Page 41 of Shades of Scars

“What do you want?” The voice belonging to the eyes is rough, like his poor lungs have gone through one too many packs of cigarettes. Yellow teeth flash when his tongue darts out to swipe over cracked and bleeding lips. Those eyes rake over me before flicking to the crowbar notched against my shoulder. I probably should’ve hidden the weapon I planned to use on the fucker, but it’s hard to hide my f crazy sometimes.

I’m not like the rest of my pack, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a dark side.

One that I fully intend on embracing today to avenge my Dream girl.

“I’m looking for a Mr. Spencer Kruger.”

“Who’s asking, nerd?” He growls, and it takes all of my will power not to roll my eyes. I don’t know why people assume that only nerds wear glasses. Some of us just can’t see, dammit.

My patience is running thin, though. I haven’t seen Scarlett since our breakfast date and I’ve been stuck on the road for longer than I’d expected today.

I already know I have the right house and right alpha. I’d done my research beforehand. I definitely don’t have to do any type of work to put this sick fuck at ease. Sure, it would’ve beeneasier to offer him a baggie of Wren’s good shit in exchange for letting me in the door, but what’s the fun in that?

He’s too busy side-eyeing the crowbar to react when I wrench open the screen door, lift my booted foot, and slam it into the door he’s clutching like a lifeline. His big body goes sailing backwards, crashing into a wall in the entryway, but I waste no time stalking inside and shutting the door behind me. His big head has already left a hole in the plaster wall.

Immediately, I’m assaulted by the stench of rot, stale piss, and cigarettes. My eyes start to water, but that doesn’t deter me from swinging my crowbar and cracking the asshole in the shoulder while he struggles to his feet.

His howl of pain is like music to my ears. Already my blood is pumping in my veins as the scent of his blood fills the air. “What the fuck, man! I ain’t done nothin’ to you!” He screams, but I’m already bringing the crowbar back down, right across his right calf. The crack of bone accompanies another scream of pain. Thankfully, I’d already double checked that he has no neighbors on either side of his decrepit house.

“You’re totally right, Spencer. You didn’t do anything to me. However, you did attempt to assault my omega, and you have to know that I can’t let that stand without teaching you a little lesson first.” I say this as I bring the crowbar down against his other calf, smiling like a creepy maniac when that bone snaps as well.

He’s crying now, big snotty tears that stream down his ruby face. His greasy black hair hangs down in his eyes, and then he pitches to the side to vomit. I snarl, leaping out of the way just in time to avoid the bile splashing across my favorite pair of tennis shoes. Definitely going to have to use the shower back atRavenbefore heading home to wash away the stench of this place.

“I-i did m-my time for that!” He cries out when I swing the bar towards his face, just barely stopping myself from slamming it against his temple.

I’m not here to kill this bastard. “This is the only warning you are going to get. If I so much as hear your name in regards to any other assaults against omegas, I’ll pay you another visit, Spencer. And trust me, you don’t want that. You’re lucky my omega already mutilated your disgusting dick, otherwise I’d have to do it myself. Do I make myself clear?”

“Fuck! Yes! You crazy fucking psycho! J-just don’t h-hit me again!” He stammers, sprawled out on the entryway floor in a pathetic, broken heap.

Straightening up, I offer him another smile as I notch my crowbar at my shoulder again. I love the way he trembles while he sobs and clutches his shoulder where I’d first hit him. “Remember this moment when you next have the urge to do something you shouldn’t, Spencer. If you value your life, you’ll keep your fucking mouth shut about this little lesson of ours.”

I leave the house then to the sound of him screaming profanities at me. When I get back behind the wheel of my car, I release a huge sigh and some of the tension that I hadn’t realized I’d been holding on to expel out of me.

Breaking the legs of the asshole that forced himself upon my omega really is a good way to relieve some stress. Perhaps, I’ll have to pay Mr. Kruger a visit on another day very, very soon.

Maybe I’ll even let Caito come along to play.

25

Scarlett

Half an hour later, Apollo is pulling up outside a pretty nondescript building with a secretive smile on his face. My heart feels lighter when he slips out to round the hood, before he pulls open my door. He helps me out, and my entire body begins to tingle when he automatically wraps an arm around my waist.

“Where are we?” I ask curiously, but he just smirks as we start up the wide set of steps that lead to a massive set of closed ornate double doors made of heavy, pale-hued marble, accented with gold painted iron.

“Patience, love. Trust me to show you a good time.” He teases, leaning over to brush his lips against my cheek, and I feel a blush creep over my face with the contact. It’s so simplistically sweet, yet something I’m entirely unused to. I don’t know the city as well as I probably should, considering I’ve been living here longer than they have, so I have no clue what lies beyond these doors.

Apollo reaches out, pulling open one of the doors so we can slip inside. As soon as we do, and the door shuts behind us with a heavy thud, a gasp slips free from me when I get my first real look at the interior of the building.Holy shit. Holy fucking shit.“Apollo…” I breathe out his name on a shocked gasp of air, myeyes darting around as I struggle to take in everything around me as quickly as possible.

He’s taken me to an art gallery for our first date. A gallery that I hadn’t even known was here to begin with. If I had, maybe I would’ve been bolstered to send in some of my pieces anonymously to be displayed here. The space is warehouse style, with some sections walled off with massive sheets of marble for rooms with various different styles of art work. As far as my eye can see, the building is full of magnificent pieces that take my breath away.

“I take it you’ve never been here before?” He sounds amused, but I’m too in awe to snipe at him about it.

“No.” I breathe, taking a step forward, but then a tall, lithe woman steps in our path, blocking off the sight of the gallery from me. I startle back slightly into Apollo’s massive frame, and my arm tingles where he steadies me with a gentle hand.

He maneuvers me behind him, and I realize why a moment later when the woman’s scent reaches me. Blackberries and bubbly champagne.Alpha. “Hello. Welcome toDutton Rogue Gallery. How may I assist you today?” She doesn’t seem bothered by Apollo shielding me, and she makes sure to keep her attention on him and not me. That alone helps me relax slightly.

“Apollo Reaves. I’ve booked the building for an hour.” He doesn’t hold his hand out to the other alpha, but she also doesn’t seem bothered by that.

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