That’s why, when Zayd reaches for the door release, I grab his forearm. His skin is smooth, covered in a short peach fuzz-like fur, but the muscle underneath is solid. Cords of steel, snake beneath the velvety lavender surface.
“What is it, Layla?” Zayd’s jaw flexes, and his nose flares. Being near me must be torture. Keeping him inside this transport any longer would be cruel.
“Nothing. Just… Thank you, again,” I say, swallowing my fear.
“You are welcome.”
The door beside me opens.
A woman with a sad smile introduces herself. “I’m Willow. Strykr,”—Willow gestures to the larger of the two males— “is my mate and Alpha leader of this pack. We are so sorry for your loss.” She offers me a hand, helping me out of the transport.
I don’t know her or any of these people, yet I feel an instant connection with them. Especially Willow. It’s a connection I’ve never felt with anyone except Sutton. That connection lets me take Willow’s hand and fall into her open arms, crying and thanking her.
“It’s alright,” Willow whispers as she strokes my hair. “You’re safe here.”
Behind me, the transport shifts. I let go of Willow to watch Zayd move Sutton’s body gently from inside onto the gurney hovering between him and the other two males.
“I’d like to go with him. For the blood test,” I tell Willow.
“Blood test? On your husband?” Willow tilts her head, confused.
I tell Willow what Zayd and I discussed on the ride here.
“Would you also be willing to let us test your blood?” Willow asks.
“Anything that will help get us answers as to why that alpha attacked us.” I know he came to claim me. But he shouldn’t have. I shouldn’t have scented. Never had the opportunity.
Did Sutton trigger my scent? Was it something else? Was that alpha targeting women regardless of their designation, and I scented inhispresence? It was all just bad luck. Bad timing. Whatever it was, I needed to know.
“This is Angie,” Willow says, introducing me to the other woman. “She’s our nutrition specialist. Anything you want to eat, she can get it for you. She’s our lead medic’s omega.” Willownods to the alpha leaning over the gurney, inspecting the bite on Sutton’s neck. “Razyr.”
With a few taps on the little screen on the gurney carrying Sutton, Razyr guides it toward the exit on the opposite end of the transport bay. Willow and Angie each take one of my arms and guide me to follow. I’m grateful for their support when my knees threaten to give out again, and my chest shudders with the sob threatening to burst out.
A deep, sharp growl breaks the silence, echoing through the sterile room. I whip my head around to see Strykr block Zayd dead in his tracks, his sight set on me.
Willow and Angie pinch me between them.
“Let her go, Zayd,” Strykr barks, but it doesn’t have much effect on Zayd’s stance. He challenges Strykr with another guttural growl, fighting against his grip when Strykr catches him as he lunges toward me.
“What’s going on?” I ask, fear churning in my stomach, along with something else. Something begging me not to leave this room. Begging me not to leave Zayd.
“Alpha things,” Angie says, smiling as she and Willow urge me to follow Razyr and my husband through the door that swooshes open in front of them.
“Why is he doing this? He was fine on the way here. He promised not to come after me. Not to claim me.” Rage licks up my spine, chasing the little part of me that feels regret for forcing Zayd to make that promise.
I hate that I have to remind myself that I love my husband. And I hate my body for disrespecting my husband, lusting after another, so soon after losing him.
“You weren’t being taken away from him then,” Willow says. “Now, he sees all of us as a threat.”
“Will he be okay? I don’t want him hurt. He can’t help it.” Why am I so quick to defend him? Why do I care so much about a male I just met?
“He’ll be fine,” Willow assures me. “This isn’t Strykr’s first rodeo.”
Exiting the transport bay into a long, abandoned corridor, I lock eyes with Zayd one last time. His all-black eyes pierce my heart. I have the overwhelming desire to break free from Willow and Angie’s hold and run to him.
Guilt sours my stomach. My husband lay dead not five feet away, his body still warm, and all I want is to wrap myself around a creature that looks too much like the one that killed him.
“My omega needs me. Let me go,” Zayd barks. His teeth bared and dripping with the same kind of venom that poisoned Sutton’s blood.
