Page 48 of Pretty When She Breaks

She was our burden now, our responsibility. But it had been the only option.

I should have anticipated that it might set Kaos off, and I cursed myself for the oversight. It had just been so long since he’d gotten this angry about something.

His fist crashed into my side, and I stumbled back. My glasses clattered to the floor, but I left them for now. All the hours I spent training and honing my body was for this, so I could match Kaos when I needed to.

My aura was stronger than his—barely—but Kaos was a rogue.

The Alpha Omega Institutes wouldn’t kill rogues outright, but they sure did their best to try and make sure they were never born in the first place. Rogue alphascould only be born to gold pack omegas—it was the reason gold packs were considered outcasts. Most omegas got the injection that prevented them from turning gold pack, and if they didn’t, they would be on mandatory birth control.

All because rogue alphas were dangerous. When Kaos went into a rage, he essentially went feral, his primal brain taking over all reason and leaving only the urge to destroy.

Fighting Kaos brought me back years, to when we were teenagers desperate for money. When he’d tag along as I spent hours sparring and driving myself into ruts. Before he’d claimed his aura and decided to follow in my footsteps.

I’d realized fighting wasn’t healthy for him and tried to forbid him from joining me, but he just snuck off and found his own way of doing it. One that led to him getting arrested, and serving time in juvenile detention.

He was supposed to be released after serving his sentance, but instead, he simply vanished. We found out later that Valentino Fairchild targeted rogue ex-cons for trafficking; often they weren’t missed.

Kaos’s combat style hadn’t changed much, and his body was weak from his self-neglect. We tussled, and I gritted my teeth. I’d have to knock him out for him to stop, no matter how much I didn’t want to hurt him.

He growled and tried to shake me off, but I held firm, sweat dripping down my back. This was why I still trained, why I kept myself sharp. So I could keep him from harming anyone when he went into a rage.

We crashed into the couches, and he gouged deep scratches in my arm, but I—finally—managed to get him in a choke hold.

Hold, I told myself as he roared and clawed at me, trying to breathe. Though he wriggled, I didn’t let him bite me. Hebucked, his face now bright red from the effort, but finally, he slumped, passing out in my arms.

Panting, I released my hold and let my head fall back as I tried to catch my breath. I looked down at him, skin and bone sprawled across my lap. With a grunt, I stood and lifted him up before gently setting him on the couch. I swept his long hair out of his face, tucking it behind his ear.

His neck looked sore, red raw from my hold, and I checked it, making sure I hadn’t done any serious damage. I picked up my glasses—miraculously intact—from the floor and walked over to the kitchen. I opened the freezer, brow creasing as I saw the contents.

Christ.

Who needed this many ice packs?

Useful for me, though. I grabbed a couple and closed it again, pressing some to my side as I sat down opposite Kaos.

I could hear the omega—Laurel—raging at us from her room, but I’d deal with her later.

I needed Ocean. I didn’t know what to do with Kaos, so the best thing for him was to get Ocean back so he wouldn’t be left in my fumbling hands.

“Kaos,” I said, kneeling beside him and laying a wrapped ice pack to his neck. “Wake up.”

He stirred, rubbing his face with a grimace. His eyes focused as he looked at me, some of the anger returning.

“I’m sorry,” I started.

“What were you thinking?” he spat. “Bonding us to her?”

“We need her,” I said, and he scoffed. “Use your brain, Kaos.” I winced internally at my poor choice of words. “We need her to get Ocean out cleanly. Safely.”

He slumped, resting his head in his hands. “He deserved better,” he said eventually. “I keep ruining everything. Now he’ll never get an omega like he wants because of me.”

“I’ll take responsibility for her,” I said. “You don’t have to deal with her at all if you don’t want.”

His misery swirled even deeper.

I ran my fingers through my hair and pushed my glasses up my nose. Laurel had passed out now, if the lack of sobbing was anything to go by.

Fair enough.