She knew her day could get much, much worse, but at the moment, Liz wanted nothing more than a clear path out of the market. With her heart pounding in her ears as they flattened to her skull and a million questions barreling through her mind, she focused on the present and tried to stop her body from running as fast as it could.
The same man from the restaurant had just sauntered up to her, as cool as could be, and told her he had gone to the station to leave the planet but hadn’t been able to go because he was worried about her. He’d said outright he knew he’d find her around here because she’d said she was going east, and the blockade was already stopping people from passing when they’d met at the restaurant.
His mannerisms had been suave and collected, and Liz’s warning bells had rung so loud she’d thought a city alarm had started blaring. Knowing everyone else was in survival mode and wouldn’t care about her predicament, she’d been as clear as she could while hoping he wouldn’t get angry and hurt her, and then she’d walked away.
The market was a lost cause. She’d been listening in on conversations and asking around, but everyone said the same thing—the only way in or out of the city was through the gates. Which were blockaded. Heavily. And they weren’t allowing any civilians to leave the city.
We don’t need more victims for the enemy to use.
Liz was ready to pull her hair out with frustration, scream in terror, and cry over the danger her Nana would be facing soon. She hadn’t missed the dark shapes of ships hovering high above in the distance.
Glancing behind her, she stiffened when she saw a blond head of hair, taller than the majority of the crowd, still within sight. He didn’t seem to be moving closer, but he was following her. She tripped over something and would have gone sprawling onto the street if it hadn’t been for a stooped beta male. The elderly man had gray hair and patterns on his flesh, but he smiled at her in understanding and helped her regain her balance.
She opened her mouth, whether to ask him for help with getting over the wall or hiding her from a stalker alpha, she didn’t know, but no words would form, so she swallowed and patted him on the shoulder before scurrying past.
Another glance behind her showed the handsome blond turning down a side street with another man. By his stature, the new male had to be alpha as well, and even though it looked as if she was no longer being followed, apprehension carried her feet faster.
Something was wrong. Her instincts screamed at her to get to safety, but she had nowhere to go.
Should she go to the city center? Or to the blockade? Who would help her, a stranger on a world on the verge of invasion?
Searching the street around her, Liz realized her panic had taken her further from the market than she’d consciously meant to go. None of the buildings looked familiar, the windows and doors were boarded shut, and there were less people on the street. She wasn’t sure which direction she was heading, and even the sounds of the market had faded.
The street she walked split up ahead, giving her the option of turning either left or right. Since the sun was already past its peak and was on her left side, she instinctively decided to go right, still pulled toward her Nana’s village in the east.
The moment she stepped foot on the new, smaller road, premonition wrapped around her chest and made it hard to breathe. She didn’t even know which direction the planet rotated, so what if she’d gone west instead, or been tricked by one of the multiple moons? Or what if her instincts were broken and she was practically running for no reason? Her emotions were all over the place and she wasn’t sure she could trust her reactions.
Looking behind her, she saw the blond alpha a few blocks away down the side she hadn’t taken, his lackadaisical stride as he moved toward her mocking. He still had his companion by his side, which quickened Liz’s heart and feet.
Her instincts were right, she was sure of it.
As she turned back in the direction she was walking, she caught a glimpse of another tall, dark figure stalking up an alley as she darted past. The wind shifted and brought her the same delicious, wild scent from last night, but she didn’t stop.
Feeling like a rat in a maze, Liz dropped the pretense of calm and ran. She wrapped her tails around her waist and flattened her ears tighter to her head, desperate to get far away from the predators chasing her.
Fearing the blond and his friend were right on her heels, she turned to look behind her again, her heart hammering and lungs screaming for oxygen. She slammed into something that smelled of sour sweat, stopping her in her tracks. The solid wall didn’t move an inch, except to wrap gigantic hands around her biceps to hold her still. Head reeling from the impact, Liz looked up and up until cold, menacing eyes glared down into hers.
“Soft little thing must be lost. Don’t worry, we’ll take care of you.”
His grin showed yellowed teeth, pointed on the tips. Her feet left the ground as the stranger wrapped an iron arm around her lower back and plastered her to his front, leaving no chance to pull free. A disgusting bulge dug into her belly. Her body chilled as a new surge of fear flooded through her.
Still out of breath from running into the walking wall, Liz fought to suck in enough air so she could scream. Terror hammered her skull as the alpha turned, revealing he had a friend with him too. He whisked her into a narrow alley to the right with the new alpha on his heels, the buildings on either side so tall no sunlight reached the ground.
Finally regaining her senses, she struggled and opened her mouth to scream.
“Well, well, look what we have here.”
Bile rose in Liz’s throat as the familiar voice, now full of anger, floated into the alley and choked off her attempt to shriek.
“You thought you could tell me no and get away with it? I even asked nicely.”
The blond alpha stepped around the man’s shoulder where Liz could see his face. He reached down and tucked her wind-swept hair behind her flattened ear, giving it a tweak before gripping a handful of her tangled locks.
“Stupid omega. You’re on your own, going into heat in a place where no one will miss you. Of course I’m not going to leave you alone.”
Liz’s stomach tightened as fresh panic stole her voice. She wished she could vomit, just to see him covered in it, but there was no food in her belly to expel.
“And now I’ll share you with my friends, too. It’s been a while since we’ve had such a nice piece of tail.”
Gripping one of her tails, he gave it a tug that pulled a whimper from her throat before gesturing to the space around them and showing her his entourage. Not counting him and the alpha holding her, there were four others gathered close, eagerly watching her plight.
Six. She was in a darkened alley with six alphas, all of them staring at her like a piece of meat. She was going into heat with six alphas demanding to have their turn with her.
Her scream ripped through her vocal cords, the horror streaking through her veins bursting forth and breaking her paralysis at the thought of what they’d do to her. Of how broken she’d be when they were done.
“Good girl. Scream louder. No one is coming to save you.”
“Put her down.”
The snarled words held so much malice goosebumps pebbled her skin, cutting off her scream. The arms around her tightened so hard she lost every ounce of breath left in her lungs as the deep, gravelly voice reverberated off the surrounding buildings.
A few steps into the alley, a massive shadow with piercing yellow eyes and a deadly air stood poised ready for whatever happened next. Even with erect ears similar to hers, a thick mantle, and the fluffiest tail she’d ever seen, there was nothing soft or cuddly about the male blocking the opening of the alley. His sharp cheekbones and chiseled jaw were set in angry lines and his gleaming eyes held such intensity she wanted to sink onto the pavement and whimper, despite already being surrounded by testosterone.
The world began to spin as the alpha holding her chuckled, his arms still restricting her breathing. Somehow, despite the terrifying situation, Liz couldn’t help but think the men were foolish for laughing at the creature who stood so composed as he faced ridiculous odds.
With a desperate sound, she sucked in oxygen as the iron muscles around her loosened. The wind brought her that enticing, wild scent again, drowning out the stench of the males surrounding her. It came from the eerily calm alpha facing her six assailants as though he was shopping for a new set of boots. She’d wager he’d have no problem planting his new footwear in each of the evil males’ faces.
The question was, what happened once he’d won?
And why did he smell so delicious?