And in this moment, I had power over Rossi. He had underestimated me. Tried to steal everything from me.
With all my strength, I drove the blade into Rossi’s neck in a single, brutal stroke. The blade slid in, a sickening, wet rip, making my stomach lurch. Vittorio’s head fell back, his eyes wide and blank. Hot blood sprayed over my hands.
“Good girl,” Kaelen whispered, pride and praise lacing his words.
The last bit of light flickered out, dull eyes staring, unseeing.With a wet breath, the old alpha’s body fell to the floor with a thud. Frozen, I turned the bloodied blade, my eyes blank as I stared at it.
I dropped to my knees. The muted heat rushed back—cloying and consuming. My vision clouded, feeling unbearably empty.
A high-pitched whimper stung my ears as I dropped the knife, curling in on myself and rocking slightly.
Powerful arms encircled my waist, guiding me up. A comforting, familiar scent filled my lungs. I leaned into Kaelen, burrowing my face in his chest, unbothered by the sweat and blood staining his black t-shirt.
I breathed, letting the steady thrum of his heartbeat ease my frantic one.
“Willow,” he said, his voice rough and tired.
“Kaelen,” I murmured back.
Callused fingers gripped my chin, tipping my head back. He rubbed his cheek against mine, scenting me. I relaxed further into his touch, wanting to smell only like him, wanting every remnant of Rossi washed from my skin.
My hands still trembled as I gripped his biceps. I leaned into his touch. His lips found mine, brushing gently against the cracked skin. He kissed me gently, swiping his tongue along mine.
I moaned, drunk on his taste. My nails dug into the corded muscles on his arms. The room blurred. A jumbled mess of half-formed thoughts battled for dominance. The last dredges of my lucidity wavered. I didn’t have long before I fully succumbed to my heat.
To my needs. To my omega.
He had to know. I had to tell him.
Weakly, my fingers scraped over his temple.
“Alpha. Please. Bite me. Make me yours,” I whispered, the words a broken plea.
Fire licked through my limbs, igniting in my veins. I needed him. I needed his knot. He had to help me. I wanted to be his. Forever. I wanted my husband. My alpha. My mate.
He nipped at my bottom lip, pulling back. A tiny V formed between his brows, his hand sliding along my face as I nuzzled into his palm, scenting him and marking him as mine.
“Omega.”
His voice was a guttural whisper. Something between a vow and a prayer. But the undercurrent of his restraint cut through everything else, making a different fear gnarl behind my sternum.
“Please.Please.No one else’s, only yours. It hurts,” I said, raking my nails through his beard.
A long silence stretched out between us as his nostrils flared. The pad of his thumb trailed over my freckles, making flames follow in his wake.
“I know it hurts. Shhh, little omega. I’m here now. I’ve got you.”
I struggled to connect two thoughts. I loved his touch, his comfort.Him.But I needed more. I needed to feel his heart beat in mine. I wanted to bond with him, to connect our lives in the most intimate, complete way.
Why didn’t he understand?
I hissed, clenching my thighs when another cramp sliced through my abdomen. I needed… I needed… help. My alpha needed to help me. Complete me.
“Knot,” I said, tugging at his waistband. “Mark me.”
His sharp gaze stung me, a silent protest. “You don’t mean that. Not like this.”
The claim cut across me like a blade—an agonizing hurt. I chewed on my lip, seeing the truth in his eyes. He was being noble, assuming I was a victim of my heat. That my omega was in control and begging for a mark that I didn’t want.
