Sitting on the Floor

Mari

D assy must have told Everly about my odd behavior, because it doesn’t take long before the beta knocks at my door. When she asks if I’m okay, I want to scream that her mate is a lying, piece of shit, asshole that belonged to a pack that got off on hurting omegas. But I don’t say any of that. Instead, I tell her I have a headache and to please go away. I’m shocked when she does as I ask, and her little feet disappear back down the hallway.

I cry for a solid twenty minutes before pulling myself off the floor. Any deep sadness or betrayal I felt at Dassy being a member of the Tenus pack is gone, and now I’m just angry as I frantically pack my bag.

“Socks,” I whisper to myself as I open my top dresser drawer. “I need all the socks.” Socks are especially hard to replace out in the wild. A lot of alphas prefer going barefoot in the forest. They simply don’t have them for me to steal in the middle of the night. And taking care of your feet is a big priority when you live in the wild. A blister or even an ingrown nail can wreak havoc on your whole body.

I shove every pair of socks I own, as well as a few pairs of underwear, into my bag. The jeans I have on aren’t very comfortable, but they’re durable and that’s all that matters. I also pack a thick sweater for the winter months, and an extra pair of sneakers. No need to pack any more clothes. I’ll find more when these wear out.

Sitting on the floor, I slip on my sneakers, but my fingers fumble with the laces. Try as I might to get them tied, my hands won’t stop trembling. Frustrated, I drop the laces, then squeeze my hands into tight balls.

“Calm down, Mari.” I pull in a deep breath, not understanding what’s happening to my body. The tremor works its way up my hands to my shoulders, and down to my hips. “Get up,” I command myself, ignoring the laces entirely.

Once on my feet, I scan the whole bedroom, making sure I’ve got everything important. My eyes linger on my little nest and tears well in the corners. It’s the only nest I’ve ever owned, and it’s agony to leave it. But the sun is about to go down, and I’ll need to leave soon if I want to get any distance from here before nightfall hits.

Gritting my teeth, I turn my back to the alcove, and stare at my dresser. Time to go , I think to myself as I lift the white porcelain tray.

For half a second, I blink repeatedly, struggling to understand why my map isn’t there. Then panic slams into me. “Fuck!” I yell much louder than I intend.

Still holding the tray, I spin and stare at the door, suddenly scared that Hutch is in the hallway right now, listening to everything I’m doing. But I don’t hear anything. No movement or rattle of the doorknob.

I turn back to the dresser, examining the mess of jewelry on the top of the tray— maybe the map is somewhere underneath? But it’s a futile search, and I quickly drop the tray back onto the dresser. The hollow clanking sound of porcelain connecting with wood makes me jump. I need to calm down, but I can’t. I’m freaking-the-fuck-out.

Where is my map?!

My hands continue to shake as I rip open the top dresser drawer. Maybe I put it inside one of them and I just don’t remember. It’s not likely, but I’m desperate right now. I tear through every single drawer, flinging clothes all over my room. They land across the carpet, Everly’s once neatly folded shirts and shorts now in scattered piles.

Defeat begins to creep in, but before I can decide what to do next, my bedroom door pushes open, and Izan steps inside.

I fucking hate that my door won’t lock.

“I want to be alone,” I snarl at the alpha.

His dark eyes take in my angry expression and wild hair, before scanning the mess on the carpet, then finally his gaze lands on my bag at my feet. The small black duffle bag sits open, with all my supplies exposed for him to see. An extra pair of shoes, socks, a few bottles of water, and some protein bars I stole from the kitchen.

“I said leave!” I run at him, shoving hard at his chest. “Get out!”

He doesn’t move an inch. In fact, his big body seems to harden and his scent grows thicker, making my trembling even worse. The dominant power that radiates off of him is intense, and my omega body instinctively curls in on itself.

“Going somewhere?” Izan’s tone is dangerously low. Obviously pissed.

I open my mouth, struggling to find my words. “I…” My feet move, backing up. “I’m not?—”

Izan’s hands fly up to snatch me, and I spin. I run as fast as my legs will go, racing to the only place I know I’m safe—my nest. I reach the edge of the alcove but right before my feet can touch the soft safety of the mattress, a large hand curls around my upper arm, yanking me backward.

My body smacks into Izan’s unforgiving chest—my shoulder hitting especially hard. “Let me go!” I raise my fists, slamming both of them into his chest over and over again. He doesn’t even flinch, acting like my hits feel like nothing. And they probably do.

“You can’t leave us, Mari,” he growls through gritted teeth. “You belong to me.” His hold on my arm tightens, his fingertips bite into my sensitive skin.

Tipping my chin up, I yell right in his face, “Fuck you!”

