Page 13 of Feral: Part One

I’ve been on edge ever since Malik left. Even after another shower, scarfing down the food he left, and getting dressed in clothes that just barely fit, I can’t seem to settle. It’s even worse because I can feel Kael and Malik through the bond as well as a sweeter, softer pull that has to be their Omega—Preston.

Trying to distract myself hasn’t worked. I’ve worked through the toys in the closet, categorizing which ones look like fun and others that I’ll leave in the package. The kitchenette needs to be bleached and other than a dusty TV that only has a few movies on it, there’s absolutely nothing to do in here.

The pain in my shoulder is back and after trying the door for the thirteenth time, I finally realize the predicament I’m in. Granted, I knew this was just another cage but the last one I could at least roam the hallways. Here—

A sudden wave of nausea cuts off my thoughts as I stumble to the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet before heaving up everything I just ate.It’s just nerves,I tell myself but I’m worried it’s something else. Something I’m not prepared for. Something that’s going to make all of this extremely complicated.

The temporary bond pulses again, the Omega’s warmth seeping through that just pisses me off. I don’t want their pity or their pack or their anything. I’m here because I had no choice, because the mental institution would have been torture, Veltmoor was death, and Wolfscorge is just a slower kind.

I’m barely on my feet when panic hits me and the need to get out takes over everything else. It feels like when Kael and Thane came into the room at the main house to bond me, the terror that took over everything else. I claw at the newest bond on my shoulder, crying out when it does nothing. I rush to the front door and jiggle it again, kicking and banging as if that’s going to save me.

It doesn’t.

The panic grows and I start tearing the room apart, needing to feel, to do anything to drown out the bond, the pain, the inevitability of my situation and the future I now have. I flip over the small coffee table and swipe the paper from the dresser, a feral cry tearing from my lips as I try to rid myself of this feeling.

It’s worse than usual but I can’t seem to calm down, my body flushing with heat, my vision tunneling as I stumble around with the need for release.

A different kind of release.

A release that will help me hurt. Something I can use to punish myself for getting into this situation, for beingme.

It’s been a week or so since I hurt myself, since I dragged anything across my flesh to remind me of just who I am. But the urge is back, a familiar demon whispering that I deserve it, that I’m not good enough, never was. I stagger back tothe bathroom and rummage through the cabinet, praying that there’s something to take this edge off.

And just when I think there won’t be something, I find a small scalpel at the back of one of the drawers. My breath catches in my throat, a twisted relief flooding through me.

I’ve always felt the need to punish myself for my own shortcomings—because why else would a pack give me up? The need to make the outside match the inside grew so I bleed out the failure that is me when everything else gets too loud.

Like now.

I hold the scalpel up, the metal cold against my fingers. Angry and hurt, I bring the blade to my arm, just below the elbow, and make a shallow cut lengthways, adding to the ladder of scars. Blood wells up on my flesh as I sag back against the wall, a broken sound leaving my lips. The pain is sharp but it’s just what I need to calm down, my attention focused on the way the blood trickles down and then drops to the floor.

I slice again, a little deeper, parallel to the first, the relief a little stronger this time. The Omega’s concern floods my chest but I can’t block him out. Another cut does nothing but bring panic rather than relief, tears streaming down my cheeks.No, no, no! Just leave me alone!

I move to make another cut when the scalpel is ripped from me, a firm hand wrapping around the front of my neck. A cry tears free from me as I’m thrown against the wall, the impact jarring my bad shoulder. My vision blurs as I look up and see Kael, his blue eyes blazing through me, rage flowing through the bond like a wildfire. “What thefuckare you doing?”

The scalpel clatters to the floor and Kael leans in, his breath hot on my face. “My Omega can feel you, you bastard. If you want to die so fucking bad, you’ll do it when my bite isn’t healing in your fucking shoulder. I didn’t want you here, but you are now, and it’s my responsibility to make sure you stay alive so weget the fuck out of here. You’re not going to ruin that for me and my pack.”

A helpless whimper slips out, a mixture of terror and need and I hate how my body betrays me. Slick gathers around my hole, soaking my borrowed sweatpants as I grab Kael’s arm, my fingers digging into his flesh.

Kael’s eyes narrow, his grip on my neck tightening just enough to make me gasp. “If you need a release, you come to me,” he growls.

He releases me and I slide down the wall, my knees hitting the tile, my head slightly bowed despite the rage burning inside me. I want to fight, to claw at him, to make him bleed like I am, but the bond holds me back, his dominance demanding I submit. But it’s worse than that. My bodywantshim. Maybe I was still too drained before but there’s no denying that this man is currently my Alpha and my Omega needs his approval, his knot, his attention.

When my eyes drop to the obscene bulge between his thighs, Kael lets out a dark chuckle that sends a shiver down my spine. “Is that what you need? My cock? My knot? You don’t deserve that.” He grins, before reaching into his jeans and pulling out his cock, the Alpha already hard and leaking. “But I can let you have a taste if you decide to be a good little Omega for me. Open your mouth, Slate.”

I can’t help the way I lean forward, my lips parted like I’m about to receive an award, the Alpha’s fingers slipping into my curls. He jerks my head backward, my mouth falling open wider as my eyes lock onto his. “I’m not going to be gentle with you, but I will make sure you get what you need,” he purrs. “I should be punishing you, not rewarding you for hurting yourself but just this once. And then I’m going to make sure there’s nothing else in this room that you could use to hurt yourself.

“I’ll be a good Omega, I promise,” I rasp before grimacing at the submissive words spilling out. God, I sound awful.

Kael’s grin widens as he thrusts into my mouth, hard and fast, filling me completely. I choke on his length, my hands falling to his thighs before he grunts, his eyes telling me ‘no touching’. I’m just supposed to kneel here and take what he’s giving me, my tongue swirling around him, his knot bulging against the edge of my mouth, threatening something I’m not ready for.

He fucks my mouth with ruthless precision, his groans low and guttural, vibrating through me. His need for me to submit drowns out everything else, slick pooling between my thighs as I start rocking in tandem with his thrusts. Soon, I lose myself to this man in the way he claims me without mercy, the taste of salt and heat on my tongue.

My hands fist on my knees, pleasure building until I’m coming untouched, spilling into my pants as Kael floods my throat. I can’t help but slurp it up, my Omega needing everything this Alpha is giving me. I swallow every drop, my body humming with relief.

It’s better than I’ve felt in years, the lingering heat of a spike slipping away until it’s just the dull ache in the pit of my belly. My doctors always told me that an Alpha’s cum had proteins to keep me from having feral outbursts but other than a quick fuck or using me for their pleasure, I could never get what I needed.

But Jesus Christ, Kael just gave me a gift. I may not like the Alpha but he and his pack have already given me more than I’ve had in a while.

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