Trey took in his mate’s face, amazed by her delicate features. For someone who could dish out a lot of damage, she appeared so frail, so tiny. She was muscular yet slim. He could easily wrap his hand around her biceps and touch the pad of his thumb to his pointer finger. He lifted his hand and stroked her arm. Her skin was soft, her muscles firm and defined.

She’s so small. Too small.

What if something happened to her? He’d wither and die alone—yearning for the feel of her touch, aching for a lungful of her scent. His entire being ached at the thought of her loss.

Fuck.

He had to let her go. Even if he didn’t think he could. “Your hour starts now.”

She pulled away, her absence leaving him blinded.

He already missed her scent. The gentle brush of her hair against his chest.

The comfort of her presence.

“Hurry,” he whispered, wanting her to know how much she meant to him. “Get what we need and get that ass of yours back to me.”

“Always,” she said quietly and thought, “Always.”

Diskant moved from Ava, shoulders broadening, eyes furious. “Are we on the same page?”

Was he? Trey paused, thinking it over. He didn’t want Sadie to leave. His momentary decision had been rash.

“Baby.” Sadie’s thought echoed in his brain. “Don’t do this.”

“I won’t let you go.” It was an instinctual response, given immediately. He felt his lips pull down, his face heavy. “I can’t lose you. Do you understand? I can’t.”

“You promised me an hour.” She met his gaze, irises shifting from ocean blue to egg white. “Give.” Her stare intensified. “Me.” She shifted closer, the white in her eyes nearly blinding. “An hour.”

“An hour.” The agreement was torn from him. “That’s it.”

“I need the phone.” Moving from him, Sadie reached toward Diskant. “Punch Cade’s digits and hand it over.”

“What aren’t you telling me?” Diskant asked, appearing concerned. He handed the phone to her. “What’s wrong?”

“I have an hour, that’s what’s wrong,” Sadie growled, snatching the phone. “He’s right. If this were Ava, you’d never allow it. Think on that before you try to chew on his ass like a toy. You’re a walking double standard.”

Trey faced the Omega, narrowing his eyes.

Sadie listened to the phone for several seconds. Then she ordered, “Tell me where to be. Hurry the fuck up.”

Diskant homed his attention on Trey, his gaze changing from dark to light. The Omega stared long and hard, as though he had to measure Trey’s worth as Alpha. Over seconds Diskant’s shoulders relaxed.

“She’ll be fine. Stop acting like—” Diskant didn’t get a chance to finish.

“Fuck you,” Trey snarled, staring right at Ava. “If things go sour, I will take my mate and leave.” Turning his attention to Diskant, he said, “You wouldn’t do less for your mate. Why should I?”

“You’re seeing this wrong.”

“Of course I am.” Trey met each argument head-on, itching for a fight. He moved toward Diskant, furious and at the end of his rope. “This is about me and my mate. Not you or yours.”

Anger escalated, tempers flowing.

Just as Trey reached the Omega, Sadie vanished.

Fuck.

He stopped mid-step, eyes growing wide.

She’d gone. As she said she would. He gritted his teeth, trying not to lose his shit. She had an hour. That was it. With a simple look at the wall, he had the time.

“One hour,” he exhaled the words, voice rough. “That’s it. If she doesn’t return, I’m done. It’s over. You can fight your battles on your own terms.”

“Is this what men do when they don’t get what they want?” Ava asked quietly. “Cut and run?”

“How’s this for an answer?” Trey spun around, facing the female. His gaze homed on her swollen belly. “If it were your child, would you cut and run?”

Ava passed her hand over her tummy, scowling. “I know how you feel.”

“No,” he corrected steadily, ready for war. “You fucking don’t.”

“I have—” Ava started.

“A baby on the way,” Trey thundered, aware of what Ava was about to say. “Something Sadie and I might not ever have. You’re lucky. Imagine if you fell in love with someone totally out of your race. It’s not what you think. You have no idea. You can’t even comprehend what it’s like for us.” Trying to control his unstable emotions, he kept going. “Don’t lecture me on cutting and running.” Flicking his head toward Diskant, he let her in on a secret. “Your mate has made others do so on several occasions. That is the way it works here. Live, get the fuck out of Dodge,” pausing for impact, he warned, “or die.”