She’d used human products at the birthday party, when she was playing a princess. She smelled perfectly human back then, none of her fiery Omega scent at all, but now I realise that that was on purpose. If she doesn’t have to, she doesn’t use any human scents to replace her own scent, probably because she’s still sensitive to them, like all shifters are.
Luckily, I spot her footsteps going off into the forest not too far away on a trail that supposedly leads into the mountains, a trail that’s set out for people who go hiking and things like that. I follow it too.
If she just followed the trail, this shouldn’t be too complicated. But that’s only if she stays on the path, and with her personality... I’m not so sure that she’d do that... She’d totally go off the path if that made her feel better, she’d make her own path if she could.
A growl bubbles up in my chest. I need to find her, I need to keep her safe. It’s not safe out here, where I can’t see her, and I need to get to her to keep her safe. I can’t put her in any more danger than she already is in.
When I’m with her I can protect her. I have to protect her!
It doesn’t take me long to find Cyra. Luckily, she stayed on the path and sat down not too far into the forest, on a fallen tree, looking around, like she’s waiting for something, or someone.
She looks up when she hears me come near, her eyes soft and sad as she tries to give me a smile. “It was a tossup between you and Zack, for who’d come looking for me first.” Her voice is flat and she stares off into the forest again. “I’m sorry for getting angry and storming out.”
“Don’t be. You were right. You were right that we have no idea what it’s like to live like an Omega, to live your life.” I step closer, my fingers trailing over her shoulder, wanting to soothe her pain, wanting to comfort her.
I can’t scent her, but something tugs at me, something that wants to claim her, make her mine. Grab her and run off with her, take her, right now. I might be half human, but I’m also half animal in this form and that doesn’t make me any better than any of the other guys at controlling my instincts.
I jolt as she touches my hand, carefully taking it as she looks at me. “We’re running out of time, aren’t we?”
“What do—” But I stop when she stands up.
Before I can control myself, my body reacts. I grab her and pull her against me, bringing her up to my face so I can put my nose in her neck, trying to get a sliver of her delicious Omega scent. I hold her tightly, not wanting to ever let her go again.
It takes a moment before I realise that the sound I hear is Cyra trying to let me let her go, her voice taking on a tinge of panic. Then I realise how tightly I’m holding her. If she’d been human, I’d have crushed her...
My stomach drops as I carefully put her back on the ground. Not believing what I just did. It’s not even her scent anymore, something else is making me react, something making me act like this.
“I’m sorry.” I step back. Guilt crashing through me for hurting her as she runs a hand over her arm, a bruise probably already forming. Fucking hell. I hurt her. I can’t be trusted around her... “I’m sorry.” I back away more.
“No.” Her voice wavers. “Don’t go.” She steps forward, reaching out to me. “Please.”
“I hurt you.” I want to take her in my arms again, but I also don’t want to hurt her and if I get close, I’ll hurt her again. I might look human at the top half, but I still have increased strength, enough strength to seriously harm her.
“I...” Then her face flushes deep pink and she brings her hand up to her face. “Fuck. No...” She takes another step to me, her legs wobbling, like it’s hard for her to keep standing, her breathing getting rougher, the red flush spreading down her neck.
“Cyra!” I rush to her, grabbing her before she can fall to the ground.
I catch her right in time, but now I have to fight everything in myself to not let my instincts take over and take her right here. I’ve never felt this before, this strong need, not just a desire but a need, something primal that’s hard to control.
Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck!
I gather her up in my arms, turning back to the house. No way. This is...
She’s going into heat. Right now! This is too early, way too early. Fuck.
“Liam.” She stirs in my arms, her voice breathy, and her fingers trail over my chest. “I’m sorry.”
“No.” I shake my head, trying to clear it. I need to get to the house, right now. I need to get her to safety, I need to get her to a place where I can...
Where I can... Where I can claim her. Where I can have her. Where I can make her mine.
When the house comes into view, Zack is standing outside, looking around, and I can see the anger in his eyes as he sees Cyra in my arms. “What the...” He takes a couple of steps in our direction, but I shake my head.
“Go inside. Now!” It’s hard enough to keep myself under control, let alone trying to keep him under control too. “Now!” Something in my voice must have alarmed him enough that he steps inside, wearily looking my way.
Then, Max walks outside, frowning at me. “What’s going on?”
