Page 73 of Isla

No. This wasn’t happening again.

Noah tried claimed the same and then cheated on me, and now this pack was trying to claim me for their own. Closing my eyes and sighing. I no longer wanted alphas. I never needed them for the years that I was on suppressants and wouldn’t need them again once I was home.

Polly tilted her head to one side and gave me a look that said hard luck.

It was, and it was also time to leave Omega Island.

I slipped off the bed. “I want to go home now.” My voice was firm, but there was no strength behind it.

“You will be able to soon,” Jess said, stroking my arm. “Polly and I will go to your room, but you have to stay here while the doctor makes sure you are good to leave.”

“I’m organising it for you now.” Polly showed me her mobile. “Give me an hour and we’ll get your suitcase packed for you. I’m leaving today. You can fly with me to New York and then I’ll organise your flight home.”

Jess and Polly left the room as I searched for my mobile. Finding it in a cupboard beside the bed.

I found Tilly’s number and called, hoping it was the right time of day.

She answered straight away, obviously seeing my name on her mobile. “Where the hell are you?” she whisper-yelled at me.

“I’m at Omega Island. It’s a resort in the Bahamas,” I said, wiping away a tear that slipped from my eye.

“Oh my god, Isla, what is wrong?” Tilly said.

“I met these alphas Tilly. I thought they were mine. My pack. I thought I found my mates. But they tricked me Tilly, but it’s worse than just scent matching.” I paused and hiccuped another sob.

“Isla, speak to me,” Tilly said as I tried to regain a bit of semblance.

“One of them bit me. I’m enduring his bond pull. I’ve told no one here, but I can sense his anger as he prowls.”

“And where is he?”

“Apparently, the pack is now being questioned at the police station,” I whispered. “I need to come home. Polly is leaving today and taking me with her. Then I’ll fly from New York back to Heathrow Airport.”

Tilly sighed. It was audible on my mobile. “Let me know your flight details and I will have you picked up at the airport. You can stay here while we work out what is the best thing for you to do,” she said.

“I think going back on suppressants and forgetting I’m an omega,” I said sadly. “You were lucky, but I’ve had nothing but trouble. I can’t find a single alpha and I can’t find a pack. And now I’m claimed nobody will want me ever again,” I sobbed, knowing they lied to me.

“I can’t believe you gave your neck to an alpha you didn’t know,” Tilly hissed at me. “At least I matched with Cruz. I knew he was mine the moment I saw him. Hated that he was, but I still knew.”

“I thought he was,” I whispered. “I was so caught up in wanting a baby that my urges were through the roof. And...” I swallowed. “And I didn’t even go into heat. It disappeared.”

“Oh Isla, I’m so sorry. They trapped you in their pheromones. You should have gone with the rules of the resort.”

“I did,” I whispered. “Look, I’ll speak to you when I get back, when my mind is clearer.”

“Sorry for shouting at you, Isla. I just wanted more for you. I wanted you to feel the love I feel,” she whispered as I inhaled to stop a sob.

“I know, and I’d be angry at you, too. Any chance you know of a pill that reduces the bond pull?” I asked and laughed lightly, but I wasn’t feeling very jovial. The door to my room creaked open and Dr Roberts stood at the door. “I need to go now. I’m about to be discharged. Probably banned from coming here ever again.”

“Come home. We’ll speak about it when you get here.”

Everything speeded up after that. The doctor unhooked me from the IV, swished the blue curtain around me and handed me my clothes.

I was empty and resigned as I did everything I signed the release paperwork and followed Polly to her bodyguard’s car.

The private jet lifted from the runway, and it was the first moment I felt I really breathed. I glanced to the ground below, seeing the resort, the brilliant white sandy beach and crystal turquoise water, but it blurred as a hazy film of tears covered my eyes and I stroked my hand over my shoulder. He should tend to it. He wouldn’t be able to, and now I was going to have a terrible scar for the rest of my life. A branding that would let the world know I was a rejected mate.

My hand lowered to my chest, and I rubbed because his mark was the physical knowledge an alpha bonded me to him, one I could hide with clothes, but the ache in my heart was the genuine struggle.

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