Page 66 of Beta Lies and Cursed Lives
She’s the one pacing now, but not with the same nervous or frustrated energy I’d had in the hall; she prowls like an animal looking for a fight, or at the very least, prey.
I narrow my eyes as I watch her. Miranda’s breathing grows ragged, her shoulders rising and falling at an increasing rate. A noise comes from her as she spins on me, silver eyes fierce, teeth bared. I blink, and that’s all it takes before she’s lunging at me and I’m sidestepping her advances.
“You shouldn’t be here!” she shouts, more angry than I’ve ever seen her. “You don’t care about me or our pack!”
Another swipe from her small hands has me dodging.
She couldn’t be more wrong. And now I know how wrong I had been, too. In my attempt to protect us all, I’ve made a terrible mistake.
She lets out a frustrated yell, and her hands are instantly encased in ice, formed into claws like an animal. The shock of it makes me misstep, and her swipe catches my cheek just below my eye. My hiss turns to an uncontained growl, the entire room shaking with my rage. Rage at her, at myself, at this absurd situation we’re all in due to lies and hunger for power.
I reach out and grab her hair in my fist at the back of her head, my knuckles pressing against her scalp. I already knew she could touch me without killing me, but now for the ultimate test.
“Miranda!”I bark her name with a growling force that makes her go utterly still in my grasp. My voice is raw, rough, but it’s there, and the bunker hasn’t collapsed around us.
My curse is neutralized, just like it had been for Colt and Rai that day at the training ground. When I’d refused to even test the effects of her proximity.
Now, thanks to me, I have an unruly Omega to take care of before she turns into a danger to herself and our pack.
Our pack.
The creature in my chest loves that I’ve acknowledged it at last; I can feel it preen inside me. Smug.
Miranda turns wide, shocked eyes on me, her lips parted, breathing still quick and ragged.
All this time, I’ve denied myself her luscious form. Denied us both of the connection we have, of the draw she has on me. Of the love I most certainly feel for her.
I stare at her pale pink lips and lick mine a second before I pull her body to me and devour her mouth. She squeaks with surprise before I loosen my grip on her hair, just a bit, and wrap my other arm around her back, hauling her small frame against me.
She sweeps her slick tongue against my lips, and I take control, opening my mouth and ravaging her, my tongue commanding hers, leading the swirling dance before I suckle it, bite it, drawing a groan from us both.
I pull away just long enough to yank my shirt over my head, taking another second to enjoy her even wider eyes as they take in my chest. Then I’m pulling her shirt over her head, sending that mouthwatering scent of hers wafting through the air, and then gripping her pale breasts in my large hands. Her bra is black and cotton, and I hate it. I’m sure under different circumstances, it would be alluring or sexy, but right now, it’s just in the way.
I yank on it, knuckles pressed into her flesh. “Take it off,” I rasp, my voice still weak from lack of use.
Her hands quiver as they go to her back to do as I command.
My cock is so hard it hurts as I move backward to sit on the edge of the only bed in the room. Before I do, I unbutton my jeans but leave them in place, giving me a bit more breathing room.
Miranda’s bra drops to the floor, and she stands there, unwavering and beautiful. Her areolas are tan, lighter than my skin but almost the same shade, the tips of her nipples pink. I feel an aching in my gums as I stare at her, my eyes gravitating to the fresh bite mark above her left breast and the more healed one on her right collarbone. There’s no jealousy at the sight. Instead, I find a sense of pride growing for my pack brothers who had taken care of our Omega. But anger wells in me at my previous actions—or inaction.
I’d shunned my Omega. Made her think I didn’t care or want her. All in the name of protection. All for nothing.
I clench my jaw, push those thoughts from my mind, and gesture at her to remove the rest of her clothing.
She does as I silently command, quietly removing her pants while I lean back on one arm, watching, and grip my cock through my pants with my free hand.
Miranda watches my movements like a contained beast, those pale eyes sweeping over me after she kicks her pants off and reveals her every curve to me.
I fight the shudder that threatens to wrack my body, and beckon her to me with a wave of my hand, still resting on my dick.
She approaches slowly, and when her knee bumps mine, I splay my hand on her quivering belly so I can speak. “Kneel.”
Her movements are fluid, her right breast grazing my clothed knee on her way down. I let my hand glide up her torso as she lowers herself to the floor before me. My fingers find her right nipple and pinch hard, drawing a gasp from her.
She’s holding herself back from me. My Omega isn’t going into heat.
I have to change that.
