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I rush to think; I can’t remember, have I eaten? When was the last time? Oh, yeah, microwave dinner that didn’t get eaten. Exhaustion pulls at my limbs, and when I look up, I find five pairs of eyes on me. I bristle.
“Have you eaten, Scarlet?” Jet asks clearly.
I shake my head and say yes at the same time. Jet’s grin widens. They don’t call me on my lie.
Barren tugs me closer. I resist the movement, but then Acton steps past me, and I turn to keep him in sight. Barren chuckles in my ear. The hot sound of his amusement is both a peaceful balm and a warning.
I squeak when he picks me up and carries me into the house. Part of me is screaming, ‘I’m an alpha, people don’t touch me, they don’t pick me up.’ But another long, almost forgotten part wants to curl around this tall man like a contented cat.
The biggest, largest part of me is ringing the warning bells deep inside, letting me know that I’m stepping on territory that isn’t mine. It’s an awareness of danger, of a warning. I mean, Gold is the only one threatening me, but that doesn’t mean that can’t change in a second.
Barren brings me into a room that differs from anything I’ve seen. Full of comfy lounges and an open fire. He lets me slide down his body, and I don’t miss the heat in his eyes. I glance away, biting my lower lip, and force myself to take a step back from him.
“This is lovely.” I walk over to the art on the walls and stare at it. Abstract splashes of colour, it's moody and violent. I could stare at it for hours any other time. Right now, I’m staring at it so I can get my bearings.
I turn around with a bright smile that falters when I see the entire pack has filed in after us. I glance around the room and spot another painting and drift over to it, canting my head to the side. Outwardly, I look calm, poised, and confident. I know I’ve perfected this damn move. Inside, I’m a mess of conflicting emotions, and that is something that is new. I’m in control of my world. I don’t lose control like this. I don’t do this. This isn’t me.
Be the wolf.
I take a breath and turn around. “I’m grateful that you could help me out. I was unaware of the danger. As soon as I can, I’ll go into town and…” I trail off. I don’t know what I’ll go into town and do. Build a damn? Magically make the storms stop coming? Go home?
I flinch.
My phone rings, and I answer it without thinking. Phil’s whining voice comes across the phone line, filling my ear and making me grit my teeth.
“Come home-”
“I’m sorry, you have the wrong number.” I say stiffly and hang up.
I turn around and find that all but Acton have moved to other areas in this huge room. He crosses over to me and stands there. Just gazing down at me.
“I’ll show you your room.”
I nod gratefully and follow him, ignoring the way the back of my neck prickles with the feeling that eyes are watching my every move.
He leads me upstairs and opens a door, stepping to the side. I go in and look around. It’s clean. It smells good, but still faintly of them. The carpets are a pale beige, while the bed takes up most of the space.
“Thank you.”
Acton moves towards me. It’s different this time. I can’t say why, but suddenly, I’m swallowing nerves as I back up. He reaches out and cups my cheeks and bends until his face is level with mine.
“If you’re in some kind of trouble, if they hurt you-”
I press my fingertips to his lips and exhale roughly at the softness. “Let me stop you right there, big man. I’ve been taking care of myself since I was sixteen. No one hurts me. Not twice.”
He smiles and releases my cheeks to grip my hand and take my fingers away from his mouth. “But if they do, or if you are, we will help you.”
I tilt my head to the side. “Why? I don’t understand this, why you’re all being like this…it's strange.”
“We have reasons.” Acton says. He shuffles back, and I follow after him.
I stop when I realised I've crossed half the room, following him backwards. What the hell am I doing?
He steps back into my space and looks down at me. “And it makes it easier that you smell like my favourite dessert.” He reaches out, running the side of his finger along my collarbone before hooking my t-shirt and pulling me up against him. “And seeing you come on my omega’s hand, seeing his face as he tasted you, I found I didn’t mind it at all.”
Abort! I wrench my hormones under control and force myself to shake my head and step back.
He cocks his head and grumbles, “Was it a mistake?” in a calculating manner.
