Page 74 of Marigold Run

The second the words leave my mouth, I know I’ve fucked up.

The air around me is suddenly thick with rage. It radiates off of Izan, pouring from the tense cut of his jaw down to his clenched abs. And the look in his eyes is like nothing I’ve ever seen from the alpha—it’s all rage. But he doesn’t scream. He doesn’t beat me or insult me either.

Instead, he slowly leans down, staring intently into my eyes as he brings his face to mine. His silent stare says more than any words could. Itdemandssubmission. And the longer he stares into my eyes, the harder my body shakes with the overwhelming need to yield. But I hold out, keeping my eyes locked with his, not backing down.

“Mari,” Izan growls my name so deep and low that it vibrates through the air, slicing through me like a fucking blade.

I blink, too scared to actually speak.

Izan’s upper lip twitches, flashing his teeth. They're pointed, his alpha-fangs on full display to show me how much more impressive he is than me. Then a single word leaves his mouth,but it’s so much more than a word. It’s a command. An order. A sentence. “Submit.”

My knees instantly buckle and my body goes limp, but Izan catches me before I can hit the floor. He flings me over his shoulder, then marches out of my room.

I dangle, my arms swaying as he carries me to his bedroom. The position is awkward, his hard body shoving into my stomach. It makes my face hot and my abs cramp, but I can’t move. My omega instincts demand that I obey for my own survival, and right now, that means complete paralysis.

I don’t know what he has planned for me. Probably a spanking. Izan isn’t the kind to use a cane or belt….at least I don’t think he is. But I guess you don’t really know what an alpha is capable of until you’ve pissed him off.

Everly’s lavender scent passes us, and I look up in time to see the beta’s dark brown hair flutter around the corner. I want to call out to her. To beg her to come and save me, but I know for a fact she’ll do it and then she’ll be in trouble too.

Izan slams the bedroom door behind us, then tosses me on his bed. He doesn’t give me time to settle or think as he pulls at my shirt, tugging it over my head. Then he tosses my untied shoes across the room and shreds my jeans and underwear off me. The sudden rush of cool air on my skin breaks my body’s trance and I twist, trying to get away from him.

“Don’t fight me, Mari,” he warns as he grabs my ankle, pulling my body back down to him. It’s not a command—he never uses his alpha voice in the bedroom—but it's definitely more forceful than I’m used to with him. Izan is always in control and even a little playful when fucking me, butneverangry. “Be a good girl, and be still.”

Ignoring his calm request, I try to crawl away again, but this time he manhandles me much more aggressively. He shoves me onto my back, then wrenches my knees wide apart.

“Don’t move.” His dark eyes narrow, giving me a pointed look. I consider twisting away from him again but decide against it. It’s probably best to get this over with. Once Izan is convinced that I won’t move, he slowly removes his belt. “Keep your legs spread,” he says firmly. “I want to see that pink pussy drip.”

A fresh wave of his potent vanilla apple scent hits the air and my back naturally arches as my nipples tighten. Izan smirks at the effect he has on me as he unbuttons his shirt, one by one, pulling it off his shoulders and tossing it away. I glance at the door, knowing that even if I do run, it would only turn Izan on even more. And not to mention the twins. Dassy and Hutch would be alive with excitement to chase and rut me.

Dassy.

How did things end up like this?

How did I end up so deeply betrayed by a pack that I never wanted?

There’s a soft tap as Izan places his cell phone on the nightstand next to the weird marble lamp. I stare at his damn phone while he undoes his pants, freeing his giant cock.

I hate how easy life is for everyone but omegas.

I’ve spent weeks searching and sneaking, trying like crazy to get my hands on a computer, and Izan has one in his fucking pocket.

“Be good for me, Mari,” he says as he repositions me, placing my head on the pillow next to the nightstand and pulling one arm above my head. I’m still glaring at his goddamn phone, fantasizing about smashing it into a million pieces, when something clasps around my wrist. Izan tightens it before I can register what’s happened.

“What the fuck?” I tug at the restraint, trying to pull myself free, but the knot is weird, and it tightens every time I move.

“This is for your own safety.” Izan gets onto the bed, positioning himself between my legs.

“No, it’s not!” I yell, shocked that he’d do this to me. Flashes of chains and pain and one particularly torturous night rushes through my mind. “You just don’t want me to fight back so you can do whatever you want to me.” I kick out, growling and scratching at Izan’s big body. “You’re like all those other alphas!” My chin quivers. “I’m just a thing for you to use. Something for you to play with and throw away.”

Shock flickers across Izan’s face, followed by deep sadness. It pulls the corner of his eyes and his mouth slips into a frown. I snarl, hating the way he’s looking at me.

“Oh, my sweet omega.” Izan’s voice is soft and painfully tender. “You know I would never hurt you.”

“You already are.” I glance up at the nylon rope holding me in place. My skin is already pink from all the twisting and tugging. “Is there something about me that makes men like you crave violence?” My nose is running, making me sniff loudly. “Why does everyone want to hurt me?” My voice is a high-pitched whine but I push it to shift and grow, morphing into a mighty scream.

And I scream and scream and scream as loud as I can.

Izan doesn’t do anything. He watches me, his hands resting on either side of my hips while I shout all my pain out into the room.

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