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The spell, whatever was holding us, snaps, leaving me free to breathe easier.

Bailey is looking between us all but ends up staring at me.

“You don’t want this, remember? You want normal so you can stop being who you were born to be and live a lie. Go back to your world, Bailey Raines, and leave me alone.” I turn to Pack Dread. “And you.” I let all the loathing I feel enter my tone. “You had and lost your chance. I will never, ever be yours.”

There’s a long silence, and then Mael, who looks demonic in the low afternoon gloom, starts to laugh.

I widen my stance and glare at him. “What’s so funny?”

“You’ve always been ours.”

It’s a threat and a promise. It’s something I’ve heard a million times in my dreams. But never out loud, not in that tone, not in a way that has every single part of me hoping he means it.

How is it that everything I’ve ever wanted is being offered on a silver platter now? I’m strong.

I am good on my own. I don’t need them now.

I brace myself as he moves slowly towards me, but he doesn’t touch me. He just leans in close enough that I can see the edges of the scars peeking out from under his top.

“Run if you want. It will just make it more interesting.”

I shove at him, but he preempts my attack, catching my wrists and kicking my feet out from under me. I find myself lying on my back on my kitchen counter, my legs spread and Mael pressed between them, leaning over me.

“You think we’re going to walk away from you again?” he whispers and leans down.

I’m helpless, horrified, turned on, and so desperate I could scream as he lowers his lips to mine. I don’t kiss him back. I refuse to move, but I don’t try to fight him either.

It’s Mael. I’d never win. I’m not a hundred percent positive I’d want to. He’s infinitely gentle, his lips a whisper that leave me shuddering and trying to hold in a moan. When his fingers skate over my hip bones, I struggle, panicking, but he lifts his head and looks at me.

“Shh, it’s all right, Sel. I’m not going to hurt you.”

He will, though, because there are more ways to hurt someone than to hit them. Words hurt more. Actions can destroy someone. Watching them walk away again might steal all my will to live.

I might beg them again.

I might cry.

For weeks, months, and then whenever I’m alone and the memories of them come back, I’ll find I still have tears to shed.

“NO!” I shout and struggle free. When I look back, Mael is watching me with a look I recognise. He’s not giving up. He’s just letting me go.

I snarl at Edric when he steps towards me, shifting so my back is to the fridge. Why is my house so small?

“What is wrong with you? You left. You found your omega and left.”

Edric grins. It’s feral and so violent. “She just wasn’t you.”

There is something so sinister about those words that I hesitate. I want to demand the whole story and find out, but Mael clears his throat, and the three of them leave.

No goodbye, no words of affection. They just walk out.

I hate it.

“Just leave, then!” I shout.

Edric whirls, and he’s on me before I can speak. “We’re not saying goodbye because we’ll be back in an hour. Pretty girl, our crazy omega. Don’t fret, we’re not going to make that mistake again.”

I snarl, but Edric leans in, and when I raise my hand to slap him, he captures it. His grip isn’t painful, but he holds me so I can’t move. He turns his head towards my hand and nuzzles my palm. I try to curl my fingers, but, before I can, he licks slowly up my palm.