“You will, little Luna. It is only a matter of time,” he said darkly, and a shiver raced down my spine. His fingers tightened almost imperceptibly at the back of my neck, and I stiffened. “Most of all, I want to know why you’re so insistent on returning to Ravenrath. Why would you truly want to return to the place where you experienced so much cruelty at the hands of an alpha that didn’t deserve an omega like you?”
“I told you, I have to rescue my maid,” I replied quickly.
“No. I don’t think that’s the reason. I think you’re hiding something else behind those pretty eyes of yours and I will find out what that is, no matter what it takes,” he whispered gently. I sucked in a nervous breath, keeping my expression steady and as emotionless as I could. I’d tell him nothing. I had far too much to lose if I did.
“I won’t tell you anything,” I spat.
“I promise you that you will,” he said firmly.
“What are you going to do? Beat me? Slap me across the face and leave bruises all over my body like Thranar did?” I scoffed. He didn’t move and I didn’t back off either.
“No. I’d never do such a thing. A real alpha doesn’t need to use such horrific tactics to remind their omegas of their proper place,” he whispered. He sniffed the air and I took a step backwards. “It won’t be long now. Soon, you’ll realize what’s happening and I’m very much looking forward to that exact moment when you truly understand what’s about to take place.”
I gritted my teeth. What the fuck could he mean?
His hand fell away from my neck and returned to his side. I swallowed nervously.
“I want you to know that I am your ally, Luna. I’d never hurt you and all I want to do is keep you safe,” he added, imploring me to succumb to his wishes.
I wouldn’t fall for it. I had to remain strong and escape him so that I could return to protect my daughter. She was far more important than whatever this was between him and me.
“I don’t believe you. For all I know, you plan to kill me yourself,” I replied. There was a tiny part of me that wanted to believe him, and it was growing strong enough so that it was becoming extremely difficult to ignore. I knew he was a different kind of alpha, but that didn’t mean that his intentions weren’t wicked in nature. I didn’t know him well enough to truly judge the kind of man he was. At the end of the day, he was still an alpha. He had instincts too, which included forcing me flat on my back so that I could take his knot.
Either way, I had to get away, no matter what he had planned for me. My child’s life depended on it. I swallowed heavily, knowing what I had to do.
He had to die.
With a shriek, I lurched forward and slashed the knife across his throat, intending to cut deep into him and end his life. What I didn’t expect was for him to be ready for exactly that. He arched backwards, completely escaping the bite of my blade. At the same time, his right leg swooped forward and swept me off my feet so that I fell forward into his waiting arms. I squeaked in surprise when his fingers caught my wrist and wrenched it backwards just enough to cause a flash of agony to burst up my arm. The knife clattered to the ground, bouncing off a rock. I gasped at that ominously loud clang in the silence of the night. For a long moment, I just stared at the glint of the blade in the dirt in disbelief and he pulled me in close to his chest, imprisoning me with his arms against my will.
This couldn’t be real. I prayed to the gods that it wasn’t.
“Shh, little omega. It will be alright,” he whispered, and I felt my legs go weak. I didn’t know if I was afraid or numb or even worse than all of that, aroused by the presence of his alpha. I didn’t even want to think about the fact that it could be desire.
“It won’t,” I spat. I pushed against him, but his arms were too tight around my shoulders, his scent too strong as it surrounded
me. Woodsy spices that spoke of ginger and nutmeg lulled me into a false sense of security while jasmine and citrus aromas circled around me, lighting my core aflame with unwanted desire.
I told myself it was just because he was an alpha. There couldn’t be any other reason other than that. I would refuse to believe it.
“Why would you say that, omega? You’re safe with me and once we can return to Valgertha, I will send word to ensure that your maid is rescued as well,” he answered carefully, and I could tell that he was doing his best to keep his curiosity at bay.
I bit the inside of my cheek hard, refusing to say anything more.
He cleared his throat, giving me several seconds to answer and when I didn’t, his expression hardened with suspicion.
“I was gentle with you before, Luna, although you may find it hard to believe. If you do not talk to me, I will have to punish you far more firmly than that,” he said darkly.
“I don’t owe you anything,” I exclaimed, trying to push back against his chest so that I could earn my freedom once again. I put everything into it, but it was like pushing against a rock wall. He didn’t even move an inch and I screeched in frustration.
“I will give you this one warning, little omega. Should you not heed my instructions, you will be punished until you’re sore and sobbing and ready to tell me your story. For running from me again, you already earned another session over my knee. It is up to you now whether it will end with your bare little bottom thoroughly striped from my belt or with all the tender places on your body welted from the end of a switch,” he threatened. I tensed in his arms and pushed harder.
“I won’t tell you anything. Let me go right now, you alpha bastard,” I spat.
He sighed loudly and a jolt of fear simmered deep within my belly.
“By the time I’m through with you, little omega, you’re going to tell me everything,” he said, so incredibly sure of himself with every word. His voice had deepened with his own excitement. There was little doubt in my mind that he was aroused too.
“Do your worst, Vikar,” I dared him. This time, I didn’t even try to hold back the snarl that escaped my lips. Any time an omega growled at an alpha, it was a direct challenge.