24. Aria

24

ARIA

Listen, I'm not one to bathe in cum, but sometimes, the right moment calls for it.

I mean it— cover me in cum.

Like four alphas standing around me in a circle jerk and I'm the prize.

No, really.

Let me suck that big dick down while you feed me your seed.

Drown me, big guy.

Suffocate me with your jizz.

Massage that shit into my skin.

Let my dainty little omega instincts turn me into a cum guzzling whore.

Mama is hungry for a protein shake.

Clearly, I'm a slut for good dick, so when a cold rag intrusively invades my me time, I growl like the feral bitch I am.

"Angel, I need to clean you up."

"Like hell you do," I grumble into the pillow, my voice a low, annoyed rumble.

"I fucked up."

Those three little words are worse than another set of words and make my blood grow ice cold. My eyes pop open to see the white cotton hotel sheets bunched up around me. My heart pounds in my chest as I slowly sit up and push Quinn away from me. His knot released earlier, obviously, or he wouldn't be cleaning me up.

Licking my lips, I turn to him and blink lazily. "Explain yourself." Dazed and sleepy, all I can do is stare at Quinn. He looks away from me, unable to meet my gaze.

This is really going to piss me off.

"I may have accidentally butt-dialed Malachi," he says.

Maybe I'm slow, or just in that post-orgasmic bliss period, because I'm not quite understanding the problem. "Mm-kay."

"While I was balls deep inside you." Oh, there it is. To my utter dismay, he continues to go on. "They definitely heard us."

Ever get so angry that there's no neutral discussion to be had, just pure, raw anger?

That is how I feel right now, so it's no surprise that I just nod like a lunatic while I struggle to absorb not only his words but my emotions as well—all of which revolve around anger.

Did I forget to mention I'm a fire sign?

The rage that consumes me is all-encompassing, a fiery inferno that threatens to burn everything in its path. I can feel the heat rising within me, spreading through my veins like molten lava. My hands clench into fists, my nails digging into my palms as I try to contain the explosion building inside.

"Quinn?" I hiss, my voice low and dangerous. "Do you have any idea what you've done? How could you be so reckless?"

He shrinks back, guilt etched across his handsome features. Seriously, how dare he be so handsome? "I'm sorry, angel. It was an accident, I swear."

His apologies do nothing to quell the fury raging within me. Accident or not, the damage is done. Malachi heard us—heard me—in the throes of passion, lost in the ecstasy of Quinn's touch. The humiliation is unbearable, a searing shame that scorches my skin.

More than that, there will be suspicion on Malachi's part, and he can't know. They can't know I'm an omega. It will ruin everything.

Betas can't take knots, and I'm pretty sure I was panting like a dog in heat about his knot.

I lurch to my feet, not even caring about my nakedness. Modesty is the least of my concerns right now. "Do you have any idea what you've done?" I hiss, jabbing a finger into his chest. "Malachi can't know. No one can know I'm an omega."

Quinn's eyes widen with realization, the gravity of the situation sinking in. He reaches for me, trying to placate my anger. "Aria, listen. I'll handle this. Malachi won't suspect a thing, I promise you that."

I bat his hand away, too consumed by the inferno raging inside me. "And how do you plan to do that, Quinn? You think Malachi is just going to forget what he heard? That he won't put two and two together?"

I pace the cramped hotel room, the walls seeming to close in with each step. The stale air suffocates me as my mind races with the potential fallout. If Malachi finds out I'm an omega, it could destroy everything I've worked so hard to build.

Oh yeah? Like what, Aria? Shut up, brain, I don't have time for you right now.

Quinn's voice breaks through my spiraling thoughts. "Angel, listen to me. We'll figure this out together, and honestly, we work in security. If anyone can protect you from whatever it is you are running from, it's us. I promise."

"Promises are just pretty lies, and I've been burned too many times to trust them anymore." I whirl on him, my eyes blazing with barely contained fury.

