Page 83 of The Demon's Pet

Zadis sat up straighter. “Then you are his prisoner?”

“It’s a long story,” I said.

“I have time, and it’s a beautiful night,” Zadis said, putting a hand on my leg. I moved it, and he simply smiled guiltily. “Can’t help it. I want to bond with you so badly.”

He was flirting with me, I realized with a sense of something like wonder. Flirting. Alphas didn’t bother to flirt with me as an omega. They skipped right past it to trying to push me down.

“I’ll tell you my story if you tell me more about bonds,” I said.

“Deal,” he said. “Though, it will be better if I show you over the next day or two.”

I cocked my head, considering it for a second. Bird cries sounded in the distance, eerie and echoing. A lush breeze blew through, bringing the scent of leaves and flowers and even a hint of far-off smoke.

“I come from a small, quiet village in the havens,” I said. “A wolf shifter pack. We make everything we can ourselves, through farming and crafting, and our alphas find and import anything else we need.” I let out a dry laugh. “Whatever they decide we need anyway.”

“Go on,” Zadis said softly.

“Have you heard of the alpha and omega program?” I asked.

Zadis shook his head. “No… but I am aware of alpha and omega dynamics in other, non-celestial races.”

“Well, in my village, after you reach puberty, you are assigned the title of either alpha, beta, or omega. You can guess which I am.”

“Alpha,” Zadis said. “I can feel the power radiating off of you.”

I shook my head. “Omega.”

“Even more special,” Zadis said. “Without omegas, I’ve heard wolves die in the wild.”

“Not special,” I said sharply, pain lashing through me as the memory of the day I was ordained flashed through my mind. “In my pack, it means torture. It means anyone can do whatever they want to you. Any alpha can claim you. Anything they want to do… they can.”

Zadis watched me carefully, concern glowing in his emerald eyes. “I assume that didn’t sit well with you. I knew from the moment we met that you didn’t like to be told what to do or controlled.”

I nodded, relieved to be understood so I didn’t have to go into more detail. Already, I had a tight feeling in my chest just from talking about it.

This time, Zadis put a hand on my knee gently, comfortingly, and I didn’t remove it. “Tell me how you came to be here.”

“I… broke the rules.”Don’t tell him you’re at least part demon.“And Sam was called to be my executioner.”

“What was your crime?” Zadis asked, looking nervous.

“Let’s just say I rejected the alpha’s son in a pretty rude way.”

Zadis’s mouth firmed into a hard line. “If he was trying to force something on you, that’s hardly cause for execution. Unless it was his execution.”

“It is if you’re an omega in a celestial-blessed pack,” I said. “At least in my haven.”

Zadis was quiet for a long moment as bird calls sounded in the distance, and I savored the beautiful scents and the pure freedom of the moment.

Right now, no one could tell me what to do or where to go. Maybe I could even run.

Sam’s dark eyes, glinting at me before he left, removed any thoughts of doing so.

That sadistic angel would definitely catch up, no matter where I went.

But for now, I was free.

“So I assume Sam refused to execute you,” Zadis said. “Since you’re here with him.” His eyes widened in alarm, long lashes fluttering. “He’s not… I mean… You aren’t being coerced to—”

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