Tears slid down my cheeks. I wasn’t sure if they’d ever stopped, but the reminder of what I’d lost was enough to bring them back. Would the pack even want me now? I belonged to another alpha, and there was no way I knew of to break that bond—not without risking my life.
Iwouldrisk it, though.
I would do anything to get his presence out of my head, to remove his scent from my life for good. If I didn’t make it through, death would still be better than the alternative of having nothing but Benjamin.Forever.
Slumping back down, I tried desperately to pull myself along the ground. There was a signpost a few feet away. Maybe I could haul myself to my feet with its help and then stumble over to the next one. A signpost at a time, I could make my way... where?
Where was I supposed to go?
I wanted my pack, I wanted to make sure Conrad was OK now, but the hospital wouldn’t be safe. Where was West? He hadn’t been at the hospital, so maybe I could find him.
Patting down my body, I felt for my phone. Some of the haze was clearing and more options were opening up in my mind. Call West. Call Dad. Callsomeone.
But my phone was nowhere to be found. I left it behind in the gargoyle man’s car. He’d said his name was... Guinn. Had he actually called Benjamin? Is that how my scent match had found me out here, on a random street in the middle of Villem?
“Asshole,” I muttered under my breath.
My body burned from the roughness of the ground and the warmth of my heat arousal, but I kept up my attempts at getting to my feet. I couldn’t be a sitting duck as the city woke up. Idoubted the first person to find me would have good intentions in mind for an abandoned omega in heat.
Car tires screeched to a halt nearby, and I tried to summon the energy to drag myself faster toward the pole. My teeth sank into my bottom lip, a nervous tic in hopes of quelling my panic. It didn’t do anything but make me bleed.
A car door opened, but I refused to look at who’d found me.
“Holy shit.” His tone was horrified and hazily familiar.
Gargoyle man. That’s the owner of the voice.
I whipped my head around to glare at him. “Getawayfrom me.”
He held up both hands. “All I want is to help you.”
“No you don’t. You called Benjamin.”
How else could he have found me? Guinn was the reason I had a bite mark on my neck, binding me to that asshole forever.
I was within touching distance of my pole. My fingertips grazed it, but my weak muscles gave out before I could even think about getting myself up. I rested my head on my arm, vision swimming with translucent white circles and occasional black spots.
Guinn came closer, crouching beside me. “I promise you, I didn’t call him. I’ve got your phone, but I didn’t call anyone.”
I whined and shoved him away when he reached for me. He smelled vaguely of chemicals, his scent unclear even as his designation was obvious. It irritated my omega senses, which wanted a delicious smelling alpha and a knot.
“Don’t touch me.”
He sighed, glancing up and down the street. “I would love to comply with that request, Talia. I really would. But unfortunately if I want both of us to live through the day, I need to get you into my car. Now.”
His hands grabbed under my arms and hauled me up. I wanted to kick or punch him, but it happened so fast—and if he dropped me, I would collapse without the support.
I did open my mouth and let out a bloodcurdling scream, though.
“For fuck’s sake.” Guinn opened the car door with an annoyed grumble and shoved me down onto the front seat.
My foot was barely in when he slammed the door and shut me inside. I reached for the handle, tugging on it over and over again. It didn’t budge. He got into the driver’s seat and revved the engine, zipping onto the street and speeding away from the scene of the crime.
He’dkidnappedme.
So much for Mr. Nice Gargoyle Man.
“Lock is engaged,” he said. “You won’t get out until we get to where I’m dropping you off.”
