Chapter Three
ARINA
Alpha. Alpha. Alpha.
The word bounced around my skull, each syllable followed by a shot of panic.
My only hope to get closer to Houston was a fucking alpha.
How could my luck possibly be so bad?
The second he offered me the black helmet, his scent wafted into my face and overwhelmed my senses. He was everywhere, the sweet taste of sugar candy making my mouth water, and underneath… was that apples?
My fight or flight reflex kicked into overdrive, and it was everything I could do to stay rooted to the spot. All I wanted to do was hightail it back into the trees and put as much space between him and me as possible.
“Put that on.” He gestured to the helmet in my arms, and I nodded before I even processed his words. My brain was struggling to function in his presence.
The last time I was face to face with an alpha was before I awakened—my mother had made sure of that, to keep me safe. Back then, I didn’t have the primal instincts of my destination licking through my veins, urging me closer.
I inhaled again, trying to keep my expression neutral despite my nerves. He smelled like a candy-coated apple, the kind you got at the fair. Rich, sweet, with a tang of sour underneath. My mouth watered instantly.
A beta wouldn’t react to his scent, no matter how amazing he smelled, so that’s how I needed to act. Unbothered. Unaffected. He might not be able to scent me because of the suppressants, but I could still easily blow my cover.
If he discovered I was an omega, I wouldn't have to worry about the Stone pack or their forced bond. In my attempt to escape them, I’d hand-delivered myself to another alpha.
Shit.
Revel didn’t seem malicious, but that meant nothing. Not when an omega was involved. Even the gentlest of souls could be corrupted by that much power.
His scent made my head spin, my thoughts clouding as I was overwhelmed by alpha pheromones. I parted my lips and breathed through my mouth, which helped. A little.
He was massive, his muscles stretching out the leather jacket he wore.
Tight black jeans hugged his thick, muscle-wrapped thighs, and even in the darkness, his pale blue eyes pierced straight through me.
As he turned back to the motorcycle, mounting it and revving the motor to life, my eyes lingered on the long, white braids hanging down his back.
They were tied together with an elastic band and stood out against his dark brown skin.
He was hot as fuck, edgy in a way I’d never seen in real life—only in movies about badass pack leaders who slung guns and fists accordingly. I wondered how hot Revel would look fighting shirtless in an octagon like the main character of the last movie I watched…
I mentally scolded myself.
This was not the time to swoon.
I was on a mission; I had to get to Houston. I had to disappear before the Stone pack caught up to me. And even looking too long in this alpha’s direction could come with a slew of consequences I wasn’t ready to face.
With a shaky breath, I stepped closer, still clutching the helmet to my chest for dear life.
I'd never been on a motorcycle—never had much of an interest in riding one either. I was terrified of anything with less than four wheels, especially at high velocity. Apparently, fleeing for my life and possibly killing my father wasn’t enough of an adrenaline rush this week.
Now, I’d be clinging to the back of a neon-green crotch rocket and trying not to die.
“Fuck my life,” I muttered.
I swallowed down my fear and pushed back my hood, quickly shoving the helmet on. It smelled like him, his candy-apple scent wrapping around my head and stuffing its way into my lungs. Breathing through my mouth barely helped because I could almost taste him.
Fingers trembling as his scent threatened to drive me insane, I fussed with the chin strap. No way was I going to ask Revel for help—even though I didn’t hate the idea of his hands near my neck. I doubted I’d be able to fight back the whine clawing up my throat if he was touching me.
Seriously, what the hell is my problem?
I stepped up next to the bike, nervously eyeing the tiny second seat—if you could call it that—behind him. I was petite, but I had wide hips and a bubble butt. Did he really expect me to fit more than one cheek up there?
“Get on.” His sharp words cut through my thoughts, and I snapped to attention. It wasn't a bark, but there was just enough of an edge to his tone that it made my hair stand on end.
I did as I was told and climbed on behind him while he kept the motorcycle steady, nearly slipping a few times before I got settled.
Being perched on the back of the bike felt unstable as hell, and my heart lurched into my throat.
A slight breeze would probably send me tumbling off this thing, and he was going to speed down the highway?
I swallowed hard.
My options were extremely limited. It was this or wait for someone else to take pity on me… and who knew how long that would take?
“I can do this,” I whispered, barely audible to my own ears.
I took a deep breath, choking down a lungful of candied apples. Then another.
I can do this.
I can… do this.
I can…
“Hang on tight,” Revel called over his shoulder, but I had no idea what I was supposed to hold on to. There were obviously no seatbelts and definitely not a second set of handlebars.
The second we started moving, I squeaked and threw my arms around his thick torso, clinging to him so tightly my arms ached. I thought about calling out an apology, but nausea rolled in my stomach, and I worried I’d vomit in his pretty helmet if I opened my mouth.
I couldn’t even enjoy the candy-apple scent enveloping me, or the way his form was firmly pressing against the apex of my thighs. I was too busy trembling and clenching my eyes closed as we flew down the highway.
Wind whipped by, and my clothes flapped. I didn't dare open my eyes, for fear that I’d start panicking or screaming… or both.
Who wanted to have a panic attack on the back of a motorcycle? Not my ass.
I counted backward from ten. Focused on my breathing. Counted to fifty. Hummed my favorite song. Anything I could do to make the time pass faster, but it seemed to crawl by.
I'm never riding a motorcycle ever again , I thought to myself at least a thousand times, while gritting my teeth so hard my jaw ached.
Finally, after what felt like forever, we slowed to a stop. My insides immediately unclenched with relief, and I pried my eyes open.
I had no idea what to expect, but a truck-stop gas station wasn't what I imagined.
My gaze swung around the parking lot, drinking in the collection of semi-trucks behind the building.
At least there were snacks and showers here—I could take advantage of those.
A warm shower was bound to do me some good.
Finding a place to sleep was another story, but there was so much adrenaline buzzing through me that turning in for the night was the last thing on my mind.
Scrambling off the motorcycle as gracefully as I could, I fought the urge to kiss the ground and tore off the helmet.
The smell of diesel gas and trash tinged the air, giving me a slight reprieve from Revel’s candied apples.
It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy his scent, I did, but it was starting to make my head spin.
“Thank you,” I said stiffly, holding out his helmet at arm’s length. I didn't want to get any closer than I had to, and I planned to make a beeline for the front doors of the gas station asap.
“Don’t mention it.”
He swung his leg over the bike and rose to his full height before taking the helmet back. Despite his stunning blue eyes, I couldn’t bear to make eye contact. His aura was too strong, crushing down on me.
I blinked and looked away, over to the semi-trucks nearby, and something caught my eye.
It was a red-and-black-striped trailer parked at the edge of the lot. From where we were standing, it was hard to make out, but I was fairly certain it said Knotty Sideshow.
Huh . A circus caravan .
I’d heard of the troupe before but never watched them perform. It wasn’t broadcast on television, and my mother never let me go to such big, public events. It was easier to keep me safe if I was hidden and out of sight.
My gaze trailed over several more circus trailers, all black, red, and gold to match the branding.
“The circus is in town,” I chuckled, glancing back at Revel for his reaction.
He seemed completely unamused.
Must not be into theatrics.
“Well, thanks again.” I nodded at him, preparing to head inside, but stopped to look toward the circus caravan one more time.
This time, there was a person outside one of the trailers. He was shirtless, wearing only a pair of sweatpants, and had shaggy, rainbow-colored hair.
Hot. That was the best way to describe him. Hot and colorful and… heading our way .