Page 40 of Captured

And he came with her, groaning out his pleasure in her ear as his knot inflated, locking them together. For one wild moment she thought he was going to bite her, his lips on the top of her shoulder sending sparks down her spine to coil in her belly. She brought her own mouth to his flesh, licking the skin over his heart, but the feel of piercing teeth never came, a bubble of disappointment rising before she forced it away.

It took a bit of shuffling for Gra’ar to turn them so she lay on his chest, but he managed, pulling the sheet he’d disturbed back overtop her. Letting her head drop, she listened to the beat of his heart as it slowed, his breaths turning deep and relaxed as he drifted off to sleep, but Flea wasn’t able to get her mind to settle enough to allow her the same luxury.

Instead she was left inspecting feelings she didn’t like and didn’t want to acknowledge. Picking apart actions and the reasons behind them. Trying to find a way to mesh her desires together in a way that preserved them instead of one overruling the other.

By the time Gra’ar’s knot deflated and he slipped from her core she’d worked herself into a mess. The alpha beneath her didn’t stir and considering the injuries he’d taken and the energy he’d spent, she wasn’t surprised. Pulling back the sheet and sitting up, Flea inspected their little room, trying to assure herself she was doing what was best.

Her heat was over, that much was clear. It had been short, but she wouldn’t be able to focus if the hormones were still pumping through her, and she was starting to feel the chill in the air. Her fear and anxiety had burned it out early.

Swallowing the lump in her throat as she looked down at the dark alpha, she assured herself she was making the wisest decision. She only hoped he would play along. She knew he’d still be able to find her if he tried, but maybe there was a chance he would let her walk away.

Carefully standing and moving away from him, Flea searched for her clothing. It wasn’t much, and without her encroaching cycle keeping her temperature up she’d need to find more soon, but that gave her something to focus on. Finding one untouched home gave her hope that there were others nearby she could search for supplies, but she had to move quick.

It would be wiser to take what they’d used for her nest, even if just to trade with, but she couldn’t stand the thought of carrying around something that smelled so much like the male she was leaving. Plus, the scent of her slick on them would draw too much attention.

Once she was dressed she collected what was left of the candle and gave another look around, spotting the burn cream and the bottles of water against the wall. Her throat threatened to close again but she shook it off, moving around Gra’ar’s sprawled body to claim the tube and one of the bottles. She found his knife attached to the pocket of his crumpled pants nearby, and after a moment’s hesitation she took it, knowing it could mean the difference in survival.

Slipping back around to the other side of the room, she spared a glance for the sleeping male. It was hard to remember the terror she’d felt when she first saw him despite it having been such a short time before.

Wincing at the click of the lock disengaging, Flea held her breath to see if he’d stir. When his breathing remained slow and steady, she pried the wall back just enough to squeeze through, closing it again behind her. There was no way to lock it from the outside, so she had to hope there was no threat close enough to pose a risk while he was still sleeping.

She moved on silent feet down to the main floor, pausing long enough to rub more cream onto her burns and drink half the water. She wasn’t sure where the closest recycler was, but she was parched and needed the liquid. The rest would have to last her until she found a source to refill.

Tucking the tube and Gra’ar’s knife into the top of her leggings, she picked up the candle again and headed for the door with the jug swinging from her fingers. She forced herself to focus, not allowing her thoughts to stray beyond the next step she needed to make.

It took a little work to get past the board Gra’ar had pulled back into place, but she managed it, being sure to do as he’d done and push it back into place so the home still looked sealed as she walked away.

She could have climbed over the wall around the property again, but didn’t see a reason to when she could follow the path from the front to the gate. While her burns felt better, the skin was still tight and uncomfortable, and there was no reason to expend extra energy if there was a perfectly good opening she could use.

Flea followed the path, gazing around as she walked, trying to keep her mind blank. It was one of the largest properties she’d ever found, and while everything was dead and gone now, she could imagine the dirt between the home and wall playing host to plants in the past. The skeletons of large bushes remained, blocking her view of the gate due to the curving of the sidewalk, and she stumbled to a stop when she finally had a clear view ahead.

The metal bars blocking the end of the path weren’t a surprise, but the massive male standing in front of them was. When her feet refused to budge and she remained rooted in place he grew impatient, striding toward her until he was close enough to reach out and touch.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Gra’ar

He stared up into the dark, forcing his breathing to stay at the same slow rate he’d held while Flea dressed and left him. He was surprised her heat was over so soon since it couldn’t have been more than a day or so since the peak hit, but it wasn’t too unusual. Flea was small even for an omega and her body couldn’t sustain a long heat with the limited resources she’d had since she escaped.

Sighing, he gave up the pretense of sleep when he heard her footsteps leave the room beyond and move to the stairs. Standing, he searched for his clothing, tugging on his pants but deciding the shirt was a lost cause. He’d ripped the ties and it wouldn’t stay in place.

Slipping into his boots, he grabbed the jug of water she’d left him and took a drink. It didn’t matter how much of a head start she had, he’d be able to find her anywhere she went. The only worry was if the alphas after her had reached this area yet.

He could hear scraping from below when he left the saferoom, and he realized it was her pushing the board back into place over the door. He didn’t bother with it once he moved it again and stepped through.

Stretching his wings, he tested the muscles. They were a bit stiff and sore, but after rolling them and giving a few pumps, he felt like they would hold.

Launching himself to the roof, he walked over it to the front of the house, spotting Flea on the path leading to the gate. She didn’t seem to be in a hurry, walking almost as if she regretted trying to sneak away, and he had to ignore the clench in his chest. He knew why she was still trying to run, and he couldn’t begrudge her the drive to keep her freedom.

As dismal as it was.

Gliding from the roof, he curved around out of sight before dropping to block the gate she was heading for. He hadn’t spotted any motion nearby so they should be safe enough in the open until they figured out what to do.

It was only a few seconds before Flea spotted him. Freezing in place, her mouth popped open, but no sound came out.

He’d expected her to be angry. To yell at him. Or try to turn and run another way. But she remained where she stood so he closed the space between them. His fingers itched with the desire to reach out and touch her. To sink into her locks and pull those pink lips to his so he could claim them again.

But he resisted.

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