With a final growl, the alpha said, “Come on, Brent,” and turned to go. He only paused for a second in front of my Omega, but a snapping growl from me got him moving along.
Once he was out of sight, I turned my attention to the man still in the narrow space with me. He swallowed as I looked at him. He still had his back pressed to the SUV behind him, but his scent had calmed. A little at least.
Settling myself, I let out a slow breath and offered him my hand. “I’m Shep. I’m sorry about those guys. Did they hurt you?”
He shook his head, shiny dark brown fringe sliding over his forehead. He reached up quickly to swipe it out of his eyes.
It only occurred to me then to take in the rest of him. He was slim and quite a bit shorter than me. Which wasn’t unusual for Omegas. Not that I’d met many.
Omegas were rare. It was one of the excuses asshole alphas gave for their behavior around them.
Just when I was about to withdraw my hand, he lifted his.
“I’m Rylan.” His voice was soft and scratchy.
He slipped his chilly hand into mine and his gaze, which he’d kept on the ground, snapped up to mine as a gasp fell from his lips.
Alphas knew their mates by scent, but Omegas only found their mates through touch.
Now Rylan knew I was his.
Chapter
Two
RYLAN
Asearing, bone deep heat radiated up from every inch of Shep’s skin pressed against mine. I knew I was staring at him like an idiot, but I couldn’t stop.
Words fled, leaving my mind a hive of static until all I could hear was the thunder of my heart rumbling in my ears.
“It’s okay, Rylan,” Shep said softly. “You’re safe now.”
At his words, sound came rushing back into my ears. I pulled my hand from his, cradling it against my chest where familiar panic was building. I didn’t think he was lying. I probably was safe with him, but was I free?
My bangs slid into my eyes again, and a surge of anger cut through my panic. I pushed them off my face hard enough that I scratched my forehead, a sharp sting making me wince.
I hated the wayhe’dmade them cut my hair.
Frustrated tears filled my eyes.
“Hey, Rylan, easy,” Shep was saying, holding his hands out to me like he wanted to reach for me. Wanted to touch me.
But he didn’t.
That more than any words he’d said or jolt I’d felt when I shook his hand brought me back to myself. I took a deep breath and stood up tall. The top of my head barely reached his chin.
“Thank you for your help, but I need to get going.” I was proud of how strong my voice came out. Because I had no idea where I was going or how I was going to find the help I needed—thattheystill needed.
“Okay,” Shep said, dropping his hands. “Do you have a car out here?” He glanced around like he could somehow spot a car I didn’t have and brought a hand up to the back of his thick neck.
Then the strangest thing happened. He looked down at himself—shirtless, muscled torso, bare feet, and wearing nothing but gym shorts—and blushed.
He cleared his throat. “Um, sorry. I was in the fight cage when I…”
Caught your scent,went unsaid, but from the almost shy look in his eyes, I knew that had been what he almost said.
“What did you plan to do when you found me?”
