Page 83 of Forget me Knot
“She belongs to the Omega Trials, and we want her back. This doesn’t have to get so ugly,” the leader says. “Just hand her over.”
“Not a fucking chance,” I snarl. It’s too late for the pretence that Lily isn’t here. They know it for a fact, or they wouldn’t have come here in the first place. These guys don’t mess about with theory. They deal in facts. And the fact here is that NigelWest has been watching, waiting and ratted her out. Although how he knew she was an escapee from the Trials is a problem for another time.
“Those contracts are not legally binding,” Max says. “I have another stepdad who would be happy to confirm that, if you hang on, what was it again? Oh, yeah, five minutes.”
Max’s steely gaze and quiet calm in the middle of this storm is admirable. I’m about to blow a gasket, and I’m normally the calm one.
The leader’s eyes flicker with uncertainty, but he’s not backing down just yet. He seems to be weighing his options, sizing us up again. His lackeys look less sure of themselves now, especially the one with his arm twisted behind his back by Sam.
“We’ll see about that,” the leader finally says, voice hard but faltering slightly. He steps back and motions for his idiots to do the same. “This isn’t over.”
“Yeah, well, it is for tonight,” Max says coldly. “Now, get off my property before I decide to speed up that police response time.”
The alphas begin to retreat begrudgingly, muttering under their breaths. Sam releases the alpha’s arm and gives him a rough shove towards his friend. They collide and stumble, making it hard not to laugh, but this situation is no laughing matter.
As soon as they’re gone, I close the door with a thud and turn to Max and Sam. “Nigel West needs his arse kicked,” I growl.
“No shit,” Max states and pockets his phone. “But that dickhead is right. Thisisn’tover. Lily isn’t safe until she is mated.”
“But that’s the plan, right?” I snap. “Let’s go and do it now.”
Without waiting for an answer, I march through the house. “Lily?” I call out. “It’s safe.”
I know she knows they were here. They weren’t exactly being subtle about it, and neither were we.
“Lily?” I call out again, more gently this time. I can smell her fear. Her scent has sharpened and it’s clawing at my insides to know how scared she is.
Following her scent trails, I walk into my bedroom, but I don’t see her. Opening the wardrobe, she isn’t in there, so I close it again. “Lily,” I murmur. “They’re gone, and you’re safe.”
The soft whimper coming from under the bed rips my heart out, and I take a minute to compose myself before I get to my knees and crawl forward, not wanting to scare her.
Chapter 42
Lily
My breath hitches as Jack’s familiar scent of summer rain hits my senses, but it’s not enough comfort. Not now. Curled up in the foetal position, my arms over my head, tears sliding down my face as my body trembles.
“I can’t go back,” I whisper. “I can’t go back.”
“That’s not even an option,” Jack whispers, keeping his voice low. “They’re gone, Lily. It’s safe to come out.”
“I can’t.”
He lifts up the cover that falls to the floor around his bed, hiding me from the danger outside. “Lily, look at me.”
I peek out at him, his cute face worried but smiling all the same.
“That’s my girl,”’ he murmurs. “You’re safe. We won’t let anything happen to you, I promise.”
“They’re going to come back.”
“If they do, they will have three rabid alphas to get past first. You’re safe, Lily. I swear, I won’t let them take you back.”
I bury my face again, just wanting to disappear to a faraway land where no one will ever find me.
“Lily,” Jack says. “If we mate with you now, you will be safe.”
My dry mouth makes it difficult to swallow back the gulp. I start coughing, trying to stifle it, which makes it even worse.
