Page 120 of Promised to the Alpha Prince

“You could do it somewhere visible this time,” I breathed into the suitcase. “You could make scars all up and down this body of yours. It’s your fucking body, you know. Yours.”

I knew how it would feel. I knew there would be a sweetness at the moment of the pain, an intensity, a release. The healing later, it sucked, but the moment, it was like letting out enough steam to stop an explosion. It was necessary, and if I held it in, I didn’t know what I might do.

It was my own fault. I deserved it.

There was no one else to blame.

Stupid, so stupid, let my guard down.

Hot tears burned the back of my eyes, and I hated myself for being weak enough to cry.

There was a knock at my door.

I stiffened, straightening up.

“Nik?” It was Johannes’s voice.

“Go away, Johannes,” I growled.

“All right,” said Johannes. “I’ll give you some space.”

It was quiet again, and I deflated.

I stared into the suitcase and I didn’t know what to do with myself.

And then I scented her.

I went stiff, standing at the suitcase.

Abruptly, I turned, crossed the room, and yanked the door open.

She was there, her hand raised as if she was intending to knock. “Oh,” she said. “Hello.”

“Go away,” I said.

“Johannes said you needed space, and he said I shouldn’t come to talk to you…”

Fuck. “Go. Away.”

“I’m pretty sure you won’t maim me,” she said. It was a joke. She was joking.

She did not understand anything.

I grimaced, my scent rising, my expression going lethal—

She flinched, fear in her eyes, and that broke me.

I let out a gasp. “Sorry. I’m sorry.” I backed away, throwing up my hands. “Fine, come in, then.” I went back to my suitcase and looked into it. It was a mess. None of the clothes were folded. I doubted I’d even be able to zip it closed.

I heard the door shut.

“What do you want, omega?”

“Um… you, I guess,” she said. “But I know this is a stupid time, and Johannes said—”

“Fuck Johannes,” I snarled.

“Okay,” she said.

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