Page 24 of Cursed Love

Grinning down at him, I tighten my grip just enough to make him sweat, my voice dropping a few octaves, words dripping with menace. “Try launching yourself at her again. I dare you.”

Damien’s hands come up to claw at mine, his breaths shallow and slightly panicked, but I don’t let go. I let him feel it, let him understand exactly how close he is to losing everything.

“Hunter,” Amel’s voice is steady, cutting through the silence. “Enough.”

I release him with a shove, watching as he stumbles forward, clutching at his throat and coughing. He looks up at me, his eyes wide with fear and fury, but he doesn’t say a word. I turn toKoa, about to gauge her expression when I see she’s got this little quirk of a smile tugging at her lips. It’s a tiny thing, barely there, but it’s enough to catch me off guard. After everything that just happened, after the tension and the shouting and the threat of violence hanging in the air, she’s smiling.

“There’s some stuff I need to grab,” she whispers before gesturing to the back hall.

I nod, falling into step beside her as she leads the way to her room. Moses is right behind us, his presence a silent but heavy reminder to anyone in this house who might be stupid enough to try something. Not that I think anyone will. Damien looked like a kicked dog when I left him slumped against the wall.

Koa’s room is small and neat, but it doesn’t feel like her. It’s too clean, too sterile, like she’s been keeping herself locked away instead of living in it. She moves quickly, grabbing a bag and shoving her things into it—clothes, toiletries, a few little trinkets that must mean something to her. She’s quiet as she works, her movements rushed, like she’s afraid someone might try to stop her.

Then she moves to the closet, pulling it open and reaching in for something tucked into the back corner. My jaw clenches as she pulls out a pile of pillows, soft and fluffy, the kind of thing an Omega would use to build a nest. But what pisses me off is that they’re hidden, shoved back like a dirty little secret. Like being an Omega is something to be ashamed of.

I hate it. Hate that she’s had to live like this, like a part of her has been forced into the shadows. But I don’t say anything. We just move to help her, grabbing her bags and pillows without a word.

She’s still got that little smile on her face, but I can see the tension in her shoulders, the way her hands shake slightly as she zips up the bag. “Okay,” she murmurs, more to herself than to us. “I think that’s everything.”

We head back out, Koa leading the way with her head held high even though I can tell she’s nervous. She’s bracing herself, and I don’t blame her. Not with Damien still lurking in the house. Sure enough, the second we hit the living room, Damien’s voice cuts through the air. “Koa—”

Koa doesn’t pay him any mind, grabbing Amel’s hand and then scurrying out to the car.

Hunter

We’re barely ten minutes into the drive when Koa finally speaks, her soft voice cutting through the quiet hum of the car. “No one’s ever put Damien in his place before,” she says, almost like she’s talking to herself. “It feels nice. Really nice. But he won’t make it that easy.”

I glance down at her, tucked against my chest in the back seat, her body fitting perfectly in my arms like she was made to be there. My fingers trail lightly over her back, tracing absent patterns, but my focus is on her words. The way they’re lacedwith a mix of relief and tension like she’s waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“Is that all he sees you as?” I ask, my voice rougher than I intended. “Just a pawn to bring more money into the family?”

She doesn’t look up, just nods against me, her cheek pressed to my chest. “That’s all any of them see me as,” she murmurs. “That’s why Damien married Carla. Her family has money. He’s always been about the family name, the status, the connections.”

The anger that’s been simmering beneath my skin all day flares up again but I force it back down. The last thing she needs is my rage. “That’s bullshit,” I mutter, my hand tightening slightly on her back. “You’re worth so much more than that, Koa.”

She doesn’t say anything, just lets out a shaky sigh. I tip my head back, trying to find the right words, but it’s Amel in the driver’s seat who decides to stir the pot. Of course.

“A mating bite would fix a lot of things,” he says casually, his voice light, almost teasing.

Koa stiffens in my arms, and I immediately regret not snapping at Amel to keep his mouth shut. “I don’t want a bite out of pity.”

I can’t help the chuckle that rumbles in my chest. “Baby girl,” I murmur, leaning down so my lips brush her thick curls, “I don’t pity you. If anything, I’d be honored to be your mate. A bite isn’t pity—it’s a sign of trust.”

She doesn’t immediately respond, and for a moment, I think I might’ve pushed too far. But then she shifts, her hands clutching at my shirt as she presses her face further into my chest. Her nose nuzzles against me, her breath warm against my skin through the fabric, and I realize what she’s doing. She’s rubbing her scent on me, just like she did with Moses earlier. My beast practically purrs at the thought, a deep satisfaction settling in my chest.

Amel glances at us in the rearview mirror, his eyes catching mine with a glint of amusement. “You know,” he says, voice full of mischief, “Koa wants to work.”

I blink, my focus snapping back to her. “Work?” I ask, staring down at the woman in my arms. Her scent is sweet, clinging to me now, and I can’t help but wonder how the hell we got so lucky. A submissive Omega would’ve never worked with the three of us. But this fierce little ball of Omega? She’s everything we could’ve wanted and more.

Koa lifts her head slightly, her cheeks flushed as she glares at Amel. “Don’t make it sound weird,” she grumbles, and Gods, if she isn’t adorable when she’s mad.

I laugh, my hand sliding up to cup the back of her neck, my thumb brushing against her skin. “We’ll talk about the work thing later,” I tell her. “Right now, let’s focus on getting you home.”

Her glare softens, her eyes searching mine for something I don’t think she realizes I’m already giving her—trust, safety, a promise. She settles back against me, her body relaxing into my hold, and for the first time since last night, I think she believes it.

The morning passed mostly in silence, Koa locked away in my room and the rest of us working through security nightmares. But now, Moses is mid-sentence, something about the new security systems or Rodrick’s probation period—I’m half-listening at best—when the soft patter of bare feet catches both our attention. We look up from the couch and there she is. Koa’s a mess, her curls wild and her eyes heavy with sleep, clutching one of her pillows like it’s the only thing tethering her to reality. For a second, she just stands there, looking at us with this hazy, almost lost expression, and then, without a word, she movesMoses’ arm out of the way like it’s nothing and plops herself right into his lap.

Moses freezes, his mouth hanging open in mid-sentence, while I can’t do anything but stare. The sheer audacity of her, the way she acts like this is the most natural thing in the world—it’s almost comical. And then she’s out. Just like that. Her soft snores fill the air, her head tucked under Moses’ chin, her body curling into his like she’s always belonged there.

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