Page 26 of Secured By the Buyer

A pitying expression crosses his face. “Ah, yes, but there was also intercourse involved.”

Blood rushes to my face, and I press back into the cushions, glaring at him. “I’m not taking my pants off, and if you try, I swear I’ll kick your teeth in.”

Abandoning his shirt, Liam comes over to join me on the couch, pulling me closer while positioning my body so I can’t bite him. His comforting warmth envelops me, and even though I can’t trust this Alpha, I melt against him.

“It’s okay, Milo.” His low voice soothes me. “If you don’t want Dr. Wallace to perform a physicalexam, he won’t. But he does need to take some blood to check for any drugs in your system and examine a couple of your wounds.”

“Do you mean the Mark?” My stomach churns with anxiety.

Liam stiffens, a hint of genuine regret on his face. “I’m so sorry for doing that without your permission.”

His apology further confuses me. Why wouldn’t he want to leave his Mark on me? Is he one of those Alphas who wants a whole harem of Omegas to call their own?

“Yes, Dr. Wallace needs to examine the Mark,” Liam continues, “and also your arm.”

I remember the pain when I touched it earlier, and panic sets in, my breathing growing shallow. “Wh-what’s wrong with my arm?”

Liam cuddles me closer, releasing calming pheromones into the air to dull the edges of my fear. “The auction house injected you with a tracker. We need to remove it.”

I shudder, bile rising in my throat. They put a tracker in me, like some household pet.

Because that’s what I am.

No matter how much Liam’s pheromones call to me or how kind he appears, I’m still his property.

9

Iwince as the doctor peels the bandage off my nape, revealing the Mark. Cool air stings the tender skin, and I shiver despite the warmth radiating from Liam at my side.

“It’s roughly done, but settling in.” Dr. Wallace examines the Mark with a gentle touch. “It shouldn’t leave a scar if no second Mark is given.”

“Thank goodness.” Tension melts from Liam’s body. “I didn’t want to check it when I woke up from the tranquilizer.”

He rubs my arm, though I think it’s more to soothe himself than me. “The end of the night is a bit of a blur, and all I remember is fighting my brothers…and your blood in my mouth. I was worried I maimed you.”

The reminder that he played an unwilling participant in my Heat and he was knocked out along with me opens an ache within me to comfort him, but I choke down the urge before I give in.

Am I an idiot? Sympathizing with this Alpha?

“Well, boohoo for you,” I snap, though the words lack bite.

Liam nuzzles the side of my head. “I’m sorry, princess. I’ll apologize as many times as you need me to. And we’re going to kill all the people who were involved in that auction.”

His promise shouldn’t sound as sweet as it does. “Get off me, asshole.”

“Now that the Mark has started to set, we can leave off the bandage.” The doctor pretends not to listen to the conversation happening between us. “The scab should fall off in a day or two. Try not to pick at it in the meantime.”

He walks back around the sofa and stops in front of Liam. “You’ll need to free at least his arm if I’m going to perform minor surgery on him.”

Fear spikes through me, and I shrink against Liam. “What do you mean by surgery?”

“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” Liam soothes, a rumble rising from his chest. “It’s just a small incision to remove the tracker. You won’t feel a thing.”

Despite his reassurances, I try to inch away from him, but the bindings on my torso and legs stop me.

With ridiculous ease, Liam works my left arm free and unbuttons my shirt far enough to slip out of it on one side while not exposing me more than necessary. Then he wraps his arms back around me, snugging my body against his. “Keep your focus on me, princess.”

I glare up into his stupidly handsome face. “Like I want to look at you.”

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