The alpha sniffed greedily at the air. His eyes closed and he began to stroke his length, his fingers brushing the tip with every swipe.
Oh God, she should really not be watching this. But there was no way she could look away. The way his cock strained for release, velvety and beautifully veined, called to her.
She'd never seen anything so amazing. So perfect. She wanted it. She needed it.
That's when Hope realized that her mouth had fallen open, and her hand had drifted to her nipple.
Oh shit.
Shame won the round his time, filling her with dismay at what she was doing. Who she was becoming.
Horrified, Hope let out a cry and spun around, escaping back to the safety of the cabin again.
The sound of Maddox's roar followed her inside.
* * *
The orgasm didn't bring any release.
Maddox hadn't expected that it would. He'd ejaculated countless times over the past four days, and each time had been less satisfying than the last.
There wouldn't be any satisfaction for him until the omega unlocked these chains and he was able to lose himself inside her.
But it didn't look that would be happening tonight.
He hadn't been trying to scare her, just show her what she was missing. And at first, he'd thought he'd had her.
Maddox had caught the scent of her slick in the air, thick and rich like honey. He'd wanted nothing more than to rip these chains clean in half and bury himself inside her warmth, but he'd had to settle for the rough feel of dry palm again.
And she had run for cover like a frightened rabbit.
Maybe he should have been a little nicer.
Maddox rolled his eyes, disgusted with himself. Nice wasn't in his nature. But maybe he could have resisted rubbing another one off until she was inside the cabin.
Now he feared he'd lost her. He was out here alone again. About to spend another frigid night under the stars. Wondering if he'd be spending a full month locked up like an animal until her next heat came and need forced her to bring him the key.
The door creaked open again. Maddox peered through the darkness at the sliver of golden light pouring out.
"Are you…finished?" the omega asked, her voice shaky.
"Yeah."
"Good." A slim, pale arm slipped through the door and tossed something out. It landed softly a few feet away.
Maddox stared at the wooly green and brown checked blanket that he kept for the brutal winter months.
"This doesn't mean I want to fuck you," the omega said, still not daring to poke her head out. "It just means I don't want you to freeze to death during the night."
She closed the door like a normal person, not slamming it this time.
Maddox couldn't help the smile that crept over his face as he picked up the blanket and draped it over his shoulders.
His frightened little rabbit wanted to keep him warm. That was a start.
Maybe he wouldn't be stuck here another month after all.
Chapter Six
Hope's last lingering doubts about her omega nature disappeared during the night.
Sleep didn't come for a long time. Instead, she found herself tossing and turning as arousing images came unbidden into her mind, one after another. Massive cocks and rusted chains. Long fingers and a demanding mouth. Fantasies of being filled to bursting as an alpha with dark hair and coal-black eyes pounded into her.
Hope had woken up to sheets drenched in slick.
At least she'd woken up alone. That meant the alpha was still chained up outside.
The Alpha.
Hope felt another stab of shame as she realized that she'd eaten the man's food and slept in his bed but didn't even have the courtesy to ask his name. She felt like Goldilocks…except she'd never realized what a jerk the storybook heroine was until now.
Hope crept out of bed and tiptoed to the window, peering looked out on a sea of green. How had she never noticed how many shades there were of green before? There had to be thousands, ranging from the palest shade of a caterpillar on the windowsill to the rich, earthy green of the moss on the stone chimney. Between the treetops, she could spot little pastel strips of sky, gorgeous pinks and yellows and oranges heralding the dawn that had just begun to break.
At least there were some good things about being an omega. Colors were simply more colorful than before.
The alpha was already up, leaning against the tree—his head thrown back, his fist pumping furiously. A fresh wave of slick rushed down Hope's legs as she realized what he was doing.
Dear God, the man was insatiable.
Her face filled with heat, but she didn't turn away. She couldn't. Instead, she stood as still as she could, taking in the sight of the magnificent creature outside pleasuring himself.
Hope was fascinated by the way his muscles stood out in his arms, shoulders, and neck as he worked his long shaft.
No. Not 'fascinated.' Call it what it is, she ordered herself.
Aroused. Almost on fire with lust.
What would it be like to be touched by hands that big, that rough? What would it feel like to have that huge cock swelling inside her?
One part of Hope was intrigued by the thought, while another recoiled in terror. Those hands were made for taking lives and exacting retribution—not for giving pleasure. That cock was nothing more than a splitting wedge, capable of tearing her clean in half like the log she'd been sitting on last night.
So why was she still standing here with trembling hands and a speeding heart instead of running back to the bed and hiding under the covers? Hope was a prisoner of her nature, betrayed by her body.
That was the thing that frightened her the most—the thought of her mind turning traitor. Of losing interest in every part of her life other than sex. Of turning into a mindless robot capable only of being fucked.
Hope wanted so much more out of life than a passel of kids in a
