Page 40 of Sins of His Wrath

Dismay curdled in Naya’s stomach at the sight of her forest. Massive trunks had been felled, their remains strewn across the ground like the bodies of the fallen Alphas. Branches hacked away, their raw stumps bleeding sap onto the dark soil. The thick canopy that once allowed very little light down to the soil was now gaping, to create space for Akoro’s army. It was disheartening to see the place that had given her refuge for so long was now raw, exposed, and broken.

They made their way through the destruction,

Akoro stayed close by her side, his warmth brushing against her, as if she might slip away into the trees and disappear. Naya ignored him, keeping her focus ahead.

She’d have to learn to endure his attention if she had any hope of finding the Solution—or at the very least, giving her parents time to prepare for war. There was no doubt he would make this unbearable, but that was the agreement she had made. And she would see it through.

They reached the deepest part of the forest, where the path of destruction abruptly ended. The magic she’d sensed before was stronger here, thrumming across the area, vibrating into her skin. While she couldn’t see it, she could sense its presence—a structure the size of a massive portal, its form woven with complex, pulsing patterns.

One soldier pulled out a stone, no larger than a fist, its surface fractured with cracks of glowing blue light. It looked exactly like the same stone Akoro had when he’d kidnapped her. The soldier turned it over in his hands and the forest shuddered.

In front of them, the air rippled and the portal fluctuated, creating circular waves in the space ahead.

Akoro called out something to his troops, and the nearest soldiers holding the Omegas released them before walking toward the vibration. One by one, they stepped into the portal and vanished.

The moment they were free, the Omegas ran back the way they came, through the broken path of the forest and back to their village. Naya watched them, relief easing her chest. This had been the right thing to do.

When everyone but the small group around Akoro and Naya had entered, a thunderous roar erupted into the air from the village.

Akoro pulled her to face him, his expression hard. “What is that?”

“The Lox,” Naya said, her heart dropping in her chest. “They are mourning.”

His chin nudged toward the roar of voices. “Will they try to follow us and take you back?”

Naya blinked rapidly. “No,” she said, swallowing. “No, they won’t. Papa… understands.”

Akoro’s eyes narrowed slightly, then he turned. Suddenly, the magical structure moved, the very air folding inward, the portal pulling toward them.

Naya froze. “What is that? Why is?—”

The solid ground crumbled beneath her feet, shifting into fine, weightless powder that swallowed her steps. A strange light unfolded around her, soft yet endless, casting an eerie glow through the thickening air. The heat pressed against her skin, humid and suffocating, as the world around her blurred, stretched, and twisted.

And then it was over.

CHAPTER NINE

An expanse of golden sand stretched before her, vast and untouched, the horizon curving into eternity just like when she’d first arrived in his land. But this time, the sky had begun to darken, a slow, creeping dusk swallowing the last remnants of light.

Naya sucked in a breath. “How did you do that?” That portal hadn’t been in the forest last time—or maybe she just hadn’t felt it.

Before she could say anything else, Akoro shoved her down onto the sand, flipping her onto her stomach.

“What are you doing?” She pushed against the ground, trying to rise, but his weight was already crushing her down.

Armor and muscle pressed into her back, a solid, immovable force pinning her against the shifting sand. She could barely breathe, let alone move. His nose buried into the back of her neck, inhaling deeply, while his hands skated over her hips, up her torso, down her legs.

A full-body claim.

Naya stiffened, her breath catching as his scent flooded her senses—rich, musky, and dark. It wrapped around her, seeped into her, burrowed into places she didn’t want to acknowledge. For a moment, just a moment, she didn't resist.

This was what her body had been craving—her Alpha.

The air thickened with his scent, undeniable and deep—rage, lust, jealousy, urgency.

His voice was rough, raw. “If I had time, I’d fuck you right now.” He grunted, his lips grazing the shell of her ear. “Spread my seed all over your body until you fucking stink of me.”

Something inside her twisted in excitement. For an instant, it didn’t seem so unappealing.

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