My knuckles turn white as I grip the armrest of my seat in a death grip when the plane takes off. It’s only a two-hour flight to Little Rock, but I already feel like it’s going to be the longest two hours of my life.
Especially sitting next to my ex, who tried to kill me.
The silence between us is suffocating, driving my anxiety higher as I wonder about his intentions. I stare pointedly out the window while my heart thumps like a drum.
Maybe if I act like he’s not there, he’ll leave me alone.
It’s just wishful thinking, though, because when the seatbelt lights are switched off, and we can move through the cabin freely, I hear the click of his belt buckle and feel him lean into me.
Zorin’s breath is hot against the side of my face, the stench of alcohol turning my already sensitive stomach into a writhing mess. I’m pressed against the cabin wall with nowhere else to go, and I hear Zorin chuckle as he presses in even closer.
“What do you want from me?” I ask, fighting back tears and trying to stay strong.
“Oh, Lena,” he whispers menacingly in my ear. “I should have killed you all those years ago when I had the chance, preferably before I threw you out of the car that night. I’m surprised by the hold you seem to have on those other alphas. Do they have something I don’t?”
“Yes, they most certainly do,” I reply in a steely voice, gripping the armrest so tightly I feel it might snap. “They have love and compassion for others—traits you’re severely lacking, Zorin.”
He hums thoughtfully, then dismisses it with a derisive snort. “Either way, it doesn’t matter. You’ve always been a worthless omega—the most pathetic of them all.” He hisses the last part, venom dripping from each word, and I shrink inward, trying to ignore him.
Hot tears stream down my face, and I try to hide them with the scarf around my neck. I don’t want him to see me crying and realize that his words still affect me. Any courage I thought I had gained in the last four years of being away from him seems to have vanished, and I feel like my old self again—the sad, defenseless omega who comes crawling back whenever he speaks to me.
For some reason, his scent is now repulsive to me; it was always alluring in the past.
A small voice in the back of my mind whispers that I should never have left Damon and his pack. I’m starting to regret my decision to leave the safety of the caring alphas I met, but it’s far too late for that now.
“But why are you following me?”
“I know all about the pup you’re carrying,” Zorin states coldly, and my eyes snap to his face. “And I’m here because of what your pack did to mine. They killed Thomas.”
“How do you know about the baby?” I whisper, horrified, my blood running cold at the smug expression on his face. There’s no way he could know about the baby.
“Oh yes,” he whispers. “I can smell it on you. Why did you have to be so useless when you were my omega? Giving me and my pack a baby would have made you much more valuable.”
“Why is this any of your business now?”
He taps his chin in thought, then smiles cruelly. “I might have finally found a use for you.”
I swallow hard, trying to muster the strength to block him out. I can’t go back to who I was before. It’s not just me that I have to think about anymore. I have to protect the baby now, too.
“I’m not interested in playing your games, Zorin,” I say sharply, straightening my shoulders. “I’ve got a new pack now. They’ll kill you if you try to take me away from them.”
“Where are they now?” he asks coldly. “They’re clearly not interested in marking you. I’ll accept you and the baby as a peace offering, even though your pack deserves to be obliterated for killing Thomas.”
“Never. I’m not their omega anymore anyway,” I say, trying to infuse as much bravado as possible into my voice. The more he believes that Damon, Max, and Gunnar are coming after him, the more he’ll make my life miserable.
“Have you said anything to them about me, Aleks, and Raul? Did you tell them about us?” he asks suddenly.
Oh, he’s worried.
I’m taken aback by his question, noticing the deep concern in his eyes. Is he worried that I might spill his secrets to another pack? Expose the abuse he inflicted on me? Judging by the look in his eyes, I realize it would be unwise to tell the truth, so I shake my head.
“No way. You’re not worth my time,” I say weakly, the strength I had mustered a moment ago slowly fading.
“Good,” he replies, facing forward. I let out a tiny sigh of relief, but it’s short-lived when I feel his hand on my thigh.
He squeezes my thigh, and it hurts as I hold back a cry. I wince in pain as he continues to squeeze harder, leaving what will undoubtedly be bruises behind.
The memory of Gunnar touching my thigh at the restaurant last night crosses my mind, and I can’t help but think how different Zorin’s touch is compared to Gunnar’s. Gunnar’s touch was gentle, while Zorin’s is hard and aggressive, hurting me just for the pleasure of it.
There is no love, kindness, or care in him. Zorin is pure evil.
“Stop,” I gasp out loud, and the stewardess glances at me.
“Am I hurting you, little omega?” he mocks, digging his fingers into my skin. The fabric of my leggings is thin, and I can feel his nails scratching my thigh.
“You are. You need to stop before I call someone.”
“Now that you’re pregnant, Lena, you’re finally of some use to me. I want to make you my omega,” he says, a maniacal look in his eye.
My heart races at the words coming from Zorin’s mouth. His omega? After everything he’s done to me?
I glance around frantically, but there’s nowhere to go. I’m right at the back of the plane, with Zorin sitting next to me, blocking any escape I might have had. I’m trapped, and the realization sends me into hyperventilation.
My mind flashes back to the last night I saw Zorin and his pack, the way they beat me and left me for dead in the middle of the night. I can’t allow myself to end up in that situation again, but I don’t see another way out. He laughs softly at my reaction, that evil smirk returning to his face.
