Page 26 of Bloody Bones
I sighed. I knew that. I knew that she had to be special to Leviathan if he had sent us after her. One of the few humans who were perfectly meant for alphas like us. A true omega. Leviathan would want her for himself. And he would win her over. What woman didn't want a man with as much power as he did? Plus he could be charming when he wanted to be.
“I know,” I whispered, my eyes never leaving Briella's sleeping face. “I know I have to give her up, just get us the fuck home, Raze. I will work out the rest later.”
* * *
Closingthe door softly behind me, I rested my back against it for a second. I knew my club had questions, hundreds of them once I had rocked up with an unconscious woman in my arms. But I didn't have time to answer them there and then.
I had to make sure Briella was ok.
Kicking off my boots, I went to the bed. After placing her in the centre, I took a shaky step back. My eyes never leaving hers.
I wanted her to wake up so we could talk properly. I wanted to see the life filter back into her eyes and do something that might make her smile. It wasn't a lot to ask for, but I knew our first real meeting wasn't going to go that smoothly. She would still be afraid. And with good reason.
Making her smile would have to wait. She would need dry clothes and food. Things to make her comfortable and less nervous. I didn't know exactly what had happened to her, but I was betting it was bad. Lifting my head, I sucked in a breath.
Briella stared straight back at me. Her eyes were as round as saucers. She had woken up without me even realising it.
I tried to smile but it died before it had even really formed. “Hi.” I cleared my throat and tried again. “Hi.”
“Where am I?” Her eyes didn't leave my face. Her bottom lip disappeared as she worried it between her teeth.
“Somewhere safe.” Gingerly, I perched on the edge of the bed. Not touching her. She was like a wild animal, ready to bolt at any moment. “You're safe, I promise you, Briella.”
“How do you know my name?”
“I was sent to rescue you.” Honesty, I decided, would be the best policy with her, as much as I was able to be honest with her anyway.
“By who?”
“A man called Levi…”
“I don't know any Levi… I don't know you either. Why did you pretend to be my boyfriend back there?” She frowned and bit down on her lip hard enough that I winced. Reaching for her, I let my finger ease her bottom lip from between her teeth.
“You have to stop hurting yourself, Briella.” I rubbed my finger across it, smearing a drop of her blood.
“Why do you care what happens to me?”
“I just do.” I wasn't ready to answer that question.
“You said back there that I was yours, what does that mean?”
“It doesn't matter.” Dropping my hand, I stared at the smear of blood on my finger for several heart beats.
“What is a mate? That's what you called me.”
“It doesn't matter, Briella.” I sighed. I had expected questions but not these ones.
“It matters to me. I went away with you willingly until you knocked me out.” Her eyes blazed in her head, standing out against her pale skin. “I left the children behind to go with you.”
“A mate is someone who is tied to a man like me forever.”
She scooted backwards like I had threatened her. “So, now what? I am meant to be Bloody Bones wife, instead of Acco’s?”
“What?” I curled my hand around her wrist to keep her in place. “God, no Briella, no one is going to force you here. Not ever. I would kill them first.”
“But you... You want to keep me?”
“Yes.” I nodded. Stroking over her pulse point with my thumb. “Yes, I will keep you here where it is safe.”
