Page 18 of Pack Obsession

"This is you." I stop at the east wing’s guest room, the one with reinforced windows. "Bathroom’s in there. Clean clothes in the dresser. We always have spares because, in our line of work, you never know who we bring home with us."

"Thanks." She hesitates in the doorway, fingers twisting the end of the tips of her hair. In the soft hallway light, she looks almost angelic, with all silver-white hair. "I know you don’t want me here, that I ruined your job, but... I’m grateful. For not sending me to Julian."

Something dark stirs at that name. Before I can think better of it, I step closer, bracing one hand against the wall above her shoulder. She backs up instinctively, but there’s nowhere to go.

"You’re safe here, you know that?" My tone comes out rough, and I almost laugh when I say that while towering over her. "Walking into a house full of Alphas, asking to stay… That’s not an easy feat."

Her breath hitches, but she lifts her chin. This close, I see pale golden flecks in her dark eyes.

"I know exactly what I’m doing. Choosing the monsters who might protect me over the one who’ll definitely destroy me."

"Is that what we are? Monsters?"

"Maybe. I don’t know yet."

I lean closer, inhaling deeply. Her scent hits me like a drug—sweet summer rain and wildness underneath.

"You’d know better than most, wouldn’t you? What monsters look like."

"I know what they feel like." Her voice wavers. "How they hurt."

"And you’re not afraid we’ll hurt you?" I drag my gaze to her mouth, lingering a bit too long on beautiful her lips, wondering how they taste. "Three Alphas who kidnapped you, who could do anything..."

"You already would have." Those eyes search my face, looking for something I’m not sure I want her to find. "But you haven’t."

"Yet." The word hangs between us like smoke. "Do you know what you do to us? Your scent alone..."

"I can’t help that." Her words break slightly.

"No." I trail my fingers along the wall beside her head, not quite touching her but close enough to feel her shiver. "You can’t. Like you can’t help the way your pulse speeds up when I’m near. The way your breath races. The way your body knows exactly what I am."

"Stop." It comes out barely a whisper.

"Why? Because I’m right?" I lean closer until my lips nearly brush her ear. "Because you’re afraid of what might happen if I don’t?"

"Because..." She swallows hard. "Because you’re proving my point."

"Which is?"

"That you’re dangerous."

"I’m trying very hard not to be." The admission surprises us both. I force myself to step back, needing distance from the way she makes me feel—protective, possessive, and hungry all at once. "Get some sleep, Casey. Lock your door."

"Will that actually keep you out if you wanted in?"

Our gazes meet, and for a moment, the tension crackles between us like lightning about to strike.

"No. But it’ll remind us both that you’re not here for that."

She slips into her room without another word, but not before I catch a glimpse of her face—confusion and fear warring with something darker, something that makes my blood burn. Her lips part slightly as she draws in a shaky breath, and for one dangerous second, all I can think about is how those lips would feel against mine, wrapped around my cock, how her voice would sound, crying out my name in the darkness.

Fuck.

I make myself step back, running a hand through my hair. This isn’t why she’s here. She’s a job—was a job—and a complication we need to handle. Nothing more. The lock clicks into place with a finality that should comfort me, should remind me of all the reasons this is a terrible idea.

It doesn’t.

Because now, all I realize is how quickly I can override that lock, to show her exactly what happens when an Omega plays with fire. To make her?—

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