I freeze, my body going still.
With the omega.
Withher.
They’re bringing her back to me?
The two guards look at me warily.
“I’ll be damned,” the younger one mutters. “The fucker’s gone silent. We’ve been trying for fucking hours to get him to shut the fuck up andthat’sall it takes? You’re shitting me.”
“I mean, they bought the omega for a reason. We shouldn’t complain if it’s actually working.”
“You’re right. So we’re done for the day?”
“Yeah, we’re switching off with Rowan,” the older guard says, his voice fading as they leave me in my cell.
My chest heaves. My pulse races.
I wait. And wait. And wait.
Every second feels like an eternity.
Maybe it’s not that long, but it feels like forever before the young-looking new guard steps into the room warily.
“Mirabelle says you can understand me,” he says, standing right at the doorway. “I just wanted to introduce myself. I’m Rowan. And I’m the one in charge of taking care of Mirabelle.”
Taking care of Mirabelle.
I don’t like the sound of that.
My lips curl back in a snarl, and a low growl vibrates from my chest.
He flinches back. Satisfaction rolls over me.
He should be afraid.
“I should rephrase that,” he mutters under his breath. “I’m the one keeping Mirabelle safe. You saw her get shocked, right?”
I lunge forward, the cuffs digging into the open wounds on my wrists and ankles.
“Hey, I hate the fucking sight of her getting shocked too, okay? That’s what I’m trying to say. When she’s with me, she doesn’t get shocked, and she stays with me longer if I can get you and the other fighting dogs to behave. So calm down. I’m only going to bring her in here if I know she’s going to be safe.”
My body stiffens as I freeze.
Hurt her? I’d never.
Rowan studies me for a moment before he nods, stepping back out into the hallway.
“He’s calmed down a bit. You can come in now.”
She steps tentatively into the doorway, her eyes going wide.
“Oh my God! Are you okay?”
She walks towards me, stepping close enough that I’m surrounded by her sweet strawberry perfume.
I strain against the chains to lean closer to her. I want her scent on me again. Like earlier. Before they hosed me down to wake me up.
