Page 12 of The Comfort of Pain (The Black Market Omega #1)

Beth

We’ve been walking for hours. I’m tired and kind of scared. I want to be carried, but I also don’t want to be touched…and I’m pretty sure Killian doesn’t want to touch me either.

Basil immediately noticed the cut on Tristan’s arm. The burly alpha simply said that I had stabbed him, then laughed. But Killian and Basil didn’t find it funny at all. I expected them to lash out for hurting their packmate, but they both looked at me with a mixture of disappointment and quiet anger.

Well, maybe not anger. But they clearly weren’t happy.

Killian gave me a stern lecture on being kind to my packmates, then we started walking again.

Tristan seemed more pissed that he couldn’t sit and eat than anything else. He growled loudly, scrunching his face up with rage when Basil packed lunch up. At first, I thought they were punishing me by withholding food, but then Basil shocked me by offering me the rest of his lunch. I refused, not wanting to take anything more from him than I already have, but I did wish I had eaten that orange this morning.

“Omega.” Killian’s long fingers wrap around my wrist, pulling me to stop. Basil and Tristan keep walking, picking up their pace as they push through a long wall of pine trees. And suddenly I’m all alone with the big blond alpha.

My fear spikes and I tense.

I should have run off when we passed the river. I had a small opening, where all three alphas weren’t either right on my ass or watching me, but I didn’t take it. So stupid.

“I know you’re probably feeling a lot of things right now.” Killian closes the space between us.

My knees jerk with the desire to back up, but I stay put. There’s nowhere to go, and without a weapon, I’d just be a moving target.

“You’ve been through so much.” The alpha’s gaze lingers on the bruises along the side of my face. “And you’re probably scared. After all, we are strangers,” he says as if I didn’t already know this. “But,” his expression turns deadly serious. Jaw set and shoulders back. My stomach twists as I wait for his rage to unleash. “You can’t attack your packmates,” he says in a shockingly calm, but firm, tone. “I know you didn’t mean to hurt Tristan, but I can’t have you lash out like that again.”

I had to shove back the urge to tell him he wasn’t my damn alpha, but then he’d definitely smack me, and I didn’t want to push my luck. I stare up at the alpha, biting my tongue.

I did mean to stab the asshole. Hell, I was hoping to kill him. I was aiming for the alpha's throat, but he was too damn tall and I missed my mark.

“While I don’t mind you taking your fear out on me or my alphas,” Killian’s voice slips into a deep and serious whisper, “I can’t have you hurting Jeremy.” Pure intensity radiates off his powerful body, pushing into the air all around me. Whiskey-soaked cherries.

Damn, he smells good.

“Do you understand?” He leans down, bringing his face inches from me, waiting patiently for me to answer.

“Yes, sir.” I drop my gaze, trying to look small and defenseless, but Killian grips my chin, forcing me to look up at him. It’s a small movement, but one that screams dominance.

“No one will ever hurt you again.” He searches my eyes, before brushing the pad of his thumb over my bottom lip. It feels weirdly good. “We will kill to protect you, Beth,” he says, soft and sweet, before caressing the bruise along the side of my face. He looks lost in thought as he examines each one of the ugly marks on my face. “The man that did this deserves to die a slow and painful death,” he says in a slow rumble. “He should be gutted and disgraced so his whole family can see what kind of man he is.”

The image flashes in my mind, and I let out a short, bitter laugh. “My family doesn’t give a shit what my father does. He’d—” I cut myself off, horrified that I said that much. I cover my mouth with my hands, praying Killian didn’t hear me.

You never talk bad about your family to others.

Or at least that’s what my mom always says.

Killian tilts his head, tension building in the faint wrinkles around his eyes. “Your father did this?” His mouth falls open slightly as he stares at me. There’s so much dominance and power radiating off of him. Whiskey and cherries. Strength and control.

So much control.

I’ve never met an alpha quite like this one before. So calm. Restrained. Sexy .

My gaze lingers on Killian’s mouth. The tips of his white teeth. His soft, dark blond beard.

Stop it! I silently command myself, but it’s too late. Killian’s thick aroma has completely surrounded me, seeping into my very core. Heat coils in my belly and slick gathers in my folds. Unable to fight the pull to the mighty alpha, I lean forward, desperate to be closer. To be touched. To be?—

Desperate to regain control of myself, I jerk back as I suck in a quick breath.

What the hell is happening to me?

I’ve been around alphas my whole life—and not just my family. Linden’s parents are alphas, as is his eldest brother. I’ve also met random alphas who have come to our house to visit with Burke and Tony. While I’ve found their strange scents to be overwhelming and pungent, an alpha’s presence never affected me.

Until now.

It’s like Killian put a spell on me.

A wicked, evil spell.

“You are safe here,” Killian repeats himself as he cups my cheek. There’s so much sadness twisting between his brows as he admires my face. “You are so beautiful,” he whispers, slipping an arm around my waist. He pulls me to his firm, hot body, pressing my chest against his. I try to push away from him, but I have no strength left in me. “So small and sweet.” Killian lets out a slow breath as he ghosts his mouth over mine. “You might be the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Heat spreads across my cheeks and I scowl. I hate blushing for him. He doesn’t deserve to know his compliment flatters me. None of them do.

