Page 140 of Slick Handling

Weird.

This is all so weird.

And I’m going to die from how hard he’s squeezing my neck.

What a heck of a way to go.

“Jennifer was supposed to be the only female we had in our pack. We were considering a female Omega if we wanted children. Maybe visit a heat clinic and use an Omega-for-hire. Bryce got one whiff of your sugary syrupy scent and said only you would do.”

His thumb presses into my neck and I can feel the whimper that wants to come out. It’s trapped.

Orion lets me take a breath and I inhale deeply. Greedy for air. Needing it-

And he’s choking me again, taking away the short reprieve I had been basking in a moment before.

“I don’t want an Omega. And all of a sudden we had plans to bond you on the down low because they didn’t want their precious freak show Omega who thought she was a Beta courting too soon. Didn’t stop them from sending you to the Council woman’s son. His pack got to fuck you without any complaint about you not being ready.” A gag is stuck in my throat.

Does not getting enough air make you throw up? I feel like I am ready to puke again.

“Then we had to pretend to care about Marcus. Marcus who got close to you and was so desperate to have a good pack take care of him. Marcus who wanted a good life. Marcus who was your friend and had access to you. A pack with two Omega’s, as if one wasn’t bad enough. Bryce was going to do it though. He wanted to take your virginity so badly that he was going to let it override all the logic in his brain.”

Orion’s breath is hot and wet against my skin. It’s uncomfortable how he is talking to me and acting right now. I want to crawl away from him, but I don’t dare move.

His hand loosens and I steal in a few deep breaths while I can. My hand instinctively came up to rub at the sensitive skin that aches from the way he was choking me.

“It would be so easy to just let you have an accident. Take away all the trouble you’re causing us. Except now I can scent you in your heat and my Alpha brain is overriding any logical thoughts I have. Fucking Omega’s.”

Wrapping a hand in my hair he yanks my head back, making a gasp slide from my lips. I hadn’t seen that one coming.

“I’m going to ruin you. I’m going to ruin you so badly that your stupid pack won’t care about you. Marcus won’t care about you. Bryce won’t care about you. You’ll just be a stupid Omega hole for us to use.” He throws his head back, laughing like what he just said is funny, “Maybe you can be the perfect Omega after all.”

His grip on my hair pushes my head forward, slamming it into the door and making everything go black.

CHAPTER 46

MCKINLEY

Apollo holds me as he sleeps. Sleep is a terrible word for what he is doing.

He’s fighting demons in his rest and losing terribly in each battle he enters. The groans and whimpers coming from my strong Alpha break my heart. He trembles and cries out. Not getting any real rest like he needs to do. It’s almost worse for him to be asleep if this is what he is doing.

Clover’s name falls from his lips as he tries to get to her and fails.

Over and over again he fails.

My heart thunders, anxiety spiking as he tries to get her again. The constant failing in his nightmares is making me worried about what would happen in real life.

“Wake up.” I gently push him, my hands shaking as Apollo’s eyes snap open.

He’s staring at me in a way that is pure horror.

“Clover?” Her name is a question and I just shake my head.

She’s still gone.

Apollo’s bedroom door smashes open, making us both look up to see Griffin and Vaughn stumbling inside. We had left the nest last night because none of us could seem to get any rest without her in there. One had been the only one remaining. Keeping vigil for our Omega.

Griffin is yanking a hoodie over his head as Vaughn looks pale and terrified as he comes towards us. His hand shakes as he holds out his phone, as if it’s going to explain what he’s doing in here.

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