Page 136 of Our Deceptive Heat

The words give me an icy chill.

Ellis nods. “Well, I guess it wouldn’t be the first time. Grab them both. Let’s go.”

“Give me my wife, Omega!” my dad barks out.

Envy stiffens, the command sinking in and trying to force him to move. I grip his shirt and lean against him, purring slightly, trying to free him from the command.

Second by second, he relaxes as the command rolls over him and dissipates.

I lean in, inhaling his scent. Trying to find the courage to turn and fight.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch the alphas edging closer. My father straightens his shirt, and I see blood on it. Either mine or my mothers.

He’s an asshole. I can’t believe she stood up to him for me. I look at her pale face. She needs a hospital. Really needs one. Her face is gray and slightly mottled, and her breathing isn’t right. She might die.

No. I can’t do it.

I whirl and face them.

“Let Envy and my mother go, and I’ll go peacefully. I don’t have alpha bonds. Just an omega bond.”

“What?” my dad bellows. “You shut up!”

“Shut up, Raines,” Bently says and glances at Ellis and Yardly.

“He can ignore our commands! I say we let them go and keep her.”

“No!” Envy shouts.

I lean into him, staring up at his beautiful face. “You have to do this. She needs a hospital.” I lean up, staring into his eyes. “Envy, I’m trusting you. Find me. You’ve done it before. You can do it again. This is me trusting you. Trusting our pack.”

“No!” Envy whispers.

“Please, Envy, she’s my mother.”

He looks down at her and then looks back at me, his expression tortured.

“Auryn,” his voice comes out so soft and full of emotion. I understand everything in those two syllables.

“Omega, you have your deal!”

“No!” my father bellows, but I shove Envy out of the way and catch the vicious blow on the chin.

I fall back, stunned.

Envy screams, but I look up and see him and my mother being dragged out of the house by security. That’s good, right? He’s safe. He’s gone. I let out a hysterical giggle, but I hurt everywhere.

I sit up and try to open my jaw. It’s stiff and sore, but it doesn’t feel broken.

Ellis holds out a hand. I stare at it, feeling the end of all my dreams staring me in the face. I lift mine and place my hand in his.

“Good, Omega. Come.”

The command snaps into me, and I’m powerless to fight it. I move into the space under his arm and stand there, wishing I could resist. That I could fight it.

For several long seconds, I just feel tired. My body hurts, but my heart more so. How many times do I need to say goodbye to these alphas? Why can’t I be free to love my omega?

I hear yelling and fighting outside.

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