Page 104 of Hunted Omega: Part Two

That, I realize, is worth every struggle, temptation, and sleepless night. It’s worth fighting for. It’s worth staying sober for.

As Aria’s story unfolds, I steel myself for what’s to come. Whatever horrors she’s about to reveal, whatever challenges lie ahead, I know one thing for certain. Come hell or high water, this pack won’t break rank.

45

ARIA

The plush carpettickles my bare feet as I sit in the center of the pack’s living room. My hands are clasped so tightly in my lap, I can feel my nails digging into my palms. It’s the only way to hide how much they are shaking. The air is thick with my anxious orange creamsicle scent, but it’s not alone. My alphas’ scents wrap around me like a protective cocoon.

A nearby lamp casts a warm glow, throwing long shadows across the walls. My alphas form a circle around me, their presence both comforting and a little intimidating. I can hear their breathing, each slightly out of sync with the others, and it’s oddly soothing, like white noise.

“I need to tell you everything,” I say. My voice is quiet, but I make sure it doesn’t waver. “It won’t be easy to hear, but you need to know.” I take a deep breath, steeling myself. “And I need you to let me get through it all before you react.”

Malachi leans forward. The leather armchair creaks softly under him, and his dark eyes, filled with concern, lock onto mine. “We’ve got your back, Aria,” he says. His voice is steady, reassuring. It’s one of the things I love about him. “Take as long as you need to tell your story.”

As I start to speak, I’m struck by how different this feels. With Noah, admitting weakness was like painting a target on my back, but here, surrounded by my pack, being vulnerable doesn’t feel dangerous.

It feels… strong.

“It started when I was sixteen,” I begin. My voice grows stronger, even as my hands keep trembling. “My parents had just died, and I was alone. That’s when I met Noah.”

As I speak, memories flood back like a tidal wave. Noah was charming, and when he’d smile, he would make me feel like I was the center of his world, but it was all a lie, a trap to gain my trust and worm his way into my life. The gentle touches turned into painful grips, and the whispered promises twisted into demands. I remember the night it all changed—the sharp crack of his hand against my cheek, and the metallic taste of blood in my mouth.

“He seemed so kind at first,” I continue. My voice shakes, barely louder than the soft hum of the air-conditioning. “He took care of me and made me feel safe, but then he started getting… controlling. He didn’t like when I talked to other alphas or even other omegas. He’d always find something wrong with how I acted, how I looked, and when I tried to stand up for myself, he’d…” I trail off, rubbing at the faint scar on my wrist that never quite faded.

Zane’s fists clench, and I hear his knuckles crack. A low growl rumbles in his chest, vibrating through the air. Quinn reaches out and places his hand on my knee. It’s warm through my jeans, grounding me.

“I didn’t understand at first,” I say. The words tumble out, years of pent-up fear and pain finding release. “I thought… I thought it was normal and that this was what being an omega meant, but the abuse got worse, and I was too scared to leave. He isolated me from everyone and made me feel like I wasnothing without him. Then, one night, I heard him on the phone talking about some of his business ventures. I didn’t know exactly what he was involved in back then, but the way he talked about omegas—like they were nothing more than commodities—terrified me.”

The room goes deathly silent. I can smell their shock and anger, sharp and acrid. It almost burns my nostrils, but I can’t stop now. The words pour out of me like a flood.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the next part. “The first time Noah truly snapped… God, I can still hear that lock clicking into place.”

Quinn leans forward, his eyes intense. “What happened, Aria?”

“I’d gone out with Cayenne, just for coffee, you know? But when I got home…” I shudder, the memory vivid. “He was waiting. His eyes were… cold and empty. He grabbed my arm, dragged me to the bedroom, and shoved me inside.”

Zane’s growl is low, dangerous. “How long?”

“Three days,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “Three days of pounding on that door until my hands were bruised, begging him to let me out.” I can feel the phantom pain in my palms and remember the way my voice had gone hoarse from screaming. “The worst part was that when he’d come to the door, he’d tell me he’d let me out if I just… behaved.”

Dash’s voice is uncharacteristically serious. “Did you?”

I shake my head, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. “No. I was… I was too angry. Too scared. When he finally let me out, I thought that was the worst of it, but then…”

Malachi’s hand finds mine, squeezing gently. “It’s okay, Aria. Take your time.”

I squeeze back, grateful for the anchor. “He started… showing me off to his associates, like I was some kind of prizehe’d won. They’d come over, and their eyes would just… roam, like I was a piece of meat.”

“Bastards,” Zane snarls, his scent spiking with rage.

“Yeah,” I agree, my voice barely audible. “I can still feel their eyes sometimes. It makes my skin crawl.”

The room falls silent, the weight of my words hanging heavily in the air, then Dash speaks, his voice soft but fierce. “Never again, sparkles. We won’t let anyone treat you like that ever again.”

I look around at my pack, seeing the determination in their eyes. For the first time in years, I feel truly safe. “I know,” I say, and I mean it. “I know you won’t.”

The silence stretches, heavy with unspoken emotion. I feel the tension radiating from my alphas, their scents sharp with anger and protectiveness, but beneath it all, there’s a current of love so strong it nearly takes my breath away.

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