Page 45 of Omega's Vengeance

He pulls out of me before his knot can form, and we both quickly straighten our clothing. The feverish lust has faded now, leaving me embarrassed. I’m still not sure how things went from me fleeing for my life to fucking in the woods. The only excuse I have is instinct is guiding me. Us. I don’t actually like being controlled by instincts. I prefer to know why I do things. It seems when it comes to instinct, that’s not a thing.

The rain has let up slightly, but it’s still cold and I’m soaked through. He is too after our little fuck fest. But I’ve been out in the chilled night longer than him. When my teeth chatter, he scowls. Without warning, he steps back from me, and grabs me.

Next thing I know I’m over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. I struggle, hissing and trying to get down. He ignores me and strides in the direction he came from. I pummel his back, which has no effect. The tree branches scrape across my back as he crashes through the brush on his way back to his vehicle.

Once there, he opens the passenger side and dumps me unceremoniously into the seat. He slams the door shut and stomps around to the driver’s side. He opens his car door and slides behind the wheel. He sits for a few moments, not speaking.

“How did you find me?” I mumble, still puzzled about how he made a beeline toward me in the dark woods.

“I could just…feelwhere you were,” he rumbles.

I have no idea how that would be possible, but I saw him do it with my own eyes. “That makes no sense. None of this makes sense.”

“I know.”

I stare forward, watching the rain slither down the windshield. The patter of rain on the roof of the SUV makes me feel like we’re the only two people in the world. “Are you taking me back to Valentino?”

“Of course.” He starts the car as he speaks.

“He’s not going to be happy. He already wants me dead.”

Turning his head he says, “You two are like children. You’re both driving me fuckingnuts.”

“Then just let me go.” I reach out and grip his arm. I feel the tense muscles bulging beneath my hand. “Tell Valentino you couldn’t find me. On a night like this, that’s completely believable. Please, Dario, just let me go.”

He shakes off my hand and he puts the car in drive. He does a U-turn and heads back in the direction of Valentino’s home. My gut churns because I can only imagine what awaits me. If Dario won’t let me go, I’m fucked.

“Why is Valentino holding me prisoner?” I rasp. “He should either kill me or let me go.”

“He has his reasons.”

“This is bullshit.” I hug myself, shivering against the door. Dario glances over and flicks on the heater. I sigh as the hot air fills the compartment, soaking into my chilled body. The windshield wipers swish rhythmically as we drive along. “You gave me your bite. Shouldn’t your job be to protect me?”

He grunts but doesn’t speak.

“You’re taking me back to a man who wants tokillme. How do you reconcile that as my alpha? Huh?”

He grips the wheel tighter. “This situation is complicated.”

“To put it mildly,” I say under my breath.

“You’re acting innocent, but you started this entire clusterfuck, Alessio.” He sounds more frustrated than angry.

“We’re never going to agree onthat.” I mutter, fiddling with the air vent.

“What are the odds we’ll agree on anything?”

I turn to him, scowling. “It seriously doesn’t bother your alpha instincts or whatever that Valentino wants to kill me? Punish me? That’s just fine with you?”

“Yes, because he’s my boss and I do what he says.”

“I’ve always heard you follow him blindly,” I snap. “I guess it’s true.”

He shakes his head. “You think that’s an insult to me? You should be so lucky to inspire the kind of faith and loyalty Valentino does. You could learn something from him if you weren’t so stubborn.”

“The only thing I want is for Valentino to die or at the very least suffer horribly.” I face forward again, and stare out the window. Everything outside is blurry through the rain spattered glass.

“And with that attitude you expect me to just let you go free? So you can scheme against him some more?” He sounds disgusted. “I can’t do that. We need another solution to this mess you’ve created.”

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