Page 6 of Nightmare Island

I push myself up, blinking rain out of my eyes. The dark beach stretches out before me, a strip of white sand between the water and a wall of palm trees swaying in the wind. Their fronds whip back and forth as though they’re trying to flee the storm. Can’t say I blame them.

“Well, Hel,” I mumble to myself. “You wanted a tropical vacation. Wish granted.”

My stomach twists with guilt. Did I cause the storm, the plane to lose control? Myabilityhas always been more of a curse than a blessing, but I’ve never brought down a whole plane before.

The smell of salt and rain fills my nose, mingling with the earthy scent of wet sand and vegetation. Waves crash against the shore, drowned out only by the rumbles of thunder. It would be peaceful if it weren’t for, you know, the wholestranded on a mysterious islandthing.

The moon comes out from behind the storming clouds, giving me some light to help my wolf eyes see better.

Movement in the water nearby catches my attention. Two dark fins cut through the waves, really close to shore, chasing something. Great. Sharks. Because this situation wasn’t exciting enough already.

“Sorry, boys,” I call out to the sharks. “This little Omega isn’t going swimming today.”

I scramble to my feet, noticing my escape pod being dragged out to sea. There goes any link to the plane… Though I feel as if I’ve landed right in the fire. As I watch the pod sink, a thread ofworry hits me. Did the other Omegas make it out? Or did they end up... I can’t finish the thought.

I turn toward the island, taking in the explosion of trees before me. I can’t see far beyond that from the night and storm.

Another crack of thunder shakes the ground, and the rain comes down even harder. It streams down my face, plastering my clothes to my skin.

“You want to drown me now? Bit late for that, don’t you think?” I shout at the sky.

The storm, predictably, growls.

I take a deep breath, tasting the metallic tang of the rain.

“Okay, Hel. You survived four years of being married to that ass-wipe Alpha. This is just a little unplanned vacay. No big deal.” Once I find a way off this place, I can finally track down my brother, Ragnar, in Savage Sector. He’d promised me that once he took that territory as Alpha, he’d find me. That hasn’t happened, so I’m going to find him. Hopefully, he’s still alive. So, first work out where exactly I am and how to leave this island.

I trudge toward the tree line, my boots squelching with every step. Sand cakes the sides, making them feel ten pounds heavier, but hey, at least I’m not barefoot.

As I enter the forest, the rain lessens slightly, the canopy providing some cover. I’m on a small, worn path. Animal trail? Or signs of other people? Not sure which option is more terrifying right now.

Dead palm leaves crunch under my shoes. Fallen coconuts, brown and decayed, litter the ground at my feet. Every now and then, I spot a crab scuttling away into the detritus faster than I can blink.

“Don’t worry, little guys,” I say. “I’m not here to steal your homes. Just... borrowing the neighborhood for a bit.”

The path winds through the trees, gradually sloping upward. My thighs ache from the effort, reminding me that since gettingmarried, I’d fallen out of shape and even put on a bit of weight because of my now-dead husband. A memory flashes through my mind.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Jarl’s words are cold and sharp, freezing me in place.

I turn slowly, my hand still on the doorknob. Jarl looms in the hallway, his six-foot-four frame blocking out the light. At forty-seven, he’s more than two decades my senior, but age hasn’t softened him. If anything, it’s made him harder, meaner.

His thinning blond hair is slicked back, emphasizing the harsh angles of his face. Deep-set eyes, the color of mud, glare at me from beneath bushy brows. They’ve always been cruel, those eyes, never showing a hint of warmth or love.

“I... I was just going for a jog,” I stammer, hating how small my voice sounds.

“A jog?” He laughs. “Since when do you jog?” He crosses the space between us in two long strides.

“I just wanted some fresh air to?—”

Pain explodes across my scalp as he grabs a fistful of my hair. His bulky arm flexes as he drags me away from the door. I stumble and cry out, but he doesn’t stop until we reach the spare room.

“If you can’t respect my commands as your husband to never leave the house without me, you can rot in here until you’re ready to apologize.” He shoves me inside with a strength that sends me sprawling, the door slamming behind me.

I’m on my feet in an instant, fists pounding against the wood.

“You can’t do this! I can’t be locked up in the house. I just wanted to go out to get fresh air, you asshole!”

The door flies open. I retreat, fear digging into me as Jarl fills the doorway once more. His massive shoulders nearly touch both sides of the frame, a loose belt dangling from one meaty hand. The overhead light casts shadows across his face, making him look more monster than man.

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