The second the words leave my mouth, I know I’ve fucked up.

The air around me is suddenly thick with rage. It radiates off of Izan, pouring from the tense cut of his jaw down to his clenched abs. And the look in his eyes is like nothing I’ve ever seen from the alpha—it’s all rage. But he doesn’t scream. He doesn’t beat me or insult me either.

Instead, he slowly leans down, staring intently into my eyes as he brings his face to mine. His silent stare says more than any words could. It demands submission. And the longer he stares into my eyes, the harder my body shakes with the overwhelming need to yield. But I hold out, keeping my eyes locked with his, not backing down.

“Mari,” Izan growls my name so deep and low that it vibrates through the air, slicing through me like a fucking blade.

I blink, too scared to actually speak.

Izan’s upper lip twitches, flashing his teeth. They're pointed, his alpha-fangs on full display to show me how much more impressive he is than me. Then a single word leaves his mouth, but it’s so much more than a word. It’s a command. An order. A sentence. “Submit.”

My knees instantly buckle and my body goes limp, but Izan catches me before I can hit the floor. He flings me over his shoulder, then marches out of my room.

I dangle, my arms swaying as he carries me to his bedroom. The position is awkward, his hard body shoving into my stomach. It makes my face hot and my abs cramp, but I can’t move. My omega instincts demand that I obey for my own survival, and right now, that means complete paralysis.

I don’t know what he has planned for me. Probably a spanking. Izan isn’t the kind to use a cane or belt….at least I don’t think he is. But I guess you don’t really know what an alpha is capable of until you’ve pissed him off.

Everly’s lavender scent passes us, and I look up in time to see the beta’s dark brown hair flutter around the corner. I want to call out to her. To beg her to come and save me, but I know for a fact she’ll do it and then she’ll be in trouble too.

Izan slams the bedroom door behind us, then tosses me on his bed. He doesn’t give me time to settle or think as he pulls at my shirt, tugging it over my head. Then he tosses my untied shoes across the room and shreds my jeans and underwear off me. The sudden rush of cool air on my skin breaks my body’s trance and I twist, trying to get away from him.

“Don’t fight me, Mari,” he warns as he grabs my ankle, pulling my body back down to him. It’s not a command—he never uses his alpha voice in the bedroom—but it's definitely more forceful than I’m used to with him. Izan is always in control and even a little playful when fucking me, but never angry. “Be a good girl, and be still.”

Ignoring his calm request, I try to crawl away again, but this time he manhandles me much more aggressively. He shoves me onto my back, then wrenches my knees wide apart.

“Don’t move.” His dark eyes narrow, giving me a pointed look. I consider twisting away from him again but decide against it. It’s probably best to get this over with. Once Izan is convinced that I won’t move, he slowly removes his belt. “Keep your legs spread,” he says firmly. “I want to see that pink pussy drip.”

A fresh wave of his potent vanilla apple scent hits the air and my back naturally arches as my nipples tighten. Izan smirks at the effect he has on me as he unbuttons his shirt, one by one, pulling it off his shoulders and tossing it away. I glance at the door, knowing that even if I do run, it would only turn Izan on even more. And not to mention the twins. Dassy and Hutch would be alive with excitement to chase and rut me.

Dassy.

How did things end up like this?

How did I end up so deeply betrayed by a pack that I never wanted?

There’s a soft tap as Izan places his cell phone on the nightstand next to the weird marble lamp. I stare at his damn phone while he undoes his pants, freeing his giant cock.

I hate how easy life is for everyone but omegas.

I’ve spent weeks searching and sneaking, trying like crazy to get my hands on a computer, and Izan has one in his fucking pocket.

“Be good for me, Mari,” he says as he repositions me, placing my head on the pillow next to the nightstand and pulling one arm above my head. I’m still glaring at his goddamn phone, fantasizing about smashing it into a million pieces, when something clasps around my wrist. Izan tightens it before I can register what’s happened.

“What the fuck?” I tug at the restraint, trying to pull myself free, but the knot is weird, and it tightens every time I move.

“This is for your own safety.” Izan gets onto the bed, positioning himself between my legs.

“No, it’s not!” I yell, shocked that he’d do this to me. Flashes of chains and pain and one particularly torturous night rushes through my mind. “You just don’t want me to fight back so you can do whatever you want to me.” I kick out, growling and scratching at Izan’s big body. “You’re like all those other alphas!” My chin quivers. “I’m just a thing for you to use. Something for you to play with and throw away.”

Shock flickers across Izan’s face, followed by deep sadness. It pulls the corner of his eyes and his mouth slips into a frown. I snarl, hating the way he’s looking at me.

