Page 75 of Marigold Run

When I’m finally done, I pant, sucking in big breaths of air.

I’m so weak right now. I know it’s because my heat is near and my heart is broken. And with Izan’s rock-hard body looming over mine, I fear I might be pushed into my heat sooner rather than later. But there’s no fighting it now.

Desperate to push away my growing distress, I close my eyes, and pull in the deepest breath I can. A swift wash of alpha pheromones soaks into me, making my belly tingle and my head light. But it gives me the effect I need, and the knot in my chest slowly uncurls.

“Omega.” Izan’s voice is as calm as ever. Even and soft. Almost as if we’re not both completely naked and about to fuck. “I am so sorry, my love.”

His affection makes me snarl. “Screw you.” But he doesn’t seem affected at all by my ugly words.

“I never want to hurt you.” He places one big hand over my heart, then he slowly drags it down between my breasts. The pressure is firm, almost relaxing. “You are such an amazing person. You care so deeply?—”

“You don’t know anything about me,” I snap with far too much attitude. I don’t know why I’m challenging him, but the big alpha isn’t stopping me. He’slettingme disrespect him. “You haven’t even been here. All you care about is your fucking job.”

A flash of something moves through his eyes. Regret? Guilt? I don’t know. But it’s not the anger I expected. “You’re right,” he says simply. “I haven’t done my job as your pack alpha. I should have been here with you. Loving and bonding with you.” He leans down over me. His head is right above mine, his black hair brushing into the corners of his eyes. “But I do know you, Marigold.”

I glance away, tugging at my bindings once again. The ropes creak and pinch.

Izan shifts, resting one of his elbows next to my head and slipping the other hand under my tied-up arm so he can hold the back of my head. “Before we claimed you, we spoke every week for months at Havenfield. We got to know you pretty well.”

I want to laugh in his face if he thinks that was ever the real me. But I don’t say anything. There’s no point.

“You are a complicated woman, Marigold.” He uses my proper name for the second time in a row, making me clench my teeth. “You might still have a lot of secrets, but I do know you.” His eyes darken. “Your voice pitches a little too high when you’re pretending to be happy. And your fake smile pulls flat while thereal one makes your eyes crinkle.” His fingers brush against my cheekbone. “Your tone drops when you talk about something that excites you. You never insult the food you don’t like, but you do play with it, pushing it all around your plate until mealtime is over.” He smiles like it’s adorable and I frown.

“I’m not a toddler,” I snip, not pleased with his description…even if it is accurate.

“You like to be in control at all times,” he continues, cradling my face so I can’t look away. “You don’t like to sit still and get restless when you’ve been in one room for too long.” His deep green eyes narrow and a twist of confusion etches between his brows. “You also get very agitated when you can’t see the exit.”

I tilt my head, not understanding what he means.I don’t do that. But I’ll be damned if I say that out loud.

“You also getveryexcited when you draw blood.” Izan’s voice drops to a rumbling purr and my gaze flickers to the fading scratch marks on his chest. Every night I carve out brand-new marks, and every night he begs for more.

“I’m not the only one that gets off on it.” I wanted my words to sound like an insult, but my voice is too throaty, almost like a purr.

A spark of something mischievous flashes in Izan’s eyes and his hips rock against my body. His cock slides against my folds, making me realize how wet I am. The effect this alpha has on me is maddening. The tip of his member hits my clit and my eyes roll into the back of my head. If there’s one thing I will always love Izan for, it’s teaching me to appreciate the pleasure my body can give me.

Before Izan, the feel of an alpha’s body on top of mine was terrifying. Suffocating. A cock was a weapon meant to cause pain, not bring pleasure. But he’s changed all of that. Now I crave his warm chest pressed against mine. I love that he can getme wet with a single look, and that he makes me feel like I can say or do anything without any fear of being beaten or mocked.

But I can’t stop seeing that old tattoo on Dassy’s stomach. Did he roam the woods with Cardis and Andros back in the day? Did Dassy pray on creatures that were much weaker than him? How many omegas saw that tattoo right before he raped them?

No. I can’t stay here.

As much as it breaks my heart, I need to leave before these alphas cause me any more pain...once Izan is done with me. I just need to feel him inside me one more time.

“Fuck, you’re so soft,” Izan hums as he places lingering kisses along my neck and down my chest. He sucks at one of my breasts and then the other, plucking at each one of my nipples.

A breathy moan escapes me before I can catch it, followed by a needy whine.I’m so exposed in his arms.Nothing but raw emotion and savage desire.AndI need more.

Izan continues his path down my body, dipping his tongue into my belly button, before kissing and nipping at my hips. He reaches the apex of my thighs and I tense. But instead of falling into me, Izan takes his time, kissing each one of my ugly scars. He squeezes my hips and licks my skin, his breath deep and rumbly. It’s so…relaxing.

And then he stops.

I lift my head to see the alpha admiring my pussy. He licks his lips, looking like he wants nothing more than to taste me. And as I predicted, his green eyes meet mine, and it’s obvious he’s asking for permission. My body craves it, slick pouring from me like a goddamn fountain, butIdon’t want Izan to touch me like that. I can’t trust him. Dassy is proof of that. I invited the big blond alpha into my nest and not ten minutes later, I found out he was a member of the fucking Tenus pack. Izan probably has secrets too. It only makes sense that they’reallhiding things from me.

“Do whatever you want,” I say with a defeated shake of my head. “It doesn't matter.”

A shadow crosses Izan’s handsome face, and for a second, I think he’s going to devour me. But then he shocks me, by crawling back up my body.

“I will go down on you,” he says like it’s a threat. “But only when you ask me to. And, Mari,” he grabs my chin, not allowing me to move, “Youwillask me.”

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