Page 19 of Rescuing Red

“Your heat will last weeks without an alpha’s knot. This room isn’t safe enough, and the shelters met their capacity yesterday. If you follow me out of the city, I have a den with enough provisions and nesting materials to keep you comfortable and safe. I’ll service you through your heat on one condition.” He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned over her. “With myknot locking us together and my seed filling your womb, I’m going to sink my teeth into this pretty neck and claim you.”

Pouty lips parted, wide eyes staring up into his face. She didn’t breathe for a moment before her chest finally rose on a large inhale. He knew what he was saying was insane—he barely knew this woman, and she certainly knew nothing of him—but he couldn’t deny his need.

“But… Why? You could just knot me and be done with it. You don’t have to claim me.”

Her voice rose with each word, anxiety warring with something else on her face. Stepping closer, he expected her to pull away as he lifted his hand, but Liz remained where she was. Stroking the side of her face, Blaide plunged his fingers into her hair, massaging the base of her ears.

“Because I want you. You’re exquisite. You’re fiercely loyal, and I don’t want to lose the chance to make you mine.”

He watched her throat work as lids closed over green orbs. She remained silent, sucking in deep breaths as he continued to play with her locks. He wanted to tense, to be worried about her response, but he already knew what she was going to say.

She’d lost herself in him, much as he’d lost himself in her. She needed him, too.

Chapter 13

Liz

She should argue or try to bargain her way around his offer.

But she didn’t want to.

In reality, the moment she’d first scented him, she’d wanted him. Given the circumstances, she was wise to be wary of him, but what more could an alpha do to prove that he was trustworthy?

He’d fought six alphas for her. Even killed one to save her. Beyond that, he’d also walked away from her, despite her heat’s perfume begging him to ravage her.

And he said he would traipse through the wilderness to take her to her nana despite the danger, so she lifted her lids and gave him the only answer she wanted to give.

“Okay.”

The skin around his eyes creased and his lips tilted up, morphing his handsome face into that of a devilish rake who made her stomach melt to the floor. His fingers rubbed her scalp in a touch so sensual her nerves had trouble processing it. After tucking the last chunk of hair behind her ear, he pulled his handaway, making her miss the connection, before offering her a stack of clothes.

“Get dressed. If we’re going to make it to my den before tomorrow evening, we must leave as soon as possible.”

Liz took the outfit from him, blushing as she realized how little his shirt covered, and went to stand. She paused, realizing he’d get an eyeful of her rear if he watched her walk to the bathroom, especially with her tails preventing his shirt from covering her.

He’d eventually see all of her, but being so brazen when they weren’t somewhere safe didn’t feel like a good idea.

As though sensing her hesitance, Blaide turned his back to her, set his pack in the chair, and started rummaging through it. She took his cue and darted to the bathroom.

Liz dressed quickly then, after washing her hands, leaned down and sipped water from the sink spigot, the rush of cool hydration too much for her to resist. Her ear twitched toward the door as Blaide moved around in the other room, but she took her time. She hadn’t realized how thirsty she was but stood up and dried her face before she drank too much.

Sighing at her reflection, she made a mental note to sip water as often as she could, since omegas needed much more during their heat than normal, and she figured stopping to go to the bathroom might be a rare opportunity. The amount she’d needed to drink before her last estrous had been obscene, but she’d still felt like a dried husk afterward. This time she had the help of Blaide, so hopefully with her heat ended much quicker, she wouldn’t feel so wrung out afterward.

The clothes he’d given her were a little too big, so she cinched the built-in belt tighter on the pants and decided the shirt would have to do as it was. It kept trying to slide off one shoulder since the neckline was too wide, but it covered the important bits and was comfortable enough to move in easily. Wishing she had abrush, she finger-combed her hair as well as she could before stepping back into the bedroom.

Her insides melted as his yellow eyes softened when he saw her, but he flung the pack onto his back and raised a brow.

“Where’s the blade I gave you?”

Liz gestured to the side table and cowered as his expression darkened. Blaide picked up the knife and stalked toward her.

Before she could react, he lifted the hem of her shirt, snapped a tiny sheath onto the waistband of her pants, then slid the knife into it. He stepped back as her hands finally rose to ward him off, but she dropped them as he slid his fingertips along her jaw.

“Always keep it with you. Never hesitate to use it.”

She nodded.

“Ready?”

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