Page 138 of Traded

“We’re not talking about me,” I snap. “But since we’re tearing apart characters, why don’t you try beingyoufor once, instead of copying everyone around you that you desperately want to be?”

He raises a finger at me. “I’ve fucking had it with you. You’re always trying to make me feel an inch small, Rosie, and I’ve had enough of it. Maybe you do need to learn your place—”

My abrupt, horrified laugh cuts him off. “Wow. I wonder where that one came from. What,Daddy Kessleris your new idol now?”

“He has the right idea.” Jonas takes a step toward me. “At least his omegas know how to behave instead of acting like a feral fucking cat. You’re not in the system anymore. Put the claws away and learn to act with a bit of fuckingclass.”

Each word lands like a heavy blow to my solar plexus. Jonas’s face flickers with what might be regret. But it doesn’t matter. It’s out there now, and he can’t take it back.

“I would choose to be me any day of the week,” I say hoarsely. “Than be anything like you.”

When I go to move past him, he grabs my arm. “We’re not done.”

“Yes, we are.” I try to yank my arm away, falling into the doorway of the hall. “Because I’m done trying to pretend you’re anything but a self-obsessed little boy playing at being an alpha. You haveno ideahow to be a true alpha, Jonas. So yes, I amdone.”

He doesn’t let go. His grip tightens. “I fucking warned you.”

Jonas yanks me into the hall, fending off my other hand. “Let—go, of me!”

But he pulls me into the communal bathroom only guests use and pushes me up against the sink, grabbing at the shelf. “You had to push it, didn’t you?”

My body falters at what he’s holding in his hands. He knocks the faucet with the side of his hand and runs it under the water. “What—”

“Open your mouth.” His hand tightens until it’s painful. I snap my mouth closed and lunge for the door, but he hauls me back. “I don’t like having to do this, but you have to fucking learn when toshut your mouth.”

Our rapid breathing fills the bathroom as he grabs my jaw and squeezes it, shoving the bar of soap inside so hard that I choke and rubbing it over my tongue.

My hands claw at his arm, his neck, like the feral cat he called me as I try to push him off. A violent retch makes its way up my throat. My mouth feels like it’s bubbling, the back of my throat burning. Tears leak out of my eyes—

The soap slips free, and I slide down, my knees hitting the black tiled floor. Jonas smashes into the shower door, and I flinch away from the broken glass that rains down over me, my hands flying up to cover my face from the shards.

Hands slip under me, lifting me up. “I’ve got you.”

My hands cling for purchase. “I—he—”

“I know.” Liam sets me down on the toilet, pushing back my hair. “I saw. Did you get cut?”

I fold over and retch.

Jonas coughs, hauling himself upright. There’s a slim cut across his cheek. “What the fuck?”

Liam’s hands slam into his chest, his voice raising to a roar. “I should fucking kill you. What thefuckdo you think you’re doing?”

My hands reach for my neck, massaging it. Jonas’s gaze veers between us, clouding over. “I… she—”

“She fuckingwhat?” Liam bellows. He points at me and then swings around, shoving Jonas again as he stumbles back, his hands searching for a grip to stop himself falling into the broken shower. “You shoved soapinto her mouth.”

“I got carried away.” Jonas darts a look at me and then away. “Last night—it got in my head, alright? No harm done.”

“No harm done?” Liam stares at him wildly. “You think Carter’s going to let youliveafter this? Be part of his pack? Kiss goodbye to your career, asshole, because you just sank it.”

Jonas’s face ashes over. “I didn’t think.”

“You never fucking do, you idiot.” Liam tugs at his hair and turns to me. “Let’s get you some water.”

But I shrink away, looking between them.

Clarity.It strikes between my ribs, sliding into my heart and shredding what’s left of it.