Page 35 of Dark Revolution

Annora turns, eyes blazing as she stares me down. As if this slip of an omega can overpower me. The thought alone is just laughable, but I do admire her spirit. Would Annalise have challenged me like this? Probably not, but the more Annora pushes, the more I want to slam her into the ground and rut her until she can’t even remember her own name, much less have the will to fight me.

But that’s not going to help the current situation. Instead, I grip Annora again and turn her, holding her in place. She thrashes about, hands reaching behind as if to grab me. The scent of her distress is like acid, and I want nothing more than to comfort her, but she needs to learn. I don’t demand things of her to be an ogre - quite the opposite. I have nothing but her best interests at heart.

Pulling back, I reach out, still able to pin her but no longer in reach. She can attempt to claw at me all she wants, but she’ll find nothing but air. Instead of getting angry, I simply count out every time she moves, not budging from my threat of punishment.

“Ten.” Swipe. “Eleven.” lunge to the right in a pathetic attempt to break free. “Twelve.” Another adorable foot stomp. “I assure you, my ability to count will far outlast your strength. Each move you make is weaker than the first. I would suggest you choose your battles, and I urge you to choose them wisely. Defying me is not a hill you want to die on. Trust me.”

Annora slumps forward, her body still as she plants her nose onto the wall. Elation flows through me as I stand there, still holding firm to ensure she won’t start back up again. All it takes is commitment and discipline. She’ll be docile and compliant sooner than she realizes. Giving her another minute to calm down, I pull back away and watch for any movement.

“Do you understand?” I repeat again, wanting this little lesson to come back full circle.

“Yes, Master,” She spits out, venom dripping from her tone. We’ll work on her lack of respect at some point, but not today. The fact that she’s standing there, obeying me, is enough for now.

“When you’re ready to talk, I’ll listen.” She remains silent, the ramrod stiffness of her spine speaking volumes. What she doesn’t realize is that I was built for this. I had to stand for hours on end, guarding little shitty outposts where the suns were always in the wrong position, and there were no bathrooms in sight. If I can handle that, I can outlast her here. She’ll be wanting to sit before too long.

Turning to Langston, I move closer to him to plot out the rest of the day. I don’t mind him taking the lead on this, but I want to be in the know. We haven’t had a lot of time to really discuss our new living arrangements, and now seems like the perfect time. His eyes widen for just a moment as another grin crosses his face.

“Flight risk.”

It takes me a moment to register his words when a blur of movement darts out from behind me. What the fuck! She’s actually running from me? What could be so impossible of a request that she’d rather chance running into Caulder again or one of his goons than to ask me? That or she still doesn’t realize just how much danger she’s really in.

Red tinges my vision as she steps out into the open, not taking any heed of her surroundings. Am I going to have to chain this woman to me? I watch as the metal leash I attached to her waist tinkles along the rocks and dirt. I’m the idiot for giving her even that much room. I swear to all the gods that when I get my hands on her, the leash is going around her neck, and I’m not letting go. I would love to watch her try.

Stepping forward, I let loose a warning growl, hoping that alone will stop her in her tracks. It doesn’t. All it manages to do is perfume the air with even more fear and agitation. Fuck. If she keeps this up, she will give us all away even faster. Racing forward, my legs eat up the distance between us in a short time. It takes mere moments before my hands are back on her, and I push her against another wall.

I grind her against the stone as I catch myself. She needs a gentle hand and not a raging monster, but damn it, she’s trying me, and soon, I might not be able to fully control myself. Anyone could have grabbed her out here. She’s an unclaimed omega, and that makes her the most desirable creature on this planet.

Every time she tests me like this, the need to set my mark on her skin is an overwhelming urge. Annora has no clue how much I’m holding back for her sake. I’ve tried to be kind. I’ve tried to be gentle. If she wants a monster, if that’s what she expects, then she’ll soon get her wish. I want so desperately to make this good for her, to make her first time a moment of ecstasy and enjoyment, but if she forces my hand, I’ll have no choice but to claim her in the basest, most painful way possible.

