5. Chapter Five
Chapter Five
Willow
The largest Alpha of the three moves toward me, his face covered in tattoos.
I should move back, step out of the way, keep myself hidden, but I freeze.
Bright blue eyes, the color of the tropics, hold me transfixed—all knowing.
The second he gets close enough, notes of whiskey and amber swirl around me.
My body comes alive, and although the Alpha looks foreboding and dangerous, I want to dive into his arms.
He prowls toward me, stunning me with the hints of leather and smoke mixed into his scent.
No one has ever caused my mouth to water like this.
Tensing my legs, I do my best to stay put.
His distinct scent swirls around me, and my nipples pucker almost painfully, begging for his attention.
A whine builds in my throat, but I choke it down.
There are too many people here. Not safe.
Even as I think it, my body betrays me, flooding my panties with a gush of slick.
Honeysuckle musk perfumes the air.
The Alpha’s eyes dilate, his pupils blowing wide, and his tongue darts out as if to taste my nectar on the breeze. His hand reaches out, grabbing for me, and I gasp.
Don’t touch me!
Please touch me!
I’m drowning in my body’s mixed signals. Teetering on the edge between want and wariness. Desire and destruction.
“You’re mine,” he growls loudly, and I shake—not from fear, but from the lust coursing through my body.
Sensing my distress, Bruce leaps forward, shoving himself between me and the mystery Alpha. He snarls, releasing a set of rapid-fire warning barks. It catches the attention of the other two bikers, who move toward us.
“Cujo. Everything cool over here?” the one flirting with Alicia asks. His nostrils flare, then he stills, freezing. My omega scent turns sour with fear as I find myself surrounded by three imposing men. Suddenly, there’s a lump in my throat, making it impossible to get air in or out. Not until…
“Breathe,” the big Alpha barks, and even on suppressants, I can’t ignore the command.
Oxygen and his scent fill my lungs, making me dizzy.
Is this tattooed man my scent-match? The Alpha standing before me is enormous.
Rough. Nothing like who I imagined for my mate when I was a little girl.
He uses the moment to his advantage, plucking my phone from my hand.
The move makes Bruce lunge, snarling in a storm of fury. A mix between a Belgian Malinois and Great Pyrenees, my pup is fearless, ready to take down any predator. And maybe he can, but I’m not sure which male I’m more worried for.
“Calm,” I tell him, although the riot of emotions filling me is anything but. Bruce’s hackles remain raised, but he quiets in front of me.
“Yeah, Fen. All good. Just getting Willow’s number.” His fingers fly across my screen. “What’s the password?” I’m uncertain whether to be flattered or outraged, but then he turns the screen toward my face. “Never mind.”
Say something. Do something. There’s nothing on the phone besides a few basic numbers, but it’s still a violation, and I have half a mind to give him hell. Once his phone dings, he hands mine back, and I don’t even try to stop Bruce from nipping at his fingers.
“Call off your dog, little omega,” Cujo cajoles. “You’re safe. And mine.”
His words ring true, but I can’t begin to process their meaning. When he steps forward, reaching for me, my instincts kick in.
“Alicia, I’m leaving.” My heart thunders, although my inner omega insists we take this Alpha to the nearest soft surface.
I don’t even wait for her answer before taking off down the block. Boots scuff on the pavement behind me, so I move quicker. My lungs start to burn as I power walk, and the muscles in my thighs protest.
Maybe I should take up running, after all.
Once I reach Alicia’s car, I tug at the door handle, nearly sobbing when I find it locked. It beeps suddenly, and I yank on it once more. It opens, and I clamber into the passenger seat.
As soon as I settle in, Bruce leaps into my lap, turning himself into a barrier between me and harm. My sweet boy lovingly licks my jaw, nuzzling the overwhelming emotions away.
Breathe. Just breathe.
The back door bangs open, and I jump a mile.
But Bruce doesn’t make a sound when Mule leaps into the back, and Alicia secures him before getting into the driver’s seat.
I’m so embarrassed, I can’t even look at her.
Driving my hands deep into Bruce’s fur, I let the softness slip through my fingers, using him like a weighted blanket.
I close my eyes, willing the adrenaline coursing through my body to chill out.
“Are you okay?” She starts the car, and I shake like a leaf, crashing.
“Y-y-yeah. I’ll survive.” I try for nonchalance, but my teeth chatter as I answer. Bruce pushes his body onto mine, giving me the pressure point therapy I need to calm down. But it’s only once she’s backed out of the space that I relax.
“You must think I’m completely insane…” I’m unsure where to start. Although Alicia is as close to a friend as I’ve got, she only knows a very small part of who I am. Most of it lies.
“I swear, I don’t. Since the moment I met you, I could tell there was something you were keeping back.
Whenever you’re ready to talk, I’m here for you, but I won’t push.
Trauma sharing should never be forced.” She speaks like a wizened old crone, and I wonder what she may be holding on to as well.
But right now, breathing is taking every ounce of my strength.
“Thanks, Alicia.” Slumping in my seat as we peel away from town, I can’t hold the memories back any longer.
“Little mouse, come out and play.” A loud metal baton trails along the bars of our cages as Malachi walks down the row of kennels my sisters and I are being kept in. Each tingle sends a shiver through my body.
Ping. Ping. Ping.
Bringing my knees to my chest, I try to get small as the sound approaches.
“Little mouse. I have a new game for us today. You’re really going to like this one.
” The promise has bile crawling up my throat, making me retch.
I dry heave, but nothing comes up. My muscles contract and ache.
It’s been days since I’ve had any food or water; time has lost all sense of meaning. Yet, somehow, I’m thankful for that.
The rapping of the baton grows louder.
Until it stops.
The monster’s here. And no one’s going to save us.
Big hands reach for me, dirty and cruel. I flinch into the concrete wall, but there’s nothing there to comfort me. Instead, I’m pinched and yanked to my feet. The monster shakes me roughly until I look into his face. Staring back are black eyes, full of pure evil.
“Little mouse, I hear you play piano. Today, I’m going to teach you a brand-new song.”
A choked sob rips from my throat, but there’s no use in crying. There’s no use in doing anything other than complying.
Slurp.
A big wet tongue caresses my face, bringing me back to the here and now.
“So, what do you think? Will you come with me?” Alicia takes her eyes off the road for a split second, glancing my way.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“The party Fen invited me to. It’s on Saturday at their clubhouse. I promise it’s close.”
Can I go to a party? Do I even want to?
“I don’t know, Alicia. Going to a biker party might be a bit much.” The last celebration I went to ended in disaster. My mom…
No, I can’t think that way. Most social gatherings are fine.
“It’s really fun there. I’ve been to a few of their shindigs.
I promise I’ve never felt safer. The Hellbent Hounds aren’t like normal MCs.
They’re a group of ex-military dudes who like motorcycles.
Most of them have medals and stuff.” A seed of determination settles in my belly. Eventually, I need to start living.
When I glance down, I notice a text message on my phone.
Cujo
I’m not going anywhere.
It should sound ominous, but it feels like a promise. Being in WITSEC doesn’t require total isolation… Plus, what’s safer than a large group of decorated war veterans?
Whiskey, amber, leather, smoke. Though I want to deny it, Cujo’s scent calls to me in a way that’s undeniable.
“Okay. But I’m bringing my car in case I wanna leave.”
What have I agreed to?