“Alpha. Come back!” I scream, anger rushing through me, a desperate need to be heard and obeyed.
An answering bellow of rage breaks through my warring emotions and the sound of a fight washes over me.
“Omega!”
A body hits the soft ground, and it shivers beneath my cheek. I focus on that sensation and curiosity eventually blooms.
Questions appear like little bubbles bursting in my mind.
Where am I?
It takes a moment, but the haze fades and realization settles.
O-space. Fracking O-space sucked me under.
I scramble to my feet and turn to see Viper and Shade in a vicious fight.
I’m frightened for Shade; he’s a Beta and Viper is… well, he’s the biggest Alpha I’ve ever seen. Yet, it looks like an even match.
Fueled by his instincts, Viper’s desperate need to return to his Omega takes over, allowing Shade to exploit his distraction.
When the giant turns to sneak a peek at me, Shade strikes. Kicking the back of Viper’s knee, making the Alpha crumble with a bellowing roar. Shade wastes no time pushing his knee into his lower back and wrenching his arm to lock behind his back.
“Halley, are you with me?” Shade shouts, and I flinch.
Am I? I still feel rather detached from reality.
“You pulled yourself out of O-space, that’s great work.”
I pull a face. I don’t know if what the Lieutenant and I did should be considered ‘great work.’
We both stiffen at the sound of hammering boots rapidly approaching.
“You’re close to camp, finish this strong,” Shade insists, pointing towards the streaming sunlight.
Whoever is incoming, they’re sprinting towards us with alarming speed.
“Go, Halley!”
I don’t need to be told twice. My hair has come loose and streams behind me as I dart between the thinning trees. The camp is ahead, only a few more lurching steps to the tree line.
My victory is so close. I can taste it.
My pursuer is gaining on me, closing the distance with every thundering step.
I push forward. My lungs burn with effort and my heart hammers against my ribs.
A hand grabs my wrist, and I scream with frustration.
I’m ripped backwards into a powerful body, and a heavy arm bands across my chest, holding me close as we stumble to a halt.
“Game over,” Prime Alpha Knox growls in my ear, and I immediately feel the fog roll in once more.
My skin is on fire. Coated in sweat and mud and slick.
“Submit.”
With one word, he pulls me under. I whimper and sag in his grasp, unable to stop myself from turning my head to present my neck to him.
