Page 105 of Rogue & Her Hunters
I don’t know that I can pull it off.
I can sit here tied in ropes, however, like I’m not the monster that they’ve allowed into their pack.
The cat and mouse game is still on.
I gently brush Bird’s curls out of his face, although my hands are bound together with rope.
When I was pushed into this bedroom at the back of the Hunters’ safehouse by Joker, he wound the rope around my wrists into an efficient handcuff knot.
Joker winked. “Since you enjoyed slapping handcuffs on me, I’m only returning the favor, baby.”
“Bite me.”
“I’d love to. Maybe later.”
Phantom carried the still unconscious Bird into the bedroom and carefully laid him on top of the thin mattress, unable to hide his wince. He was bleeding heavily from his wounded shoulder, and despite Joker’s increasingly panicked questioning, ignored his injury like he hadn’t been shot.
In fact, Phantom held onto Bird like he was his Omega.
I paled.
What if Birdwashis scent match?
“Thank you.” I raised my gaze to meet Phantom’s. “You risked your life to save my Omega. I pay my debts.”
Phantom arched his brow, before he gave a short nod. Then he pointed at the Beta.
I turned to Joker. “He’s right. You threw yourself over me without hesitating as well. You protected me like a bodyguardwould, even though we’re not in the same pack and you don’t owe me loyalty. I respect that. I won’t forget.”
Now, I rush to soothe Bird with my pheromones, while I lie next to him on the pillow. He nuzzles next to my neck, breathing deeply of my scent gland.
“You were drugged with something in the mini bar,” I explain.
Bird wrinkles his nose. “I knew that soda was bad for me.”
“And I was tricked by the sweet-smelling Beta, Joker,” I grudgingly admit. “It turns out that while I was playing cat and mouse with him, he was doing the same with me.”
“Was he as pretty as you thought he’d be?” Bird peeks at me. “You’re not as angry as I’d expect. Normally, you’d be threatening to pull out his cock through his throat by this point.”
“Jokes would probably enjoy that. He’sprettier. And he’s…” How do I explain the whirlwind of unhinged chaos and danger? “Not like any Beta I’ve met. He proved his loyalty and his worth. Plus, his scent…”
I snap my mouth shut.
Will this upset Bird? He’s my Omega.
Will it hurt him to know that I have felt connected to someone else?
“It’s okay, Ro.” Bird gently kisses my cheek. “I was once in a pack with over a hundred members. I love Betas and I’d love to add one to our pack. I’m not sure that a contract killer who was sent to hunt us is the best choice, you know? But then, we’re still alive. So, does he want to kill us? Or return us to the facility?”
Bird’s fear creeps like shadows through the bond. Bird should never feel like darkness.
I hug him tighter. “I won’t let them do either. Jokes claimed that they don’t intend to.”
“Do you believe him?”
“I believe that we’re right where I want us to be. We’re more hidden than we were before in this safehouse. We’re currently being protected by one of the most feared packs. When we have the best chance to escape, I’ll take it.”
Bird peeks around the cabin’s bedroom at the thick-hewn log walls, which are packed tight and sealed. The single narrow window is high on the wall. It is backed by a steel shutter.
