Just as Prince Kael reached for her to pull her, Zen's hand tightened around her waist and yanked her back into his chest. She stiffened the moment she felt his arousal pressing against her lower back.
Then, slowly, his hand began to move. His palm slid upward, tracing along her side, climbing higher until it hovered just under her breast. He didn't touch her there, not fully, but the heat from his hand felt like both a promise and a threat, and she could only shiver all over.
"You're trembling," he murmured, his breath hot against her ear.
She tried to steady herself. By the Goddess, she tried. But her body betrayed her. A shiver ran down her spine before she could stop it.
She hadn't even noticed when she tilted her head to the side submissively until his mouth was already brushing her neck.
Prince Zen's lips moved with slow purpose, dragging across her skin like he was waiting. Waiting to see if she would flinch, or beg, or lean into him. She did none of those things. She just froze. Or tried to. But her body had other plans.
A sharp sound escaped her as his teeth grazed her skin. It wasn't a bite, just a scrape. A warning. Her neck arched before she could stop it, giving him more of herself. Her stomach twisted. She didn't want to submit. She didn't want to give him anything. But her body had already started to react, desperate to yield to the strongest Alpha near her.
His hands moved again, dragging slowly down to her hips. She went still as he shifted behind her, cupping her ass in both hands. Then he pulled her back, letting her feel his desire pressed against her, and said in a low, mocking voice, "See that, Kael? She doesn't even know she's doing it. Letting out those tempting pheromones. And now, because of you, I'll have to wait even longer."
She swallowed hard, her eyes snapping open to meet Prince Kael's dark gaze. She had almost forgotten he was still there, watching everything. His stare slid over her like claws and she felt her stomach roll.
Zen held her tightly in place, hips pushing into her from behind with calm, steady pressure. "She shivers when I breathe on her," he said, pleased. "Look at that. Her scent's changing."
Prince Kael exhaled, his jaw tight, and she knew. She wasn't just aroused- she was almost under their spell.
And then Prince Zen stepped back, breaking all contact. The fact that he was holding her upright was proven because the moment he stepped back, she fell to her knew weakly. "She would've been a perfect fuck. But you ruined it," he said flatly to his brother. There was no emotion in his voice. No approval or disappointment. Just cold fact, like she was a product to be used.
That broke something inside her. The spell they had wrapped around her snapped.
How could she have forgotten? She was nothing but a warm body to them. Something to fuck. Something to control. Even though her body still ached, even though her wolf responded to their touch, her mind kicked back into gear. They did not even know her name.. She was just an Omega.
Her age and the laws to protect her were the only things that had kept her safe until now. And even that, he had planned to take from her. All because she had tried to be free.
What a monster. And to think, she had once believed he was a good man when he saved her from Alec.
Letting her tears fall, she bowed her head and spoke in broken sobs, "Please. Let me go."
But before she could say more, before either of the Princes could respond, both stiffened at once.
Prince Zen's nostrils flared. Prince Kael stood up straight, alert.
She didn't even have time to understand what was happening before Prince Zen moved.
A heavy coat landed over her shoulders, covering her from top to toe. It was still warm from his body. She could smell his scent clinging to the fabric and even as her wolf urged her to wrap that scent tighter around her, she could only continue to kneel there uselessly. Prince Zen growled something, but she couldn't catch the words.
That's when she smelled it too and heard the boots crunching over the leaves and her blood ran cold.
From the trees, shapes emerged. Familiar ones. Furious ones.
Her pack lead by the man she hated the most in this world- Alec.
Even from a distance, she felt the rage pouring off him. His Alpha aura crashed over the space like a wave. Behind him came Jace, Ryn, Theo—all of them bristling with fury and disgust.
In that moment, she knew.
Even if the princes let her go, she would never escape these men.
But as they came closer, something in her hardened. She might beg for death, or freedom, or mercy from the royals-but Alec and the others? She would kill them first.
For a brief second, no one moved.
She stayed where she was, wrapped in Zen's coat, staring at the ground. Alec's eyes found her, locked on her, but she didn't look up. She wouldn't let him see what she felt. But her defiance was her mistake.
She should have known what was coming.
Slap!
Her head snapped to the side as pain exploded across her cheek. Blood filled her mouth.
She gasped but didn't look up. She stared at the dirt, refusing to give him the satisfaction.
"You filthy little whore," Alec snarled above her. "Running off. Making the royals chase you like some bitch in heat."
Tears blurred her vision. Her hands shook. She looked up. He dared to call her that. Of anyone who might be qualified to do that, he was the least..
His lip curled in disgust as he grabbed the coat and yanked her upward, half-lifting her off the ground. Then his hand closed around her throat.
"Do you have any idea what you've done?" he hissed. "You've shamed us. Shamed me. In front of the Royal House."
She clawed at his wrist, trying to breathe, trying to speak. But no words came. Just a pitiful sound stuck in her throat.
His grip tightened and black spots danced at the edge of her vision.
Behind him, she could see the others. Jace, fists clenched. Ryn, looking away. Theo, sneering like she was filth.
None of them moved to stop Alec.
None of them cared.