Page 86 of Cost of Courting

I expect him to go after Eben, but the alpha who holds my unwilling heart turns all that singular attention on me.

“You love us.”

Damn Eben to hell.

Chapter twenty-one

Mael

The confession rings inmy ears, repeating over and over. I know I promised Shale I would chase after Eben if I saw him, but I can’t leave Selene. Nothing could pull me away from her right now.

“We’re not going to hurt you again, Selene.” I’m earnest, my soft words trying to soothe her fear.

She bares her teeth and steps back. She’s like a wild cat, all bristled fur and sharp claws.

I step again, and she walks straight back into Edric, who lifts her off her feet. She kicks back, but though she hits his thigh really hard, he doesn’t let go.

“Omega.”

She freezes, her nostril flaring, pupils growing huge and black, almost absorbing all the colour.

Despite everything she’s doing here, despite how strong she is, she is an omega underneath, and she’s our omega. She can’t help but to respond to us.

It is both an honour and a thrill.

Bailey saunters over and grips her chin, turning her face to his.

“Why didn’t you invite us to come with you?”

Her wits return, along with her snappy attitude. “Because I didn’t want your company.”

Bailey leans down, resting his chin on her shoulder. Her reaction is painfully obvious. She holds perfectly still, her whole body tight, but the sweetest smell of blueberry cobbler slams into the air around us, thick andtempting.

Her eyes dart up and lock with mine. I can see how badly she wants to run, how afraid she is of being weak. Part of me sympathises with her, but a bigger part of me can’t let her go.

Maybe it’s cruel. I know what it’s like to be captured, to be desperate for escape. Trying, striving desperately to stay strong. Hiding the hurt inside.

I won’t let her go.

No matter how much she needs it.

Even if it destroys us both.

“Let me go,” she almost whispers, the deep trembling anger in her voice tells me one thing. She’s not ready.

I step back; the others imitate me, giving her space, a small circle of it so she can pretend she’s still alone and doesn’t have a pack.

This isn’t the end of the chase, this is simply the cost of courting Selene. It’s a dance, a give and take. One step forward, and maybe we lose a step today, but we might gain one tomorrow.

She watches us cautiously as she steps around us. She’s a half a dozen steps away when her head swivels, and she instantly forgets about us. Her body goes bow tight, and she almost vibrates. I hear the faint sound of someone crying out. Selene spits out a curse and starts running.

Bailey follows immediately, but we’re hot on his heels. Fuck, she can move fast.

I spot a kid shouting and running towards us in the distance. He’s being followed by another group of people who do not look like teens.

I put on a burst of speed, but I’m not going to reach them in time. Selene ignores the kid and jumps straight into the fray. She hits three and kicks two before I can even reach them, but they are already backing off. The violence of her attack is freaking them out.

“Get out of here!” she snarls.

---