Page 60 of Stolen By the Alpha Hunter
“But he’s promising you a lot,” I say. “A position in his pack, power, pleasure. And me…”
I hesitate, then press on, even though it hurts.
“You could do whatever you wanted to me. We both know that. And if you hurt me, everyone here would think I deserved it. They would be glad.”
Javi’s jaw tightens, his whole body going still.
“You act like we’re both prisoners,” I whisper, “but you have everything to gain. And I have everything to lose.”
He exhales slowly, like it’s physically painful. “I don’t like thinking about you getting hurt,” he says. “Least of all by me.”
I nod, swallowing hard. “I’m not asking you to save me. I’m just asking that you don’t turn on me, okay? When Gideon starts offering you everything, just remember…he’s poison. You say no to him, or you end up just like him.”
Javi’s expression twists.
“I’m aware,” he says, voice low. “Because…”
He stops. Shakes his head.
“Because what?” I press, searching his face.
Something flashes behind his eyes—fear, maybe. Shame.
“I’ve said yes to men like him before,” he mutters.
I freeze. My heart stutters in my chest.
Javi’s eyes flick away, and for a second, I think he might say more. That he’ll tell me who he said yes to—what he did, what it cost him. But then he shakes his head, mouth tightening.
“It doesn’t matter,” he says. “We should talk about what we’re going to do next.”
My throat feels tight, but I nod. “Okay. What are you thinking?”
He sits down on the edge of the bed, close but not touching. His voice drops to a whisper, like the walls might be listening.
“I passed Boyd a note. Asked him to go back to Austin.”
My lips part in surprise. “Wow. Um…that’s…that’s great. Thank you.”
He narrows his eyes. “You don’t sound that happy.”
“I am,” I say quickly—but he sees through me. I sigh and press the heels of my hands to my eyes. “It’s just…they don’t have the resources for something like this. A rescue.”
He watches me quietly, letting me talk.
“They’re good people, and they’re my family, but most of them have mates. Kids. Responsibilities. Nobody’s going to risk a whole pack to come rescue just me.”
“You really don’t think they would come for you?” he asks.
I chew on the inside of my cheek, unsure how to explain the storm I’m feeling. “I don’t know. Maybe they would. I just…”
I hesitate, my fingers curling in the blanket. “I almost hope they don’t.”
He shifts beside me. “What? Why?”
I look down at my hands. My nails are still ragged from the night of the hunt, my palms raw from falling, running, clawing at the walls.
“Charlotte’s pregnant,” I whisper. “Magnolia too. They’re both omegas. If they came for me and got caught…” I trail off, shaking my head. “I couldn’t live with that. Not if this place took them the way it’s taken so many others.”
