But I have a feeling she won’t.
For a while I worried she was too much like Bokerah, that I’d just made a huge mistake—and I’d made it for the second time at that. When she told me off at the hangar, I feared it could mean she’s scrappy, that she’s an alpha-type in omega’s clothing. But no, she was just acting according to her biologically predetermined nature. Omegas nurture, they take care of their pack. She was just trying to take care of Ben, not to challenge me.
I know she wants me, wants us.
I just need a little more time with her. Alone. To make sure she’s all in, that my brothers and I will be safe from another heartbreak. Even though our mate bond was never finalized, it still hurt like hell losing Bokerah. Especially because we lost her like that. She would rather kill me than live another day as our mate. Kind of bruises a guy’s ego.
But that won’t happen again. Violet is different. She may have her hesitations, but eventually she will become ours.
Now it’s just one and a half more hours until we arrive at our destination. Violet still isn’t talking, which has me on edge until I realize she’s fallen asleep.
“BB, put on some music.”
“Yes, Alpha Archer. What would you like to listen to?”
“Love songs,” I answer without hesitation. The other guys would give me shit if they knew, but I like the soft melodies and gentle words. I like believing that life really can be as simple as finding the one you’re meant to be with and then living happily ever after.
Maybe in another world, in a different life, it could have been that way for me too. But when you’re born on the wrong side of the tracks, you spend the rest of your days on the lookout for oncoming traffic. Everything can be going smooth, the coast might seem clear, but at any moment, a semi-truck can ram into you at full speed, knocking you right back to where you started. Or worse.
It could all end tomorrow.
I’ve always known that, and Bokerah was the perfect reminder of that.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Take it one day at a time.
If it’s all going to end tomorrow, if there’s even a chance…
Then I must make Violet mine today.
ten
VIOLET
Iawake confused and with an uncomfortable crick in my neck. I’m not lying in my bed, but rather seated in a sleek sports car moving at a steady clip. Bruno Mars’s voice croons through the radio asking the listener to “marry me.” Archer’s looming presence fills the driver’s seat. He’s singing along with impressive accuracy and a pretty decent singing voice as well.
The pleasant moment brings a smile to my face, but quickly after, I remember that I’ve been kidnapped. I also remember what Archer told me about their first omega, about Bokerah.
My smile fades. I clear my throat to announce that I’ve rejoined the day. “Are we there yet?”
“Just about,” Archer promises. “And, hey, welcome back.” His voice is light, happy even. It seems that his confession has taken quite the load off his chest. Will it be that way for me when I share my secret too? Can I share after what he’s just confessed?
I straighten in my seat and watch through the window as the pavement turns to dirt. The trees form a thick canopy overhead, darkening the otherwise eternal sunshine. We drive deeper and deeper, pulling off onto some game trail. It’s almost as if the forest is eating us alive, sucking us into her guts to digest us later.
And that’s when I see it.
A small cabin perched amid a clearing in the trees, sun filtering in through the leaves like a wind-blown disco ball. Its wooden exterior is a bit weathered, as if it’s stood here for ages. Somehow the property is pristinely kept despite the cabin’s remote location.
“Welcome to our home away from home,” Archer announces as he pulls the car to a stop.
“A cabin in the woods,” I say with a smirk, unable to help myself. “Isn’t that a horror movie?”
“No one can hear you scream out here,” he says with a shrug. His voice drops low as he adds, “And I intend to make you do just that. Scream out my name at the top of your lungs as we come together, again and again.”
“Um, what?” I feel like I’m asking that question a lot lately, but these alphas keep giving me reasons to ask it. Archer in particular. Where did that very blatant overture come from? Is that why he’s brought me here? Not to confess the pack’s sordid past but to get first dibs with me?
He smiles as he gets out of the car and crosses over to open the door for me. “You think our Benji is the only one who knows how to string together a few good words?”
I swallow hard as I accept his help out of the car. “No, I just wasn’t expectingthosewords.”