Page 15 of Believe It or Knot: Part Two

The guard set a brutal pace as he hurried backstage and through an unfamiliar door. He practically ran down another long hallway and took an exit that led to a staircase. I ascertained we were in some sort of office building—a fancy one full of modern art, dark colors, and glass.

Unsurprisingly, Mr. Gum-Smacker didn’t answer.

My stomach protested against the jarring jabs of each step as he jogged down with me still flung over his shoulder. I was almost certain I was going to hurl all over this guy’s ass and the backs of his shoes.

It’ll serve him right for carrying me like this…

Cool night air grazed my mostly bare skin as he pushed through a door at ground level and swept me out of the building of horrors.

The world tipped once more while he bent and carefully set me back on my feet. Blood rushed to my head.

Sweet mercy.I was going to be sick.

I stumbled, reaching for something to keep me upright. My hand flailed through the night air since there was nothing there to catch myself on.

“Easy,” Mr. Gum Smacker soothed. Unexpectedly, his strong, tattooed arm came around my waist. Capturing one of my wrists, he stooped from his tall height and wrapped my arm around his neck, holding me carefully upright. With a quick jerk of his head, he readjusted the dark hair that had fallen over his forehead without letting me go.

As much as I resented having to do so, I leaned heavily into his side and accepted his support, unable to maneuver on my own in any coordinated way.

I didn’t want to let myself be lured into a false sense of security. This guy was still the enemy, but at least he’d gotten me out of there. That was something, at least. I hadn’t been sold, and I was still alive. All silver linings. His motives for breaking me out, however, remained a mystery.

“What’s happening?” I slurred as he helped me away from the burning building.

“Jesus. How much shit did they give her?” Another man rumbled.

My gaze snapped in his direction, my reaction time a few beats too slow. The second I set eyes on the newcomer, my heart stopped. The Alpha who stepped out of the shadows of the alleyway was absolutely massive, reminding me far too much of Hades with his height and the breadth of his shoulders. Dark ink covered every available surface of his pale skin, much like my own gentle giant. Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe, my grief so heavy I was sure it would crush me.

Hades. My mates. My pack.

Just the phantom echo of Knox’s voice had sent my heart into a spiral. I should be with my men, but instead, I was half-naked in a sketchy alleyway with more unknown Alphas who, if my assumptions were correct, had justblown up a building.

My life was like a blockbuster. Everything felt surreal. I almost expected to wake up because none of this could truly be happening. Of course, I’d been expecting as much for the past two weeks, yet here I was.

If I closed my eyes, I could almost picture my nest—the soft blankets and fluffy pillows covered with the scents of my men. I wanted to be back in that safe space with a need so voracious, I couldn’t put it into words.

Lids pressed firmly shut, I lost my sense of awareness and swayed on my feet.

Mr. Gum Smacker’s hold tightened, making sure I was anchored securely to his side. “I know,” he agreed. “She’s high as a fuckin’ kite.”

“Much as I hate to admit it, it makes sense. They can’t have uncooperative Omegas causing problems. It’s not as though they’d line up willingly to be sold like cattle.”

Expensive cattle…

“It was a sick fuckin’ display, let me tell you,” Mr. Gum Smacker practically growled.

On that, we agree.Who was this guy?

“But it was fun as fuck to cause mayhem and break up their little Omega boutique.” Disdain dripped from those last two words, and it made me feel marginally better about having been kidnapped—or saved, I wasn’t quite sure yet—by him and his ragtag group of friends. “Slade’s trying to bring out the other Omegas and then we need to get the fuck outta here before any other Alphas catch our trail and come pouring out the side door.”

Slade had to be the blond one who’d willingly rushed into the fray. I tried to follow their conversation, but my mind was blurring over words as we moved further down the shadowed alley and away from the building.

My feet hurt, and I didn’t want to be here anymore.

I must have said it out loud because the Hades knock-off growled and stepped forward, scooping me off my feet bridal style and carrying me the rest of the way to the alley’s entrance where a dark stretch SUV idled. The door opened, and I was passed to yet another Alpha, this one with black hair and ethnically tan skin. His eyes were a stormy grey, and he had a short, neat beard covering the lower half of his face.

They moved so synchronously, they must’ve been a pack. “Who are you?”

“I’m Ronan,” he all but purred, sliding into the middle seat with me on his lap to make room for the others to get in as well. “And since I’m sure there hasn’t been time for introductions, this is Enoch,” he nodded toward Mr. Gum Smacker, “and Lawson,” he eyed the Hades knock-off.

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