The way he froze mid-step had chills crawling down my spine, and when he whipped around to face me, my stomach bottomed out. He'd never looked at me with so much hatred in his eyes.
“What did you just say?” Every word was sharp, deadly.
Shit.
I should have kept my mouth shut.
Provoking an already irate alpha wasn't the smartest move. In fact, it was probably the dumbest thing I could have done.
But I was here now, and I wasn't backing down.
If I was really packing my things and fleeing tonight, I didn’t have to watch my tongue from here on out. I'd never have to see him again. I could say whatever the hell I wanted.
What does it matter?
I could get everything off my chest, leave, and never think about it—orhim—again.
Mind made up, I steeled myself.
“If you’d stop trying to run away all the time, maybe you’d find a reason to stay.” My words came out with alarming confidence.
Despite bracing myself, icy fear still prickled up my spine as he stomped back up the aisle and stopped right in front of me.His shadow engulfed me as he glared down the bridge of his nose, and my insides fluttered.
For the first time, his alpha aura was on full display, the pure, raw power enough to make grown men cower. It seemed to vibrate and crackle through the air, almost tangible.
Goosebumps raced over my skin.
“You know nothing about me,beta,” he growled through gritted teeth. His words were full of venom. “Not a fucking thing.”
My breath stuttered as heat swelled in my stomach. I wasn’t sure if it was from fear or how his alpha aura crushed down on me, calling to every facet of my omega instincts like a drug.
Or both.
I swallowed hard and managed to find my voice.
“Nor you me.” My heart raced, fear quickly overwhelming my system. “But you’ve hated me since the moment we met. You should have left me on the side of the road if you were just going to chase me out of the circus.”
“I should have!” he roared, the force enough to make me flinch.
His hand snapped up to wrap around my throat, squeezing until I whimpered. Unlike my dream with Zero, pain burned my skin, making my heart lurch.
A sickening question made the blood freeze in my veins.
Revel wouldn't hurt me…would he?
A minute ago, I would have said no. But the fury brewing behind his gaze, coupled with his fingers digging into my skin, had me second guessing.
I hissed through my teeth.
“I should have,” he repeated slowly. “But I didn’t, and I have to live with that decision. I hate everything about you, and seeing you here distresses me every minute of the day. My life would be so much easier if you would just leave.”
“Then let me go,” I demanded, forcing the words out despite his grip threatening to cut them off. My breaths came faster as my nerves worked themselves up again. “I’ll pack my things, and you’ll never see me again. If that’s what you want, I’ll go. Then you can live out the rest of your days in your precious little sideshow without me ruining it.”
Silence swallowed us.
I expected him to let go, to shove me away and tell me to get a move on, but he didn’t. He didn’t move at all.
His sweet, tangy candied-apple scent bloomed around us, filling my lungs and making my head swim. He was everywhere, all around me, and I was hyper-aware of his hand on me. That, combined with the torrent of my conflicting emotions, made it impossible to think.
