If these bastards had scent blockers and smoke grenades, then it wasn't a stretch to imagine they had other military tech as well, like thermal imaging to see in the dark.
If she stayed out here in the open, she was a glowing target, but her body heat would blend right in with the warm spring water.
At least, she hoped it would. Right now, it was her only hope.
Hope breathed a sigh of relief the second the burbling stream came into view. She crawled faster, nearly making it to the waterline before she heard the sound that turned her blood to ice.
The sharp metallic click of a hammer locking into place. Hope turned over to see the barrel of a pistol pointed straight at her head.
For a moment, it was all that she could see. The only thing her brain would focus on. But when the shot didn't immediately come, she slowly focused her field of vision…and looked into the eyes of her tormentor.
The man who had pulled the trigger on Dave and Sandra. The one who had chased her through the forest for days on end with his friend. The one who had escaped Maddox's wrath.
"You're a hard bitch to kill," he snarled, his lip twisting in perverse satisfaction that he would be the one to end her after all.
Yeah, she was a hard bitch.
The realization took root in Hope's mind. She was the one who had evaded him for days in the wilderness. She was the one who had tamed the Boundarylands' wildest alpha. She was the one who had a life of pleasure and satisfaction stretching out in front of her.
But most importantly, she was the one with the hatchet.
In an instant, anger replaced every drop of fear in Hope's blood. She whipped her arm forward, letting the hatchet fly.
Hope watched the pinwheeling flash of moonlight on metal before the blade found its target with a sickening thunk. The gun in the man's hand went off as he was knocked backward, and a hot blaze of pain shot up Hope's shin.
The man screamed as he tried to fire off another shot. But he couldn't. The hatchet had buried itself right through the man's forearm, pinning him to the solid tree trunk behind him.
The son of a bitch's screams didn't last long, however. A half-second later, a massive figure flew out of the dark cover of the woods and tackled the beta to the forest floor, leaving a good bit of his arm flesh behind on the tree.
Maddox.
He'd come back to save her. Just like he'd promised, he always would.
Maddox let out a roar that shook the tops of the trees—the sound of justice itself.
Hope turned her head away, but not before she caught the sight of Maddox's long fingers jamming into the man's throat. Not even Maddox's howl of rage could cover the nightmare sounds of blood spraying and bones cracking.
And then, at last, there was silence.
Hope let out a shaky breath as she felt Maddox's arms wrap around her. She tried to rise up on her toes to kiss him but winced when her leg gave out in a stab of pain.
Maddox zeroed in on the blood tricking down her leg. "You're shot!"
"Only grazed," Hope tried to reassure him.
Maddox didn't seem to hear her. He scooped her up into his arms as gently as he could and started rushing back to the front of the cabin.
Hope was relieved to see the other alphas coming out of the trees. All six of them. Each one dripping in blood—beta blood.
Clearly, no one got away this time.
Hope felt a weight lift from her chest even as Maddox loaded her into his truck.
"She's been shot," Maddox shouted to them. "I'm taking her to Gail."
To her surprise, all the alphas rushed toward their own vehicles. She wasn't the only one who was shocked.
"What are you doing?" Maddox asked them.
"Going with you," Samson retorted, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Why the hell would you do that?" Maddox said.
"To make sure that Randall doesn't try to kill you this time, you reckless bastard."
Chapter Fifteen
Randall hadn't tried to kill Maddox.
In fact, the older alpha had barely blinked when he'd laid eyes on the rolling caravan of trucks streaming on to his property. He'd just shaken his head and gave a resigned sigh.
Hope had even heard him mutter, "Feels like we're becoming a goddamn community center," under his breath as Maddox had carried her into the house.
Finally, Hope got to meet Gail, who was just as caring and kind as the other omegas had promised, with a spicy streak underneath that made her laugh despite the pain as Gail examined her injury.
As Hope had tried to tell Maddox, this new wound was nothing serious, the bullet having barely grazed her. Gail had her patched up in no time flat.
A week later, Hope was back in Gail's kitchen for her initiation into the Tea Circle—where she quickly learned that the "T" stood for tequila as well as for Earl Grey. Whoever said that omegas were nothing but subservient sex slaves really didn't know what they were talking about.
Weeks passed, turning to months. Her relationship with her friends grew. Her relationship with Maddox grew even more.
Hope got to tell the other women about all the additions Maddox was making to the cabin. First, the bathroom, then the separate kitchen, then a bedroom with a door that closed.
It turned out her alpha was one hell of a carpenter, along with all his other talents.
But it was this newest addition to the house that Hope was the most excited to tell her friends about.
So excited that she couldn't even wait until Mia arrived before breaking the news.
"A nursery!" Gail squealed in delight.
Cassidy rushed over to Hope, embracing her in a deep warm hug. "That's amazing news. I'm so happy for you."
"How far along are you?" Paige asked.
"Not far," Hope admitted. "Maybe six weeks. I didn't even know. I just thought my heat was a little late, but Maddox said he could tell the difference in my scent."
