Page 12 of Pack Obsession

I pace to the windows, pressing my forehead against the cool glass. The forest stretches endlessly, dark and ominous—like my future if I don’t figure something out fast.

A cold bottle of water appears in my peripheral vision from the lights in the room and the darkening woods. Logan holds it out, his expression unreadable.

"Breathe," he says quietly. "We’re not deciding anything right now."

I take the water with shaking hands, my mind racing. I need protection. I need help. I need... My gaze drifts to the papers still spread across the dining table.

My stomach lurches, and I set the water down before I drop it.

These Alphas watching me are scary—everything about them radiates danger. I have no clue who they are, but they haven’t hurt me yet, haven’t tried to break me like Julian did. Haven’t looked at me like I’m a toy to be played with until I break. Still, trusting them feels like jumping off a cliff and hoping someone will catch me. Except I’m already falling, aren’t I? Nowhere to go that Julian won’t eventually find me.

Even if these men don’t hurt me themselves, they could just hand me over to him.

My fingers find the scars on my arm, tracing each line like a prayer.

I need to make myself valuable to them somehow. More worthy than whatever Julian’s paying. My gaze drifts to the papers on the dining table once more. The heist plans they were discussing.

"Earlier," I say slowly, lifting my attention to them, "you were talking about a job. Some kind of break-in." Of course, they won’t be happy with me knowing anything about their plans, but I need to use the information to help myself.

"How much did you hear?" Nash asks sharply. I notice Axel and Logan haven’t stopped watching me, their attention heavy.

"Enough." I straighten my spine. "You said something about needing a distraction for your mission. I can be that for you. Letme help, and in exchange..." I meet each of their gazes in turn, knowing I’m crazy but out of options. "Let me lie low here. Hide from Julian. From Nexus. Don’t tell either of them you have me."

The silence stretches. Their faces give nothing away, but the air feels charged with possibility—or maybe that’s just what happens when three powerful Alphas focus all their attention on you. I feel like a mouse being watched by very attractive, very dangerous cats.

"We don’t need you for the heist," Logan states finally. "You’ll compromise things."

"You have no idea what I’m capable of." I lift my chin. "And a distraction by an Omega is easier to pull off than a guard seeing an Alpha in tactical gear coming at him. Trust me, I know how to make men underestimate me."

"You have no idea what you’re asking," Axel growls.

God help me, the sound does things to my insides that burn me up.

"I do know." My voice cracks, vulnerability seeping through despite my best efforts. "Fuck, I know." I hate showing weakness, hate being desperate, but I’m one wrong move away from begging these Alphas to help me. "But I have no other options, and I’m out of time. And you..." I gesture at their collective deadly beauty. "You’re clearly capable of handling yourselves. And Julian."

They exchange looks loaded with meaning I can’t decode. They seem to have a silent Alpha communication between them that excludes the lost Omega.

Finally, Logan sighs. "We’ll discuss it. You stay in the house. Don’t go outside, don’t answer the door. This place is off the grid. Most people aren’t aware that it exists."

"That’s perfect," I say quickly, hope flaring dangerous and bright. "It’s exactly what I need."

Axel grabs a remote, switching on a massive TV mounted above the fireplace. "Make yourself at home."

I watch them head down a hallway, presumably to debate my fate. This wasn’t my first choice—hell, it wasn’t even in my top ten—but maybe... My attention sweeps the room, taking in possible exits, vantage points, and...

Wait.

I scan again, more carefully this time. No landline. No phones anywhere. Even the table where they’d been working is completely clear now.

Shit.

I’m not their guest. I’m still their prisoner—just in a nicer cage. And I just volunteered to help three dangerous Alphas with what’s probably an equally deadly heist.

The question is… did I just make a deal with devils who might actually protect me, or have I jumped from Julian’s fire into an even more treacherous flame?

The TV drones on, some daytime show host telling jokes to canned laughter, but all I can hear is Julian’s voice in my head.

Every choice you make belongs to me, sweet girl. Every step you take leads back to me.

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