He doesn't understand. I have to make him understand.

Quinn flinches, but he doesn't back down. His voice, steady and calm, cuts through the storm of my rage. "I know you're scared, Aria, but I'm not just making empty promises. If we could just?—"

"Scared?" I laugh, and it's a harsh, bitter sound that echoes in the small hotel room. "You think this is about fear? This is about survival, Quinn. Do you have any idea what it means to be me? Do you have any idea what will happen if they find out?"

Or worse, if Noah finds me.

Quinn's jaw tightens, a flicker of pain in his eyes. "I do know, Aria. I know more than you think, because I can read between the fucking lines here. You are the one refusing to open up when you damn well know the pack will protect you."

"The pack?" I scoff, shaking my head. "The pack that would see me as nothing more than a breeding vessel if they knew the truth? The pack would strip away every ounce of freedom I've fought for?"

Quinn steps closer, his presence a wall of warmth and strength. "Not my pack. They wouldn't do that, and I wouldn't let them."

"You wouldn't let them?" I echo incredulously. "You can't shield me from everything, Quinn. The danger isn't just out there—it's everywhere. Even within your pack."

His hand cups my cheek, his touch gentle, despite the intensity of our argument. "But I can try, and I will, because I care about you, Aria, so damn much already."

The sincerity in his eyes and the raw emotion in his voice sends a shiver down my spine. For a moment, the walls I've built around my heart tremble, but I force them to stand firm. I can't afford to let my guard down. Not now. Not ever.

"Care about me all you want, Quinn," I say, my voice hardening, "but it doesn't change the fact that you've put me in danger. You've risked everything I've worked for."

"I know," he admits, his hand falling away from my face. "And I'm sorry, but we can fix this together with the pack."

"Together?" I let out a shaky breath, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. "You don't understand, Quinn. You can't just fix this with words. This isn't something that can be undone."

They will find out I'm an omega and lock me away. It'll be like Noah all over again, and I risked it all to get away from him.

"Then we'll find another way," he insists. "We'll be careful. We'll watch each other's backs, and we'll make sure Malachi doesn't find out the truth."

I want to believe him. I want to believe that there's a way out of this mess, that I can trust him to protect me, but the scars of my past run too deep, and the fear is too ingrained.

Not only that, but I also know I'm being selfish by wanting to keep only him out of the pack. It's wrong of me to want to break them apart.

"You don't get it," I whisper, my voice cracking. "If they find out, I'll lose everything—my freedom, my safety, my life. I can't go back to that."

Quinn's eyes soften, and he reaches out to me again, his touch hesitant but reassuring. "You won't go back to that, Aria. I swear on my life, you won't. All the time we've been together, we've wanted nothing more than to have an omega of our own—one to love, protect, and cherish. Angel, you'd never have to worry about your past."

Quinn's words hang in the air, strong and sure. For a moment, my chest lightens, a spark of possibility igniting. But then memories flood back—Noah's fist, the terror, the helplessness. The spark sputters and dies, leaving only cold dread in its wake.

Noah.

"How?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper. "How can you be so sure?"

"Because I won't let it happen," he states simply. "Because everything I've learned about you thus far makes me believe you are perfect for us, and I need to get to know you better. We would protect you with our dying breath if it comes to that. Nothing would ever come between us, Aria. I swear on my life."

His words, filled with a quiet confidence, chip away at my defenses. For the first time in a long time, I feel a glimmer of hope, a possibility that maybe they really will help.

The fear, anger, and pain are still there, though, a constant reminder of the dangers that lurk in the shadows.

He can't guarantee how the rest of the pack will feel.

"I want to believe you, Quinn," I admit, my voice trembling, "but I've been let down too many times. I've been hurt too many times. You can't make promises for others."

"I know," he says softly, his thumb brushing away a tear I didn't realize had fallen. "But I'm not them, and I won't let you down. All you have to do is give us a chance. Will you give us the chance to prove ourselves to you?"