“Oh, my sweet omega.” Izan’s voice is soft and painfully tender. “You know I would never hurt you.”

“You already are.” I glance up at the nylon rope holding me in place. My skin is already pink from all the twisting and tugging. “Is there something about me that makes men like you crave violence?” My nose is running, making me sniff loudly. “Why does everyone want to hurt me?” My voice is a high-pitched whine but I push it to shift and grow, morphing into a mighty scream.

And I scream and scream and scream as loud as I can.

Izan doesn’t do anything. He watches me, his hands resting on either side of my hips while I shout all my pain out into the room.

When I’m finally done, I pant, sucking in big breaths of air.

I’m so weak right now. I know it’s because my heat is near and my heart is broken. And with Izan’s rock-hard body looming over mine, I fear I might be pushed into my heat sooner rather than later. But there’s no fighting it now.

Desperate to push away my growing distress, I close my eyes, and pull in the deepest breath I can. A swift wash of alpha pheromones soaks into me, making my belly tingle and my head light. But it gives me the effect I need, and the knot in my chest slowly uncurls.

“Omega.” Izan’s voice is as calm as ever. Even and soft. Almost as if we’re not both completely naked and about to fuck. “I am so sorry, my love.”

His affection makes me snarl. “Screw you.” But he doesn’t seem affected at all by my ugly words.

“I never want to hurt you.” He places one big hand over my heart, then he slowly drags it down between my breasts. The pressure is firm, almost relaxing. “You are such an amazing person. You care so deeply?—”

“You don’t know anything about me,” I snap with far too much attitude. I don’t know why I’m challenging him, but the big alpha isn’t stopping me. He’s letting me disrespect him. “You haven’t even been here. All you care about is your fucking job.”

A flash of something moves through his eyes. Regret? Guilt? I don’t know. But it’s not the anger I expected. “You’re right,” he says simply. “I haven’t done my job as your pack alpha. I should have been here with you. Loving and bonding with you.” He leans down over me. His head is right above mine, his black hair brushing into the corners of his eyes. “But I do know you, Marigold.”

I glance away, tugging at my bindings once again. The ropes creak and pinch.

Izan shifts, resting one of his elbows next to my head and slipping the other hand under my tied-up arm so he can hold the back of my head. “Before we claimed you, we spoke every week for months at Havenfield. We got to know you pretty well.”

I want to laugh in his face if he thinks that was ever the real me. But I don’t say anything. There’s no point.

“You are a complicated woman, Marigold.” He uses my proper name for the second time in a row, making me clench my teeth. “You might still have a lot of secrets, but I do know you.” His eyes darken. “Your voice pitches a little too high when you’re pretending to be happy. And your fake smile pulls flat while the real one makes your eyes crinkle.” His fingers brush against my cheekbone. “Your tone drops when you talk about something that excites you. You never insult the food you don’t like, but you do play with it, pushing it all around your plate until mealtime is over.” He smiles like it’s adorable and I frown.

“I’m not a toddler,” I snip, not pleased with his description…even if it is accurate.

“You like to be in control at all times,” he continues, cradling my face so I can’t look away. “You don’t like to sit still and get restless when you’ve been in one room for too long.” His deep green eyes narrow and a twist of confusion etches between his brows. “You also get very agitated when you can’t see the exit.”

I tilt my head, not understanding what he means. I don’t do that . But I’ll be damned if I say that out loud.

“You also get very excited when you draw blood.” Izan’s voice drops to a rumbling purr and my gaze flickers to the fading scratch marks on his chest. Every night I carve out brand-new marks, and every night he begs for more.

“I’m not the only one that gets off on it.” I wanted my words to sound like an insult, but my voice is too throaty, almost like a purr.

A spark of something mischievous flashes in Izan’s eyes and his hips rock against my body. His cock slides against my folds, making me realize how wet I am. The effect this alpha has on me is maddening. The tip of his member hits my clit and my eyes roll into the back of my head. If there’s one thing I will always love Izan for, it’s teaching me to appreciate the pleasure my body can give me.

Before Izan, the feel of an alpha’s body on top of mine was terrifying. Suffocating. A cock was a weapon meant to cause pain, not bring pleasure. But he’s changed all of that. Now I crave his warm chest pressed against mine. I love that he can get me wet with a single look, and that he makes me feel like I can say or do anything without any fear of being beaten or mocked.

But I can’t stop seeing that old tattoo on Dassy’s stomach. Did he roam the woods with Cardis and Andros back in the day? Did Dassy pray on creatures that were much weaker than him? How many omegas saw that tattoo right before he raped them?

No. I can’t stay here.

As much as it breaks my heart, I need to leave before these alphas cause me any more pain...once Izan is done with me. I just need to feel him inside me one more time.

