47
EASTON
The tow truckpulled into the orchard parking lot, and I helped Olive hop down off the tailgate.
It parked in front of us, and the driver got out.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered under my breath.
The universe was playing a joke on me. Or we were all trapped in some sort of horrific reality TV show.
Because I knew the name of the tow truck driver before she introduced herself.
Georgia.
I stood in frozen disbelief as the beta I’d briefly dated last year walked closer.
Fuck my life.
“What?” Olive asked, looking between us. “You’re acting like…” The realization dawned on her, and her scent turned burnt and acidic. “You’re kidding me.”
“Baby, it’s not?—”
Olive let out a shriek. “It’s notwhat? I didn’t realize you’d gone out with every single person in Starlight Grove. My mistake!”
“Olive, sweetheart—” Lars started, hands out in front of him.
Finn lurched towards her, trying to pull her into his arms.
But Olive was already pulling away, her pupils wide and eyesglazed. Before we could make her listen, reassure her,anything, she turned around and ran away, back into the now-dark farm.
“Shit!” Finn said.
“Here are my keys,” Lars said, tossing them to a bewildered-looking Georgia. “Just drop it at Gavin’s.”
And then the three of us were running after our omega.
48
OLIVE
My heart poundedin time with my rapid footsteps as I ran. I had no idea where I was going or what I was doing, just that my instincts had taken over.
I hated that my hormones had turned me into everything Rick said I was—needy and territorial and too fucking much. But I couldn’t stop myself. I’d been pushed to the limit tonight and couldn’t handle it anymore.
My guys obviously had many choices of who they could date. When they inevitably grew bored of me, they would have a line of women to choose from. To upgrade to. Because I was sure those women were perfectly lovely and happy, not prickly and possessive like me. Women who would stick around and have a calm conversation when confronted with her alphas’ exes, not run away like an idiot.
But I didn’t slow down. My omega was driving me forward through the dark rows of the empty orchard until we came to the mouth of the corn maze.
I should stop. Turn back around.
But my omega was determined and in full control. I ran into the maze without so much as a backward glance.
The tall corn was ominous, looming above me as the moon castshadows onto the ground. I quickly grew disoriented and my feet slowed, my heavy breaths the only sound breaking the silence. Fear crept into my chest, pushing out some of my jealous rage, and I spun around, trying to orient myself.
But then I heard it. Footsteps coming towards me.
I started running again, hitting dead end after dead end. I turned to double back and let out a piercing scream as hard arms closed around me from behind.
