"Without a doubt." Riot sounds tense. I'm hoping the resigned tone of his statement is more acceptance. He's never had a pack, so it's up to us to show him what it's like to be loved unconditionally.
"Great. All you need to do is get in our truck, stay with us for a bit, and figure out what you really want. If you want a life ofmurder and danger after giving us a shot, then fine. If you want a family, a pack, and an omega who will love you fiercely, then you'll stay," Silas says as if it’s settled.
Jarek adds with a low growl, "The least you should do is rest and recuperate in our home. We all want you there if you're not a prick who doesn't think before he speaks. Words hurt you know."
"She was fucking stabbed. No need to twist the blade with rejection so soon," Kade grumbles, walking away from the slumping alpha.
"I wasn't rejecting her! Fuck, I'm sorry," Riot murmurs a few moments later.
"You will be when you become the next victim of our prank night," Silas taunts and slumps back onto the couch. "Oh, and don't ever tell a woman you took advantage of her, especially when it's clear she likes you. Pro tip. Plus, Vivie would have clawed both your eyes out if that load of shit about taking advantage of her was true."
I send a wave of love and appreciation toward my beta, and he winks back.Fuck, I missed them.
Nine
Riot
I'm fucked.
I've never in my life questioned my choices as much as I have since meeting Vivian. She has me in a chokehold, begging for a sliver of her attention while hoping she keeps her distance.
Normally I couldn’t care less about how people feel about me. I rescue people, then I'm on my way. Being stuck in a truck with the latest omega and her pack doesn't happen, let alone being brought to their home.
I messed up.
The bullet wound in my shoulder and the eyepatch covering half my eyesight are the least of my worries.
First of all, I shouldn't have spoken to Vivian the way I did. All I've done since meeting her is piss her off and say the wrong things. I'm trying not to beat myself up over it too much because I'm not a social person, but I feel bad. Fuck, how many times do I have to make her cry before I realize pushing her away isn't something I can stomach?
I made it sound like I regretted kissing her, which couldn't be further from the truth. I just really fucking wish it hadn't been under those circumstances. Although if we hadn't been held captive together, would I ever have given her a second glance?
Going separate ways on the street would have been probable. In a twisted shift of fate, I had the heartbreaking opportunity to stand there each day and witness her epic strength. Listening to her vulnerable cries changed something in me too.
I said things I didn't mean, but there was truth in it. I disrespected her mates, yet they demanded I come home with them. They'll never know how much that meant to me.
I'm very aware I'm the reason for the tense hours in the truck, but I can't help it. This isn't normal. Her pack should have booted me from the fucking hospital the moment I made her cry or when I told them I kissed her.
Instead they seem hell-bent on pulling me closer. I'm confused. Should I have run while they were sleeping? I don't think I would have been able to. Why? Fuckingwhy?
Jarek breaks the silence. "We should come up with good questions to ask each other."
He turns in the front seat to check on me for the hundredth time. I couldn't be curled up closer to the door if I tried. Every time Silas' thigh brushes against mine, the tension increases. I'm not blind—these men are attractive as fuck. Then add on the angst of whatever the fuck is happening between Vivian and me, well, let's just say the life I had seems further away every damn moment with this pack.
"We're almost home," Kade tells Jarek, but he still glances in the rearview mirror at me with curiosity. "Tell us something about yourself, Riot."
Sighing, I relent. If I'm going to be living with them for the foreseeable future, I need to learn how to play nice. "My favorite color is red."
A soft snicker from Vivian on Silas' other side surprises me. How many times have I heard her laugh? Once, twice? What a beautiful sound.
Damn it. This is why I'm so twisted up inside. I don't find thingsbeautiful. I kill people because I've seen the worst in the world.
"Mine is gold," Jarek replies. "Silas' is blue, Kade's is silver, and Vivian's is like a blue-green."
Why does it feel like I knew that?
"We should be talking about rules, not our favorite colors," Kade grumbles, flipping the blinker on and driving us deeper into the middle of nowhere.
Ah, yes. The rules.
