Page 45 of Pretty When She Breaks

I edged along. The bathroom was at the end of the corridor. Probably about fifteenfeet away.

“I’m coming,

She’s running

Trying to survive.

One,

Two,

Three, four, five.”

Onfive, he lunged around the edge of the island, his pale face glinting in the dark. I caught the flash of his teeth before my body screamed at me torun.I launched forward, my feet scrabbling to get a grip. I could hear him behind me, but the bathroom was so close now, if I could get through the door.

A pained cry came from my lips as he crashed into my shoulder, my already battered body flaring with pain as we fell to the floor.

“Got you,” he hissed. His scent surrounded me, the absinthe and static a chilling burn in my nose. He smelled like sharp flames, poisoned wormwood. The brink of insanity and crackling anger.

Anger at me.

I whimpered, every instinct in me longing to roll over and try to settle him.

He let out another laugh as he stood, dragging me up by my arm. I whimpered again as his fingers dug into one of the fresher bruises, but he didn’t let up. I only had one thought as I was dragged along.

Was I about to be killed by my scent matches?

TWENTY-FOUR

LAUREL

I stumbled after him, trying to keep up so his tight grip didn’t twist my skin. Terror was pounding through my veins, threatening to overwhelm me. I struggled to focus, but the way his scent was swimming with rage was too much.

We made it to the living room, and a light switched on, revealing another figure standing in the room. I blinked, my eyes adjusting to the brightness as I tried to make him out. The other packmate. The caustic scent of his sharp lime overpowered the honeyed persimmon.

He was not what I was expecting.

The alpha standing in front of me could have been carved from marble. Black, round glasses above a square jaw. He probably had the nicest skin I’d ever seen in my life, and it was a shame he looked a bit unshaven. The rest of his face was cold and angular, his dark eyes narrowed as he regarded me. His wavy black hair was shaggy, brushing his shoulders.

He was tall and broad, wearing a nerdy sweater-vest thatgave him an Asian Clark Kent vibe. His arms were folded on his chest, and his sleeves were rolled up, baring corded forearms.

“Having fun, Kaos?” he asked, not looking away from my face.

Then I was shoved forward, falling down the step to the sunken living room, and his strong arms caught me, holding me firmly in place.

I glanced to the side, able to see the alpha who had chased me now. He had long blue hair, his black eyes glinting at me as he prowled around the couch. He was even taller than the first, but so thin I wondered if he was sick. The shape of his face was long, with sharp brows and thin lips that were curled into a feral smile.

The alpha holding me had shifted, tugging up my shirt. I struggled, but he yanked it up until the side of my rib cage was showing. He shoved me forward so I was bent over the couch, my shirt pulled up around my shoulders. Fear speared through me as I tried to get free, but he was too strong, even without his aura. He leaned over me, and I could feel his lips touch the bare skin on my side. His mouth opened, and I froze as I felt the sharpness of his teeth.

He was trying to bond me.

Surely he wouldn’t?—

I screamed as he sank his teeth into my ribs, and pain burned through my veins, spreading from the wound like lightning.

Something battered my mind, a presence invading, burrowing, demanding entry.

Unstoppable.