There are two alphas working in the truck, busying themselves in the background. In such a small space, I’m impressed at how they don’t bump into each other, but they move around effortlessly.
Vi gets to work, singing to herself as she prepares my dessert then presents it to me like a trophy. “Your first is always on the house.”
“No, I can’t.” I hunt around in my purse. “I have to give you something.”
“Trust me, Vi’s sundaes are so good that you’ll be coming back for more,” one of the alphas with a green mohawk chips in over her shoulder. Judging by how he looks at her in sheer wonderment, I’m guessing they’re bonded.
She slides a loyalty card across the counter. “See you around, Faye!”
Buzzing with excitement and sundae in hand, I spot a picnic bench farther down the street, nestled under a tree. My first taste is divine. Vi was right; she now has a customer for life.
I’m halfway through when a cool breeze catches my hair, and I hear them.
Alphas. Lots of them.
My blood runs cold, and not because of the copious amount of frozen goodness I just devoured.
“Can you smell that?” an alpha calls out. “Fresh omega! She can be our token!”
There’s a chorus of whoops.
“Wow, she smells good enough to eat,” another agrees.
They’re closing in.
A large group of burly men wearing red head in my direction. Shit! I catch a whiff of my scent as I break out in a sweat. I completely forgot to douse myself in scent blocker before leaving. I hadn’t planned on venturing out of Omega Village, so it hadn’t crossed my mind. How could I be so reckless?
Their voices grow louder.
I jump up and rush back in the direction of the gate, but in the darkness, I can’t seem to find the opening amongst the dense woodland.
“Over there!” someone shouts. “Hey! You!”
I look back over my shoulder to see a group of five alphas hurtling in my direction. My natural instincts kick in, and fear escalates my already racing heart. My sundae slips from my hands, hitting the ground with a splat as I sprint as quickly as I can.
I can’t let them catch me!
Everything rushes by in a blur, until…
“Ouch!” a husky voice growls.
I bounce off him and fall flat on my ass. Somehow, I’ve just run head-first into the chest of the biggest and scariest looking alpha I’ve ever seen. I rub my forehead, seeing stars. What are his pecs made from, stone?
The guy towers over me, his massive muscles bulging through his thin T-shirt and tattoos climbing up his neck. Hisshaggy, shoulder-length, black hair falls over his eyes as he peers down at me, unimpressed.
“Don’t hurt me!” I cower, my pulse thrashing against my eardrums.
“Hurt you?” He frowns, appearing to be genuinely confused as he looks back toward where I came from. “Get up. Now.”
His tone is low and commanding, making me feel compelled to obey. Did he just use his bark on me?
I’ve only ever read about alpha barks. It’s a way that an alpha can use his voice to make an omega comply. It’s not something you’d ever use on a stranger as it’s considered rude, not to mention illegal. Pack leaders can also use their bark on the other alphas in their pack too.
The alpha’s hands close around my shoulders. His grip is firm, protective, and his scent hits me harder than his chest. I’ve never smelled anything like him before. He smells like petrichor, the delicious scent after a storm. A mix of scorched earth and thunder, rich amber accents, and a splash of danger, like a fine whiskey next to a rolling tide. It’s intoxicating, dizzying, electric…
I quiver under his grasp, noting the bulging veins creeping up his hands as I stare up at him. His jaw clenches, then something changes. He drops his hold instantly, like I’ve burned him.
“What do you think you’re doing out here alone?” He glares down at me. “It’s not safe for an omega to be outside the village alone at night! Don’t you know anything?”
