"Vivian is my bonded omega." The steel in his eyes and fierce protectiveness in the way he says that makes my hindbrain rise to the challenge.
"Yet she doesn't fucking eat, doesn't talk, got kidnapped, has some serious lack of self-preservation skills, and puts herself in danger every fucking chance she gets!"
Jarek doesn't move an inch. Hell, he doesn't even fucking blink. But I'm spitting mad, and need someone to take it out on. I let Vivian get attacked and hurt so many times, but this fucking asshole? He let his precious, beautiful omega out of his sight and almost lost her for good.
"Why are you in here with me when your omega is in the next room?! Are you seriously such a piss poor alpha that you don't know how to be there for her in the most obvious scenario?!"
A soft growl from across the room draws my attention. I didn't know our rooms were fucking connected. A lump forms in my throat as I recognize the sound coming through the door.
"Vivian?" I breathe, eyes wide, but the hope is soon snatched from me when another hulking alpha fills the doorway.
This guy has short, messy black hair, muscles for days, and scruff that looks like it's gone a week without a trim. "You're pissing off my omega even in her fucking sleep."
"I need to see her," I plead, once again trying to get off this damn bed. Jarek doesn't budge. "Move."
"No." Jarek keeps me blocked in with his arms crossed and a blank look on his face. "You need to rest."
Completely taken aback by his response, I snap. "You should be focusing on your omega!"
Without warning, the other alpha stomps toward us and boxes me in. "Now listen here, you fucking prick. We're only keeping an eye on you because our omega begged us to before she fell asleep a few hours ago."
She asked them to watch over me?
"That doesn't explain everything else! She's skin and bones. What kind of mates are you to?—"
"Enough!" another man whisper-shouts, stomping into the room. "You," he points at me, "are asking for a fucking fight. I know you’re missing a fucking eye right now, but how do you not notice the two practically feral alphas standing above you?! Alphas who watched their omega bleeding out on a fucking table early this morning. You know absolutely nothing, so keep your judgments to yourself."
All the words I spoke slam around in my brain, making me inwardly cringe and question my motivation. It's true I don't trust these guys, especially considering the time I spent with Vivian, but that shouldn't cloud the fact that I can't hold my own right now. Their clothes are covered in blood, and their eyes look murderous.
"Jay, Kade, go snuggle Vivian. She's sleeping restlessly. I'll sit with Riot," the beta murmurs, pulling on their arms. They don't move for a moment, showing me just how tense and ready to attack they really are.
The dark-haired alpha, Kade I'm assuming, turns on the newcomer and slams his mouth on his. It's a sexy, possessive kiss that warms me from the inside out. Judging by the dark smirk on Jarek's face, it seems he notices my reaction.
"Be good, Silas," Kade rumbles, then stomps out of the room. His steps immediately soften when he gets to Vivian's side.
"Mmm," Silas groans, drawing my attention back to him. Jarek tongue fucks Silas' mouth and leaves abruptly with a slap on his beta's ass.
It takes Silas a moment to cut the blissed out expression from his face, so while he gets his boner under control, I shift myself back against my pillows. Pain steals my breath for a moment, and everything begins to throb.
"Dumbass," Silas huffs at me and pulls the blanket over my legs. "You could have fucked your shoulder up even more."
"I needed to know if she was okay," I respond, closing my eyes with a grunt.
Silas is silent for a moment, but I hear a chair being dragged closer to me. "Is that all you needed?"
With my eyes closed and my body getting heavier, it feels easier to answer him. "I need to see her. I also have a lot of questions. Jarek kept me alive?"
"He did. He's the one who carried you to the van from the ditch. Kade and I ran off with Vivian without a second glance, honestly. Jay even sat behind you on the gurney to elevate your shoulder over your heart."
I would frown if it didn't hurt so damn bad. "But why? He doesn't know me."
"Not sure if I should tell you this, but Vivian claimed you, man."
My heart constricts and a lump forms in my throat. Still I keep my good eye shut because I'm exhausted, and there's too much for me to comprehend. "She did?"
Silas' chuckle makes me shiver, and to my surprise, I feel another blanket slide over me. "Very vocally. All she wanted was to make sure we kept you alive. She was very adamant that you survive. Then said you were hers right before she went unconscious."
I'm silent for so long I feel like I shouldn't even say anything at this point. She claimed me, and I know I've said similar versions of what she did. But what does that really mean? She has a pack, and I have work to do. People need to die for whatthey did to Vivian. I can't be tied down while avenging her. And other omegas too of course.
