Page 80 of Marigold Run

“I can’t stay here,” I say, deciding to tell the truth. I mean, with Izan’s presence growing stronger in my head, it’s only a matter of time before any lies will be impossible anyway.

“Why?”

“You wouldn't understand.” I glance at those mountains once again.

Hutch moves around the altar, his steps slow and non-threatening. Or least as non-threatening as a six-foot six alphacan be. “Try me.” He rests his elbow against the top of the altar, looking at me as if chatting at a bar.

“You know.” I turn my back at the mountain, giving Hutch my full attention and praying my legs don’t give out. “All of this is so unfair.”

Hutch’s eyes narrow ever so slightly, silently asking me to elaborate. So I do.

“Alphas get to take their time, having fun and picking their pack until well into their forties. Omegas only have a few years. We’re only seen as desirable, prime-age, right up until twenty-five. After that, our health declines fast.” I can’t help my bitter tone. “And if we’re not mated, we get sick.Realsick,” I emphasize for effect. “Most don’t live past thirty.”

Hutch nods once, just listening.

“There are a million things I want to do with my life.” I think about those mountains behind me. “Things I need to do. But I’m not allowed to do any of them because I have to have an alpha. And if I don’t want an alpha, then I’m crazy and broken and need to be fixed.” I pause, waiting for Hutch to react, but if my words upset him, he doesn't show it at all. “So here I am,” I continue, “with all this shit I need to do in my life, and no ability to do it because I have to be tethered to a fucking alpha.” Another rolling cramp grips my belly, and I clench my abs, determined not to show that I’m in pain.

“What do you have to do?” Hutch asks.

“It doesn’t fucking matter,” I grit out as the pain hits its crescendo, making my skull pulse behind my eyes. I pinch the bridge of my nose, then slowly sink to the ground. Hutch moves with me, sitting by my side. Both of our backs against the altar and our feet stretched out in front of us.

“Does it have to do with this?”

I open my eyes as the pain fades. “Of course, you have it.” I take my map from his hand. I want to ask him where he found it,or maybe accuse him of snooping through my stuff, but it doesn’t matter anymore.

“What’s in Cresthill?” Hutch bends his legs, resting his fists on his knees.

“Cardis Contos.” I fling the map into the thorned bushes. It catches, dangling on a thin, wiry branch.

“Was he…” Hutch takes a deep, tense breath, and I notice his hands shake. “Was he your lover?”

“What?” I snap, shocked. I lean forward, looking at Hutch with wide eyes. “Why the hell would you—Where did you—Why?” I can’t get a single question out. “He’s not my lover!” I finally yell. “He…” I try to speak, but I’ve never actually said the words out loud. And I’m not sure if I can. “He hurt…”

Hutch’s whole demeanor changes. The wounded look in his eyes is replaced with a violent rage and his fangs punch out, flashing when he speaks. “What did he do to you?” His voice is dangerously low, making my whole body tremble, but there’s also something comforting in his rage. Because it’s not directedatme. It’sforme.

I suck in a deep breath, then I force the bitter words from my mouth. “He threw me over a cliff, while Andros kidnapped my brother,” I confess, trying to fight off the urge to cry. “I was supposed to protect him, but Andros took him away. I have to find them, and find out what they did with my brother.”

Hutch’s whole body goes tight as a vicious growl erupts from his chest. The sound is so shocking it makes me flinch and shrink away from the alpha. As if pulling himself together, Hutch suddenly lifts his head and inhales deeply, then he turns his attention onto me. “I’ll handle this.” He looks me up and down. “I’ll get the information you need. You’ll never?—”

“Don’t tell me what I can’t do,” I snarl, riding out another vicious cramp. “You don’t know what I’m capable of.”

Hutch’s anger shifts, giving me a look that tells me he thinks I’m cute. Maybe even pathetic. “You’re tiny, Mari. A little thing like you will never be able to torture the information you need out of Cardis or his brother.”

I want to laugh at his assumption that strength is the only way to get what I want. “Alphas are incredibly stupid after sex,” I say bluntly, making Hutch freeze momentarily. “They let their guard down. They speak too much or fall asleep, exposing the weakest parts of themselves.” Rage bubbles in my gut as I remember all the horrible things I’ve done over the years to survive. “Alphas assume omegas are too fucking pathetic to defend ourselves, until it’s too late and there’s a blade shoved six inches deep in their neck.”

I don’t know if Hutch is too stunned to speak, but it takes a minute before he slowly parts his lips. I expect him to call me reckless or stupid, but instead, he pulls in a deep breath and bows his head. “I want to kill every alpha that has ever touched you,” he growls softly. “But I refuse to allow you to put yourself in harm's way ever again.” He looks up at me, his blue eyes filled with so much restrained anger. “Please. Go back to the house.” His fangs flash as he speaks. “I’ll handle Cardis.” He glares past me at the mountains in the distance.

“I’m not going back to the fucking house,” I snap, making Hutch startle at my tone.

“This is not up for discussion,” he says in his booming alpha voice. “You will go back home.”

I know what I’m about to say will probably upset him, but it has to be said. “I’m not going back to Dassy!” I yell, making my throat burn from the force of it. “He was Cardis’s fucking packmate.” I grit my teeth and Hutch clenches his jaw. “Cardis and Andros threatened to rape me and my brother. And Dassy was one of them!” My voice cracks and tears fall, but I refuse to look away. “How many omegas has Dassy raped?”

“None!” It’s the first time Hutch has ever yelled at me, and it’s more upsetting than I could have ever expected. I begin to sob but the alpha’s anger immediately evaporates. He pulls me into his lap—his hands soft but firm—cradling me like a baby. “It’s okay,” he purrs. “I understand your fear and confusion, but Dassy isn’t like that. He could never hurt someone like that.”

“Then why?” I hiccup as tension coils once again in my belly. The cramp isn’t as sharp this time, but I still clench my abs. “Why was he with Tenus?”

Hutch brushes the hair out of my face before gently angling my head to the side. He looks at my mating bite, and deep worry etches between his brows. “Dassy was a kid when he joined Don. He thought he was in love,” he says simply, and I frown. “I know it’s a shit explanation but it’s true.” The tip of his finger grazes the base of my neck and I wince. He’s nowhere near my mark, but everything hurts. “This needs to be cleaned. Izan did a shit job.”

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