And I almost make it.
But then arms close around me.
They come from behind, wrapping fast around my waist and ribs, pulling me against a solid, blazing hot chest. It’s not a rough hold, but there’s no room to twist, no space to bolt. My feet kick uselessly against the mattress as panic spikes sharp and wild.
“No—!” I gasp, breath tearing out of me.
The hold tightens just enough to stop my momentum, but not enough to hurt. Then a hand spreads between myshoulder blades, grounding, anchoring before sliding up into my hair. Firm fingers curl at the nape of my neck, holding me still.
Then a rough, broken purr floods the room.
It vibrates straight through me, low and constant, like a heartbeat pressed against my spine. My body betrays me instantly, muscles going slack even as my mind screams. My breathing stutters, then slows, dragged into rhythm with his.
I hate it.
I hate how my limbs stop shaking. Hate how the room sharpens instead of spinning. Hate how the chaos inside me dulls at the edges despite every furious thought telling me to fight harder.
The young beta steps forward, his dark hair falling into wide, disbelieving eyes. His face crumples as he looks at the bed, at me, at the alpha behind me. Tears shine, unshed, as if he can’t quite wrap his head around what he’s seeing.
“Oh my god,” he whispers, voice breaking. “You’re awake.”
But before the beta can take another step, Warren moves, holding an arm out, blocking him from getting too close to the bed. “Beck. Don’t,” he says quietly. Not unkind. Firm. “Give Cass space.”
Beck nods stiffly, wiping at his eyes, but he doesn’t look away.
My heart stutters as I stay pressed against him, trapped between fear and the traitorous calm his instincts keep forcing into me.
Cass.
That must be the unconscious alpha…the alpha that’s holding me.
And the way Warren and Grason look at him tells me everything. It’s not fear.Not exactly.
It’s the kind of rigid, controlled alertness alphas only show around someone who outranks them.
Cass is their pack alpha.
“Easy,” Cass rumbles right in my ear. His words are quiet and muddled, clearly struggling to talk through his fever. “It’s…” He sucks in a labored breath. “It’s okay…” Then his grip doubles, maneuvering me so that my side is tucked against his chest. I could look up at his face if I wanted to, but I can’t face another strange alpha.
So I keep my head down as he begins to purr.
A shiver rushes through me, the tension in my gut falling away, replaced by complete defeat.
I never wanted a pack or to be claimed, but I don’t have a choice.
I’m all alone, trapped in a house full of alphas who already think I’m theirs.
Confused
Cassian
My vision swims, colors bleeding together, shapes blurring into one another like my mind can’t decide what belongs where.
Then I hear a sound.
It’s a broken little gasp muffled against my chest, followed by a fractured rumble I don’t immediately recognize. My head is too thick to chase it down.
And I realize it’s me.
