Page 21 of One Way Out

I end up kneeling over him while my hands come to rest on his shoulders. There’s so much I want to say, and I’m so overwhelmed that I have no idea where to start.

Leo tosses a blanket around my shoulders, tucking it around my feet. “I know your toes are always cold. Do you want me to grab you a pair of socks too?”

My head shakes, making the wet ends of my hair fall over Valor’s white T-shirt. “Sit with us, please.” I twist and grab his hand before he can get away.

Leo nods, taking the seat right in the middle. He flips over my wrist and studies my bondmark. His thumb grazes next to Valor’s teeth print, but he doesn’t touch the actual wounds. “What’s it like?”

“The bond?”

He nods. “Yeah.”

“It’s incredible.” My teeth dig into my lower lip as I glance between them. “I didn’t bond Valor to hurt you. I swear to God, I didn’t.”

“I believe you,” Leo says, offering a sad smile.

It makes my chest tight.

Shaw runs his hand up and down my back under the blanket, and my gaze moves to him.

He doesn’t say anything.

“How about you? Do you believe me?”

“I do.” His jaw clenches, and he looks away.

“Are you sure?” I bring a hand to brush over his beard. “Because it’s basically impossible to miss how pissed off you are.”

Shaw exhales heavily, moving his free hand into my wet hair. “I’m not upset with you, Saylor…” His head shakes. “It’s everything else. It’s this fucking place.”

“If either of you were in Valor’s position, I would have done the same thing for you.” I glance between them. “I would have let McCabe lock me up withbothof you, even if you were fully rabid.”

Shaw growls. “He set you up so fucking hard. I just need to get my hands on that motherfucker.”

“That makes two of us,” Leo says.

“He clearly has his own agenda, but I wanted a bond with Valor and Omen.” My eyes fall shut, and I try to breathe through the panic. They very well could decide they’ve reached their breaking points. It might be the omega who builds the pack, but the alphas have to be accepting of the other members. Otherwise, they can cut their losses and move on. “And I care about the two of you…a lot. The amount of guilt I feel knowing you got yourself institutionalized?—”

“Nah, don’t do that.” Shaw pulls my face close to his. “If we hadn’t walked away, you never would have ended up in here in the first place.”

Leo leans closer and runs his fingers over mine as he kisses my cheek. “We shouldn’t have left your side. We thought we were protecting you, but the world proved us wrong.”

“Are you saying you’ll try to get along with Valor and Omen?” I ask, trying not to get my hopes up.

Shaw growls. “I’ve already told you, even if you never forgive me, I’m wherever you are.”

Leo squeezes my hand. “We’re all getting out of this shithole as a team. Then we’ll have the chance to court you the right way.”

My gaze darts toward the bathroom and back to the guys. “You said you’d kill anyone I asked you to, and I really only have one request. Valor and Omen’s old boss—I want him dead. If I could ask for anything, that would be my dream courting gift.”

Shaw chuckles. “I like the murder request, princess.”

“Good. Because if anyone deserves it, it’s him…”

ChapterEight

Shaw

My chest vibrates with a ragged purr as Saylor snuggles closer. She’s obviously beat. She spent half the night being violently ill and the other half getting fucked by a violent, rabid alpha. She still smells heavily of Valor, despite her quick rinse off. I can’t tell if it’s because her scent changed drastically due to their bonding or if it’s still remnants from all the sex.

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