Page 12 of Untamed Omega

I studied him from head to toe, as hungry for this side of him as my bear had been to meet his beast again. I hadn’t realized that he harbored anger, however, the swipe at his face releasing a little of the rage.

My bear adored our mate and his beast, or he had before we were taken. The more time I spent with Markus, the clearer the past came, as if he was helping the fog to dissipate. When I arrived the night before, I didn’t even recognize him, and now I couldn’t imagine a face more familiar and beloved.

“He blames me,” Markus said, touching the faint pink mark remaining from the attack. “He believes we should have protected you. As your alpha, it was my duty. He’s right.”

“No he’s not. You always told me that I wasn’t careful enough. My car was in the shop for a minor repair, my brother’s broke down, and my phone was dead because I didn’t make sure to charge it before leaving the house.”

“Sam, I should have picked you up instead of meeting you.”

“You can’t have forgotten why you didn’t? Because my parents did not allow you on our lands?”

“They thought I was too old for you. And didn’t come from the right side of the tracks.” His dads were rogue, had left their own sleuth over issues they’d never revealed, but my fathers didnot consider the issue of rogue parents suitable for one of their own. “But I could have done something.”

“Do you mind if we sit down?” I had used most of the energy I’d gained from the food and the shift. “I need to rest before we go back.”

“Omega.” He guided me over to a fallen log. “I’m still not taking good care of you.”

“No more of that. You haven’t done anything wrong then or now. If I hadn’t delayed our mating, hoping to convince my fathers that it was fated and going to happen no matter what, we would have been living in our own home instead of sneaking around to meet.”

“But I’m the alpha,” he insisted, “and should have been able to make that happen.”

I sat on the log and reached for his hand, drawing him down next to me. “As my alpha, you allowed me to think for myself. You cautioned me about making sure my phone was charged, that I drove a well-maintained car. Mine actually was, thanks to you and your insistence, but things break. My brother’s, well, I should have called you to change our plans when my car was repaired the next day. Or met you at the edge of the lands. I didn’t believe anything bad could ever happen. I really was young.”

He lifted my hand to his lips and brushed them across the back. “You’re really trying to make me feel better.”

“Only because it’s the truth.”

“I’ll give you a little bit of blame, but 90 percent is mine.” That face I hadn’t been able to bring into focus under the influence of whatever drugs they had me on was every bit as handsome. But up close like this, lines of suffering roused my guilt again. Everything about me had been suppressed, memories of the day I was taken about all I could manage to retain. But he’d had no such muffler to protect him.

“I am taking 100 percent of the blame for your pain. Not that I think I’m worth what I can see it’s done to you, but oh, alpha, I’m so sorry.”

He blinked then smiled. “I have a better idea. Let’s give blame where blame is due and lay it in the laps of those who occupy that complex and the asshole who stole you for them. He’s my personal project. I am putting feelers out, and if I ever get a lead on him, my bear will shred him slowly to bits. It’s his idea—smart bear.”

“Only if my bear gets to help.”

“You are the most competitive omega,” he scoffed. “What will I ever do with you?”

I tipped my face up and slid an arm around his neck. “Kiss me?”

Chapter Thirteen

Markus

My chest felt lighter than it had in years. He didn’t think any of it was my fault. He didn’t hate me.

Which meant I no longer had to hate myself.

My lips tingled as his warm ones pressed against mine. Every part of my body relaxed into the motion. He was the water I’d been so thirsty for all this time. The cool wind on a blistering summer day.

Sam pulled back and smiled. My mate smiled at me.

“Life is strange,” he said, shaking his head.

I let out a chuckle. I couldn’t help my eyes from glancing down. He wanted me. After everything we’d been through. He was studying me as well. “It is. I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”

“Stop, Markus.” He put his fingers over my lips. I covered them with my fingers and kissed each one.

“I can’t. I’ve blamed myself for so long.”

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