Page 98 of Wolf It Down, Knot Me Up

Is it one of my Alphas? But what caused that crash downstairs?

Rapidly, I cross the hallway and throw myself into the heavy shadows of an open room and crouch low inside. I press myself flat against the wall, leaving the door ajar for a perfect view of the main entrance to this wing.

I’m shaking violently, holding on to myself, reaching for my phone, when the door handle rattles. “Lucy,” he calls out, and instantly I know the voice. It’s the masked guy pretending to be a stripper. “I know you’re up here. I can smell your sweet Omega scent.”

Oh, fuck, fuck, fuck.

Frantically, I tap the phone and unlock it when the main door bursts open. I flinch back, falling onto my ass, and desperately switch off the phone to hide the light. I stuff it into my pocket and sit there in the pitch black. There are splinters all over the place, the door barely hanging on its hinges, and in the doorway stands the asshole.

He has his hood up, and the moonlight from the window at the end of the hallway throws a silver hue across his face, revealing that same narrow face, the thin lips, the angry expression. He’s grinning, and I can’t stop trembling.

He inhales deeply, his nostrils flaring. “Ah, here you are. Little Omega all alone with her heat, but don’t worry. You need an Alpha cock, I’ll give you mine. How does that sound?” He reaches down and gropes his groin.

I almost vomit in my mouth.

The man scans the dark hallway, and I lower my head. His footfalls stride past the room. I listen to him opening doors, then I creep forward and glance out, knowing I can’t wait here. He’s going to check every room. And with him out of sight for that split second, I shove myself up to my feet and move quickly, slipping out through the broken door. Then I’m flying down the curved staircase, breaths slamming out of me.

“There you are,” he growls farther behind me.

I almost miss a step but snatch the railing to catch myself while glancing back to see him racing down after me.

A cry spills past my lips as I dart down, taking two steps at once, my heart on fire in my chest. He thunders after me.

I scream, leaping off the final step, when he grabs me by my shirt, yanking me backward. My feet tangle, and I tumble, crashing into him. The asshole just recoils and lets me fall.

“You can’t escape me,” he snarls, reaching down and snatching me by an arm, hauling me to my feet. “Now, we’ve got unfinished business to deal with.”

I thrash against his grip. “Let me go! I want nothing to do with you.”

“Don’t fight me, Lucy, as you won’t like it when I retaliate. Trust me.” He glares at me, his grip squeezing.

Fear crawls up my spine, but I’m not going to let that make me weak. I stomp down on his foot with my heel and rip free from his grasp. I scramble toward the front door, which is smashed open.

Suddenly, someone huge rushes through the front door, another figure rising behind the window.

I scream, unsure where to go. Something sharp tugs at my hair, and I’m wrenched backward by the asshole. I cry out and fall.

In seconds, the creep is crouching in front of me, holding a blade. “Are we going to keep having a problem, Lucy?”

I shake my head, hugging myself.

“Good.” He pats my head like a damn dog. “So you’ll behave and do exactly as I tell you, and if you do that, you won’t get hurt. How does that sound?”

I want to shove my fist into his throat for patronizing me, but I just nod, gritting my teeth, hating how close he’s holding that knife to me. My attention swings to the two new men who’ve entered the lodge, my home, each carrying a sledgehammer.

“What’s going on? Why are you doing this?” I plead.

He grabs my arm and yanks me to my feet, dragging me over to the couches, and shoves me down on one. I curl up in the corner, watching as the two muscle men swing their hammers like wrecking balls into the walls and vases. And anything else in their way.

My heart sinks as they demolish what my grandma so lovingly created.

“This lodge is fucking rotten. It’s only brought misery.”

“Then leave. No one wants you here,” I snap, remembering I have my phone in my pocket, and if I could just get two seconds alone, I’d call the police.

He sits across from me on the other couch, legs spread, elbows resting on his thighs, with that hood throwing shadows across his face. “You have any idea what it’s like to be rejected?”

I blink at him, not saying a word.