Page 59 of Pack Owned
“Ryker,” I start, but then I pause and swallow hard. “I need time.”
He steps back, giving me space, respecting the boundaries I haven’t even set yet. For now, I have to stay with them, with Dane, Liam, and Ryker. It’s the only play I have left—the onlyway to keep breathing while Nexus prowls the streets looking for stray Omegas like me.
“Let’s get back inside,” Ryker suggests, glancing toward the door that leads back to the main house. “It’s safer, and Dane and Liam will want to know you’re okay.”
“Okay,” I agree, nodding stiffly. As much as every fiber of my being wanted to run away, I know it’s suicide. Nexus has eyes and ears everywhere; they’d find me before dawn.
“Hey,” Ryker interrupts my spiraling thoughts, his hand brushing against mine so lightly, it might as well be a ghost touch, but it still sends this weird shiver through me. “You’re safe here.”
I nod again, not trusting my voice. Inside, I’m all confusion and fear, but on the outside, I make sure to keep my expression neutral, unreadable. I follow Ryker back to the safety of the mansion, to the temporary sanctuary they’ve offered.
This is where I’ll stay, hidden in plain sight, surrounded by Alphas who vow to protect me.
But what if I’m wrong about them, and they end up just like Stepdouche? I clench my fists so hard, my nails dig into my palms, a silent promise to myself that this is not the end. This is merely a pause, a strategic retreat.
For now, I’ll play the part, bide my time, and wait for the moment to make my next move. Whatever that is, since I can’t really leave. At least not yet.
One thing’s for certain—I won’t be caged again. Not by Nexus, not by anyone.
Ryker’s gaze locks with mine, and for a heartbeat, the whole damn world disappears. There’s a spark in his eyes, something raw and untamed. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, fueled by the desperation clinging to me, but for a crazy moment, I dare to hope. Hope for what, I’m not sure. Freedom, maybe. Real, unchained freedom, not this gilded cage everyone keeps tryingto shove me into. The thought hits me hard, both exhilarating and terrifying. Like maybe there’s a glimmer of light starting to pierce through this suffocating darkness.
And somehow, standing beside Ryker, a chance at happiness feels just a little bit possible.
CHAPTER 19
KAYLA
Pacing my bedroom, I feel trapped. The walls are closing in, and the air is getting thin. Every fiber of my being screams that I gotta move, gotta do something, but what?
Nexus’ visit still crawls under my skin, leaving a trail of icy dread. Ryker’s lingering scent—smoke and leather—hangs heavy in the air, making me wish he was here. I still feel like I’m cramped in that toolbox again, and it sparks something wild within me, a primal urge to burrow, to vanish.
My chest heaves; I need to distract myself. I drift through the mansion, not finding Dane, Liam, or Ryker anywhere, and I imagine they’re outside, discussing Nexus’s visit and maybe Ryker’s change of heart in letting me stay.
Reading. I haven’t done any since clubbing with my friends, then Nexus taking us on the bus and everything.
The library door clicks shut behind me, a sound that feels eerily similar to a creepy whisper. Ryker’s smoky leather scent still clings to me, comforting yet electrifying and scary all at once. It coils around me like a temptation I shouldn’t want. Not exactly the headspace I need after Nexus’ surprise visit. My brain feels like a blender on high, churning chaos.
Thank goodness for walls lined with books, a rainbow of spines screaming stories at me. Then, glinting like tiny disco balls, are silver-foil-covered books. I inch closer, squinting at the titles, and gasp to discover they’re romance novels. A whole shelf of them, guaranteeing passion and escape. My. Freaking. Favorite. Authors. How? Why? These three Alphas, all rough edges and growls, mixed with an inexplicable tenderness, just… don’t compute. Do they actually read this stuff?
As though feeling their eyes on me like a physical caress, goosebumps rise along my arms. I shake my head. I’m probably still reacting to the adrenaline of earlier and being cramped in the toolbox without knowing if Ryker was going to let Nexus take me.
“Snap out of it, Kayla,” I mutter, yanking a book off the shelf. The silver cover feels cool and smooth, the title embossed like a fancy invitation. For a second, it’s just me and the hope of a world where trust isn’t a weapon and love isn’t a battlefield.
Tucking the romance book under my arm, I sink into the plush couch. I can’t believe any of the Alphas would actually read romance books, so why are they here? Three Alphas lounging around, swooning over destined mates and stolen glances? As likely as a snowball’s chance in hell. Yet the evidence is nestled between war guides and car manuals, whispering of secret worlds where passion has softer edges.
I open the book, ready to escape to a place without the scares and inhale the scent of ink and fresh paper. It’s not long before I melt into the words, the tension in my shoulders finally loosening as the story sweeps me away.
“Thought you might be starving.”
Dane’s voice cuts through my concentration. Blinking back to reality, I find him holding a tray that looks like a feast compared to the scraps I’d been living on back home. The smell of chicken tortilla soup hits me, and my stomach growls loudly.
“Thanks,” I mumble, softer than I intended. It’s weird how the sight of actual food peels away layers I hadn’t realized I’d built up—layers meant to keep me safe.
“Figured none of us ate much with, uh, everything going on,” Dane gestures vaguely, probably at the whole Nexus mess and the general upending of my life.
“Yeah, no kidding. Thanks.”While he stands a foot from me, I can’t deny the masculine intensity radiating from him in waves. How my breasts suddenly feel heavy and tight. What is wrong with me?
Get a grip. This is self-preservation, not swooning. I grab a spoon, the metal heated from the soup, and take a scalding bite. Flavors explode on my tongue—spicy, tangy lime, a delicious agony to go with the ache of awareness thrumming through me. I can’t remember the last time I had this, and whenever it was, it definitely wasn’t as delicious as this.
