Page 118 of Pretty When She Breaks

I paced outside the door, running my fingers through my hair. Why hadn’t she read my messages? There was a spike of pain through the bond, and I growled in frustration, almost letting my aura out. She’d been caught.

That was the only explanation, and now she was facing the wrath of the Lucas pack. For my mistake. I couldn’t stop thinking about how I’d failed her.

Laurel, terrified, flinching away from me the first time I’d rounded on her.

How she hadn’t hesitated to soothe me the first night Ocean had fought, despite having no reason to.

How she’d helped Kaos.

The softness in her when she visited Ocean.

Her fear when the Lucas pack had proposed to her.

How she’d still gotten the data offPrince’s phone.

It doesn’t make sense.

Kaos was right. Laurel wasn’t our enemy. And I’d been too stubborn to admit that in time.

Because I’d dark bonded her.

And sent her right into the jaws of the beast.

I needed to get her out of there, now.

Summary: Prince filmed Madison hurting Laurel, and her blood and pain cause Ocean to go into a rut.

SIXTY-FOUR

The chapter ahead contains a graphic description of non-consensual violence (and sadism) involving the infliction of a knife wound. If you’d justrather not, fair enough. I will include a summary at the start of the next chapter so you still know what happened.

LAUREL

Madison’s meaty hand grabbed my upper arm, and Dax unlocked the door that led to the fight cage. I was dragged along as we made our way toward the ring itself.

I was desperate to get away, frantically trying to think of a way out, but I came up with nothing.

I struggled, trying to dig my heels in and slow us down, but Madison merely grunted and pulled me harder.

“Right there,” Dax said, nodding at the chain-link fence—the closest we could get to the fight without entering the cage itself.

I could see Ocean and the other alpha now, just a couple of feet away. Ocean’s curly hair was tied back, and he was grappling with his opponent with a snarl.

“Look, I’m sorry—please let me go.” My desperation was leaking into my voice, and I couldn’t stop it.

I winced as Ocean took a hit, staggering to the side and just managing to defend himself against his out-of-control opponent.

“Against the side,” Dax said, ignoring me and talking to Madison. I was shoved face-first against the mesh and bars that separated us from the fighters. I held back a whine as Ocean’s smell hit me, his smooth black coral and salt marred by sweat and blood.

My bond mark flared painfully. I was shaking, a terrified purr rippling through my body. We were so close to him, and if he turned, then he’d see us. It was inevitable he’d scent me, and what would happen when he did?

“You know what I’ve been wondering about, Prince?” Dax asked.

Prince merely responded with, “hmm,” and I craned my neck around to give him a pleading look.

My brief hope that he might help fizzled into oblivion as I saw he had his phone held up, the light blinking as he recorded me. Bile rose in my throat, and I looked away, eyes burning.

“It’s a bit odd, isn’t it, for an alpha to step in to help an omega who they haven’t claimed,” Dax said, cold eyes meeting mine. “I looked him up, and it was only his second visit to the suite. He must have been quite taken with you.”