chapter 6

I’m not sure why but I need him to stay with me.

“Don’t go. Please…I…” Maybe I shouldn’t sound so desperate for attention from a man I barely know.

“What?” He asks sounding unsure. “Whatever you need I’ll do it.”

His words sound so sincere that I’m inclined to trust him.

“Please…just don’t go. I-I need you.” I say and as I say the words I start to feel panic.

I’m terrified that I’ll be alone. Always alone…

My heart starts to race and my chest gets tight as I have flashes of being locked away in that cage. Darkness, crying, and screaming all around me. All of us were too scared to say a word to each other.

Oh god.

Kane grabbed me and…

“Elise! Elsie? Baby come back. Come on, can you hear me?”

“What the fuck Archer? What did you do?”

“Nothing! We…we were kissing and then her wound got wet and…I don’t know she begged me not to leave her and then this…”

I hear a flurry of voices and hands touching me but I feel like I’m trapped.

Darkness all around me…crying…no no no…

It’s not real…No! It’s not real…


“That’s right love. It’s not real. You’re here with us. Come back…”

Ezra?

“E-Ezra?” I ask when his voice starts to break through.

“That’s it, love. It’s me.” I reach out and grab onto his arms like a lifeline. “It’s alright. Nothing can hurt you now.”

“I…I should have helped them…I ran and left them…” All those girls who cried in the darkness.

“No love. You couldn’t have helped them. You had to survive so that you could find help. We’ll help you find them, I swear it to you but you did nothing wrong. You fought and saved yourself.” His words should make me feel worse but somehow they calm me.

I survived that place. I got away and lived. I can help them…

“I can help them,” I say. “I can help them.”

“That’s right you can and we’ll help you,” Ezra says before tugging me closer until I’m wrapped in his arms.

I sigh and bury my face into his shirt. His scent grows a little stronger and it reminds me of hot chocolate and whiskey. The more I breathe him in the calmer I become and my hands cling to the back of his shirt. I don’t ever want him to let me go.

“Everything will work out love.” He says softly and a little closer to my ear.

His face brushes against my cheek and he whispers into my ear, “I promise.”

I nod against his chest and silence falls all around us.

No one says a word as I let Ezra hold me for what feels like hours. I know I should let him go but he hasn’t tried to move away from me either.

“She needs her bandage changed. I’ll go get the kit.” I hear Archer say and I finally lift my head from Ezra’s chest.

“Archer,” I say releasing one of my hands from Ezra and holding it out.

I’m not sure if Archer will take it but only a second passes before his hand is in mine.

“Thank you,” I say and he squeezes my hand slightly before I feel his lips brush over the sensitive skin of my hand.

He releases me and I rest my hand on Ezra’s arm which is still firmly wrapped around me. I feel him bury his face into my neck and I shutter.

“What are you doing to me?” He asks softly and a gasp escapes me when I feel his hand slowly run along my side and around.

His thumb barely brushes over my breast but it feels like so much more.

“Ezra.” I hear a gravelly voice says in warning. “She’s hurt and still needs to shower.”

Ezra sighs and the warmth of his breath along my neck makes me shiver. My weak legs give out a little and his arms tighten around me once again.

“I’ll stay with her,” Ezra says and I hear someone start to object but Ezra cuts them off. “Let me handle this.”

No one says anything more and I hear a few sets of feet retreat from us. There is a brief silence between us but Ezra doesn’t release me at all.

“I’ve lost my mind. I can’t seem to think clearly.” He says and I have to say I agree with him.

I’m not sure what’s come over me and I wonder for a moment if I would react to anyone else the way I am with these guys. The Alphas who sold me seemed nice but never touched me, not once as are the rules of Haven. Would I have felt a strong attraction and need I feel toward these guys? As an Omega am I inclined to accept any connection with an Alpha?

Is that why I didn’t sense anything off about those men?

“Elise…” My name sounds like a prayer on his lips and I feel weak under his strength.

I feel greedy for wanting more…more of him holding me and touching me. More kisses like the one Archer and I shared.

“You’re killing me, love. Your lips are red and swollen and your half-dressed…” Ezra says and I start to feel bad for apparently torturing him.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

“No. Don’t apologize anymore. God, I’m just worried I will do too much and scare you.” He says and he sounds nothing like the strong firm leader he is with the others.

“It’s okay…I’m not afraid of you.” I say because as strange as it is, I’m not afraid of them.

My instincts tell me I can trust them and my body is begging me to climb him like a monkey and cling to him like a baby koala.

“You’re not? So if I ask to help you get cleaned up you wouldn’t be afraid of me touching you?” He asks and there is a low growl in his words that make my mouth go dry.

What to say…this is crazy!

I’m a damaged virgin Omega, and this no doubt god of a man wants to touch me? I must be pathetic to look at and a mess. Why would he be interested in me for anything?

Maybe it’s just the heat scent pulling him in. Once it passes maybe his interest will die down. I’m probably just a blip on his radar. Convenient.

“Elise? I can go if you want to be alone. Just tell me what you want love.” He says softly and runs his hand slowly down my back.

I should protect myself and tell him to go. I shouldn’t let any of them touch me anymore. Maybe I’m the one using them…it would be a mistake to play into whatever urges we all seem to be falling under…but I can’t say the words. I don’t want him to leave me alone.

I need him…

“Stay,” I say and as soon as the words are out I know I’m going to get hurt one day.

One day this will all end and I’ll be alone again, but is it so wrong for me to let myself be wanted even for a little while?

I let future me deal with the fallout if I can have this for just a little while longer.