Leaning down, I rip part of her shirt, revealing the expanse of flesh from her neck to her shoulders. My cock throbs as I run my nose over her fragrant skin. My brain screams at me to stop, to give her another chance, but the beast in me just wants to bite down and never let go. Annora whimpers, shuddering beneath me, but I’m beyond caring. If this is what I have to do to keep her safe, then by the gods, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll clean up the mess later, but at least she’ll be mine.

“Jaxxon. You need to calm down. You don’t want to do it this way.”

Snarling, I turn to face Langston, his body crouched into a defensive stance. He’s not outright challenging me, but I know he’ll fight me to keep Annora safe. Half of my mind is grateful she has such a steadfast protector, but my inner beast detests the fact that this male thinks he has any claim to her, no matter how slight.

“We need to leave soon. You know it, and I know it. We will get you to your new home, and you can discipline her there, but not here. Not where others can see.”

A soft sob reaches my ears, and I glance down at Annora. She holds herself rigid against me - nothing like the soft, pliant way she was in my arms. Fuck. This is the opposite of what I wanted. Pulling back, I kneel before her, letting her look down on me for once. “Look at me, Annora.” I wait until her pitiful gaze lands on me.

“I’m not going to hurt you. I’m not going to claim you either; not like this. But you must understand that your actions are dangerous. Not just to you, but to us as well. I’d rather not get into a fight because you’re being stubborn. Make no mistake, my little omega. I will kill for you if it comes down to it, but I’d rather not have to. You are unclaimed. This is a dangerous situation for you right now, and I understand that you can’t fathom it. You’re used to conducting yourself like a beta, but you’re not. You will never be one again. You have to come to terms with that no matter how difficult.”

Her mouth turns down into a watery frown. “I could if you let me go back home and get my suppressants.”

“That’s what you wanted? That’s what all this fighting and fussing was about?” I stand again and grip the chain before planting my fists against my hips. “You want to risk your life and ours so you can choose to not be an omega anymore?” My voice sounds loud in my ears, but I can’t help the fury ripping through me at this moment. It’s a betrayal. One I never thought I’d have to deal with.

“Do you know what I did just to buy you? What I have to do to keep you safe even as you defy me on the smallest matters? And you dare stand there and tell me you don’t want to be an omega anymore?”

Her chin tilts up with a defiance that’s slowly waning. Swallowing my growl, I take the leash from off of her waist, no longer caring if my rough, jerky movements frighten her. The audacity of her request still floors me. Bringing it up, I wrap it around her neck, cinching it tight enough to cut off her oxygen.

Her mouth drops open as her fingers claw at the metal. This won’t kill her. I’ll let up well before then. Langston steps forward, and I hold my grip on the leash with one hand and hold my other out, pinning him with a glare. He will not interfere. Not anymore. If I need his assistance, I will surely ask for it. Slamming her back against the wall, I lean down and drag my tongue across her lips before holding her chin in an unbreakable grip, forcing her mouth to remain open.

Her body thrashes about as I slip my tongue inside, tasting the sweetness of her mouth for the first time. Groaning into her, I pull her closer to me, letting her feel the proof of my desire as I grind against her stomach. A heady mixture of fear and arousal surrounds us, and I’m almost certain she’s getting wet for me. I want to check but know we don’t have the time or privacy.

I’ve seen Alphas rutting in public, and I made a vow to never be that much of an asshole to my mate. Unless she’s caught up in the throes of her heat, it would be mortifying, and I never want a mate of mine to feel any sort of shame regarding what we do sexually. Pulling back, I force myself to calm down as I loosen the leash. Falling to the ground, Annora sucks in deep gasps of air.

Her body trembles as it recalibrates. Knowing her, she probably thought I was going to kill her. Silly omega. I can’t love or fuck a corpse, and I plan on claiming every inch of her as soon as her mind and body can handle me. That one sip from her honeyed lips will never be enough. Now that I know her taste, I will always crave her, always want more.

She looks up at me, eyes wide as she brings her fingers to her lips. I can see the conflict as it plays out over her face. Annora wants me. She can’t bring herself to admit it, but her body does not lie. It will never lie to me. Standing her up, I adjust the leash, sticking a finger between her throat and the metal to ensure she has enough room to breathe before bending low and tossing her over my shoulder.