Page 116 of Shattered Omega: Part Two

When we pulled in, it was already starting to get dark. Shatter didn’t put her contacts in, but she did tuck a scarf around her neck and pull the hood of Umbra’s oversized hoodie up.

We got back to the apartment without many witnesses, which meant she was free to hide here until she was ready to leave.

When I opened the door, it was to find an omega on our couch. I’d offered to let Roxy stay, but I still hadn’t turned my phone on, and I don’t know why, but I assumed she would have left by now.

Roxy scrambled up, dropping the blanket she’d been curled up in on the couch, turning from the baking show playing on the TV.

“Shatter!”She looked more of a mess than I thought Roxy Vasilli could look, with hair in a messy bun, and bags beneath her eyes. Her phone slipped from her hands, and she was racing across the room, throwing herself upon Shatter before she made it through the door. “I’m so sorry.”

Shatter held her, eyes wide with alarm. “It’s okay,” she said.

“No, it’s not.”

“I lost you your sponsorship?—”

“They can burn in hell for all I care,” she hissed, drawing back. “All that—” She cut off, her face blanching. The scarf Shatter had been wearing had tumbled off in the hug, revealing the poisoned mark across her neck.

Shatter’s hand jumped up, and she looked panicked. “Uh…” She glanced at me desperately, which was when Roxy unfroze, a growl rising in her throat as she tugged Shatter away, absolutely vicious.

Shit. She was going to think?—

“W-wait!” Shatter said, tugging on Roxy’s sleeve.

I frowned. Whatwouldshe think? Actually, I needed to know.

My voice was quiet as I stepped past them both. “Shatter. Not a word. Go to your nest.”

Shatter’s eyes widened at my tone and the dark bond command. She took a shaky step back before halting. I didn’t feel the pain myself, but Iknew,somehow, that it rolled through her body, an alert that she was fighting my command. Her jaw clenched, and her look was beyond hurt.

Shit.

I hadn’t meant for that to happen.

“Go.” I said again. This time it wasn’t a command.

“Howdareyou!” Roxy snarled.

I shot Umbra a look. He examined my expression for a long moment. “Come on, Nightshade,” he said. “Give them a minute.” Shatter frowned, but she let him lead her away.

“Fuck no.” Roxy was stepping after her, but I caught her by the arm.

“We need to talk.”

“Don’t touch me, you foul?—”

“Don’ttest me.”

Roxy froze, eyes hateful before she glanced down the hall to Shatter, clearly worried my words meant I would take it out on her. I didn’t correct her. I needed to see this for myself, because this might be the other shield that protected Shatter now we were back.

“Ransom,” I growled. He’d been frozen in the doorway behind me, caught between anger and confusion. I nodded down the hall where I heard Shatter’s nest door shut. She was still completely vacant from the bond. He glanced between me and Roxy one last time, but thankfully followed the others.

The moment he was gone, Roxy turned on me. “I trusted you,” she spat as I stepped into the kitchen and opened the fridge, thankful that Umbra’s beer was still there.

Thankfuck.

I’d just hurt my omega with the dark bond I should never have given her.

It had been thoughtless…. too easy…

---