Fan The Flames (Willow Lake Omegaverse #3)

Prologue

This is how I’m going to die. The realization was terrifying but I couldn’t shake it as the flames licked my skin.

My eyes fluttered open as I groaned in pain, unable to save myself from this hell.

I knew that Cameron was a little crazy but never in my life did I think that he would try to kill me. How could I let my life turn out this way?

My mind was groggy from whatever he’d slipped into my drink. I had to blink several times before I could even look around to take in my surroundings.

We were in some kind of factory. It seemed abandoned from the rusty equipment and trash littering the ground. Graffiti was sprayed across the walls, the paint bubbling and disappearing under the heat of the flames, leaving only charred darkness behind.

‘Help’ bubbled up in my throat but no sound came out. It was already raw and a cough escaped from all the smoke that filled the air.

Was I going to die here all because I’d finally had enough of Cameron’s cheating and lies? I found the courage to leave, to break free of his possessiveness… and this was my fate?

Life couldn’t be that cruel.

No, I’d drag myself out by my fingernails if I had to. There was no way in hell that I would let him win.

I couldn’t. I was stronger than this.

My body was sluggish as I scooted away from the closest flames. Luckily for me, I just had a few blistering burns on my bicep but they didn't look too serious yet. Or maybe the adrenaline was keeping the pain at bay.

At the moment, I wasn’t discounting any advantages I had.

"So, you still have some fight let in you, huh?" Cameron's voice taunted me through the growing smoke and flames.

Shit. He was still here.

Urgency had me moving again. Even though my body was mostly numb, I could inch a little at a time. It felt like I was moving through molasses, each movement dragging my dead weight across the dirty cement until I was about to collapse in exhaustion.

"What did you do?" I muttered, my tongue still heavy from the drugs.

"Are you ready to be a good girl?" he purred, his voice closer to me this time. This alpha was fucking insane.

Everything in me wanted to say ‘fuck you,’ but ‘yes’ escaped my lips. I didn't want to die here. Self-preservation was all I had left.

"Good, just a few more kisses from the flames to make you remember this lesson and we can go," that asshole told me in a low rumble.

He was going to burn me and think that I was going to still stay with him? Not a fucking chance was that happening.

The moment I found an opening, I would be running.

Far and fast. Somewhere he couldn’t find me.

"Please," I gasped before another cough racked my body.

"Not yet," he taunted as he kicked a burning plank closer, the searing pain cutting right through my abdomen as it burned the fabric of my shirt away so it could char the skin underneath.

Despite how raw my throat was, my cries of agony tore out of me until I was crying and coughing in tandem.

"Just a few more minutes."

I tried to inch away from the inferno that was still spreading and the plank burning me, but it was no use.

Glass shattered overheard from the heat. It only breathed life into the blaze as it started crawling faster across the floor toward us.

A million things raced through my mind before my skin was scorched again. The pain was worse this time as my pant leg caught fire.

Just as I was about to give up hope and succumb to the torture Cameron forced upon me, I was hit with something cool.

I glanced up to see that maniac with a fire extinguisher in hand and a smile on his lips.

"There, you've had enough now," he said as he set down the extinguisher and reached for me.

The sound of sirens grew closer. My heart soared at the sound, hope blossoming in my chest, but Cameron was frozen on the spot.

The conflict on his face looked like he was deciding on taking me or leaving me behind.

"Fire and rescue, anyone in here?" a deep voice called out to me. The cavalry was here and he couldn’t escape with me unnoticed. His twisted game was over.

"Help," I tried to yell but not much sound came out other than a strained cry and rasp.

Their voices and heavy footfalls had Cameron moving. He bent down low and whispered in my ear, his voice cruel and promising pain.

"You haven't seen the last of me."

A shiver ran down my spine at his words and I didn't doubt that he would come for me again. I’d never be safe.

"Fire and rescue, anyone in here?" a new voice yelled out. They were closer now.

"Here," I was able to force out this time. More coughing hit me and its intensity made it feel like I’d swallowed the burning embers nearby.

Feeling was slowly returning to my fingertips and toes. My arms and legs had a tingle but there was no way I could sit up or stand yet.

"Anyone here?" the voice called again.

"Here," my voice was stronger this time so I added to it. "On the floor. I can't move. He drugged me."

"Keep talking," the voice ordered.

"I'm here," I choked out as tears started to fall. They were so close now.

"This damn smoke is thick. What did they make in this place?" a new voice asked.

They were getting close enough that I hoped that they wouldn't trample me in the haze.

"I'm here on the floor," I hollered again, forcing the words out louder yet.

"We’re getting close. Is there anyone else here with you?" the second voice asked.

Their flashlights glinted off the smoke but I could barely make out their shapes as they stopped in front of me.

All that mattered was that they’d found me.

I was saved.

"I'm alone," I answered with a sigh of relief at the sight of them.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, bending down to look me over.

"I have some burns and I was drugged and I can't move," I said in a rush.

"I'm going to pick you up after I roll you over. I’m so sorry if I hurt you," he said in a tender tone.

I gave him as much of a nod as my head would allow. His touch was so gentle that it nearly broke me.

Was this a bad time to get a fireman kink? That thought nearly had hysterical, pained laughter bursting out of me. A last-second attempt to cling to the sanity I was losing.

With a light touch the firefighter turned me over and lifted me into his arms. “Now, wrap your arms around my neck and hang on, I’m getting you out of here.”

"I'll try. I don't have much feeling back in my limbs yet," I told him honestly, trying to lift them and barely able to move a few inches.

"Captain, a little help please," the one holding me asked.

There was a grunt and the tallest one moved forward and helped me clasp my hands together around his neck.

"Thank you," I muttered as my eyes started to close.

He ignored me and looked at his partner. "Get her out of here. Everyone else, let's check the rest of this place before we help the others."

The one farthest from me gave him a nod and they disappeared into the smoke.

"Come on, there's an ambulance outside. Let's get you checked out," my white knight told me as he started back the way he came in.

"It was Cameron," I blurted out.

"What?" he asked.

"My ex. I broke up with him and he did all this to punish me," I admitted before I coughed again.

"Save your voice for now. We’re almost out," he said gently. “Then you can make a report later. The police will find him.”

"Thank you," I said, relaxing a little more in his arms.

He didn't say anything, just walked faster to get me outside. When the cool air hit me, I knew I was truly saved. This wasn’t a dream.

The chill in the night felt great on my skin. The burns were pure agony but I clung to that pain, let it strengthen me.

It meant that Cameron didn’t win.

I was alive and I would never let him treat me this way again.