“Fuck, you’re so soft,” Izan hums as he places lingering kisses along my neck and down my chest. He sucks at one of my breasts and then the other, plucking at each one of my nipples.

A breathy moan escapes me before I can catch it, followed by a needy whine. I’m so exposed in his arms. Nothing but raw emotion and savage desire. And I need more.

Izan continues his path down my body, dipping his tongue into my belly button, before kissing and nipping at my hips. He reaches the apex of my thighs and I tense. But instead of falling into me, Izan takes his time, kissing each one of my ugly scars. He squeezes my hips and licks my skin, his breath deep and rumbly. It’s so… relaxing .

And then he stops.

I lift my head to see the alpha admiring my pussy. He licks his lips, looking like he wants nothing more than to taste me. And as I predicted, his green eyes meet mine, and it’s obvious he’s asking for permission. My body craves it, slick pouring from me like a goddamn fountain, but I don’t want Izan to touch me like that. I can’t trust him. Dassy is proof of that. I invited the big blond alpha into my nest and not ten minutes later, I found out he was a member of the fucking Tenus pack. Izan probably has secrets too. It only makes sense that they’re all hiding things from me.

“Do whatever you want,” I say with a defeated shake of my head. “It doesn't matter.”

A shadow crosses Izan’s handsome face, and for a second, I think he’s going to devour me. But then he shocks me, by crawling back up my body.

“I will go down on you,” he says like it’s a threat. “But only when you ask me to. And, Mari,” he grabs my chin, not allowing me to move, “You will ask me.”

I open my mouth, ready to tell the alpha off, but Izan surges his hips forward, shoving his cock deep inside me in one mighty thrust. I call out from the force of it, and I swear my belly swells when his hips fall flush with mine.

“Fuuuuck.” The filthy word erupts from my lips as the alpha begins to fuck me.

Izan knows exactly what he’s doing, building the tension between my legs with slow, steady movements. He plays my body so well, hitting that magical bundle of nerves a little harder each time. Desperate to feel him even deeper, I try to widen my legs, but I’m already spread as far as I can go. Then, as if reading my mind, Izan flings one of my legs over his shoulder and then pushes my other leg up and out, forcing my restrained hand to hold it. I’m spread so open in this position, one leg outstretched and the other popping up into the air with each animalistic thrust.

“Do you feel how deep that cock is?” Izan growls. “Do you feel me in your guts?”

“Yuh-yes.” I tilt my head back as his dick spears me, faster and faster, until I break apart, coming so hard my vision blurs and the muscles in my neck strain. Instinct takes hold and I turn my head to one side, exposing my neck.

“I’m gonna fill you up.” Izan kisses beneath my ear, still fucking me in long hard strokes, milking every drop of pleasure from my body. “Do you want my knot, omega?” His gravelly voice skates across my skin. “Do you want that pussy ruined?”

I nod, delirious as my orgasm continues to roll within me. It’s like one continuous rush of pleasure, ripping my mind and body to pieces. “Give it to me!” My words are a garbled mess as I moan and gasp.

Izan growls into the room and his hips falter, struggling to maintain his steady pace, then his cock twitches. There’s a splash of heat inside me, but the sensation only lasts for a moment, quickly overpowered by the feel of teeth tearing into my flesh.

A violent scream erupts from my throat and my cunt burns as it’s stretched by the first swell of Izan’s knot. I kick and thrash trying to escape the pain that’s ripping through me. He grunts against my skin as if in pain, then slams his hips into me, wedging it deeper and deeper. Another orgasm takes hold and my pussy spasms on the knot, milking his cock, sucking up every last drop of cum the alpha has to offer.

Once the pleasure fades, I whimper, too exhausted to scream. Then a soft sob pushes from my throat as the sensations happening inside my body fully hits me. “ Painful ” doesn't describe it. The mating bite burns, like fire or acid, bubbling beneath the surface of my skin. In my mind, my flesh is tearing away and sluicing off of my bones as blood puddles beneath me. None of that is true, but it feels like it.

Omegas are supposed to be in heat when they’re marked. The disconnect between pleasure and pain is so important when forging a physical bond between an alpha and an omega. But I’m not in heat. I’m completely lucid, trapped in my body, and forced to feel every agonizing moment as my body is flooded with Izan’s claim. If there is any mercy in this world, I would pass out or just die, but the universe hates me too much for even the smallest kindness.

Izan’s fangs finally disengage, but his cock keeps pumping cum inside me. He’s silent, only purring, as his tongue licks over the wound. It soothes the sting in my neck a bit, but my pussy feels completely broken.

And then it hits me: I’ve been marked.

Claimed.

Mated.

Shit .