Page 2 of No Escape

“No,” I say, shaking my head.

“The law of consent?—”

“Anyone who’s not a predatory piece of shit ignores that bullshit law. No more, Saylor.”

“But we are compatible.”

“Soak up my pheromones and hush,” I growl, trying to keep my head clear.

Her scent is everywhere, and my system recognizes how compatible we are, even as I try to convince it we’re not.

Luckily, my brain is still firmly aware of how screwed up this situation is.

This is why it’s dangerous to put compatible alphas and omegas in close proximity, especially when this day was always going to come. It’s fucked up beyond belief that she’s presenting now, but it happens. I just need to safely deliver her to her family so I can get the hell out of Dodge.

* * *

Leo’s eyes widen as he catches sight of Saylor writhing in my arms. “It’s worse than I thought. Get her in the back. We’ve got to go.”

Nodding, I rip open the door to the back seat, trying to put her down.

Her nails dig into my neck at the base of my skull, and her other hand tightens on my T-shirt. “No, please. Your scent is helping.”

My gaze flies to Leo, but he’s already getting himself into the front seat.

Rolling my shoulders back, I carefully get into the vehicle with Saylor in my lap.

“Go,” I growl.

He does, but it doesn’t take long to determine he’s not driving toward the Callahan house.

His eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror, and it clicks—they don’t want us to bring her home.

We’ll be dropping her off at one of those facilities for omegas. They’ll sedate her, give her meds to help combat the pain, and have her already on suppressants by the time she wakes up from her first heat.

I’ve heard how traumatic that can be to an omega’s system, but we have literally no other options. Not unless I was going to leave her back there with those alphas her own age and let nature take its course—which isn’t even an option.

Not when she’s so incoherent.

Biology is a clusterfuck when it doesn’t adhere to the laws of our society.

This job fucking sucks.

* * *

The Present

“Have you been listening to a goddamn word I’ve said?” Easton growls, shoving himself out of his chair.

“You really wanted me to stop and check that kid’s ID before fucking him up? Heinvited his friendsinto the room! She’s not with them. If it was just him,maybeI would have minded my own business, but don’t act like you don’t understand what I’m saying.” The top of my head feels like it’s about to pop off, and the veins in my hands bulge as I grip the arms of the chair to keep from slinging myself out of my seat. “I don’t givea flying fuckwho any of those little bastards are related to.”

Easton’s head tilts.

Something about the look on his face sends a chill down my spine.

I want to know what Leo thinks of the situation, but I can’t take my eyes off Easton long enough to see how my partner gauges whatever the hell is going on.

“You’re compromised,” Easton finally says, cursing under his breath. “Tell me you’re not stupid enough to have something going on with that… I can’t even call her a woman.”

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