Page 69 of Bonds of Pain
Ares is so large that his body forms a protective shell around mine. His arms, corded with muscle, hold me firmly but without crushing. I have the errant thought that if a wild animal or a rebel soldier suddenly emerged from the wilderness, Ares would tear them apart before they got anywhere near me. The thought should be terrifying, but instead, I feel something I haven’t experienced in a long time.
Safe.
When was the last time I felt truly safe? Not since before the Enclave, certainly. Not since before I understood what being an Omega meant in this world.
The realization makes my throat tighten. I press my face against his chest, breathing in his scent, letting the warmth of his body chase away the chill of the wind. My arms, which had been hanging limply at my sides, slowly move to wrap around his waist.
When Ares finally pulls away, I feel strangely bereft. The cold air rushes between us, and I cross my arms over my chest, trying to hold on to the warmth he provided.
“Do we have to go back right away?” I ask, hoping my voice doesn’t betray how much I want to stay away from the palace.
Ares glances down at his comm unit, checking for messages. “No death threats from Logan yet, so we probably still have time.” His lips curl into a mischievous smile. “I could take you one more place, if you promise not to tell anyone.”
“Not even the others?”
“Especially not the others.” His green eyes gleam with something like excitement. “Logan would have my head if he knew I was taking you there.”
That piques my interest immediately. Anything Logan would disapprove of is automatically appealing. “I promise. Not a word to anyone.”
Ares studies me for a moment, as though weighing whether he can trust me. Finally, he nods. “Come on, then. But if anyone asks, you forced me to take you shopping.”
“Shopping?” I laugh. “Is that really the best cover story you could come up with?”
“It’s believable. You’re an Omega, aren’t you?” He winks to show he’s joking, but I still punch his arm.
“Careful,” I warn. “I know how to flip you now, remember?”
Ares laughs, a deep rumble that seems to vibrate through the air between us. “I remember. Now get in the car before I change my mind.”
Chapter Eighteen
ARES
The look on Maya’s face is what makes this worth it.
I know I’ll be carrying my own ass in a sling if Logan finds out where I’ve taken her, but that look of wide-eyed astonishment is a small price to pay.
She had raised her eyebrows when I brought her to the nondescript warehouse in a seedy part of town. But she had still trotted inside after me, trusting me to protect her.
Inside the warehouse, the unmistakable sounds of combat echo through the space. Grunts, the slap of flesh on flesh, the occasional cheer from a small but enthusiastic crowd. Maya freezes just past the threshold, her mouth falling open wide enough that I could fit my whole dick inside.
Two women circle each other in a makeshift ring formed by ropes strung between metal posts. One woman, tall with muscles rippling beneath dark skin, feints left before landing a solid right hook to her opponent’s jaw. The shorter woman staggers but recovers quickly, dropping low to sweep the taller fighter’s legs out from under her.
“They’re actually fighting,” Maya whispers, her voice barely audible over the crowd. “But they’re women.”
There are a handful of men crowded around the ring, a mix of Alphas and betas, but they’re attention is respectful. Everyone here is a fighter before they’re anything else.
I lean against a support beam, crossing my arms. “Anyone who wants to train here can. Man, woman, whatever dynamic. The only thing that matters in this ring is skill.”
She shoots me an incredulous look. “Omegas come here?”
“A few, maybe. This isn’t the sort of place where people ask a lot of questions.”
Maya watches, transfixed, as the shorter woman pins her opponent, forcing a tap-out. “Wow.”
“They host underground tournaments a few times per month. Some of the best fighters I’ve ever seen come through here.”
Before Maya can respond, a mountain of a woman approaches us. Dani stands at least six-foot-four, with shoulders broader than mine and biceps that could crush a man’s skull. Her presence alone commands attention, radiating Alpha energy that makes even me straighten up.
