Safe Haven

“You raped me,” I said plainly, refusing to let him make it into anything else. “I told you no. There was no consent. You’re a sex offender. I have a pack, and I’ll never go anywhere with you. If you take me, I’ll defy you every step of the way, drag your name through the mud even if it kills me.” Every word was spoken with a confidence that appeared unwavering despite the fact that I was panicking and lying through my fucking teeth. “Let him go. You don’t want my pack after you.”

The mayor finally stopped then, his eyes bouncing from me to where Ellis’ bloody form lay on the pavement. Every time he tried to crawl toward me, to fight his way over, he was kicked down. When he fell this last time, he didn’t move. My hands curled into fists at the sight, and I sent prayers that he was still alive to whoever would listen as I fought to keep my tears at bay.

“Your little… pack doesn’t scare me Briar,” he countered. The indifference with which he looked down at Ellis’ battered body spoke volumes of his character… or lack thereof.

“They should. They know where I am, and I have a friend coming here today so you’ll have a witness soon enough. Just wait until the world sees you’re a murderer, sex offender, and a terrible person. Wonder how that campaign would go then?” It was stupid to keep egging him on, but I was grasping onto the hope that someone would walk if I just kept him talking. I knew I wouldn’t be able to outrun his men or the guns I saw tucked into their belts.

“And you think that anyone would believe you?” he asked with a condescending smirk. “You’re just a pathetic omega who was tempting enough to sample once. Now, you’re an inconvenience. If you refuse to play along, then you must be removed from the situation.” He turned to his men, snarling out his order. “Enough of this. Kill her.” He started to walk away, but then he stopped and turned around. With a wicked glint in his eyes, he added one last line that shattered the world around me. “Aim for her stomach.”

“No!” I screamed, my voice cracking with the amount of force I put behind it. Most of his men followed him, but two stayed behind, guns trained on me since Ellis hadn’t moved once. That was likely his only saving grace, and I hoped that he would make it out of here alive even if I didn’t.

The world slowed around me as the crack of a gun sounded off, my ears ringing thanks to the close proximity. The impact of the shot had my body flinging backward, and I smacked down to the pavement before I could make sense of what was happening. Pain flared to life, bringing everything into too-sharp focus. The light of the sun was nearly blinding, the pain so intense I couldn’t breathe, and it took far too long to realize a ragged scream of agony was ripping through my throat.

Something warm and sticky pooled under my hip, and when I brushed my hands over it, using all of my strength to lift them, my fingers were coated in dark red blood.

“Briar!” Ellis’ voice had my head turning to the side. He dragged his battered body closer. “I’m so sorry.” He slumped the moment his fingers brushed mine, unconscious again.

The sound of a siren echoed in the air, and I hoped it was here for us. That was as much as my mind could handle before darkness pulled me under.

* * *

Beckham

My eyes rolled backin my head as Wells worked his magic hands over my shoulders. With Briar at the Omega Office, I was a ball of tension, and it was creeping toward migraine status. Ellis had gone with her, but the place always gave me the creeps. I couldn’t help worrying that they’d fight her on this, and we’d have to start some long, drawn-out legal battle. After pacing and practically growling for I didn’t know how long, Wells had finally taken pity on me.

“Just breathe, omega,” Wells ordered. “I used to think your constant bubbliness could get annoying, but now I kind of miss it.” His voice was light and playful, so I merely smirked and appreciated his presence.

His hands moved from massaging my shoulders to my scalp, and all thoughts fled.

Until Graham’s office door slammed open. I almost complained until I opened my eyes and saw his pale, stricken face.

“What is it?” Wells barked out, snapping him out of his trance.

“Ellis and Briar were attacked. She’s been shot.” The room erupted into chaos, with Wells yelling out to the others and all of us rushing to grab our phones and wallets before running for the elevator. Time felt excruciatingly slow as we all piled inside, and the moment we reached the ground floor, we were running for Wells’ SUV. He flew to the hospital Graham named, driving faster than I thought possible. As signs and lights flew by us, two pleas ran on a loop in my mind.

Let them be alive. I can’t lose them now.