Page 57 of Pack Owned
“Later, we’ll talk with Dane and Liam, too,” I say without turning around, leaving unsaid that later means safety, later means figuring out what the hell we’re going to do now.
She nods once, and I feel her vulnerability wrap around me like a damn blanket, soothing the raw edges I pretend I don’t have.
Turning to pick up the bolts on the floor, I don’t look back at her, can’t afford to. I’m Ryker, the Alpha with a reputation as untouchable as steel. But Kayla, she’s the fire, and she’s melting through all the defenses I have… every last one.
CHAPTER 18
KAYLA
Sweat slicks my skin, every muscle tensed and cramped from waiting in the toolbox for Nexus to find me. My heart is still hammering against my ribs after that little hide-and-seek session with Nexus.
But Ryker, of all Alphas, didn’t rat me out.
My knees threaten to buckle, but I steady myself against the cold metal of the toolbox.
“Why didn’t you turn me in?”
He snorts. “Could’ve,” he says, all nonchalantly. “Didn’t want to.”
Gee, thanks for that riveting explanation. I tighten my arms around myself, fighting off a shiver.
“Uh-huh. And why’s that exactly? Last I checked, handing me over to Nexus was top on your to-do list.” Not that I’m not super grateful, but he was all about shipping me to Nexus before.
Those icy blue eyes of his bore into me, and I can practically see the gears turning in his Alpha brain. Then he does something I definitely didn’t see coming—he rubs the back of his neck, a small blush creeping across his chiseled cheekbones.
“Don’t make this a big deal.”
“You had an easy out. You could’ve said they smelled me.” My voice shakes despite my best efforts, betraying my fear. “Dane and Liam would’ve believed you.”
“Didn’t want them sniffing around and taking you.” He blows out a breath, his gaze locking on my face. “Liam thinks you’re our Omega. I scoffed at that idea, but damn it, Kayla... I’ve been around others, plenty of ’em, and I never...” Ryker’s voice trails off, and for a moment, there’s a vulnerability in those steely eyes I haven’t seen before.
“What? You never what?” I prod, curious despite myself, the fear momentarily edged out by intrigue.
Ryker’s jaw clenches, and he looks around the garage as if searching for an explanation among the scattered tools and oil stains.
“I’ve never felt like this,” he finally admits, and there’s a gravity to his words that pins me in place.
“Like what?” My breath catches at the intensity in his gaze when he looks back at me.
“Like I’d burn down the world before I let them take something that could be mine.” He takes a step toward me, and I can’t move, not from fear but something else, as though I don’t want to break this spell between us.
“Oh?” is the only thing I can squeeze out.
“Yeah. I would’ve killed that guy before I let him lay a fucking finger on you.”
That does things to me, stirs up a whirlwind inside I’m not ready to face. Before I can respond, he’s moving on, giving me no chance to dissect that bombshell.
“Elara… my sister, she was sold to an Alpha by our father. The fucker who was supposed to protect her, keep her safe, murdered her.”
My heart cracks a little at his anguish, at what he went through. And despite every self-preservation instinct telling meto stay guarded, I find myself wanting to soothe him, to let him know he’s not alone.
“I’m so sorry.”
“She was eighteen, too young for that fucking shit.” He winces, shaking his head like he’s trying to push away painful memories. “I will never forget the look of terror on her face. How she pleaded with our father not to sell her.”
My throat dries. The youngest I’d ever heard of an Omega going into heat was twenty.
“I tried to stop the transaction. Tried to get my dad to call it off.”
