Page 39 of Pack Obsession

"I’ve got you." My lips brush her temple, her cheek, and the corner of her mouth. "When your heat hits…"

She stiffens in my arms.

"…you have three Alphas who?—"

"Put me down." Her voice shakes.

"Casey—"

"Put me down!" She squirms until I have to set her on her feet or risk dropping her. Her eyes are wide, pupils blown, but not from desire anymore. Pure fear floods her scent.

I reach for her. "There’s nothing to be worried about. If you need an Alpha for your heat, you have three?—"

She backs away, shaking her head. The terror in her expression stops me cold. Before I can say another word, she turns and runs toward the house like hell itself is chasing her.

I watch her scramble inside, the door slamming behind her.

"Fuck."

What the hell did I do wrong?

But as I replay her reaction, something clicks. The way she froze at the mention of herheat. The pure panic in her eyes.

What happened to her to make her panic about it?

And why do I suddenly think of Julian and want to put a bullet between his eyes?

Chapter

Twelve

CASEY

Islam my bedroom door and lean against it, heart hammering. The woods, the training, the kiss—it had all been perfect until Logan started pushing about... No. Not going to worry about how his persistence about my heat made me storm away mid-kiss, leaving him standing there in the clearing.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid,” I mutter, pushing away from the door and pacing the length of my room. Five steps forward, turn, five steps back. The walls feel like they’re closing in. Everything feels too close, too intense. My fingers trail along the windowsill as I pass it again and again.

I catch my reflection in the mirror—cheeks flushed, white-blonde hair wild from running my hands through it. I barely recognize myself anymore. A week ago, I was a protected Omega, surviving with my brother, having no idea that Julian had been making plans to kidnap me. Now, I’m here, surrounded by three men who make my head spin and my heart race, and I don’t know how to handle any of the emotions choking me, the desire making me kiss them.

I pause at the window, pressing my forehead against the cool glass. Outside, the trees sway in the morning breeze, peacefuland uncomplicated. Unlike my life, which has turned into a tangled mess of worries, obligations, and things I don’t want to think about. The forest reminds me of training earlier—how natural it felt working with Logan, learning from him… until everything went sideways.

“Just behave,” I whisper to myself, wrapping my arms around my middle. “A couple more weeks. That’s all I need to perhaps have Nexus forget about me. Maybe Julian, too. Then I can figure out where to go next.” The thought of leaving has my chest aching, but I shove that feeling down deep where it belongs.

The knock startles me. “Not interested,” I call out, but the door handle turns, anyway. Of course, I forgot to actually lock it in my panic. Logan fills the doorframe, all 6’3” of solid muscle and quiet intensity. His dark brown hair is windblown, and the jagged white scar disappears beneath his black t-shirt that molds to his broad shoulders. The cargo pants and boots complete his military bearing.

When I try to speak, my response catches in my throat. Those steel-gray eyes lock onto mine with an intensity that makes breathing difficult. He has this way of looking at me, as if he can see straight through to my soul.

“We need to talk about what happened,” he says quietly, his tone carrying that edge of authority that makes me want to both run and stay rooted to the spot.

“Nothing to talk about.” I turn away, pretending to fluff up the pillows on the bed.

“Casey.” Just my name, but it holds weight. His boots creak on the wooden floor as he enters my room in slow steps, as though he’s approaching a spooked animal. Maybe he is. “Look at me.”

“I’d rather not.” But I do anyway because something in his tone pulls at me. He’s closer now, and I have to tilt my headback to meet his gaze. The light scruff along his jaw catches the morning sun streaming through my window. A muscle ticks in his jaw, and I realize he’s just as tense as I am.

“Why did you run?”

“Because you wouldn’t drop it.” I cross my arms, trying to build a wall between us. My fingers dig into my biceps. “Some things don’t need to be discussed to death.”

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