Page 113 of Follow Your Instincts

The anger was keeping me steady, and I tried to hold on to that as we waited for them to return.

Time stretched and contracted oddly. I tried to count my breaths to keep myself grounded, and pinched my legs to stay focused, but I still dozed off a few times. Each time I jerked awake, my head seemed to pound harder. Greta sat unmoving next to me, staring silently at the wall, her legs curled into her chest.

When we heard movement on the stairs, Greta scrambled back to the office chair. Adrenaline brought me back to fullalertness. I held tightly to the bond with Soren as steps clomped up towards us.

Todd and Paul entered, but I heard another pair of footsteps.This must be ‘Freddie’, I thought grimly. A scent of leather had been added to the sweet orange and licorice. I almost coughed on the overpowering mixture.

The third Alpha walked in, and I swallowed my gasp of surprise. It was Sergeant Broad.

Our eyes met. He looked surprised for a moment, too. Then his expression quickly changed to anger and resignation.

“What have you done?” he asked, shoving Todd in the chest. “I entertained this nonsense for too long. She is not worth this trouble!”

Todd growled and shoved back. “You don’t fucking tell me what to do.”

“Freddie, relax,” Paul said. “We have it under control.”

“I doubt that. She’s already successfully beaten the shit out of you once,” Broad said dryly to Todd. “So, what is your plan here? I would say I assume you have one, but you’re clearly both idiots.”

Todd pulled out the hormone vial again. “We have some fun. Maybe even bond her, have the happy little Omega at home, always ready to satisfy our every need.” His smile was sharp with malice.

My blood ran cold.Need more time.

“I told you that won’t work,” I said as calmly as I could. “I just finished my heat. You can’t force one again so quickly.”

Broad studied my face. “It’s a good effort, Maggie, but for once, Todd is right. This hormone will induce you to have another heat, no matter how soon your last one was. It’s not the safest process, but I assure you it will work.”

Paul smirked at me, then at Broad. “And you said we didn’t have a plan. I always thought he was exaggerating, but you have to admit she’s enticing. Now we all get to have a taste.”

Broad sighed. “You can have your fun, but we can’t keep her. Those Alphas that showed up at the hearing won’t just let hergo.”

Todd scoffed. “I fucking deserve her. I should have bonded her that night when I had the chance. And you know once she’s ours we can make her behave,” he said, flashing me another menacing look. I thought of Bridget’s mom, shackled to men that abused her, and unable or unwilling to leave. Thatcould notbe my future.

Broad sighed. “Your inability to leave this Omega alone is evidence enough that the pack willnotjust accept her leaving.”

“They haven’t bonded her yet,” Paul said, shrugging. “Maybe it was just an easy fuck for them.”

“And once the bitch has our bites, she won’t say anything against us,” Todd said.

I tried not to imagine what it would be like to have the connection I had with Soren to these horrible men. My stomach churned with panic.

Broad was quiet for a moment, rubbing his temples.

“Have your fun with her, but we’re going to have to get rid of her after. And I guess we’ll need to take care of you, too,” he said, looking at Greta as if he finally remembered she was in the room.

My stomach dropped.

“No, you don’t have to do that,” I said.

“Yes, I’m afraid we do,” Broad replied calmly.

“You don’t get to make all the decisions,” Todd protested.

“Shut up,” Broad barked and struck him in the face. Todd fell silent. “It doesn’t matter if she’s bonded to us. No one will ever accept that an Omega whom you assaulted would willingly bond with you. Least of all that pack. So, that leaves one very messy solution. Now, if you want to fuck her, then fuck her. But she’s not leaving here.”

I tried to swallow, but my mouth had gone completely dry. I looked at Greta. She was crying silently, her eyes wide with fear.I promised they wouldn’t hurt her anymore.

“I’ll bond with you now, just please don’t hurt her,” I said.

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