“Fuck off.”
The flat of her palm connected with my cheek. A sting radiated across my face, making my eyes water.
Impressive.
I smirked, rolling my head to the side and cracking my neck.
Willow glared, harsh, angry breaths puffing out her cracked lips.
For a split second, I imagined those lips wrapped around my cock, and I groaned.
Aidan’s brows raced into his hairline, his eyes wide and disbelieving.
“You’re either brave or stupid, Omega.”
Without a word, she raised her hand to strike me again. I closed my fingers around her narrow wrist, stopping her mid-swing. She balled her fist, her tits straining the thin fabric of her sundress with each ragged breath.
“Fight me all you want. The answer will still be no.”
All at once, she went still, her hand limp in mine. I released it,watching the fury in her body fade as resignation took root. Despite the indignation burning in her cheeks, a glassy hue glimmered over her eyes, dulling the lustrous shine that drew me in.
“Listen, sweetheart,” I said, doing my best to keep from barking at her. “The moment you step out that door, I can’t protect you. Your father will play dirty to get what he wants. If you think he’ll let you live your life unbothered once he realizes I released you, you are naïve.”
My words snuffed out the last flickering flame of indignation in her eyes as her scent soured, a burned edge to the spring florals.
She was pissed that I was right, and hurt.
Three
WILLOW
Heavy breaths choked me as I stared up at the imposing alpha towering above me. The same man who captivated me at the gala. This was the alpha I couldn’t stop thinking about. And now he was to be my jailer.
The other man, who crouched beside me, walked into the hall, leaving us alone. Once I brushed off the shame he forced me to face, a different, unfamiliar emotion swirled in my abdomen, my omega perking to life.
His scent filled the room—fresh espresso and whisky.
I craved it, wanted to chase it and drown in it.
It was foreign.
I had never been so enticed by an alpha’s scent. At worst, they tended to be putrid, making me want to gag. At best, they were tolerable, but nothing I sought out. I closed my eyes, squashing the primal need to please the man who had effectively taken me prisoner.
Most alphas didn’t affect me, but this one was dangerous. And not because of the gun tucked in his pants.
Sunlight glinted off his jeweled eyes, making the jade twinkle. A red mark bloomed on his cheek, standing out against his fair, freckled skin. I licked my lips, following the path of colorful ink on his forearms that disappeared under his rolled sleeves.
His muscles strained against the expensive fabric. My omega luxuriated at the idea of stripping it from him and tracing the lines with my tongue.
Despite the throbbing under my eye, I willed away the unhelpful thoughts. I should be shocked by what my father did. Disgusted.
I wasn’t.
It was a step up from his usual games, sure. But William Sterling was nothing short of a selfish bastard who would exploit his own family if it meant he would win an election.
Kaelen Finnegan.
I had no idea who he was, but now he owned me. And he didn’t seem like the type to relinquish his possessions. Still, maybe he could be convinced that I wasn’t worth the burden.
