ram him back against it. Particles of drywall clouded the air. “Talk to her again and I will slit your throat. Fuck it. Why wait?”
    Seri growled and began to shiver. Marree scooted to her side and wrapped thin arms around her sister’s tiny shoulders. Robbie grabbed them both and lifted them up as she rose, clutching each girl on her hips. She rushed to the open door and came face to chest with the soldier who was supposedly guarding the room. He leaned on the doorjamb, waving her past, and reached for his side arm.
    “Colin!” She stopped. Hopefully standing in the sentry’s view would give Colin time to get out the way.
    “Move!” the guard shouted.
    Tom wasn’t making any more sounds. She glanced back and he was slumped on the floor, his head twisted in her direction. A trickle of blood dripped from his nose. Colin leaped, shoving her out of the way. He grabbed the guard by the arm and twisted it. A faint snap and the sentinel cried out sliding to the floor. Colin kneed him in the jaw.
    He looked over at her and shook his head. His teeth receded. “Are you all right?” Colin slid his hands up and down her arm and brushed Marree’s back. The toddler giggled.
    “What are you doing here?” She returned his gaze. “Tom’s dead?”
    “He touched you; he deserved to die.” Colin peered at the children in her arms and smiled. He raised his hand and reached for Seri. She snapped her jaws. He snatched his hand back and narrowed his eyes. “She’s a wolf. We need to go.”
    “Wait, what? How do you know?” Robbie hugged the girls closer. “And I can’t leave. I am not leaving my research here for scientists like Tom Willis to come work on after I’m gone.”
    “I didn’t come here to argue with you, Robbie, I came to get you. There has been a change of plans and I need to get you out of here now.” He gripped her elbow and tugged her.
    She wasn’t budging. “Why?”
    “I challenged my father yesterday. Our timetable moved up.” The guard moaned. Colin kicked him and his head snapped to the side. Blood flew from his mouth and splattered the metal door. He stopped moving.
    Robbie glanced down. “You have to stop killing people.”
    “I’m on a roll.” Colin shrugged. “Can we leave now?”
    “I just need to get a few things from my lab. Here, take the girls and I’ll meet you outside.” She offered him Marree.
    He shook his head.