Page 135 of The Forgotten

I’m going to do something really fucking stupid. I can feel it.

Marie walks for several blocks before she turns into an area that’s full of warehouses. There’s a building with a blue door with a light on, and I notice there are men outside of it that remind me of guards.

What the fuck?

Moving quickly, I pull Marie into an alley, my hand on her mouth as she twists, scratches, and screams. She’s putting up more of a fight than she did before, and it makes me proud of her.

There's more confidence inside of her now. As much as I want to make her mine, I don’t want to beat her down until she’s a shell of herself. Too many women lose their spark when they allow men to strip them of it.

I don’t want a weak mouse for an omega. I want a lioness who will scratch, slap, and beat the fuck out of me when I’m being an ass. I also want her to feel comfortable enough with me to allow me to treat her like my little slut in the bedroom.

A part of her enjoyed what we did, and I’m sure she’s wondering why. It’s a hard pill to swallow.

“Hey, baby,” I whisper against her cheek, scent marking her. “Did you miss me?”

She’s still for a second before she makes a strangled scream, and becomes a hell cat. There will be scratches on my face, skin under her nails, and evidence that I saw her. Lore won’t be happy about that.

I was supposed to be lying low. Oops?

Releasing her since I would like to talk to her, I smirk as she turns around quickly, breathing hard.

“You’re going to make me late to work,” she hisses at me.

“You really are a cat,” I chuckle, voicing my thoughts. Marie looks confused, and I continue. “You always land on your feet like a good kitty.”

Her cheeks heat as she glares at me. She’s projecting her every movement as she cuts a glance toward the entrance of the alley, which is also the only way out. She has a shit poker face.

I like that I know what she’s thinking.

“I would like to know where my scent match is staying, Marie. I worked hard to find you,” I murmur.

“Well, you can unfind me, asshole. You’re following me, so you should be able to figure out where I’m staying too. I’m not going to jeopardize other people’s safety by having you here. Go away. Shoo,” she says, flicking her fingertips at me.

Rocking back on my heels, I smirk at her audacity. It’s only once I return my weight onto the balls of my feet that I realize what she’s not telling me.

“You’re staying at a homeless shelter? Or worse, some type of battered women’s shelter?” I ask, gaping at her. “What the fuck did you tell them about us?”

“Are you trying to say that you didn’t hurt me and throw me away?” she asks, her eyes glittering with anger and hurt.

Fuck. We did ride off, but there weren’t many other options.

“Marie—”

“No!” she yells. “This isn’t a battered anything. Do you have any idea how few options there are for an omega with very little money? You’re also not the only one I’m hiding from.”

“You’re infuriating,” I growl. “Why don’t you tell me who it is so I can take care of it? Consider it a courting gift.”

Her jaw nearly unhinges as she stares at me, and I worry that I may have broken her.

“I can handle it,” she finally mumbles. “I don’t need you knuckleheads accidentally killing someone I care about.”

“Is this an ex-boyfriend or something?” I ask, before realizing it might not be as she begins to hysterically laugh. Leaning her hands on her knees, she shakes her head.

“See? You know nothing about me,” she says, straightening. “I’m just some chick you hit it and quit. Biology isn’t always right, you know. In fact, I re?—”

“Shut the fuck up!” I yell in a panic, my alpha bark slamming into her.

Marie’s eyes overflow with tears as she realizes she can’t speak, and her fingers touch her throat as she panics.