Page 27 of Hunted
She frowned, and I hated the look of hurt that crossed her perfect, regal features.“Robin, just—”
“No,” I cut her off, hating the cold fury in my voice.Knowing she would think it was directed at her, rather than its true target—my own dumb ass and my lack of control.“I can’t talk to you right now, Ruya.I can’t even look bear tolookat you.Get.Out!”
I infused the last word with a wave of alpha command to drive the point home, a bit of growl underscoring my words.She could hate me all she wanted for this.But she needed to leavenow,before I did something we’d both regret.
It physically hurt to send her away.And I knew she must be feeling some of that same pull.But she clumsily yanked on my sweater—far too small on her, comically stretched over her breasts and revealing her belly button.But at least I could stop staring at the temptation of her nakedness.
“Robin,” this time it was a whisper.A plea.I could feel the hurt and the yearning in her aura.A wounded omega.Something no alpha could stand.“Robin,please.”She didn’t say please what...she didn’t need to.My omega was standing before me, begging me to accept her.To make this thing between us permanent.To stop fighting my nature and my paranoia, and just fuckingtakeher.
“Get the fuck out of my sight!”I growled, smoke and sparks escaping me.
Turning, I picked up a nearby chair and threw it into the wall so hard the chair shattered, leaving a massive dent behind, and wooden splinters embedded in the drywall.
Ruya didn’t say my name again.I didn’t watch as she finally left the room.I couldn’t.I stood there with my eyes closed, breathing roughly through my nose, fighting an involuntary shift.But I felt every step she took, every bit of distance growing between me and the omega who was created to be my equal.
I could call her back.I knew I could.Use my alpha nature to lure her back in here willingly.To take what was mine.Do it.Now.Call her back to us!Don’t let her get away.Weneedher!
My claws dug into my palms, and the soft patter of my blood dripping onto the floor was loud in my ears.
No.I was not a fucking animal.I was a princess.And alpha.Aleader.
I would not subjugate that stunning woman’s will.And I wouldnottie her to an unstable, incompletejackasswho was about to fucking implode due to a missing birthright and an obsessive quest for vengeance.
I probably wouldn’t even survive killing the emperor.And what then?Bonded omegas who lost their alphas...it wasn’t a pretty thing.And I would do anything to save Ruya from that hell.
Her aura faded more rapidly now.Maybe she had come to her senses, snapped out of the haze of my influence and started running.
The mating urge slowly died down inside me, and it was replaced by a deep, rending sadness.
I was failing.Failing her.Failing my court.Failing myself.My magic and my willpower were failing...frayed from the lack of my missing magic, the missing part of mysoulthat I needed as I came to full maturity.I was falling apart.And I wasn’t sure I’d be able to put myself back together before it was too late.I needed my birthright back.But at this rate, I wasn’t sure I was going to make it that long.
Sinking down to the floor, I put my head in my hands and did something Ineverdid.Something I hadn’t done since my parents were murdered by the syndicate right before my eyes.I cried.
Deep, soul-shaking sobs rocked my entire being, crashing over me in angry, bitter waves.I couldn’t do this.I wasn’t strong enough.Whole enough.It was all so futile.All these lofty ideas about avenging my family and changing the world.But in the end, I just wasn’tenough.
A high-pitched squeak pulled me briefly out of my downward spiral into despair.I lifted my head to find a large rat staring at me, its whiskers quavering as its little pink nose twitched, scenting the air and probably getting a nice big lungful of the pathetic alpha dragon’s despair.
I held out a hand, wiggled my fingers.
The stupid rodent scurried over and hopped into my palm, ridiculously trusting and...not at allcute.It ran up my bare arm with its tiny little feet and hopped onto my shoulder, where it had the audacity to snuggle into the base of my loose braid.
Disgusting.
And yet...there was something comforting about the rodent.A hint of Ruya’s clung to the little creature, and it helped me take a breath without feeling like I might explode.The desperation inside me eased and the tears slowed.I had lost control—embarrassinglyso—yes, but it was a momentary lapse.That was all.
This didn’t change anything.I knew who I was.I had a mission and a purpose.I had been very clear with Ruya from the moment she came to my court that I had no interest in the complications of forming a true mate bond with anyone, and that I didn’t want all the complications that came with claiming an omega.I didn’t want to have power over someone’s will that way.And I certainly didn’t want anyone to have that sort of ridiculous power or influence overme—these things went both ways.I couldn’t afford the distraction from my goals.Not now.Not when I was so close.
“Remember who you are,” I told myself firmly.“Remember where you came from.Remember the dragons.”
A tiny paw patted my neck in sympathy.
I sighed.Sitting on the floor bawling like a fledgling and hostingratsin my hair.It was a far cry from the dragon shifter nobility I was born to be.I needed to pull myself together.
Standing, I ignored the trembling in my hands as I licked the blood from my already healed palms, straightened my hair—rat not withstanding—and strode out of the room in search of a new shirt.
