Page 44 of Hunted Omega: Part Two

“We should probably clean up,” Aria murmurs, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on my chest as she looks up at me. “Maybe have dinner.”

I chuckle, capturing her hand and pressing a kiss to her fingertips. “Sounds like a plan, and then maybe we can come back here and do this all over again.”

Her pupils dilate as she pushes me down onto the mat, rolling her hips. Aria leans down, her breath hot on my ear. “Maybe we should just stay here a little longer,” she whispers, her voice sultry and full of promise. “I’m not ready to let you go just yet.”

A low growl rumbles in my chest, and I grip her hips tighter, encouraging her movements. “You’re playing with fire, Aria,” I warn, but my voice lacks any real threat. I’m already hardening inside her, my knot still locking us together, her movements sending shocks of pleasure through me.

She smirks, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Maybe I like the heat,” she teases, rolling her hips in a slow, torturous rhythm. “Besides, we have some time before dinner, and I have a few ideas about how to pass that time.”

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh, you do, do you?” I challenge, flipping us over so she’s pinned beneath me again. Her gasp of surprise turns into a moan of pleasure as I capture her mouth in a fierce kiss. “Well, let’s hear them.”

Aria grins up at me, her eyes sparkling with desire and excitement. She wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me closer. “How about I show you instead?” she whispers, her voice laced with promise.

As she starts to move beneath me, her body arching into mine, I can’t help but smile. This is going to be an interesting evening, but for now, I’m more than happy to get lost in her and let the world outside fade away as we explore each other, learning each other’s bodies and desires.

There will be time for reality later. For now, it’s just us, locked together and lost in our own little world. It’s perfect.

21

ARIA

I roundthe corner in the dimly lit hallway of Omega Guardians headquarters, my footsteps echoing softly on the polished floor. The air feels cool against my skin, carrying the faint scent of disinfectant and something else—something wild and dangerous.

My body still hums with energy from sparring with Zane, his intense gaze and strong hands lingering in my mind like a half remembered dream.

A flicker of movement catches my eye, and for a heart-stopping moment, I swear I see Noah’s face in the shadows. My breath catches, and I blink hard. When I look again, he’s gone, but the chill of fear remains, slithering down my spine like ice water.

A memory flashes through my mind—Noah’s face contorted with rage, his hand raised to strike. The phantom pain of past bruises makes me flinch, my heart racing.

Lost in my head, I nearly slam into a wall of pure alpha. My breath hitches as I stumble back, the air suddenly thick with the scent of cedarwood and amber. I look up, right into Malachi’s piercing gaze. His dark eyes seem to glow in the soft light,radiating an intensity that makes my heart race for an entirely different reason.

Damn it all to hell. Why does he have to look like some kind of Greek god in tactical gear? It’s honestly unfair.

“Aria,” he says, his voice a rich, velvety rumble that does things to my insides I’d rather not think about. There’s a hint of surprise in his tone, which is quickly masked by his usual calm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

I retreat a step, my omega instincts ping-ponging between run away and bare your neck. The air around us is thick with his scent—cedarwood and amber—but there’s something new too, something earthy and steady that makes me want to lean closer, even as my brain screams at me to keep my distance.

“Malachi,” I say, injecting a note of sarcasm into my voice to mask my unease. “Fancy meeting you in an omega safe space. What brings you to our neck of the woods? Alpha Appreciation Day?”

He’s dressed in all black, his powerful form silhouetted by the soft glow of the hallway lights. The fabric of his shirt stretches across his broad shoulders in a way that should be illegal.

I force my eyes up to his face, annoyed at my body’s reaction to him.

“Just finished a meeting with Willow about reinforcing security measures,” he explains, his stance relaxed yet alert. I can see the subtle tension in his muscles, ready to spring into action if needed. It’s both reassuring and unnerving. “How are you coping with everything?”

The question is straightforward, but having his focus entirely on me sends a shiver down my spine. I feel the warmth of his body, even from this distance.

“Oh, you know,” I say with forced lightness, “just another day of being hunted by my psychotic ex while navigating a pack ofalphas who can’t seem to decide if they want to protect me or eat me. Living the dream, really.”

Malachi’s expression softens, a flicker of what might be admiration passing through his eyes. “Your strength continues to impress me, Aria. I want you to know, your safety is our top concern.”

A spark of anxiety ignites within me at the wordour. My fingers instinctively curl into fists at my sides, digging my nails into my palms. “Our?” I echo, my voice barely above a whisper.

“The pack’s,” Malachi clarifies, his voice taking on a softer, more reassuring tone. It’s a side of him I’m not used to seeing, and it catches me off guard. “We’re united in ensuring your protection from Logan—Noah.”

The mention of Noah’s name sends an icy chill through me, and Malachi notices immediately. He steps closer, and I have to fight the urge to lean into him. His presence, his scent—it’s unexpectedly comforting, grounding me even as my thoughts whirl. The overhead lights flicker slightly, casting dancing shadows on the cold, sterile walls of the headquarters.

Fuck, I want to curl up on his lap and let him purr my anxiety away.

---