Before I can decide, the passenger door whips open and I rear back.
“Get out,” Brayden commands me. I don't think—my hand moves on instinct to release the seatbelt.
“What’s happening?” I force the words from my mouth. “Please, tell me who they are.”
His eyes flick toward the men, then back to me. There's something in his expression I don’t understand—something remote. Regret, maybe. Or shame.Definitelyrage. But then it’s gone before I can place it.
“You’re going with them,” Brayden says, flat and final, as panic slamsinto me like a wave.
“What?”
“You’re fucking broken, Skyla.” He reaches for my wrist, but I scramble back, not stopping until the center console digs hard into my spine. “Stop it!”
His word hits like a strike—sharp, deep, threaded with alpha authority. My body goes rigid before I can think, every muscle seizing under the weight of it. I can’t move. Can’t breathe right. My body obeys even as my mind thrashes against it, screaming to fight and run.
“I can’t fucking do this anymore.” Brayden grips my upper arm, dragging my useless body toward him. “It’s over.”
Tears sting my eyes. My throat feels raw, voice barely a whisper. “No… please.” The words shake as they leave me. “Don’t do this. Please. Don’t reject me.”
“I’m not rejecting you.” His jaw tightens as he leans in, his fangs inches from my face. “You did this to us. You refused to bond with me.” His voice drops, rough and trembling with anger. “I did everything right. I attended all the academy’s parties. I paid extra for the goddamn scent-matching tests. I even met your fucking parents.”
My heart sinks as I think of my family. I haven't spoken to them since Braydon claimed me. He’s even refused to let me talk to them on the phone.
Punishment for being such a bad omega.
“Please,” I whisper, then glance out the windshield at the two men waiting in the dark. My whole body starts to shake. “Don’t do this. I’ll do better. I’ll be a good omega. I’ll?—”
“What the fuck do you think you’re gonna do, Skyla?” His voice rises. “I have punctured your scent glands a dozen times.” His hand flies out to the mangled bite in my neck. His fingers jab the raw flesh, and I cry out, twisting away. “You’re not even a fucking omega,” he snarls. “No heat. No bond.” His voice drops to a whisper, “I can’t even get hard with you anymore.”
A sob breaks out of me.
He’s right.
The first time he bit me, he was able to knot me. It was excruciating being knotted the first time outside of my heat, but my body learned to take it, little by little. But as time went on, something changed, and his shaft stopped inflating. Even during my first heat with him, he couldn’t fully knot me. And now…now he goes soft just looking at me.
“Puh-please,” I choke on my tears, “Maybe… maybe it’s because I wasn’t in heat when you first?—”
Brayden’s wide hand slaps across my tear-streaked cheek. The sting blooms instantly. I barely have time to cry out before he’s got a fist tangled in my hair, yanking.
“Are you blaming me for not waiting?” he roars.
“No!” I gasp, dizzy now. My scalp burns and my thoughts are a muddled mess. “I didn’t mean?—”
“I wanted to make youours,” he spits. “I wanted to bring you into the pack. To make itofficial.”
“I know,” I whisper, tears sliding freely down my cheeks. “I’m sorry.”
“I waited six fucking months for your first heat.Six.” His voice is lower now. Dangerous. “Itried.Did you expect me to wait forever?”
I try to shake my head, but he doesn’t let me move. My scalp screams under his grip.
“Get up,” Brayden snaps, jerking me by the hair. My body stumbles after him, my bare feet scrape against the gritty dirt, the chill biting up through my soles. Wind slaps my face, making the wet skin sting.
Then he leans in close. His breath is hot. His eyes arefilled with hate. “If you sayanythingabout our bond not taking,” he growls, “I’ll kill you.”
My mind blanks.
I go cold all over—numb, like I’ve been dropped into icy water.
