“You’re certainly not easy now. You’re a wildcat.”
He huffs, his eyes narrowed and shiny, and swings at me, but I step into him and sink my teeth into his chest.
He howls and tries to shove me off. I can feel his erection against my stomach, but, though it surprises me, I have no intention of taking that by force.
I remove my teeth, staring at the defeat in his eyes.
“Bond me, Alpha,” I command.
Ezy sobs but obediently leans forward, taking my proffered throat and biting deeply.
He sobs and shakes, and I hold him close. Patting his back. I almost feel sorry for them.
“It’s going to be okay, Ezekial. It’s going to be fine. She’s extraordinary. You’ll thank me one day.”
He cries harder.
I gently let him go as Shale approaches him and move to Gael. He reaches for me with no resistance. Kelly snarls and spits curses while Ezy cries. Kelly’s rage and fear batter at me, but it’s Ezy’s pure fear that has me wondering if this was a mistake.
I think of her and her tears, and I shove the image through the bond.
I shove the horror of seeing her laid out on the floor, crawling in agony.
I remember her almost dead when we found her.
All my panic, the fear, the hatred of the people who hurt her. I flood the bonds with what her life has been like and how much she needs us.
The crying stops.
Kelly stops fighting.
I open my eyes as Gael leans down, biting deep into my shoulder.
I cradle his head. “She’s worth it. She’s really, really worth it.”
My teeth sink into Gael’s shoulder. When I remove them, the alpha doesn’t pull away but falls into me. Agave syrup, it's thick and intoxicating and very unusual, but it suits him.
I hold him up, wondering at the joy that dances quietly behind the sorrow in his bond.
Shale sits down and lets Kelly go.
Kelly staggers and collapses on the ground. I can tell he’s in shock, but I don’t take my arms from the alpha clinging to me. Ezy looks at us and stands up.
“Are we done?”
“Sure,” Shale says and drinks deep. “But the minute you step off this island, I’m going to hunt you down and break your fucking legs. Just warning you.”
Kelly stills. “We have a surfing-”
“Your stupid competition can go fuck itself. You have an omega that you caused significant damage to, and now you’re going to fix it.”
“I’m going!” Ezy hisses.
Gael pulls away from me and turns to his pack mates. “I’m staying.”
“What?” Ezy shouts.
“You saw her, Ezy. That’s our scent match. Our omega. I want a chance to get to know her.”