Page 121 of Candy & Her Saints

One night, when I was thirteen, they dragged me to an underground section of the casino, which was normally locked. I’d never been there before. I screamed with fear because it stank of terrified Omega.

I knew that it was a bad place.

That was when I learned that my pack were actually criminals.

Bad Alphas.

They ran an illegal black market Omega auction. Mom hadn’t been bluffing about selling me.

I sobbed, terrified.

I yelled for Fletcher to save me. But the Betas had been able to lure me away from my brother because he’d been distracted chatting up a new server.

The Betas tied me up, pushing me into the arms of the Alphas who were there to sample and buy.

I struggled and screamed…until I lost my voice.

I remember feeling like I was floating.

This couldn’t be happening to me.

This couldn’t be real.

I lost my memory for a while.

Hands and hurt and fear.

I don’t know what happened but then, Fletcher WAS there, growling and terrifying.

Blood…blood…blood, everywhere.

And the other Alphas were…

Then Fletcher was cradling me to his chest and saying: I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…

His fingernails and teeth were stained crimson.

I could hear his words but I couldn’t get any words out myself.

They were trapped inside, where I was safe.

I was never safe again in that pack.

“Ghost,” I say, brokenly.

The notepad falls from my fingers, clattering to the floor.

Ghost turns back to me.

He looks lost, unsure whether he’s still welcome to sit with me.

I hold out my arms to him, and he takes a relieved breath, as tears tremble on his lashes.

Then he throws himself to his knees next to me, wrapping his arms around my middle and nuzzling against my neck to hide the wetness on his cheeks.

“You’re safe in this pack,” I whisper, “with Link, Tom, and me. We’re getting out of here. I’ll show you my bakery, and this winter, you’ll return the favor by showing me everything that’s special about your favorite season. And I swear, you’ll never be hurt again.”

Yet can I keep that promise?

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