Page 117 of Heat & Deceit
I clutch my stomach and lift my head, glaring at the alpha before glancing at Nova. Her eyes flash around the alley, no longer distant and haunted. They land on me, see me in pain, and her face crumples.
“Don’t hurt him,” she gasps, breaking out of Kiki’s hold. “Don’t hurt him,” she says again, racing to me and helping me stand. “He helped me.” Her hands cup my face. “I’m so sorry,” she whispers. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay, mentirosa.”
The guy in front of us squints and studies me, then the way she’s touching me, and his shoulders deflate. He nods at the guy behind me, and the gun leaves my head.
“It’s okay, Crow,” he calls down the alley.
“I don’t know about that, Knox. There’s two guys coming, and they look pissed.”
“That’s my pack,” I say quickly, turning. There are three men total with Kiki. The one who held the gun to my head, the one who punched me, and one at the head of the alley, who’s puffing up for a fight. “I told them to come.”
“Someone better fucking explain what’s happening right now.” The one with the gun sets his glare on me. “You’re not safe yet.”
“Jag,” Nova snaps. “He’s not a bad guy.”
“We saw him come into the alley on the camera feed,” Jag counters. “Was he not with this asshole who already had you?”
“No! He saved me from that asshole.”
“Nova!” Ly shouts. “Get the fuck out of my way before I lay you on your ass.”
“I’d like to see you try, pretty boy,” Crow responds, blocking the entrance.
“You think that vest makes you tough?” Rome asks with a laugh. “Try and stop us.”
Crow grabs a gun, and Nova breaks away from me, sprinting to Crow, pushing him aside. “They’re here for me,” she tells him right before Ly and Rome scoop her into their arms.
“Well, damn,” Kiki mutters. “This is awkward.”
Knox, the guy who punched me, chuckles under his breath. “Real fucking awkward, angel.”
Crow turns to glance at Jag, who shrugs and looks at Knox. Knox sighs and scrubs a hand over his jaw. “Nova? What do we do here?”
Nova looks at the alpha, face softening with affection. I bristle a little but take solace in the fact that these alphas already have an omega. They’re clearly friends or something. Maybe they’re distant family.
“You leave my guys alone.” She jerks her chin to the guy on the ground. “That’s the asshole who attacked me.”
Kiki stomps over and kicks the guy in the ribs, spitting on him. “No one messes with my best friend.” Kiki kicks him again and again.
“Easy, killer.” Knox wraps his arms around her waist and hauls her back against his chest, dropping his chin on her shoulder. “We’ll take care of him.”
“I know you will.” She turns and brushes her lips over his mouth.
A pang of envy hits my chest, and I glance at Nova. She’s watching them too, a line forming between her eyebrows. What they have is so easy. So natural. I can see my pack having that with Nova, but I don’t know if she sees it with us.
Her gaze jumps to mine.
I step toward her and the guys, who are still wrapped around her. She swallows but doesn’t break eye contact. That’s all I need. I close the distance between us and claim her lips, placing my hand at her throat, making my intentions clear. If this is what she wants, then she’s going to be ours. She’ll have our marks. She’ll be pack. And she’ll never have to worry about shit like this again.
Thirty-Two
NOVA
Kiki takes me to my apartment while the guys stay and deal with the beta who assaulted me. I didn’t need to ask what they have planned to understand what’s about to happen. The Hell Hounds are used to this sort of thing, but my guys?
I don’t know what they’re used to.
