Running would imply fear, but it was all my wolf wanted me to do.
“There you are, little rabbit.” The voice belonging to the alpha of the Vex pack slithered up my spine and settled somewhere between my ribs and my heart.
I could do one of two things. Maybe both. One, run for my life. Two, confront this fucker and let him know I was no longer the meek omega who let people write up documents that dictated my life. My life was my own and goddess damn it, so was my body.
“I’m not lost, Scott. Leave me alone. Go back and find another omega. One who actually wants to be mated to you.”
He laughed, and the sound meant nothing good. Scott never laughed at funny things, only in times when he thought another person had played right into his hands. “You’ve grown a backbone. That will come in handy as our omega.”
“I’m not yours. I belong to myself.” I shook with fear, but thank goodness my voice did not. It would give him too much satisfaction.
“Is that right? I’ve heard conflicting stories. You belong to us. You belong to yourself. You belong to that new pack of mutts.”
Huh? Why did he think I belonged to Carter, Jayden, and Elias. I wanted to, but where in the world did he hear that? In the end, it didn’t matter what he heard or from whom. None of it was his business.
“Here’s one story you can believe. Straight from my mouth. This is my life. And I choose who I spend it with. My parents made that contract, not me. I’m not property to be negotiated. I want nothing to do with you or the Vex pack.”
Scott sucked his teeth and moved his head side to side, cracking his neck. Ugh, this man was full of false bravado moves intended to show power and control. At one time, I thought it made them sexy. Now, it made them look desperate and like the biggest assholes on the planet. “That’s too bad. The contract is signed and sealed and we intend to collect what is ours.”
He reached for me, and my wolf took over. In a blur of movement, my knee went into Scott’s groin and as I ran for the convenience store, I heard him groan and use some words that would make any person blush.
I closed the door behind me in the store and turned to see the cashier, a plump, older woman with long, lovely hair, folded into a thick braid over her shoulder. “What’s wrong?” she asked, bracing her palms on the counter.
“There’s a man after me,” I confessed, out of breath.
“Not on my watch.” She reached above her head and pressed a button. The door locked and outside a metal gate came down, blocking the door from anyone getting in or out.
I turned my attention back outside but couldn’t see Scott any longer. Either he was waiting for me in the dark alley, or he had given up, temporarily or for good. I hoped the latter.
“Honey, do I need to call the police?” the clerk asked, coming around the counter to check on me.
“No. I don’t think so? I don’t know.”
She nodded. “Maybe someone else I can call for you? If not, maybe my pack could walk you somewhere safe?”
The word pack grounded my thoughts. And while before Carter, Jayden, and Elias, that word brought on a slew of anxious thoughts, this time, it anchored me. I had a pack to call on.
“Can you please call someone for me? Here’s my phone.” I nearly dropped the device with my shaking.
“Carter? Is that the one?” she asked, thumbing through my contacts.
“Yes, please.”
While I waited for Carter or one of the pack to come for me, Layla, the clerk, made me a hot chocolate and gave me a bear claw. It was stale but sweet, and she’d microwaved it for a few seconds to make it more palatable.
Less than five minutes later, the gate lifted and Carter barreled inside, followed by Elias and Jayden.
Bracing myself for judgment or annoyance, I stood and threw away my trash. When I turned back around, Carter wrapped me up in his arms. “Did he touch you? Are you okay?”
Elias came over and, without permission, inspected me head to toe while I gathered up the courage to speak.
“No. I kneed him in the dick, and then I ran.”
Carter leaned in and spoke into my ear. “Good girl. I wish I could’ve seen that. Thank you for calling us.”
Once Carter pulled back, and Elias had finished his inspection, I stepped back and thanked Layla, as did the others. She told me to come here anytime I needed help or another bear claw.
Carter offered to pay her, but she refused. Something about women supporting women.