They bought me like cattle, not caring about who I was or what I wanted, I remind myself.

“I need to go home,” I say firmly.

“And I want you to be happy here.” Killian’s gaze flickers from my eyes to my mouth, completely dismissing me. “I think you’ll end up loving it here. I think you’ll end up loving us.”

I go stiff as his hand drifts to my neck. His fingertips graze beneath my ear, and my whole body tingles. He rests his thumb over the spot right where my mating gland is, then he gently presses.

A rush of desire washes over me and my abs flex.

“So pretty.” His lips touch mine and I turn my head.

“Stop,” I whimper, hating how helpless I feel under his touch.

“Is that what you really want?” His warm breath fans over my skin. His beard looks so soft. “Do you want me to leave you alone?” He pushes his tongue over his bottom lip. Then bites it, letting it slowly slip free. “Do you want me to let you go, omega? Or do you want me to take you home?” His deep voice vibrates from his chest into mine.

A shiver cuts through me and my clit pulses. Slick is already dripping, soaking into my shitty sweatpants.

I feel dizzy. And confused. And stupid. And angry. All at the same time.

Is this the mindless submission my mother warned me about? My body craving an alpha? My deep desire to be touched and owned by a man much stronger than me?

It feels so good. I fucking hate it.

“Where are they?” The voice of a young man cuts through the trees, and Killian leans away from me.

I frown, fighting the urge to whimper out loud.

“Come on, sweetheart.” Killian smiles at the look on my face. I try to fix it as fast as I can to hide my obvious disappointment, but it’s too late. He saw how he affected me. “I want to introduce you to Jeremy.” He takes my hand, squeezing ever so softly.

I follow quietly, too embarrassed to argue. I should just make a run for it right now, but the pressure between my legs is too much. I wouldn’t make it more than a few feet before the alpha would catch me. And I’m scared of what I’d ask him to do once he had me.

Killian pushes through the wall of pine trees first, using his body as a shield against the spiky branches. I follow him closely, frowning when a few pine needles catch my shirt. I can smell the sticky sap coating them. I just hope not too much of it got on me. I hate the way it feels on my skin.

“Welcome home.” Killian stops, and I look up.

My mouth falls open as I stare up at the back of the biggest house I’ve ever seen. The building is two, maybe three stories tall, and sits in the center of a beautiful meadow. And it’s huge. Easily three times bigger than the tiny house I grew up in with a large deck that looks like it wraps around the whole house.

Killian pulls me forward and I look down at the short grass. Each blade is the exact same length. It’s bizarre. The goats we raise seem to overchew certain parts of our yard while neglecting others. But this is perfectly trimmed right up to the pine trees lining the whole edge of the meadow. They act like a barrier between the house and the wild forest.

“Do you like it?” Killian watches my reaction carefully.

I nod, not sure what to say. I don’t want him to think he can win me over with a pretty building.

“Jeremy picked this spot for the view.” Killian looks past me and I turn.

Shit .

It’s gorgeous.

Nestled in a deep valley, a thick forest spans out for miles. The tops of the trees are so vibrant—green, orange, red and yellow. And it’s all framed by the distant mountains. They jut upward, the snowcapped tops hidden behind the clouds. I can’t help but wonder if they’re the same mountains I used to look at from my bedroom window. If they are, then I’m very far from home. Those mountains are usually much bigger, but right now they look miles and miles away.

“Alpha!” An excited voice in the distance pulls me from my thoughts.

“Follow me.” Killian pulls me forward. “There’s someone I want you to meet.” He pulls me forward, edging up toward the beautiful valley as we walk to the house.

The normal-looking cabin shifts as we turn the corner and it’s like a completely different home has taken its place. The entire outside wall is one massive floor-to-ceiling window. Inside, I can see a big sitting area, a long dining table, and what looks like a kitchen in the back. The reflection from the sun on the glass makes it hard to make out all the details inside, but what I can see is very fancy—bulky dark furniture, and white walls with large pictures hang on them. I squint trying to see what they are, but we’re walking too fast.

“We have a sizable garage that way.” Killian points in some random direction. “And here’s the front of the house,” he says as we walk around an enormous oak tree. The vibrant fall leaves still cling to the branches. The trunk is pressed right up against the edge of the building, almost as if it’s grown into it. I stare at it in awe as we turn the corner.

The front of the house is very similar to the back—dark wood with a few windows surrounded by white trim—except there’s a long front porch that spans the whole width of the house. And standing right in front of the door are Basil and Tristan.

“They’re here,” Basil says, and a young man steps out from behind Tristan.

He has breathtaking icy-blue eyes that go wide with excitement as we approach. He appears to be around my age. His black hair is brushed back and his skin is very fair. It makes the three overlapping mating bites on his neck stand out. He’s slim with narrow hips but surprisingly broad shoulders. He looks very short, but that might be because he’s standing between Basil and Tristan.

