Page 29 of Dance Omega Dance

Zach's voice was lighter, more playful, but no less serious. "I think we need to bite her," he said. "Show her that we're serious, that we're in this for the long haul."

My jaw dropped. They wanted to mark me? Bite me and seal the deal. A vise-like grip tightened around my chest, making it hard to breathe. I couldn’t, wouldn’t, let them do this. I wasn’t ready. And what would happen if Kage appeared with his psycho pack? What happens to them then?

Blake's voice was firm, decisive. "We need to protect her," he said. "No matter what, we need to keep her safe. She's ours, and we can't let anything happen to her."

A surge of panic rose within me, a desperate need to run, to hide, to protect myself. Memories of my parents' fate flashed through my mind. I couldn’t let that happen to them! I backed away silently, my heart pounding in my chest, my hands shaking, sweat breaking out across my skin.

Rushing to the dance studio, I locked the door behind me, my breaths coming in quick, erratic gasps. Pacing back and forth, my mind raced. What should I do? They’re serious. After all this time, a pack, a decent pack, wanted me for who I am. We’re scent matched. The perfect pack.

I wiped my clammy hands on my pants and pressed my back against the door, my body trembling. Tears began streaming down my face, the salty taste cushioning my lips. I didn't know what to do, didn't know how to protect myself, didn't know how to give in to the pull I felt toward them.

Swallowing back the tears, I wiped my eyes. They were in danger around me. I... I needed to leave... set them free. If anything happened to them because of me and my past, I’d never forgive myself.

I heard footsteps approaching and a gentle knock on the door. Blake called out my name. "Summer? Are you in there? Are you okay?"

My lips clamped shut, trembling with the effort to stay quiet. A sob clawed at my throat, hot and insistent.Don’t cry again. Not now.My mind stuttered, blank where words should be. What was I supposed to say? I couldn’t eventhink. Everything inside me felt too loud, too much... like I might burst open if I moved or breathed the wrong way.

Anders' voice was next, his tone soothing. "Summer, please talk to us. We're worried about you. We just want to make sure you're okay."

I felt a surge of longing, a desperate need to open the door, to let them in, to let them comfort me. But I couldn't, I wouldn't let myself. I had to protect myself, had to maintain the careful boundaries that I had built up around my heart.

Zach's voice was playful, teasing, but I could hear the undercurrent of concern. "Come on, princess. Don't make us break down the door. You know we will if we have to."

I felt a small smile tug at the corners of my mouth, even as the tears continued to stream down my face. I knew they would, knew they would do anything to protect me, to keep me safe. And I didn't know how to feel about that, didn't know how to process the emotions that were threatening to overwhelm me.

My emotions were raw and intense, my body reacting to the alphas' presence. I felt a heightened awareness, a quickening of my breath, an instinctive urge to move closer to them. I wanted to reach out, to touch them, to feel the connection that I knew was there, just beneath the surface. But I couldn't, I wouldn't let myself. Not today. Not ever.

Chapter Fourteen

Istared at the ceiling, the phone still warm in my hand, her voice echoing in my head. “You’re matched for a reason. Trust it.”I could still hear the smirk in Maddie’s voice when she’d added, “And come on. Have you seen Blake's arms? That man could bench-press any crazed Alpha.”

A laugh had slipped out then. The kind that cracked something open inside me. We’d talked for another thirty minutes, about nothing and everything. Her mom’s nagging, her dad’s curfews, and how she was counting down the days until she could breathe her own air again.

I smiled to myself, softer this time. She’d be back soon. Close enough to call or meet for coffee. Close enough... just in case.

So, I agreed to try with my alphas. The last thing they needed was a cold-hearted bitch, as their omega. Maddie’s words, not mine. Although she was right. I had been distant these last few weeks, and yes, I say it was me protecting them, but it was also to protect myself. The fear of letting go terrified me.

After a restless night’s sleep, it was time to get to know my men better. We were going to the park for a picnic. The weather had turned; the sun shining its weary head, and all seemed right with the world once again.

I LOOKED OVER THE LUSHgreen landscape before me as the warm breeze caressed my skin. My mind was still processing their suggestion of a day at the park. It was a thoughtful gesture, a chance to escape the confines of the house and the weight of my swirling thoughts. I watched as Blake strode ahead, with the wicker basket swinging from his muscular arm.

Anders fell into step beside me, his presence a soothing balm to my nerves. "It's a beautiful day," he remarked, casting me a sidelong glance. "I hope this helps you feel a bit less... confined."

I managed a small smile, surprised by his perceptiveness. It was true, the walls of the house had felt like they were closing in on me, the pressure of my situation an ever-present weight. Out here, with the sun on my face and the grass beneath my feet, I could almost forget the ticking clock that hung over my head.

Zach brought up the rear, a cooler hefted over one broad shoulder. He caught my eye and grinned.

As we reached a shaded spot beneath a sprawling oak tree, Blake took charge, directing us. "Let's set up here," he declared, setting down the basket and unfolding the blanket with a snap of his wrists.

I watched, fascinated, as he arranged everything with military precision. The cooler in one corner, a neat stack of plates and utensils, containers of food laid out like troops in formation. There was something both comforting and mildly intimidating about his efficiency, the way he seemed to have a plan for every detail.

Anders, however, focused on comfort, producing a collection of plush cushions from his bag and arranging them invitingly on the blanket. "For lounging," he explained with a soft smile, patting one cushion. "No proper picnic is complete without them."

Zach had already cracked open a can of soda from the cooler and flopped down with casual disregard for the tidy arrangement. “The food is what makes it, Anders,” he replied with a cocky grin.

“I think you’ll find they’re for Summer,” Anders said.

Zach rolled his eyes. “Well, I’m sure she can always lie against me if she wants comfort.”

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