Page 5 of Knotted By the Demon

Three. Two. One. Run.

I surged forward, my bare feet pounding against the rough gravel, ignoring the sting of the rocks cutting into my soles. The pain was nothing compared to the fear nipping at my heels, the knowledge that my pursuers were closing in, drawn to me by the scent that clung to my skin like a cursed brand.

With a final burst of strength, I leaped towards the train car, my fingers scrabbling to grab onto the cold metal.Got it.For a heart-stopping moment, I teetered on the edge, my legs flailing as I fought to pull myself up. My body was tired, weak, weary. But I refused to let go. A howl rent the air.

Fear propelled me forward. I collapsed against the side of the train, panting, my entire body trembling, my palm sore from holding the metal so tightly. More howls rent the air. But those sounds and those awful scents were growing further and further away. I released a sigh of relief. I’d done it. I’d gotten away. I’d survived.

I was free. After years of captivity, abuse, and degradation, I was finally free. The wind whipped against my face, stinging my skin, but I welcomed it. It was a sign of freedom, however fleeting.Freedom. Tears stung my eyes. There was no holding them back. They spilled down my cheeks as a flood of emotions crashed over me. I was free of the Black Fang Pack.

Free of my bond. A bond that, thankfully, had never marked me. They’d been waiting for me to prove my worth, and I’d never done so.Worthless, that was me. At least I was free of them now. I could barely believe it. My shoulders shook as sobs wracked my body. My parents’ faces flitted through my mind.

The image of them trying to protect me from a horde of savage alphas was burned into my memory. The image of my sister being dragged away with me, only to break free and race back into the burning house, trying to save our parents. She’d perished in the fire. And I blamed myself for not having the strength to break free also and race back in there with her.

It would’ve been better to die with them than to live without them. They’d died because of me, because of what I was. The Council claimed being an omega was a blessing. They were wrong. It was a curse that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. If I could make it to one of the safe haven clinics, I would beg for suppressants.

I’d do any odd and end jobs to obtain them. I wanted to mute this scent, mute these cravings that made me beg for a knot from my enemy when I was in heat. I hated myself for all the times I’d done that. I hadn’t been in control. It had been the heat fever forcing me to act that way. Once the heat had passed, I’d been left sick to my soul.

My soul was tired. I just wanted a chance to rest. A chance to be anyone other than me. If I could make it to a safe haven, there was a chance I could do that. That was my hope. That was my goal. As the train sped through the woods, I let myself imagine, just for a moment, that I was truly safe.

That there was no pack, no alphas, no one waiting to drag me back to that cell. Just me, the night, and the rush of the wind. I could almost pretend I was normal – just a man living his life with nothing and no one to chase him. But I knew better. This moment of reprieve was just that – a moment.

I couldn’t stay on this train forever. If I rode too far, I’d risk ending up in a populated area. I had no I.D. I was unregistered. I’d be shipped to an omega holding facility right away. And that was if anupstandingpatroller found me. I’d be sent somewhere worse if a crooked patroller got their hands on me.

I couldn’t let that happen. I had to jump off before I made it to a town and before the train reached its destination. A yawn escaped me, weariness settling over me. I’d jump. Soon. I just needed to rest for a few more moments. I didn’t fall asleep, though I was very close to doing so. I remained awake, staring out into the darkness.

After what felt like miles, I forced myself to sit up, wincing as the bruises on my back ached from being pressed against the hard metal. The landscape had shifted. There was less dense forest and more open land. I inhaled deeply only smelling the scent of the forest, no alphas nearby. This was a good place to jump.

Gritting my teeth, I climbed to the edge of the car, eyes scanning the dark ground below as it sped past me. I’m pretty sure this was going to hurt. It’d hurt less if I tucked and rolled. I steeled myself, feeling the train’s speed, and waited for the right moment. I took a deep breath, held it in for a few seconds, and then exhaled slowly.

3-2-1. Go!When I landed, the impact jarred my entire body. My ankle twisted beneath me as I hit the ground. So much for tucking and rolling. A sharp, searing pain sliced through my leg. I cried out, biting down hard on my lip to stifle the sound. The taste of blood filled my mouth.

Gritting my teeth, I tried to pull myself up, but the pain throbbed, radiating from my ankle with each movement. I needed to move. I didn’t have a choice. It was nighttime. And though I didn’t scent any alphas nearby, that didn’t mean they wouldn’t venture this way eventually.

Though this was my first time being away from the compound since I’d been taken, I knew what came with the darkness. Rogue alphas, traffickers, wolves, and feral creatures I’d heard about in whispered stories, the alphas that were so far gone, they were more animal than human.

That thought sent a shiver down my spine. I forced myself to my feet. Every step sent bolts of pain up my leg, but I hobbled forward, eyes scanning the area for any sign of shelter. My vision blurred, each step harder than the last. The world spun, and my body swayed, the weight of exhaustion pulling me down.

I wasn’t going to make it.Damn it!If I kept walking, I’d pass out. I needed to rest. I found a patch of bushes, a small haven in the wilderness, and sank into it, curling up as best I could. The scent of earth filled my nose, mingling with the coppery tang of blood from my wounds. I could barely feel my limbs, numbness creeping in as my mind drifted.

Some part of me hoped that this was the end. That I’d close my eyes and never wake up. But another part, a quiet, desperate part that still clung to life, that part kept me breathing, kept my heart beating, even as darkness claimed me. And as my eyelids grew heavy, I whispered a final, silent plea.

Please. If there’s a heaven out there, lead me somewhere safe. Or let me die here, in the quiet, alone and unafraid. Just don’t let me be caged again. I won’t survive it.

CHAPTER THREE

DEMON

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Night had fallen. It was time to hunt.

I sat on the edge of my bed, pulling on my boots and yanking the laces tight until they bit into my palms. It was time to go out and check my traps. Whoever had been helping themselves to the animals I caught was about to meet their end. For weeks now, someone had been sneaking onto my land, taking animals from my traps before I could get to them.

Not tonight. Tonight, I’d find this thief and tear them apart. I didn’t care if they were lost, starving, or begging for mercy. What was mine was mine. I didn’t share.Ever. The signs on my property weren’t for decoration.Enter and die brutally.I meant every damn word. I didn’t bother grabbing gloves or weapons.

I wanted to put my hands on whoever had been crossing my lines, wanted to feel the life drain from them as I showed them exactly what happened to those who trespassed on my territory. I wanted them to stare into my eyes as I ended them for stealing what was mine. Stepping out onto the creaky porch, I closed the door firmly behind me, not bothering to lock it.

The cold night air hit me as I zipped my jacket. Fall was giving way to winter. I could feel it in the air. But even though December was approaching, it was still hurricane season here inthe south. And Mother Nature was sending a final storm our way to end the season with a bang.

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