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sixteen

. . .

Kane

I can't stop pacing. My office feels too small, too confined for the energy coursing through my veins. The scent of honey scent lingers in the air despite Mia being nowhere near me, and it's driving me fucking insane.

I grip the edge of my desk, my knuckles turning white as I try to regain control over my thoughts. Mia. Always Mia. The omega has completely upended my carefully constructed world in just a few days.

I need to focus, to think about the pack, about our safety, but all I can think about are her soft curves, those frightened doe eyes, and the way she trembles when I’m near.

A growl builds in my chest as I push off from the desk and resume my pacing. The clock on the wall tells me Finn and Mia should have been back by now.

The door to my office swings open, and Finn walks in with a smile. Immediately, my senses sharpen.

“Well?” I demand, stopping my pacing to face him fully. “Did you get everything?”

Finn nods, crossing his arms over his chest. “Everything went smoothly. We got all of her stuff. Not that she had much.” His smile widens just slightly, but it’s enough to set me on edge.

“What else happened?” I take a step closer, scanning his face for any sign of deception. “You look pleased with yourself.”

“Nothing happened,” Finn says, but there’s a glint in his dark green eyes that tells me otherwise. “Her ex was there, so I talked to him a little. We were in and out.”

I narrow my eyes, studying him. Finn is the quietest of us three, the most reserved, but also the most dangerous when provoked. That slight smile unnerves me.

“You’re lying,” I say flatly. “What happened with Mia?”

Finn’s eyebrow rises slightly. “Who said anything happened with Mia?”

“Did you touch her?” The question comes out as a snarl, my control slipping. “Did you do something to her that could threaten our plans? Like knotting her?”

That devilish glint in his eyes grows brighter, and my wolf rages. My hands clench into fists at my sides.

“It’s none of your business.”

“Answer me, Finn. What did you do?”

Before he can respond, a soft gasp from the doorway draws our attention. Mia stands there, her hazel eyes wide and lips parted in surprise.

She’s wearing one of my T-shirts, the one I deliberately left in her room, which hangs mid-thigh, exposing the creamy skin of her legs. My mouth goes dry at the sight, but alarm quickly replaces desire when I notice her expression.

“Is everything okay?” she asks, her voice small and uncertain. Finn doesn’t turn to look at me, but I can sense his amusement, which only fuels my irritation.

“It’s none of your concern,” I snap, harsher than intended. The moment the words leave my mouth, I regret them.

Mia’s face blanches, all color draining away, and she takes a small step back as if I’d physically struck her. Those beautiful eyes fill with hurt, and she wraps her arms around herself protectively.

“I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she says, her voice wavering, and I hate that I caused this.

“Mia-” I begin, but she’s already backing out of the doorway.

“No, it’s fine. I understand,” she says, fleeing down the hallway, the soft padding of her bare feet against the hardwood floor a painful reminder of my mistake.

“Fuck!” I slam my hand against the desk, the wood cracking beneath my palm. I turn to Finn, fury radiating from every pore. “This is your fault. You knotted her, didn’t you? I understand we all want to.”

Finn sighs, rubbing a hand over his face. His amusement has vanished, replaced by exhaustion. “I didn’t ruin anything. I only tasted her, that’s all. You were a total jerk to her just now.”

“Did she like it?” I ask, unable to help myself.

“Every minute of it. But you need to fix this,” Finn says, nodding toward the door. “She thinks she’s unwanted here. After what you just said, she probably thinks you hate her.”

“That’s the last thing…” I start, but Finn cuts me off.

“I know that. You know that. But she doesn’t. Go after her, Kane. Before she convinces herself, she’s better off alone.”

I don’t wait for him to leave. I brush past him and stride down the hallway toward Mia’s room. My mind races with everything I need to say, all the ways I need to apologize. I’ve never been good with words- action has always been my language, but for her, I need to try.

Reaching her door, I pause. My enhanced hearing picks up her soft sniffles from inside, and the sound makes my wolf whine with distress.

I’ve made our omega cry. The realization sits like a stone in my gut. I knock gently, resting my forehead against the cool wood of her door.

“Mia?” I call softly. “Can we talk?”

There’s a moment of silence, and then her small voice answers, “I’d rather be alone right now if that’s okay.”

It’s not okay. Nothing about this is okay.

I want to break down the door, gather her in my arms, and show her just how much she means to me, to all of us. But I know that would only frighten her more.

