“There’s no time.”
I look around. We aren’t that far into the forest. Fuck, I should have thought about what bringing her here, away from the witches, would mean for her heat. “We should head back. Steal a car.”
“You really think driving with a writhing omega in heat is a good idea? We’d never make it.”
Mona whimpers again, her fingers digging into my shoulders like talons. We’re running out of time. “Well, what the fuck are we going to do with a writhing omega in heat in the middle of the goddamn forest?” I snap. Another wave hits her, and she bellows and kicks out. “Jesus. Just, fucking knock her out or something, can’t you?”
Mona groans in my arms. “Quit being a dick, Silas!”
The accusation takes me by surprise, and I laugh. But then she bucks her pelvis, rubbing her legs together. “It hurts. I feel so empty, and it hurts. There’s not enough time to go back. I’mscared. You have to help me,” she pleads. “I need you to help me.Please.”
There’s a creek nearby, animals scurrying. Mona whips her feverish body so violently she nearly falls out of my arms, so I kneel and set her on the mossy earth. She reaches out for me in panic as I let go, and her attachment yanks on my heart.
At the creek, I gather a cupful of water in my hands and bring it back, dripping it over her forehead. She moans in pleasure, and the softest smile graces her lips.
I tear my eyes away. To Ghost, I say, “Can you knock her out?”
Her omega wails, louder this time, like I’ve injured her. The witch replies with an alarming level of calm. “I’m going to find someplace to bring her. Is she safe with you?” he challenges.
I growl in response. Before he takes off, he adds, “You should dip her in the creek. It’ll help.”
He’s right. So, I lift her again and carry her to the creek, setting her in the cool water. Her clothes soak through, but she doesn’t seem to care. For the first time in an hour, she takes a steady breath as the cool water washes over her.
I brush Mona’s hair from her face, awkwardly petting her. Of all the times, of all the ways I dreamed of seeing her again, it wasn’t like this. Her, about to lose her autonomy.
I can’t get the horror-filled images of Lily going through this out of my head.
I could help. Ishouldhelp. But I just…
“Listen—” I start, but it’s like her omega can sense what’s going on inside my head. She pulses her energy into me. It’s soothing. It makes me fidget. I don’t want her comfort. Christ, I should be comforting her, not the other way around.
“Silas, Iforgiveyou,” she says again. “But I also really need you, okay? I need—” She loses track of her words through another wave of pain.
“You don’t want me. Trust me. I’ll get you some place safe. I’ll make sure you’re taken care of. But you don’t want me. This is just your heat talking.”
Strands of red hair cling to her pink, freckled cheeks. “I wish things were diff—ahhh,” she cries out, but it almost sounds like ecstasy. Perfume spills out of her, and I can practically taste her slick in the air.
My knot swells, pulsing, aching. New, exciting arousal courses through me.
I shouldn’t even be holding her.
I’m filthy. A fucking degenerate. Useless. All the things I’ve done, all the things I let them do to me…
I shouldn’t even be touching her like this. I pull away, but her omega cries. The sound is piercing, keening, emotional blackmail, clawing nails on a chalkboard.
I cradle her neck, and she quiets. So, I continue trying to comfort her, my body rigid with unease, while we wait.
“He’s my mate, isn’t he?” she whispers, eyes squeezed shut, breaking the silence.
I look in the direction Ghost disappeared. I don’t know what to say. “Do you feel like he is?” Because, in truth, only she knows if he’s her mate or not.
She nods, looking equal parts elated and terrified. “Please, Silas. I need you. I forgive you, I swear it. But I’m scared. I’m really scared, and Grayson and Orion trusted you, and I trust you, and I don’t want to be alone—ahhhh—” she curls into herself again.
Thankfully, I hear Ghost running through the trees, cutting off her pleas.
“I found a hunting cabin. Looks like it’s been a few months since anyone’s been there, and it’s off-season. Should be safe.”
He looks down at Mona. “Do you need me to—?” For someone who’s potentially her fated mate, he seems even more uncomfortable with her approaching heat than me.
