Page 42 of Captured

“So don’t get caught.”

Her lips pinched as she gave him a look that spoke volumes about what she thought of his suggestion.

“I’d still have to watch out for Deacon and his men. They’re on all the lower levels and have apparently spread outside the bounds I knew. I’d have to move to the other side of the planet to get away from him.”

Gra’ar had to choke off the automatic growl that rumbled from his chest. He didn’t want Flea returning to this half-life in the dark underworld of the planet, but she wouldn’t be able to do anything else since she was an unclaimed omega. Anywhere she went, her scent would announce her dynamic, and a scar from a bite wouldn’t protect her when her pheromones kicked into gear again.

Looking away, he wracked his brain for another option but couldn’t find one.

“Well, it’s better than being trapped in that stinking Collection Center for the rest of my life I guess. I’d hate to see what alpha they set me up with next.”

His eyes tipped back to hers. He knew she was trying to make the best of the situation, but it still wasn’t a good one, and her voice belied the strain under her quip. She deserved better, and he wished he had more to offer.

“So that’s what you want?”

He needed to be sure. Biting an omega during their heat when they were locked on an alpha’s knot to bond them was one thing. Biting her when her mind was clear and there was no pleasure to distract from the pain was another story, but Flea’s head dipped in a nod.

“Now?”

She nodded again, tipping her head to the side and looking away to expose her neck to him.

Sucking in a deep breath, Gra’ar’s fists clenched at his sides. He’d struggled not to mark and claim her during her heat but trying to make himself grab hold of her and bite her now felt wrong. It was going to hurt her, and he didn’t like it despite it being his idea.

Forcing one foot in front of the other, he closed the little remaining space between their bodies. It was easy to take her in his arms and lean his head down to her throat, closing his eyes to run his nose along the delicate column. She shivered in his hold but didn’t try to pull away, turning her head further as he tried to make himself do it.

The smell of her slick lingered on her, soaked into her clothing, but it was the scent of fresh arousal that allowed him to open his mouth and press his teeth to her flesh where her neck and shoulder joined. He gave her a second to prepare before his jaw clenched, the coppery tang of blood spilling in his mouth.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Flea

Her body went rigid, pain stealing her breath. If Gra’ar hadn’t been holding her up her knees would have buckled, and she couldn’t hold back the cry that ripped from her throat.

It hurt!

Omegas were bitten during their heat to bond them to an alpha, so for some reason she hadn’t expected the pain. Sniffling, she couldn’t blink back the tears that flooded her eyes.

Gra’ar’s teeth loosened, leaving her flesh with a shudder-inducing tug. She felt blood well and spill over before the rasp of his tongue over the mark cleaned it away. The muscle beneath still throbbed but the sharpness abated, letting her suck in a breath.

Gra’ar straightened, pressing his hand over the wound as his golden gaze moved to her face. He brushed the tears from her cheek as she got herself under control.

“I’m sorry.”

She wasn’t quite sure what he was apologizing for since she’d agreed to the plan, but she still forced a shaky smile.

Taking her hand in his, he lifted it and replaced his fingers on her shoulder with hers. She didn’t realize he’d been holding an absorbing pad to the bite until she felt the edges of it. He reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a bandage, indicating that she should remove what she held so he could put it over the wound.

It was all done in a matter of moments.

“Are you okay?”

He took the little pad from her, holding an edge to the candle still clutched in her shaking hand. There was only a tiny bit of it left but the flame was still going, and the pad quickly caught. Gra’ar tossed it to the sidewalk, watching it burn before stomping it with his boot when it was nothing more than a charred crisp and turning his attention back to her.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine.”

It was the best she could manage.

While she’d agreed to his plan, she still wasn’t convinced it was going to work, and the Director was no longer her main concern. Like she’d said to Gra’ar, Deacon was never going to stop hunting her, and she wasn’t sure even going to the other side of Decloui would put her out of his reach. His gang was large, and he had connections all over, plus she’d be at the disadvantage of not knowing the area.

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