Paige gave a knowing nod. "That's usually how it goes."
Cassidy's smile grew more excited. "Do you think that I could document your experience?" she asked. "I only got to witness the end of Mia's pregnancy, but being able to be a part of the whole journey would be invaluable to my research."
Hope laughed. She loved Cassidy to pieces, but the beta woman was thrilled over the strangest things. "Of course," she said.
Just then, the door flew open. Mia came rushing in, wide-eyed and strangely out of breath.
"Hope, have you heard the news?" she asked.
"About her own pregnancy?" Paige asked with a laugh. "I should hope so."
Hope didn't think it was possible, but somehow Mia's gaze grew even wider. "Your what?" Her friend rushed over to her side and hugged her tight. "Oh my God, that's wonderful."
"But not what you were about to tell us," Gail said, her eyes narrowing with concern.
"No," Mia admitted. The smile disappeared from her face and her tone turned solemn. "Your sister Faith came to Evander's Bar looking for you last night."
Hope's mouth fell open. "What?"
That didn't make any sense. Her younger sister Faith was her parents' favorite. A devout church member. As pure as the driven snow and all that.
What the hell was she doing in the Boundarylands looking for Hope? Whatever it was, it couldn't be good.
Hope's heart raced. She snatched her winter coat off the back of her chair and started for the door. "Is she still there?"
Mia stopped her with a hand on her arm. The look in her eyes was genuinely apologetic.
"No, she's not, Hope," Mia said. "Faith went home with Troy last night."
* * *
Welcome to The Boundarylands Omegaverse!
Thank you for reading Maddox, Book 4 in the series. There are so many more hot alphas from the Boundarylands waiting to meet you.
Keep reading for a gimpse into all the other alphas stories.
And stay tuned for Book 5: TROY, coming May 26, 2020
If you want to spread t
he word about the Boundarylands, please consider leaving a review. The more reviews a book has the easier it is for new readers to find it.
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* * *
Kian: Book 1 (excerpt)
Paige’s chest tightened as she struggled to take a breath. Fear was literally suffocating her. She jumped as the metal door slammed shut behind her. A few chuckles spread through the crowd at her skittish reaction.
She didn’t mind the laughter. It was a hell of a lot better than snarls. Maybe that meant they weren’t going to pounce on her all at once. She started to breathe again when, after another couple of seconds, most of them turned their attention back to their conversations and beers. Those that were still giving her the side-eye seemed more amused than ravenous.
Well, that was good, right?
Maybe it meant that she’d blown this whole thing out of proportion. Maybe it meant that she was going to be okay after all.
Maybe.
These were still alphas, after all—the most dangerous creature in the whole world. Well, that wasn’t totally true. Most of the men here were alphas, but there were a handful of regular betas sprinkled among them playing pool and darts like this was any other bar in the world. Sure, they looked tough. Rugged and strong, like you would expect any man who was brave enough to live outside the safety of civilization to look, but there was no way they could be mistaken for alphas.
The alphas were different. Nearly a full foot taller than the betas, and so wide in the chest and shoulders that suddenly the massive door made sense. If it wasn’t so comically large, they would have had to turn sideways to get through.
Paige swallowed down hard. It wasn’t just the alphas’ immense size that gave her pause. It was also their presence. Even though she only counted eight of them in the building, they filled up the room to the point where it pushed all the air out. Paige pulled her shoulders in, collapsing down to shield herself from the feeling.
But she couldn’t hide. The sooner she overcame this paralyzing fear, the sooner she could get out of here.
And go where?
She pushed the question to the back of her mind. She could only solve one problem at a time.
She forced herself forward. Her legs shook, and her knees wobbled, but somehow she made it to the bar. She grasped the edge for support with one hand and pulled Officer Wilcox’s crumpled note out of her pocket with the other.
It fell from her hand the second the gigantic alpha bartender stopped in front of her.
“What do you want?” he demanded. His voice was deep and forceful enough to shake the glasses hanging on the racks.
Paige knew better than to risk looking up at him. She’d lose the last shreds of courage she had. So, she stared down at the brass rail instead.
“I—I’m looking for Kian.” Fear closed her throat, and her voice came out a whimper.
“Why?” the alpha demanded. Paige wasn’t prepared for questions. Her anxiety shot through the roof. She tightened her grip on the bar as the black fog of panic pushed in again.
“Because—” The word caught in her throat. Damn it. She needed to pull herself together. Her life depended on it. She glanced up at the bartender. “Because I was told he might be able to help me.”
The bartender’s brows pulled together. It was the most menacing glower Paige ever seen. “What kind of idiot comes here looking for help?”
Paige’s lips trembled. Hot tears pricked the corners of her eyes. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
Not that it mattered. Even if she had been able to talk, she was too overwhelmed to think of anything to say.
Too much had happened. Murder, heartbreak, the wholesale destruction of her life, and now the prospect of being ripped apart by a goddamned monster. It was amazing she was standing upright.
“Leave her alone, Ty.”