“I just want to apologize,” I say, fighting to keep my voice gentle.

“It’s fine,” she replies, but her voice is thick with tears. “I understand. I just… I need some time.”

I rest my palm flat against the door, imagining her warmth through the wood. “Take all the time you need. I’ll be here when you’re ready to talk.”

She doesn’t respond, and I don’t push. Instead, I stand there for a long moment, listening to her quiet breathing, hating the distance between us.

Finally, I step back from the door. My wolf is howling in protest, demanding I go to her, comfort her, claim her. But I force myself to turn away. She needs space, and I will give it to her, even if it kills me.

As I walk back toward my office, shame and regret weigh heavily on my shoulders. I’m the alpha of this pack. I’m supposed to protect and care for our omega, not hurt her with careless words.

I’ve screwed everything up, and now I have to find a way to fix it. Somehow, I have to show Mia that she’s special to me, that without her, nothing feels right anymore, and that her honey scent has become as necessary to me as air.

“Fuck,” I whisper, closing my eyes.

Mia

Angry tears well up in my eyes as I stare at my phone, scrolling through apartment listings.

Kane’s words still echo in my mind, cutting deeper than they should, considering I barely know him.

My fingers tremble as I swipe through studios and one-bedroom homes, each listing a reminder of how desperate my situation has become.

I need to get out. I need to escape from Justin. From these strange, intense men who have suddenly invaded my life. From everyone.

“Twelve hundred for a studio?” I whisper to the empty room, swiping past yet another overpriced shoebox. “I’d need to work two jobs.”

I need to find something as cheap as the apartment complex Justin and I shared. I’ve been hiding in this room for hours, nursing my wounded pride and plotting my escape.

The bed beneath me is so soft. It’s nothing like the lumpy mattress Justin and I used to share.

The thought of him sends a fresh wave of anger through me.

It was his idea to put only his name on the lease, claiming it would be "easier" that way.

Easier for him to control me and one more chain binding me to him.

“God, I’m such an idiot,” I mutter, switching to another rental website.

My stomach growls, reminding me I haven’t eaten since breakfast. The hunger pangs twist in my gut, but the thought of venturing out and facing Kane after his outburst makes me curl deeper into myself. Maybe I can wait until everyone’s asleep so I can sneak into the kitchen.

I shift on the bed and feel a distinct coolness between my thighs.

My leggings. The ripped leggings that Finn tore open with those long, dangerous fingers of his.

Heat rushes to my face as I remember what happened in the car.

His hand sliding between my thighs, fingers finding my wetness with such precision.

It was as if he knew my body better than I did.

And the way I spread my legs for him like some desperate, sex-starved animal.

Pressing my thighs together, I feel the edges of the tear in the fabric. I’ve never been so reckless, so willing to be used. Something about these men makes me lose all sense of self-preservation.

My phone screen goes dark, and I catch my reflection in the black mirror, flushed cheeks, swollen lips, and eyes still glassy with unshed tears. I look like a mess.

My stomach growls louder this time, which makes me wince from the pain. I know I’ll have to leave this room eventually.

A soft knock on the door makes me flinch, nearly causing me to drop my phone.

“Mia?” Jace calls. “You in there?”

I hesitate, unsure if I want company, but before I can decide, the door cracks open, and Jace peeks in.

“Hey, there you are.” He pushes the door open wider, revealing a tray balanced in one hand. “Thought you might be hungry.”

The smell hits me immediately- something savory and rich that makes my mouth water. My stomach betrays me with another loud growl, and Jace’s smile widens.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” He steps into the room, kicking the door closed behind him with his foot. “You’ve been hiding out for hours.”

I don’t respond, watching warily as he approaches. He sets the tray on the bedside table. The plate is piled high with pasta in a creamy sauce, accompanied by garlic bread on the side, and what appears to be tiramisu for dessert .

“I’m not hiding,” I say defensively, even though that’s precisely what I’ve been doing. “I’m apartment hunting.”

Jace ignores this, his eyes suddenly fixed on my legs. I follow his gaze and feel my face heat as I realize the tear in my leggings is fully visible, exposing a sliver of my bare pussy. I try to press my thighs together, but Jace’s hand shoots out, resting on my knee.

“Don’t,” he says, his voice dropping an octave. “I like seeing you like this.”

My breath catches in my throat. His hand is warm, gentle, but firm on my knee, and his eyes have darkened to a stormy blue.