Page 15 of The Bounty

“She needs a hospital,” he says, as if her scent isn’t just as potent to him as it is to me. His expression remains neutral as he looks purposely at Killian and not at her. “Call the police. They’ll escort her there.”

“NO!” The Omega’s voice ricochets through the room, so loud and unexpected that I almost jump.

It’s as if she’s snapped out of her stupor. She glaresdaggersat Brock, sneering as she scrambles in Killian’s hold. “And put medown! I can walk, damn it.” Her voice is soft, but holds a bit of fire.

It’s lovely.

Killian looks far too amused, and I’m amazed at how she can boss him around so easily. He’s a scary motherfucker. Tatted up to his neck with a permanent smirk on his face, most cower at him.

The Omega, however, doesn’t. Instead, she looks ready to chop his head off, her eyes burning fiercely at him.

“As you wish,” he says, giving her a half shrug then glancing at Brock and me. “She’s feisty,” he deadpans. He releases her, but she struggles to stay on both feet and loses her balance against Killian, who catches her easily.

She might need a hospital. Along with her sweet scent, there’s also the sour hint of infection.

But then they’ll take her away. ToEden.

And I’m not sure if I can live with that.

“No hospital. No police.” She looks to Brock, then to me, biting her full lip. “Please. I can’t go there.”

It’s the onepleasethat has me ready to commit to her. Anything she wants, I’ll give to her. I want to fall at her fucking feet. I want to lick her, taste the salt on her skin, fuck—

Wait.

“You haven’t been there?” I ask incredulously. Her eyes stay on me, her pupils widening as I take a step closer. “They never took you there?”

I stop myself before I can ask more.

I want to know everything about her, but I don’t want to scare her away.

Though, if she’s already bossing Killian around…

“No,” she says quietly. “I haven’t been toEden.”

That’s impossible.

Even Brock looks shocked.

“You haven’t—” He clears his throat, and she shoots him a wary look. “How have you survived like this?”

“By robbing gas stations,” Killian says, before she can speak. “I found her in one of the aisles, grabbing stuff she needed.”

“But you scented her weeks ago,” Brock adds. “Weeks.”

“Yes, I’m more than capable of surviving on my own,” she snaps, glaring at Brock again. I fight a grin.

“Really,” Killian drawls. “You wouldn’t have made it another week out there without me, sweetheart.”

Sweetheart.

I fight a growl, disguising it as an awkward cough. I’veneverfelt this jealous before.

She’s barely been in the house five minutes, and I’m already fantasizing about the mating gland hidden behind the loose clothing.

How it would taste. How she would feel under my tongue, her vanilla and blossoms surrounding me—

“Which is why she needs a hospital.” Brock insists, his tone final. He pulls out his phone, tapping at the screen. “I’m calling the cops.”