This is my fault. I knew she had broken into my house before. I knew she had come for me once. Yet I still agreed to go to the store, brushing it all aside as if it didn’t matter. Now Lakelyn’s in danger, and the potent musk radiating from Jenny confirms how unhinged she truly is.
My mom really needs to pick better friends.
“You’re out of your mind,” I say, leaning away from her touch as much as my restraints will allow.
She throws her head back and laughs, a chilling sound. “Only for you, darling.”
Lakelyn groans, and my gaze snaps to her. She lifts her head, blinking as she takes in her surroundings. It’s a basement—dark and claustrophobic, with bare concrete floors and cinder block walls. Small slivers of light filter through glass blocks every few feet, casting eerie shadows that seem to dance around us.
As her panic rises, I can feel it coursing through our bond. It’s a visceral sensation, tightening my chest as her fear amplifies. The oppressive weight of the space sinks in, making my heart race. I want to scream at Jenny, to break free and protect her, but all I can do is watch as Lakelyn’s eyes widen with realization. She’s terrified, and so am I.
Jenny turns her attention to Lakelyn as if she can sense that she’s regained consciousness. “Wait, let her go, Jenny, and you can have me.” My heart pounds in my ears, and my breath catches as she hesitates for a moment before closing the distance to my soulmate.
Her fingers brush against Lakelyn’s cheek, and in a flash of instinct, Lakelyn tries to bite her. The sharp sound of skin meeting skin reverberates around the small space as Jenny recoils, slapping Lakelyn, her expression shifting from amusement to anger.
“Oh no, I have special plans for yourbeta—especially now that she’s an omega.” Lakelyn cries out as Jenny yanks her head back ruthlessly by her hair. “They are going to have fun breaking you.”
I strain against the ropes cutting into my wrists, desperation flooding me. No one is going to break Lakelyn. I push another call through the bond, even though Mason and Dean feel so distant, barely a whisper in my mind. This is on me. I have to save her. I won’t let anyone harm her—she’s my light, the one who pulled me out of the shadows I’d been living in for so long. She’s my heart, alive and breathing outside of me, and I can’t lose her.
It’s strange how love works. It’s bigger than anything, spilling over and stretching to fill every empty space. Loving her completely doesn’t take anything away from what I feel for Dean or Mason. Love doesn’t need limits; it only grows.
“Get away from her,” I snarl, the words ripping from my throat. Every protective instinct I have claws at me, demanding freedom. The chair legs clatter against the concrete floor as I struggle.
Jenny’s fingers slide from Lakelyn’s hair, and she shifts her gaze to me, a smile curling on her lips. “I see we’re going to have a problem,” she says, her voice honeyed but laced withvenom. She moves back to me and leans closer, her nails trailing dangerously over my skin. “Maybe if I carve those pesky little marks off your body, we can make this easier for everyone.”
Instinctively, I jerk away from her touch, and she laughs. I can’t lose the marks. I need to try something else.
My heart races, but I force myself to relax, to give her exactly what she wants. “You’re right, Jenny,” I say, softening my tone as I try to pull her focus away from Lakelyn. “Maybe… maybe I was wrong to resist you. You’re the only one who ever really saw me. I can see that now. You’re just trying to protect me.”
Her eyes glint, and she flattens her palm against my chest, the hint of a triumphant smile tugging at her lips. “Now you’re finally coming to your senses, aren’t you?”
“Yeah,” I say, forcing myself to smile as if this twisted idea of hers really is clicking in my mind. “I guess I needed time to see it clearly. Lakelyn’s… she’s nothing to me, Jenny. She was just a distraction.”
Lakelyn stirs across from me, her gaze flicking to mine with confusion and pain, and I feel a stab of guilt. But I push it down, knowing this is the only way.
Jenny’s smirk grows, and she traces her fingers along my jaw. “That’s what I thought,” she purrs. “I’m the only one for you, Chad. Not these little distractions.”
My heart slams against my ribs, but I keep my face calm, leaning just enough into her touch. “Then prove it to me. Untie me, let me show you I’m yours. Just… let her go.”
Her eyes narrow, suspicion flickering, but my steady, eager expression seems to work. She pauses, considering, and I sense her resolve waver.
“Let me show you,” I say softly, a hint of a challenge in my tone. “If you really believe I’m yours, you don’t need to keep me tied down. Right?”
Jenny’s eyes flash with satisfaction as she takes the bait, leaning in close. Her breath is warm against my skin as her lips touch mine, slow and languid. Every part of me recoils; my stomach twists in disgust, but I force myself to stay relaxed, to not pull away. I can’t afford to show a single crack in this act.
Her fingers lace through my hair, pulling me deeper into the kiss, and I push down the urge to gag, fighting to keep myself in control. Each second feels like an eternity, her perfume too strong, her touch leaving a sickening weight on my skin.
When she finally pulls back, her gaze is smug, full of misplaced victory. “See?” she murmurs. “You were meant to be mine. Always.”
I swallow, struggling to keep my voice steady as I respond. “You’re right, Jenny,” I manage, keeping my tone light, almost dazed. “I can see that now.”
She smiles, pleased, and lets her grip on me loosen slightly. Just a little more—I can feel her guard slipping, her confidence clouding her instincts.
I force myself to breathe shallowly, praying Jenny can’t pick up the sharp edge of revulsion in my scent—a biting lime note cutting through the air. It mingles with Lakelyn’s fear, which hangs heavy like overripe blueberries, sickly sweet and unmistakable. The clash of our emotions fills the room, thickening the air with tension.
Each second stretches painfully as I keep myself in check, focusing on keeping my scent neutral, masking any trace of the urge to recoil. It’s a delicate balance, holding back the protective rage that’s rising in me. For now, I have to keep her believing she’s in control.
Behind her, Lakelyn shifts, and my chest tightens. Every part of me is screaming to get her out of here, to break free and put myself between her and Jenny, but I stay still, focusing all my energy on appearing pliant, trusting that my gamble will pay off.