“Water or orange juice?” asks the flight attendant, and he releases me instantly.
“Water,” Zorin replies smoothly, adopting his charming business tone as if he hadn’t just been squeezing my thigh. “Much appreciated.”
“And you, ma’am?” the attendant asks.
“I’ll take the same,” I say, striving to keep my voice even and calm.
I sink further into my seat, trying to create as much distance as possible between myself and this deranged wolf in the cramped space. Eventually, he shifts his focus, trying to catch the flight attendant’s attention, and I seize the opportunity to really look at him.
Once a handsome alpha, he now appears disheveled and unkempt. His hair is long and untidy, and his suit hangs loosely on him. A dark shadow of stubble marks his jaw, where he is usually clean-shaven. I briefly wonder what caused him to spiral like this. Was it finally seeing me happy without him and his cronies? Did he even have any mercy left in him?
Before I can stop myself, the words spill out, “How did you know where to find me?”
“I wasn’t looking for you. You’re not that important, my dear,” he says, chuckling. “When your pack killed Thomas, I had to investigate. And what a surprise when I find out you’re spreading your legs for them in that god-awful library of yours?”
I gulp, thinking about him watching me get knotted during my heat in the library. There were giant windows surrounding the library, and there was a chance he could have been watching me the entire time.
“They should be the ones you’re mad at,” I say, as I take a shaky sip of my water. “I’m not the one who killed him.”
“The only way to get back at them is to steal something that’s precious to them. Isn’t that right?” says Zorin, cracking his fingers over his cup of untouched water. “So you’re going to be my omega now.”
“You wanted me dead,” I whisper harshly. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten that night.”
“It won’t happen again unless you do something out of line,” he says, leaning back and closing his eyes. “I suggest you get some rest before I take you to your new home.”
I take deep breaths to calm myself.
For weeks, I felt like someone was watching me until I saw the camera footage of Zorin. Initially, I thought it was Damon and his pack keeping an eye on me for protection, but now I realize it was Zorin all along.
They had been watching me for weeks, possibly months, and I hadn’t known. I suppress a shiver. Nothing is as I thought it was.
The two-hour flight from D.C. to Little Rock passes agonizingly slowly.
Flying is usually my time to relax and nap, but this flight has me on edge. It feels like time is moving in slow motion.
My mind races as I try to devise an escape plan. Zorin won’t let me out of his sight once we land.
I need to be smart and slip away without him noticing.
Finally, the captain announces that we’re descending and will land at the airport shortly.
“Don’t even think about trying to pull a fast one on me,” Zorin growls in my ear as soon as we land. “You know you can’t outrun me. You’re an omega, and I’m an alpha. Remember that.”
I nod mutely, knowing it’s in my best interest to act meek and mild. Zorin is relying on my fear to ensure compliance, and that’s exactly what I’ll do. He has no idea I’ve grown stronger over the past few years without him constantly belittling me.
We disembark from the plane and head to collect our luggage. Zorin stays close, like glue.
He keeps a firm grip on my arm, watching me like a hawk. Suddenly, an idea pops into my mind, and I seize the opportunity as I grab my luggage.
“Zorin,” I say quietly, hoping my meek act is convincing. “I need to use the bathroom.”
“Can’t you hold it?” he grunts.
I shake my head. “No, I don’t feel well. I’ve been battling morning sickness, and I feel like I might throw up. I feel faint.” I place a hand on my stomach and wobble on my feet, trying to make my sickness more believable.
“Fine. Just go,” he mutters under his breath, shoving me toward the bathrooms. He follows closely behind, keeping a watchful eye on me despite my claims of illness.
“Thank you,” I say gratefully.
“I’ll be right outside waiting, so no funny business,” he warns.
I nod and open the ladies’ room door, disappearing inside.
I quickly hurry into a stall and shut the door, digging through my handbag for my scent-blocker cream. Thank God I had the foresight to pack it in my carry-on luggage. Although I had hoped to remain hidden from the alphas, Zorin’s reappearance is as good a reason to make myself invisible.
Heart pounding, I strip off my clothes as quickly as possible, furiously rubbing the scent-blocker lotion onto every inch of skin I can reach. The scar on my arm is puckered and ugly, a stark reminder of what Zorin can do if I don’t escape. Not willing to take any chances, I apply more lotion to my toes.
I would rather be safe than sorry.
Once I’m dressed again, I shove the lotion back into my handbag and spot the perfume I also packed. An idea occurs to me, and I spray some on, hoping it will further mask my scent. The fragrance is entirely new to me, one I’ve never used before, so I’m hopeful Zorin won’t recognize me beneath it.
I hurriedly put everything back in place with shaking hands and pulled my clothes on.
I don’t know how long I have left to hide here. Zorin is impatient, and I know that if I take too long, he won’t hesitate to barge into the bathroom looking for me.
Reaching for my phone in my purse, my heart races, hoping Zorin won’t hear me. I never should have flown by myself. I should never have left the safety and comfort of my pack.
Now, there’s only one thing left to do.
I dial the number and bring the phone to my ear. My heart races and my breaths come in short pants. Damon answers on the first ring.
“Lena?”
