“Lower your voice.” I slap the beta’s hands away, then scan the trees around us. Thankfully, everything is still dark and quiet. “I don’t want someone to hear us,” I say before double-checking that my shirt is on the right way.
Linden scrunches up his face, clearly not bothered. “It’s two in the morning,” he says matter-of-factly, then he looks past me at my family’s home. “There are no lights on,” he points out.
I glance back at my family’s little cabin to make sure. He’s right. All the windows on the bottom and top floors are pitch black. But that doesn’t make me feel any better.
“No one is awake to hear us.” Linden wraps his arms around my waist, holding me to his firm body. He’s so sexy with lean muscles, long legs, and a beautiful tanned complexion. “Plus,” he presses his forehead to mine, “we’re in the middle of thedamn woods.” He narrows his sexy brown eyes. “You worry too much.”
I fight the urge to glare at the beta. “I have three fathers, in case you forgot. Andtwoof them are alphas,” I say flatly. “You’rethe one that should be worried.”
A sexy smirk lifts one side of his mouth. He chuckles and his dark brown hair falls into the corner of his eyes. “I come from a big family just like you, omega.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “And I have just as many fathers as you.”
This isn’t the first time he’s dismissed my fears, but I don't have time to argue about alphas and their attitudes toward their beta sons versus omega daughters. Plus, his fathers are loving. They dote on his mother and siblings.
He has no idea of the hell I live in.
“I should go.” I push up onto my toes, placing a quick kiss on his lips. He follows me when I pull away, keeping his mouth on mine. It makes me giggle, and I playfully smack his chest. “Go home,” I urge him, secretly happy that he doesn't want to leave me.I don’t want to leave him either.“You have a very long walk home.” I glance up at the night sky. “You’ll be lucky if you get there before dawn.”
“Worth it.” Linden winks, then he lets out a sad sigh before cupping my cheek. “Dream of me, my sweet omega.”
A shiver cuts through me and I squeeze my legs together. My body is still humming from the orgasm he gave me less than twenty minutes ago. “Good night.” I kiss him once more, then turn.
Linden holds my hand for as long as he can, letting my fingers slowly slip away. I want to look back, but I can’t. If I do, I’ll never leave him.
Moonlight cuts through the leaves overhead as I creep toward my home. The wind shifts and I shiver again, but this time it’s not from excitement. It’s early fall, meaning briskwinds. This time of year, my mother keeps all the windows closed except for one in the kitchen. But once it gets too cold, she shuts the house up tight, and tonight feels especially chilly. I hope it hasn’t been closed.
It’s my only way in or out.
I tiptoe past the garden, then around the side of the house. Relief washes over me when I spot the little window. Thankfully, it’s still cracked open. My hands tremble as I lift the glass pane, forcing it up. It fights me. I grit my teeth and shove. Finally, the window moves, jerking the whole way up.
Hoisting myself up, I come face to face with the kitchen sink. The edge is smooth and cold, and my fingers skid as I drag my body across it. It takes a few tries, but I finally get inside, crawling awkwardly over the counter.
The house is deathly silent. No movement. Just shadows of furniture, faintly outlined by the moonlight streaming through the windows.
Moving slowly, I lift up onto my toes, then inch my way across the kitchen. I choose my steps wisely, avoiding the creaky boards. The living room is just as dark, but the stairs are in sight and my bedroom is the first one at the top. If I can get to it without waking anyone up, then I can fall into my nest and dream about the next time I’ll see Linden.
Sweet, sweet Linden.
My mind wanders to his passionate kisses and warm hands as I pass the couch. I place one foot on the bottom step—avoiding the creaky center—and grab the rickety handrail.
“You smell like beta cum,” a deep voice slices through the silence and fear makes me freeze.
Shit.
I slowly turn, finding my father in the armchair in the corner.How did I not see him?
The shadows hide his face, but I don’t need to see to know it’s Burke. Long hair falls over the pack alpha’s shoulders, and the faint outline of his bare chest rises and falls with obvious rage.
“You startled me.” I don’t know what else to say, but I do know one thing:this is going to hurt.
“Elizabeth.” The black-haired alpha pushes his big body out of the chair. He’s massive, towering over me. But then again, everyone towers over me. Even my twelve-year-old brother, but it’s obvious he’s going to be an alpha. “Where the fuck have you been?” Burke’s voice is a quiet growl, obviously not wanting to wake Mom or the baby, but he’ll yell soon. He always does.
“I needed some fresh air.” I drop my gaze, trying to look respectful.
“Liar,” Burke snaps, making me flinch. “You’ve been out getting fucked.” He stalks toward me, his big body like a wall of unforgiving muscle.
My instincts scream to run, but it’ll be a thousand times worse if I do.
“Is this what you’ve become?” He stops right in front of me. “Are you just another omega slut that gives it away all over town?”
