Page 66 of No Escape

“We’ll see how that goes. If she’s found her own alphas…” He sighs. “It’s safer being locked in our cell. Once they release us back to the normal schedule, I don’t want you to go anywhere by yourself. Omen or I need to keep eyes on you at all times.”

“You think someone might try something like those two guys did?” I ask, physically shaking away the memories of the way they grabbed me and the lewd things they said.

Valor grunts. “I’d like to believe no one would be dumb enough to touch you after I’ve claimed you, but we’ve got at least a few newcomers on the block, and I mean alphas. Every few weeks, they swap several of the alphas and omegas out to new units. We never know when it’s coming, but they do it to give them a chance to find matches in other blocks.”

My chest gets tight, and my breathing quickens. “But there’s no chance they could try to separate us, right?”

His head shakes. “Hell no. I would never let that happen.”

I appreciate the sentiment.

Really, I do.

But he’s as much of a prisoner as I am.

“You can’t promise that,” I say, stretching up on my knees to study his face. “They’re in charge. Not us. We aren’t bonded. They could take me away from you and switch me to some other block.”

His strong jaw clenches, and he swats my ass over the blanket. “That’s not going to happen.”

“You can’t guarantee that. Not unless you bite me.” I pull my hands from under his arms and move to cradle his scruffy jaw. “My mom was born into the kind of wealth that’s so obscene, no one family should ever have that much, but she did, and she left it to me. I know you’re worried about your boss, but I can pay him.”

He growls, baring his teeth. “That’s not your responsibility.”

“And it was yours to come to my aid and protect me?” My thumbs brush over the soft skin above his stubble. “Because I don’t think it was.” I lean closer, resting my forehead against his. “I don’t want to rush things or pressure you into anything, but this place isn’t like the real world. At some point, we might have to make some drastic decisions if we want to make it out of here. Even if I got the chance, I don’t think I could bring myself to leave if I knew you and Omen would have to stay behind.” My lips ghost over his, and I grind my core over his sweatpants. “You said this is where you need to be because you’re dangerous, but bonding would fix that. I have resources. We can buy out whatever you owe your boss. Just think about it, please?”

He growls, sliding his hand under the blanket and cupping a handful of my ass. “You’re awful bossy.”

My heart races.

That wasn’t a flat-out no.

I can work with that.

ChapterTwenty

Omen

The poor little omega has been through the wringer. Her system can’t seem to make heads or tails of what it’s supposed to be doing without the suppressants in the mix.

It’s difficult watching her suffer, and I know it’s even harder on Valor. It may make me a shitty human, considering his past, but I keep myself in bed and allow him to care for her.

They need an opportunity to bond—emotionally speaking—and he needs the chance to see he’s not a threat to her.

During the massacre that got us placed here, he somehow knew exactly who to slaughter, overlooking those who were innocent. That speaks to some part of himself remaining, even when he’s at his most dangerous.

More than that, Saylor is an omega. She’s the thing his system needs to be free of the decay, and I believe his instincts recognize that.

If only the stubborn bastard could get over his moral qualms.

Saylor just needs to continue to be her sweet self, and he’ll crack eventually. That woman is everything I didn’t know I yearned for, probably because I never experienced a loving childhood, but Valor did with his aunt. At some point, he’s going to realize that he would snap if anyone attempted to take her from him… That should say it all.

Well, that and the fact the two of them have been cuddled in his chair, whispering forhours. And in this case, I don’t feel left out. They need time together if she’s going to get him to sink his teeth in.

So, I lie in bed and pretend to be asleep while the little omega works her magic.

Even a while later, when the door buzzes, I don’t jump up to grab what is likely our morning delivery of trays and possibly the laundry we missed out on gathering yesterday.

Valor doesn’t immediately jump up to collect it, either, and I attribute that to him not wanting to remove her from his lap.

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