The voice—little more than a growl—came from the far end of the bar. Deep in the shadows of the corner, a hulking silhouette shifted on his stool. Somehow Paige had missed that one.
“The woman isn’t a threat. The stench of her fear is thick.”
Paige swallowed down. “Y-You can smell me?”
Of course, she knew the answer was yes. Everyone knew that was one of the traits that made alphas special, but knowing something intellectually was different than experiencing it firsthand.
“Every alpha in this room can,” he answered without looking up at her. “You reek of panic and desperation.”
Paige was pretty sure you didn’t need a good nose to figure that out. Her shaking hands and trembling voice were dead giveaways.
The bartender let out a loud harrumph. Instinctively, Paige recoiled from the sound.
“You want Kian? You got him.” The bartender shook his head slowly before walking away.
Wait. That hulking shadow at the end of the bar was Kian? The one who said she reeked of desperation?
Paige drew in the deepest breath she could manage and slowly shuffled toward him. The closer she got, the more warning bells sounded in her head. She shouldn’t be doing this. This man—this beast—was too big. Too primal and unpredictable. If she had any sense left, she’d turn tail and run.
Where? Straight into the barrel of Craig’s Glock?
This was it. Her only hope. There was nowhere else to run. All she could do now was pray.
Paige stopped two stools away from the giant. She knew the buffer zone was only an illusion. There wasn’t any distance that was safe when near an alpha. It wasn’t as if she’d be able to outrun or outfight him. Still, Paige couldn’t force herself to move any closer.
“Can I talk to you?” she asked.
He didn’t look up from his beer. The glass mug seemed comically small in his massive hand. She knew he could crush it into shards with a twitch. “What would you do if I said no?”
The truth slipped out before she could stop it. “I have no idea.”
“No, you don’t have a clue, do you?” He gave a short derisive laugh before lifting his drink and downing the whole thing in one swallow.
“I know that I can buy you another beer.” She pulled a bill out from her purse and laid it on the bar.
He paused for a second before slamming the empty glass down.
“That’s a good start.” He raised his hand, motioning the bartender back over. “You can keep talking until your money runs out.”
“I don’t want to bother you,” Paige said. “I really don’t want to be here.”
“That’s pretty obvious, lady,” he growled. “Get to the point.”
“My name is Paige Byrne,” she said. “Officer Wilcox in Sacramento gave me your name, and—”
“Denise sent you?” He gave another laugh, this one even darker than before. “You must be in trouble.”
“I am.” Paige blinked at his casual tone. She dropped her voice down to a whisper. “Someone is trying to kill me.”
“Figures,” Kian said. He shot the bartender a pointed look as he grabbed his next beer. “Denise has always had a soft spot for charity cases.”
“I’m not looking for charity,” Paige said, feeling strangely defensive. “I can pay if that’s what you want.”
“So, now my little sister’s pimping me out,” he muttered.
Little sister? Paige narrowed her eyes and leaned in closer, trying to spot a family resemblance, but it didn’t do much good. She could barely see anything in the low light. “You’re Officer Wilcox’s brother?”
“Of course. How else would I know her?” he said. “Who else in Sacramento, of all places, would know where to find me on a Sunday night?”
It made sense. After all, nearly all alphas were born into regular families just like everyone else. But for some reason, Paige was having a hard time trying to make a genetic link between the very normal cop who had saved her
this morning and the beast sitting in front of her now.
Kian, though, didn’t seem to appreciate the extra attention. He gave a low growl of warning, and Paige immediately straightened up.
“Sorry,” she rushed to say.
The alpha lifted his beer and downed it as fast as the last. “Who wants you dead?”
“My fiancé,” she said, then caught herself. “I mean my ex-fiancé.”
“Why?”
“Because I witnessed him murder a man.”
“And you really think he’s going to follow you here?”
“You don’t know Craig.” Then again, it turned out neither did she. Not really. All she knew was that the stress of this back and forth was killing her. “He prides himself on always getting what he wants. If he’s set his mind on killing me and you don’t help me, then I’m as good as dead.”
Kian’s spine straightened. His shoulders pulled back. Paige’s breath caught in her throat, fearing that she’d pushed him too far with her upset tone. She held her hands out in front of her as she slid back a step.
“I’m sorry,” she rushed to say. “I don’t mean to offend you. I was just—”
Her words died as Kian rose from his stool and turned toward the door. For the first time, Paige got a good look at him as he stepped into the light. He was well over seven feet tall. The breadth of his shoulders were twice as wide as hers.
And then there was his face.
She couldn’t say he was beautiful. Not even handsome. At least, not traditionally so. His features were far too tough and hard to be described that way, but there was something so vital and animalistic about the cut of his brow, the dark brown beard dusting his jawline, and the depths of his deep-set eyes. A deep longing stirred in Paige’s chest.
Kian Wilcox might not be pretty, but he was damn sexy.
Too bad he was about to kill her.
“Please don’t hurt me,” she begged.
Kian’s brows pulled together hard. “Get behind me,” he growled.
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