She finally looks at me, and instead of seeing fear, I see a burning frustration and anger.
“Don’t do that again.” It is a command, a demand. From an alpha to an omega. If she does it again, I will slaughter everyone in this group and carry her to safety in my arms.
“This is my expedition, this is my-”
“Life. You’re one life. You don’t waste it on the likes of him,” I hiss in a low and aggressive tone that takes her aback.
“Everyone here is my responsibility-”
“I can’t with you, I just…I can’t.” I stand up and stalk away from her, unable to hide my shaking hands.
Rory joins me and slams me up against a tree. “Breathe, Kota. It didn’t happen.”
I lean forward, pressing our foreheads together. “That was too close.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll sort it out.”
“She foiled us again, Roar. That’s twice. Has she got some magic juju that just fucks up all our plans?” I whisper into his ear.
Rory starts to laugh.
“I’m serious. I’ve never seen anyone run so fast. She looked like she was flying.” I bite my lip and moan as I recall how incredibly hot she looked.
“Do you want to call it off-”
“Don’t be ridiculous; we absolutely need to get this done. She’s just so incredible. The way she moved. The power and grace. Are we sure she’s just an omega? She looks like she might have some kind of divine gift.”
Rory laughs, dropping his forehead to my chin.
“I have to beat her now,” I admit.
Rory stiffens. “This isn’t a challenge, Kota.”
“Of course, it is. She’s two up on us. The next time, we will succeed.”
Rory laughs harder, but I slip past him, heading back to where our wayward, rejected mate is preparing her bags for the next stage of our walk.
“Give me that!” I snatch her bag out of her hands and put it on so it’s on the front of my chest.
“That’s my pack,” she says with a growl.
“You’re hurt. I’ll carry it.”
She splutters, but I don’t give her a chance to argue. I just start walking.
“You’re going the wrong way.”
Not embarrassed, not embarrassed at all. I turn and, with a raised brow, I wait for her to slowly lift her hand and point the right way, then I walk like it was all done on purpose.
She huffs as I pass her, but I just send her a flirty wink.
“You look more beautiful every time I look at you.”
Her cheeks turn pink, though she holds my gaze, almost daring me to try something.
“Look harder, this isn’t beauty. It's dirt and loathing.”
I chuckle and walk past her. “So, this way to your heart, right?”
