Page 38 of Sweetheart: Part One

Shit…

Shit shit shit…

What was I going to do?

Rook groaned, and I glanced back at him in terror. He was on his knees, palm planted against the wall as he tried to catch his breath.

I didn’t have time.

I crashed to my knees beside him, shoving the metal against his neck, fist trembling.

Disoriented and shocked, his eyes went wide with horror, and his aura split the air. My heart quaked.

…In the stuffy closet, an alpha’s aura split the still air. Palms clamped over ears, eyes squeezed tight shut…

“I want you out.” My words were trembling.

There was a pause. “Let go and I’m gone,” he said.

A sob caught in my chest.

If I let him go—if he saw what I was holding—I’d have nothing. And he had his aura.

It made him stronger and faster. I didn’t stand a chance. And there was no guarantee he wouldn’t change his mind.

“Vex.” He fumbled for my wrist and I flinched away. He froze again as the metal pressed to his skin harder.“Let. Go!”The words were laced with a command that shook me to my bones, but I’d known it was coming. I’d received a thousand dark bond commands, and an alpha’s bark was nothing next to those.

I managed to hold still.

Then the door banged open, and I looked up in panic to see Love crashing in. Ebony was hard on his heels.

Love’s massive aura was out in full force.

“Vex!”Love drew up, shock marring his usually stoic features as he glanced between us. “What’s going on?”

I was fucked.

The contract was fucked, but my mind didn’t have the space to face that yet. Not with two more auras in the room, and they thought I was threatening their pack brother.

“I j-just… want him out.” I sounded insane. I knew that.

Ebony’s head was tilted as he stared at me. Then his eyes slid down to Rook’s neck. He didn’t look afraid like Love did.

A smile stretched across his lips, seeing exactly what I was terrified they’d see. And then he was striding forward.

“Ebony!”Love’s voice was a warning.

Rook finally tensed, his voice a low growl. “Don’t youfucking—!” But he cut off as Ebony closed half the distance and I cracked, the world a blur.

I leaped to my feet and flung the silverware at Ebony—who caught it midair—as I dived for the bed. I scrambled onto it and backed up, needing distance between me and them.

I needed to explain.

To escape.

Anything.

When I got them all in my vision, still staggering back paces, I saw none had made for me. Drake was now in the doorway, eyes wide as he took in the scene.

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