“Did you survive without us, beta?” Killian says with a playful lift in his voice.

“Barely.” The young man smiles when Basil kisses his temple. This has to be Jeremy. “You must be Beth.” He fidgets as we approach, crossing his arms then tucking them behind his back. Finally, he clasps them, standing awkwardly. But the second I step up onto the porch, Jeremy’s smile falls and his mouth falls open. “Oh, my.” He rushes to me, examining the side of my face. He’s definitely not short. He has to be at least five foot eight. Maybe five foot nine.

“She’s okay,” Killian says, but Jeremy ignores him, turning to Basil.

“You said she had some bumps and bruises.” The beta’s voice is filled with worry. “Nothing this bad.” He turns back to me, his hands ghosting over the side of my face.

I take a step back. “I’m fine,” I say, not really in the mood to be touched. My cheek still hurts. As does my hip. And my back. Really, my whole body is a battered mess.

“And your feet.” Jeremy looks down, eyeballing the once black sandals. They’re caked in mud and grass, sticking to the wool socks and shitty sweatpants. “Let’s get you inside.” Jeremy takes my hand, and my whole body locks up, but he doesn’t tug or pull. He waits for me to move all on my own. “How about a nice bath, then a proper dinner?” He pauses, making sure I’m looking at him before saying, “I didn’t know what you might like to eat.” He grimaces slightly. “Do you like roast?”

I immediately nod, and my stomach growls in agreement.

Shit. I was going to be an asshole to this guy. Stern and angry. But this beta is too nice. It could be a trick. The voice in the back of my mind reminds me to stay cautious.

“Roast sounds amazing.” Tristan pats his firm belly. “I could eat a fucking mountain lion.”

“Don’t you dare touch that roast until Beth is all cleaned up.” Jeremy points a finger at the burly alpha. “I won’t have her first meal in this house be scraps.”

Tristan freezes, clearly enraged, and my whole body goes tense. “Are you fucking kidding me?” His dark eyes narrow and his fists curl. The urge to run is almost impossible to ignore.

“There are leftovers in the fridge,” Jeremy says, not bothered in the least by the alpha’s obvious anger. I hold my breath, praying I don’t accidentally get hit when Tristan starts swinging.

But then something shocking happens.

Tristan lets out a heavy sigh, before turning and marching toward the house. “Bullshit,” he grumbles under his breath. “Forced to skip lunch, now goddamn leftovers for dinner.” He shoves open the front door, disappearing inside.

If Scott had spoken to Burke, or even Tony, like that he’d be nursing a bloody nose for the rest of the day.

“Why is he so grumpy?” Jeremy huffs softly, crossing his arms.

“We had a little incident.” Basil smiles. It’s boyish and charming. I hate it.

“With what?” Jeremy asks. He looks genuinely concerned. “Do you mean Bosco’s men? I would have thought he’d love to fight a bit.”

I jerk at that. He loves to fight. Of course, he does. I knew he was the most dangerous one.

“Not quite.” Killian steps up to Jeremy’s side. He leans down, bringing his lips to the beta’s ear, “Our new omega stabbed him.” The alpha’s dark blue eyes meet mine and I snarl. He lets out a deep chuckle, letting the shocking fact hang in the air, before turning and walking off.

Jeremy looks at me, his eyes wide with shock. “Really?”

“It’s a fucking scratch,” Tristan’s deep voice booms from somewhere inside the house. I angle my head, trying to see him, but all I can see is a sliver of a white wall.

“I’m so sorry.” Jeremy inches a little closer to me. I look him up and down, wary of his apologetic tone. “What did Tristan do?” His voice is soft. Concerned. It’s a little weird. I expected him to be angry, or maybe even scared of me, but he looks worried for me. What is wrong with this pack? “Was he mean to you?” Worry twists between Jeremy’s dark brows. “Tristan isn’t great at making first impressions, but I promise he’s a good alpha. He’s very gentle and protective, even if he is loud and kind of forceful sometimes.”

I open my mouth to speak, then pause, trying to figure out what to say. I mean, I attacked his packmate. Why isn’t he pissed? “You aren’t worried about him?” I finally ask.

“About Tristan?” Jeremy glances back at the house, and I nod. “God, no.” He lets out a little laugh. “I swear someone could cut that man’s right hand off and his biggest concern would be how he’d cut his steak.”

I lean back, baffled by this pack’s seemingly easy attitude about everything. This is definitely a trick. They have to be pretending, waiting for me to settle in before they show their real selves. That’s the only thing that makes sense.

“Come on.” Jeremy pats the back of my hand. “Let’s get you washed up.”

I follow, deciding that I’ll wash up and enjoy the meal, before figuring out my next move. Running off without preparing isn’t a great idea. I need to make a plan, then get the hell out of here, but I could use a hot meal. And a bath. And maybe a good night’s sleep.

One night here won’t kill me.

I mean, what could possibly happen?

It’s just a bath.