Page 5 of Rage

Chapter 3

Emma

The three alphas stared at me in silence. Part of me waited for one of them to bark orders, or press a button, for me to be locked down and never see another soul again.

Finally, the one named Owen spoke. “Kitten, what have they done to you here?”

My head jerked backward. That wasnotthe response I’d been expecting. “You know what they’ve done to us, what they do to us.”

The giant growled, low and frightening. “We don’t, but you’ll tell us, little omega.”

“Liam,” Owen warned. “We discussed this.”

“Fuck being gentle,” Liam said, and somehow, his name fit him perfectly. “If they’ve been hurting her, I want to know exactly who and exactly how, so I can deliver the same punishment right back.”

I stared up at him, floored by his comment. Belle was right then, wasn’t she? These men weren’t here to rape us, to torture or play with us, to break us. But then whywerethey here? And why did they care?

“Later,” Alec murmured. To me, he said, “What did you mean by ‘I’ll give youme?”

I cleared my throat, lowering my voice. “I’m not stupid. I know you want me. I… I feel this draw to you, too. I’ve been forced by alphas for what feels like my entire life, but I’ve never given myself willingly. And I can tell you, you won’t find any willingness in here. So, unless you want to rape us like the rest?—”

Liam growled again.

“Liam!” This time, both Alec and Owen barked his name.

I gathered myself. “—Unless that’s what you want, your only shot at me is this. I’ll give myself over to you.”

“For how long, sweetheart?” Alec asked.

“For as long as it takes for you to help me get out of here,” I told him truthfully. “I won’t be claimed. Not ever again.”

“You were claimed before?”

“An alpha tried. He’s no longer of this earth.”

Alec chuckled. “Good girl.”

I blinked, stymied. I hadnotexpected that response.

Liam spoke, his voice low and almost threatening in its intensity. “If we agree to this, you’ll give yourself to us entirely. Whatever we want from you, you’ll give.”

I nodded, relieved. “Yes, I will. Anything that is, but a claiming bite.”

“Well, of course, kitten,” Owen said smoothly. “We don’t want to end up like the last alpha who tried.”

Don’t worry, I see your claws, and I respect them, the look in his eyes said.

I relaxed.

Slightly.

Owen continued. “We’ll come to you tonight. There’s supposed to be a big storm. It will be easy to create a distraction. You’ll give yourself to us and when we’re done, we’ll get you out of here. Deal, kitten?”

Joy and relief and a little bit of wariness sparked in me. “Yes. Deal.”

I should’ve read the fine print.

I paced the small cell as I waited for them. Outside, the thunder sounded, so fierce it shook the door to my cell. Nothing felt right. I was hot, too hot. My skin felt too tight, my heart was racing, and everything, everything, was wrong. With my cell, with my life.

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