The room at The Rut wasn’t cheap, but the hotel was renowned for its discretion. On top of this, the fees also included access to the surrounding woods where omegas would be hiding.
With a nod at the receptionist, a beta by the smell, I thanked him for the keycard to my room. He assured me it had been prepared according to my specifications, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
The hunt thrilled me, but I was afraid the omega I might catch wouldn’t be up for what I had in mind. I would have arranged it in advance, but if any communications as to whatI wanted leaked out, I’d be ruined as a respectable member of the community, sneered at by my military peers, or worse, dishonorably discharged.
With the key in hand, I turned toward the sound of footsteps coming from the direction of the stairs. The running omega was in such a rush, he bumped into me and continued his sprint out of the building until he disappeared into the woods. Even fleeting, his divine, sweet scent burrowed into my nose.
Heavier steps followed, and a pissed-off Alpha with gold stilettos dangling from his grasp stopped in front of the open door. He ran a hand through his hair, which had come undone from a slick do, and touched the tiny scratch on his cheek, coming back with a drop of blood on his finger.
“You little shit,” he yelled into the darkness of the woods ahead. “I’m going to get you and rip you to shreds!” He released an animalistic growl, curling his hands into fists.
The beta at the reception didn’t flinch, continuing to type. He was damn good at his job.
Like a stampede of bulls, three more Alphas came down and stood next to their leader, looking like a bunch of teenage bullies even though they were way into their forties. Pissed off and in a rut, they were poster boys for how dangerous this night was for omegas.
“Let’s get the weapons and hunt the little fucker down. He’s not living to see tomorrow after tricking us.” The first Alpha hurled the stilettos onto the tiled floor of the lobby with a clatter.
“Don’t worry, boss. We’ll catch him,” a shaved-headed goon said, while the other two nodded.
Not if I find him first.
The thought hit me like a slap, and its sting filled me with determination.
Once the men were gone, I picked up the stilettos and inhaled the scent on them. My body awoke with a primal need to bewith that omega. But fucking him was not what I was after. No, I wanted him to fuckme, to own me, and fulfill all my deepest fantasies. Even if just this once. A feisty omega was exactly what I needed.Will this golden-haired menace be him?
I shoved the footwear into my backpack full of essentials, glad I was dressed and packed for the hunt. With my cerebral monitor turned off, the need to mate grew more and more intense in me. Having predicted that, I’d taken a mild inhibitor shot to make sure I wouldn’t completely lose control, even for this one night. I couldn’t afford a mistake.
Outside, the evening wind blew in my face, and I set off running, following the scent of my prey. I had to be quick to get to him before the other Alphas.
I’ll find him. No matter what, he’ll spend the night with me. I won’t let those bastards take him. He’s mine.
Chapter Three
Sol
Unable to run any longer, I jumped into the bushes and curled into a ball. Hot tears streamed down my face, and I was shaking so hard I was making the bushes rustle. Not ideal, but I was tired. Of running, of my life, of society. In my head, I went to my happy place—a meadow full of horses. It was always sunny there, and I would sit on a blanket and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. Then I’d mount my horse, and we’d gallop through the fields, the winds of freedom blowing my hair back. Unfortunately, my happy place was imaginary—I’d never even sat on a horse, let alone had one of my own. Despite that, the dream of a life of freedom calmed me down.
If I had my backpack, I could put socks and sneakers on my bleeding feet in case I had to run again. But no, I had to lose it.What the fuck was I thinking?I wasn’t ready to live on my own, much less survive a night in the woods.
My plan had been stupid, and now my future looked way worse than marriage to Dryden. Well, okay, I wasn’t sure about that.
I was slim enough to be attractive to twink-loving Alphas, but strong and healthy enough to carry young. My parents raised me to be glamorous and skilled in pleasuring Alphas so they could make a pretty penny on my services—even if my ass remained untouched while I waited for my first heat. My parents had made a deal with Dryden, stating that he couldn’t take me away until I either went into my first heat, or reached the age of twenty-two. In exchange for a hefty sum, he could marry me or do whatever else he wanted with me.
My twenty-second birthday would be in three months, and I should have gone through my first heat already. However, my family didn’t know I had been taking shots to delay it, and with it, my marriage to Dryden. Now, I was off the serum in hopes of going into a heat tonight and getting ruined.
So far, nothing had gone as planned.
Dryden wanted me as his mate. I would be the official arm candy while he’d continue to fuck his legion of omegas who functioned as his slaves, obeying him, knowing they had no escape from him if they had a will to live.
During one of his many visits to my bedroom, he’d told me he’d pick an Alpha to service me through my first heat. Dryden planned to be in the room and watch a stranger take my virginity in my most vulnerable moment, then leave so he wouldn’t have to deal with the care I’d need afterwards.
This was because Dryden’s obsession was to fuck me when I wasn’t in heat—when my ass was dry and my sex drive wassmall, so I would scream in pain. He’d described his fantasies to me many times over the years during his visits to do business with my father. He’d been touching me since I had my first pubic hair and even ordered me to have all my hair laser-removed. My parents agreed like stupid puppets. After all, he was Father’s rich and powerful friend, and he was preparing me for the role of the perfect omega. Just helping. I’d told my parents that Dryden had touched me and forced me to suck him off when I was barely a teen, but they said I was imagining things. Of course they knew about it and they let him abuse me for years because it suited their greed.
Was a future with Dryden worse than what could still happen to me tonight? I wasn’t sure anymore.
The distant screams, growling, and sobs didn’t help the sense of dread looming over me.
“I’m coming for you, and you’ll never trick anyone again!” Crux’s voice came from somewhere to my left, startling me.
