Page 216 of Kingdoms of Night

RILEY

Somewhere in North Carolina

Ipaced the kitchen, frustrated.

It had nothing to do with the food offerings—I’d anticipated minimal supplies—and everything to do with Jonas’s continued absence.

He’d left mehoursago. It was fully dark now. I could only see because of my wolf sight. But those same senses came with enhanced smelling and hearing, and I could neither smell nor hear Jonas.

He’d disappeared.

When I’d walked outside thirty minutes ago, I’d only been able to pick up a slight hint of his scent, suggesting he’d ventured off a while ago.

To where? What is he doing?Is he punishing me? Or is this his version of control—by escaping the Omega in heat?

His fury had been palpable. I knew I’d crossed a line, but I hadn’t realized just how mad he was until I’d been right up against him.

Yet he’d purred for me.

Even while furious, he’d taken care of me.

Because he’s always taking care of me.Even before he knew I was an Omega, he’d been there, guarding me and seeing to my needs.

It was his job to do so. But he’d taken it to another level. He’d treated me like I washis.

Which was part of the reason I’d been so hostile toward him. I didn’t want to be owned or claimed or cared for by an Alpha.

I wanted my freedom.

And Jonas had just given it to me on a silver platter.

“I’m not going to knot you, Omega.”

I’d thought he was joking. What Alpha could resist an Omega in heat?

But the way he’d flinched when I’d tried to touch him—something I’d done more subconsciously than consciously—had spoken volumes about his seriousness.

He really didn’t want to knot me.

His body had definitely been ready before, and he’d even said he’d been about to knot me, but everything had changed the moment he’d left me on the water’s edge.

Because up until that point, he’d thought my wolf had wanted his.

Which was when he’d intended to knot me.

But I’d reacted as a result of my wolf desiring his. I’d hated how weak that had made me. And I’d lashed out in the worst way—by bruising his Alpha ego.

However, this anger seemed to go so much deeper.

He’d claimed I’d rejected him. I’d corrected the notion, but it hadn’t helped.

Because the truth was, I really had rejected him. For months. I’d been a complete bitch to him because I hadn’t appreciated how I’d truly felt about him.

I hadn’t wanted a relationship of any kind with the Alpha who’d provoked my inner Omega.

And as a result, I’d been rude, cruel, and downrightmean.

So yeah. I’d rejected him.

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