Two Years Ago

Mari

“ T here’s no point in running!” a massive alpha mocks us as we rush through thick forest.

“Stefan!” I yell at my brother when he stumbles. I grab his wrist, trying to steady him. I know he’s exhausted. We’ve been running over the rough terrain for hours…or at least it feels like it. My thighs burn and my back aches, but determination pumps in my veins.

I won’t let those alphas hurt my brother.

“Give it up, little omegas.” Another alpha chuckles and the hair along the back of my neck rises. He’s close. Very close.

A soft sob jerks from Stefan’s throat as he pumps his twig-like arms and legs. He’s so small and underfed. I’ve done the best I can in the two years we’ve been living on the run, but it’s so hard to feed myself, let alone two people.

“Don’t stop,” I grit out, tugging my brother down a steep hill. The sloped ground gives my thighs a bit of relief, but not much.

“I c-can’t…” Stefan pants, his thin chest rising and falling. His dirty blond hair hangs in his face. “I can’t breathe.”

“I know.” I pull his arm even harder, forcing his feet to move. His last inhaler ran out over a year ago.

“Mari,” Stefan wheezes my name and his knees give out.

“No!” I scream, begging him to keep moving. “Don’t give up.” I hitch his arm over my shoulder and heave him to his feet. I risk a quick look behind us and dread cuts through my gut.

Two tattooed, shirtless alphas stroll down the hill toward us. They look almost ecstatic, their biceps flexing and their fists curling tight. They both have very similar features with the same long black hair. One wears his in a low ponytail and the other one’s falls over his shoulders. Their matching light brown eyes drink in Stefan’s slight form, then mine. They must be brothers.

“Come on.” The alpha with the ponytail chuckles. “We won’t hurt you.”

I want to laugh at his obvious lie.

Grunting, I force Stefan to lean on me as we walk. “Keep going,” I command. I know it’s pointless. They’re going to catch us. Abuse us. Rape us. But I have to try. Even if it’s pointless.

My scent is simply too easy to track.

Stefan smells like flowers—thick jasmine and soft primrose. He’s easier to hide in a forest, but my peppermint perfume is impossible to mask out here. Even the thickest layer of mud on my skin barely mutes my scent.

“There’s nowhere to go.” The other alpha’s voice is rough. Almost like he’s been screaming for hours on end.

I let out a high-pitched growl, lugging my brother down the hill and over the twisted roots All too quickly, sloped ground levels out, and my heart stops as the trees part.

A defeated sob bubbles from Stefan’s throat as we stare at an unexpected cliff. I don’t need to look over the edge to know we’re too high up to jump.

“It’s okay,” I whisper as I lower him to the ground. I should take this moment to apologize for what these alphas will probably do to us, but I can’t force the words from my throat. After all, this is my fault.

I got lazy, relaxing and swimming in a cave near the river. I didn’t catch their scents until it was too late. I panicked and left behind our few belongings. I should have grabbed my pocket knife. The tiny blade was too short for a stab to the heart, but it was perfect for jabbing someone in the neck. It could provide a quick, deep wound. One that only took seconds to take down an alpha.

But I was stupid and left our only weapon behind.

“It’s going to be okay,” I lie to my baby brother, helping him slip onto the forest floor.

“Easy there, blondie.” Ponytail hitches up his pants, coming to a stop a few feet from me. His bare chest glistens with sweat. It makes his tattoos stand out, almost shimmering in the sun. I eye the words TENUS PACK across his abs, then I look down his body at the huge bulge pressing against his zipper.

Bitter fear spreads across my tongue and my jaw tightens. “Don’t come any closer,” I warn, moving myself between the pair of alphas and my brother. My weak body is a pathetic shield, but I refuse to give up that easy.

“I think we’ve got a fighter.” the rough-voiced alpha palms his crotch.

My stomach churns and my mind races. How do I get Stefan out of this?

“Are you two lost?” I ask, trying to buy time as I check out the ground around my bare feet. There are no rocks or sticks to use as weapons. Just smooth, lush grass. Fuck .

“Lost?” Ponytail snorts. “Did you hear that, Cardis?” He smirks at the other alpha. “This sweet creature is worried we might be lost.”

Cardis chuckles as he steps up next to his brother. “We’re not lost, sweetheart.” He crosses his arms, dropping his gaze from my face, down my dirty shirt and mud-crusted pants. He licks his lips, and I notice the tip of his dick sticking out of his waistband.

