Page 17 of Petals and Strings
“Ah, there she is,” he purred. “Give us what we want, sweetheart. It’ll be better for both of us.”
“Don’t press that button,” a voice commanded, the sudden interruption and burst of bourbon, vanilla, smoky leather, andpine resin cutting off the flashbacks enough for them to fade, the world coming back into focus.
A firm hand on my shoulder, squeezing lightly, as the alpha leaned down. His breath was warm as it fanned over my ear.
“You have to find something to cling to. Come out of your head before he presses that fucking button, wildling. Otherwise, it’s ‘lights out’ for days.”
My fingers curled into fists, clinging to the soft fabric of my sweatpants, his voice rolling over me in a soft rumble.
I was trying, but I could still see my cold, empty cell. Feel the shame drowning me and scarring my omega all over again.
“Breathe in. What do you smell?”
He’d leaned in close again, his scent pushing away the stale cigars and coffee, the rancid odor of unwashed bodies.
“You,” I said, voice stronger than I felt. I took another breath, holding tightly to his presence.
He was an alpha. I shouldn’t like him this close. My omega disagreed. She was perking up again, peeking out to greet him.
A stranger. An unknown. Clearly, she had no survival instincts.
“Now open those eyes and let Theo know that you’re stable,” he ordered. It wasn't a bark, but I had to listen.
My eyes flickered up to the beta standing at his desk. I still didn’t trust him, but he didn’t press the button.
That was a fucking start.
“I think that’s enough for today,” he said, turning around and sliding off his glasses as he rubbed at the bridge of his nose like I had caused this scene.
My hand darted out faster than my brain could realize, snatching the picture of that broken girl.
It wasn’t safe to face those demons here, but I’d have to face them.
He forced me to see my past, then when it hit me hard he was ready to simply sedate me instead of bringing me back.
I’d only hit the surface. Didn’t realize the full extent.
Now, I had to know.
Ledger saw what I did. The alpha that smelled like danger and safety all at once. With his buzzed, silver hair and electric blue eyes that pierced right through the layers around me and stared into my soul.
He saw the girl underneath. The fighter.
I hated that I trusted him.
Alphas were bad.
Not this one, my omega immediately argued with a flash of conviction. She liked him, and that had never happened before.
What the hell was I supposed to do with that?
More than that, where the hell hadshebeen? It had been years since I felt her presence, let alone her feelings.
Why now?
“Come on, wildling. Let’s go for a walk,” Ledger offered. He didn’t give me his hand or help me up. He stood to the side waiting with the patience of a saint as I stared at him for a solid two minutes before letting myself stand and follow.
“Are we allowed to walk wherever?"