His words hang in the air between us, a fragile promise. For a moment, we stand there with the weight of our situation pressing down on us, but in his eyes, I see a glimmer of hope…a promise of something better.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. Instead of the expected musk of our encounter, my senses are overwhelmed by the scent of lavender and Creamsicle—my true omega scent mixed with his. The realization hits me like a punch to the gut, making my hands tremble and my vision swim.

Quinn doesn't understand. He's still talking, his voice a distant hum as panic rises in my throat. My suppressants have worn off completely, leaving me exposed. The moment anyone from the pack walks in, my omega status will be unmistakable. Everything I've built, every precaution I've taken, will crumble in an instant.

I need to move. Now. Every second I linger is a risk I can't afford, but Quinn's earnest eyes hold me in place. He thinks he can protect me, but he has no idea of the true danger we're in.

My heart screams to stay, but my mind knows better. For their safety, for my own, I have to let them go.

No matter how much it hurts.

It's a painful realization, but it's the only way. I can't risk exposing my secret or dragging them into the dangerous world I've fought so hard to escape. As much as it hurts, as much as my heart aches at the thought, I know what I have to do.

Noah's face flashes in my mind, his charming smile hiding the danger lurking beneath. If he found me here, with them… I shudder at the thought.

Breathe, Aria.

I take a deep breath, steadying myself for the words I'm about to say. "Quinn, you can't protect me from this. No one can." My voice is firm, despite the tremor of emotion running through it. "I have to leave. It's the only way to keep everyone safe."

Quinn's eyes widen, the rich brown darkening with panic. His breath catches audibly, the scent of his distress filling the small room. "What? No, Aria, you can't just leave. Let us help you, please."

I shake my head, a sad smile tugging at my lips. "It was a beautiful dream, Quinn, but it's time to face reality. If I stay, it's not a matter of if they will find out, but when. I can't put you or the pack at risk like that."

My words sound hollow, even to my own ears.

He opens his mouth to protest, but I silence him with a gentle finger against his lips. "Please, Quinn. Don't make this harder than it needs to be."

I tug on my shirt and glance at the clock. My heart races, palms sweating as I glance at the clock. I need to get out of here, now. Every second I linger is a risk I can't afford.

How can I lose him?

I can see the pain in Quinn's eyes as he struggles to accept my words. His strong arms wrap around me, pulling me close, as if he can shield me from the harsh realities we face. "Aria, please," he whispers, his voice thick with emotion. "Don't go. We can find another way."

Even as I melt into his embrace, savoring the warmth and comfort of his touch, I know I can't falter. This is bigger than us, bigger than the yearning of my heart.

I gently extract myself from his arms, steeling my resolve. "I'm sorry, Quinn, but this is the way it has to be, for both our sakes."

I quickly gather my things, not daring to look back at him. If I do, I might lose my nerve and let myself be swayed by the love and devotion shining in his eyes.

As I reach for the door handle, Quinn grasps my wrist. "Aria, wait." His voice is raw, pleading. "At least let me help you. Let me make sure you're safe."

I pause, the temptation to accept his offer nearly overwhelming, but I can't.

Shaking my head with tears burning my eyes, I push past him and into the empty hallway. I rush to the elevator, pulling out my phone as I do. Luckily, when the doors open, there isn't anyone in there.

My luck, however, runs out when I turn around and rest against the wall. There, on the opposite side of the hall, coming out of the emergency stairwell, are Zane, Malachi, and Dash.

With three sets of eyes on me, I watch as the doors close, my heart beating through my chest.

With them out of sight, I quickly call Cayenne.

She picks up on the first ring. "Where the fuck have you been?"

"I don't think Puritan City is working out for me," I say, even though the words taste like ash in my mouth.

It's a lie I have to tell myself, because if I don't, the consequences are something I could never live with.