This time when the soldier fell to the ground, there wasn't a flicker of life in his limp body.
Relief washed over Mia. No one was going to hurt her. No one was going to kill her. No one was going to take her away from Ty.
She watched as Ty bent down low and drew in a deep breath above the man's body.
"Shit," he muttered.
"What's wrong?" Mia asked.
"The beta authorities must have developed new scent blockers. That's why I Kian and I didn't sense anything was wrong until it was almost too late."
"You mean you couldn't smell him?"
Ty grimaced. It was clear he didn't like the idea of having a weakness. "I caught the scent of…something. But it wasn't a beta."
"Proctor, do you copy?"
Ty snarled at the radio on the beta's shoulder crackling to life.
"Proctor?"
Bending down, he tore the radio from the strap on the dead man's jacket and pressed the button.
"Your man is gone," he growled. "You can pick up his body on the Central Road. Send any more men, they'll meet the same fate. Understood?"
The only response was static.
Chapter Eleven
It didn't take Mia long to recover from her injuries. Maybe it was her newfound omega nature, but her body seemed to heal faster than ever before.
Her dizziness had receded within an hour of Ty carrying her home. Her headache was gone before sunset. She fell asleep before the sun had fully set and woke up after it was high in the sky the next day.
The next morning, she was all but recovered. Her face and core still felt tender and bruised, but not nearly as bad as she'd feared.
More importantly, Ty was there. Somehow she knew he'd been there all night, cradling her against him. Just like she could tell that something had changed between them.
Now there was no talk about claiming bites. There were no threats or ultimatums. No words at all, actually.
It was almost as if they were so relieved to be in each other's arms, alive and whole, that nothing else mattered.
Mia was sure of that now.
When the beta soldier had grabbed her, her greatest fear was being taken away from Ty. Of never seeing him again. Never touching him, or kissing him, or welcoming him inside her body.
It hurt just to think about it.
Mia knew it hurt him just as badly. She could sense the ache in the hammering of his heart as she rested her head on his hard chest. The beat was so strong, she wondered if it was what had roused her from sleep.
That wasn't all it roused.
The heat in her veins couldn't be ignored. Before she was fully awake, Mia was already kissing Ty, desperate for the taste of him. She nuzzled hungrily at his bare chest, running her tongue across his taut nipple.
Ty's hands swept up her back and plunged into her hair, pressing her closer, urging her on.
Mia didn't need the encouragement. She already knew what she wanted.
What she needed.
She slid her leg over the hard plain of Ty's belly, straddling him. Splaying her fingers across his wide pecs, she pushed herself up. His cock, already hard and ready, pressed at the juncture of her thighs.
Mia let her head fall back as she swiveled her hips, letting the long shaft rub against her opening. Her clit tingled, coming to life with every move. Slick poured out of her, bathing his cock and hips, but this time Mia wasn't the least bit ashamed.
Why should she be?
There was nothing wrong with her. Everything was just as it was supposed to be. Everything was so very right.
Ty locked his gaze with hers as he cupped his hands around her hips. Hunger burned in his eyes. Hunger for pleasure…and something more.
Mia gasped as he lifted her up, high enough for the tip of his swollen cock to find the entrance of her pussy. Sweet heat filled her as he guided her down his shaft, all the way, until he was completely sheathed inside.
Dear God, how could she have thought for a second that she needed anything more than this? She was so full. So complete.
This was heaven.
Mia took a moment to savor the feeling of her pussy stretching around him, gripping him tight before she began to move.
Her nerves came alive as the delicious friction between them increased. She felt every inch of him rubbing against her most sensitive parts. The walls of her pussy grew even wetter.
Mia tried to keep up with the rhythm her body demanded, but the sensations were almost too much. Her legs shook. Her arms trembled. Her sore body struggled to keep itself upright.
So Ty took over.
With his hands cupping her hips, he lifted and lowered her again and again, even after Mia gave up control and collapsed against his chest.
He didn't just keep the tempo—he slowly built it, until Mia was panting and quaking, utterly lost in a tempest of pleasure and need. She wrapped her arms around Ty's neck and held on tight, trusting him to guide her.
And he did.
Over and over, he moved inside her until the fire grew too hot. Until it couldn't be contained any longer. And broke free.
Mia cried out in ecstasy as her already stretched pussy tightened around him, pulsing around his shaft and heightening the sensations.
She felt him start to swell, straining her insides even further. The pressure of his thick and heavy knot locked them together just before hot sprays of come jetted inside her.
But it wasn't enough. Not this time.
This time she needed more.
She needed to make it clear that he was all she ever wanted. He was all she would ever need. And that no one would ever take him away from her.
Before his cock stopped spasming inside her, Mia grazed her teeth over the curve of his shoulder. She tasted the salt of his skin, relished the heat and strength of his body.
And then she bit.
Pure heaven flowed through her as her teeth sank into his skin, barely noticing
