Page 84 of Marigold Run

I look deep into her brown eyes. There’s so much pain there. “I hate myself for everything that has happened to you, but I promise on my life,” I place my hand over my heart, “I will make Cardis and Andros pay for what they’ve done to you and your brother. Neither one of them will live to see another sunrise.”

“No!” Desperation makes Mari’s voice crack, and my hand falls from my chest. “I need to find Stefan first!” Her voice scrapes across her throat. “Make them tell you where he is before you kill them!”

The gutted silence that follows is almost more than I can bear. But thankfully Izan speaks up, saving the rest of us the heartache. “Omega,” His tone is tender, but clearly apprehensive, not wanting to upset her further. “It’s been over two years. The black market doesn’t keep records of the omegas they sell. There’s no way?—”

“I’m not stupid!” Mari snarls then groans, rocking back and forth as another cramp grips her. Hutch moans then growls, but I don’t look at him. I’m too busy staring at my pained omega. “I know that Stefan isn’t alive,” Mari whines and her chin quivers. “I want his body. I need his remains.”

Izan slowly lowers himself to his knees. “What makes you think they killed him?”

Some of the fire in Mari’s eyes dims and her shoulders fall. Her cramps are coming on faster and lasting longer each time. It’s only a matter of time. Minutes. Maybe even seconds until she’s begging to be filled.

“Stefan was very weak and small,” she says softly. “He had asthma.” She wipes her face, pulling in a deep, calming breath. “I want to give him a proper burial. He deserves to be put to rest.”

Izan agrees, giving her soft words of comfort. He tells her what a good sister she is for wanting that for her brother, and how strong she is for protecting him for so long, but all I can think about is making this right.

I know it’s impossible to find a body lost on the side of a mountain, but I want to promise my omega the world. I want to tell her I’ll find her brother’s body if it’s the last thing I do.

I owe it to her.

Because the fact is, if I had sought revenge against Tenus for what they did to me five years ago, then Cardis and Andros wouldn’t have been alive to attack Mari and her brother. They would have never been in those mountains, hunting and hurting precious creatures so much weaker than them.

“Mari,” I speak up, unable to hold it in any longer. It could be my wounded pride or the fucking pheromones growing stronger by the minute, but I don’t care what I have to do, I’ll fix this. “I will search every inch of those fucking mountain tops,” I pledge to my precious omega. “And I won’t stop until I find Stefan’s body.”

“Really?” Mari perks.

“Really.”

She still sits curled inward, like the weight of the world is pressing on her shoulders, but there’s hope in those gorgeous eyes. “You’ll help me find Stefan?” She looks at Izan, needing our pack alpha to pledge it too.

“We will,” Izan says firmly. “I’ll deploy my men to every cliff and crevice and creek and pond. We’ll drain the fucking river if we have to.”

“I have friends out near the northern boundary,” Hutch says with a shocking amount of clarity. “They can pull records on any remains found in the last two years.”

Mari’s chin quivers once again, but this time her tears aren’t filled with pain. They’re filled with love. Even if she can’t say it, our precious girlfeelsloved.

“Please, Mari.” Everly reaches her hand out, resting it against the carpet right in front of the alcove. “Let us help you.”

But before Mari can answer, a horrible cramp rips through her. This time, instead of riding it out, Mari lets out a vicious scream, clawing at the blanket beneath her. When she finally lifts her head, we can all see it—our girl is in need. The time for conversation is over, and now we must tend to our new mate.

In Heat

Mari

My heart swells and my face heats. Between the pain and slick, and the love and promises, I feel too much. Is it love? I’m not really sure. I’ve never felt like this before.

I open my mouth to tell all four of them how touched I am by their kind words, but all that comes out is a violent scream. My body folds in on itself as a stabbing pain rips through my womb. I curl so fucking tight my knees press into my chin, but it doesn’t help. Not even the wonderful feel of my nest is giving me any relief.

I need a cock.

To be filled. Rutted. Defiled. Andnow.

Something inside me twists, harder and harder. It feels as if my eyeballs are going to burst out of my skull, but then something pops and slick erupts from my pussy. The pressure is gone, but it’s replaced by a fire that spreads across my suddenlyvery sensitive skin. I snarl, ripping at Izan’s dress shirt. I tear it from my body, popping buttons, and fling it out of my nest.

“Alpha!” I growl high in my throat, enraged that no one has offered to service me yet.

“Mari?” Izan’s voice is close.Very close.

When I look up, the alpha is kneeling at the edge of my nest, his bare chest glistening with sweat. I can’t help but wonder if his knot fully went down. It was still puffy and raw when I ran from his room. My pussy spasms as I remember the way he shoved it inside of me. It hurt in the best possible way.

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