“How about this?” I take a careful step toward them. My body screams for me to turn and run, but my determination keeps me in place. “How about the three of us head over to the clearing.” I look past them at the way we came. “We can have some fun.”

“The three of us?” Ponytail’s brows jut upward. “I think you’re missing someone.” His hungry gaze drifts to Stefan behind me.

“He’s sick,” I say, panic seeping into my strained voice. “Caught some kind of virus that gave him a bubbling rash all along his chest and?—”

“Mari!” Stefan’s breath is still coming out in harsh pants. “Don’t?—”

“Shut up!” I snap, not daring to look back at him. I know if I do, I’ll burst into tears, and the last thing I want to do right now is cry in front of these assholes. “How about it?” I look between the two alphas.

“Bubbling rash?” Cardis’s upper lip curls in disgust.

“She’s lying,” Ponytail says. “She doesn’t want us to touch him.” Cardis’s eyes go wide. It’s obvious the idiot didn’t even consider that. “Are you untouched?” Ponytail says loudly to Stefan. “Do you have a virgin ass?”

“He’s a child,” I snap as my nerves stretch tighter. “He’s underage and sick.”

Stefan isn’t underage. At least I don't think he is.

It’s impossible to keep track of the days out here. The only thing I know for sure is that we’ve seen two winters since we ran away. Stefan should be eighteen, or he will be soon. But it doesn’t really matter.

All I want is for him to be able to see tomorrow morning.

“I’ve never fucked a virgin before,” Cardis’s gravelly voice makes my whole body tense.

“Pure omegas catch more money. And since he’s a male, that’ll actually make him worth something,” Ponytail says to his brother. “Donovan won’t be too pleased if you destroy his inventory.”

Cardis’s eyes narrow as he thinks it over. “You know that bringing in two used omegas will still catch Don a decent amount of money. Someone will want to play with that boy no matter what condition he’s in.” His hungry gaze cuts to me. He licks his lips before looking back at his brother. “And the girl is young and attractive. She’ll make plenty of money for the both of them, and you know it.”

Ponytail tilts his head to one side as he considers that. “I guess that’s true.”

“Come on,” Cardis prods his brother. “We deserve to indulge every now and then. Let loose.” His voice slips into a husky growl. “You can’t put a price on getting to enjoy virgin slick.”

Cold fear cuts through my veins, and I inch backward, closer to Stefan.

Ponytail snorts, then his face contorts into an evil grin. “I guess it’s not like Donovan will know.” The pair throw their heads back, filling the quiet trees with their booming laughs.

“Don’t you fucking dare,” I growl, flashing my teeth.

Ponytail laughs even harder and his brother does the same. “You’ve got fire.” He takes a step over a twisted root toward me, and terror tightens my throat. “I bet you’ll be fun to break in.” He grabs his cock through his pants, squeezing it.

“Run!” I scream, then rush Ponytail, slamming into his rock-hard chest. His heels catch on the root, and his arms flail as he falls flat on his ass. “Run!” I turn my attention to Cardis, slapping at his face and arms. The alpha hisses as I scratch the skin next to one eye.

“You fucking bitch!” Cardis’s fist plows into my stomach, making my body curl and my knees buckle.

I heave and gag, every muscle in my body pulling tight as I suck in ragged breaths.

“Don’t let go of him!” Cardis yells at his brother as he takes a few steps past me.

Fear for my sweet baby brother burns through me, and I force myself onto my feet.

Stefan lets out a pained yip and I jump onto Cardis’s back. Frantic, I punch and slap and hit and scream, pouring all my rage and frustration out on the back of the alpha’s head. He lets out a vicious growl, stumbling toward the edge of the cliff.

I eye the sudden drop, taking note of a few thin roots jutting out along the ledge. If I can get this asshole a little closer, I can shove him off. I don’t think the roots would be strong enough to hold the alpha's weight, should he try to climb back up. I hope.

“Careful!” Ponytail yells right as Cardis’s whole body jerks.

My excitement immediately turns to shock when my body is heaved to one side, and I’m thrown into the air.

My eyes go wide as I begin to fall, thin twigs and roots slapping my back. I don’t have time to panic for my own life, because all I can think about is Stefan.

My baby brother is all alone as I fall through the air.

Down.

Down.

Down.

Then pain bursts behind my eyes, and everything goes dark.