Chapter 3
Itried to bolt past, but blondie grabbed my arm before I could. The feel of his skin on mine made another wave of slick gather between my legs.
I sucked in a breath. Tingles exploded where he touched, and my pulse leapt madly, urging me to rub against him.
All three of them—
“You’re excused,” the blank-faced one said, looking over my shoulder. It took me a moment to rip myself out of the lustful Haze.
So, they hired her, not my father.
The Beta’s face flushed, her eyes almost fluttering under his attention. I gritted my teeth, battling the urge to smack her.
If I hit her, they’d look at me with utter disgust. I bit back my scoff. At least that would give them an actual reason.
“If you need me again—”
“We’ll let you know.” Blondie said, too close to the woman. He let me go, and his hand settled on her waist, much more gently than how he’d touched me. It was a gut punch, especially because my Omega instinct urged me to throw myself between them and force his hand off her.
I stared after them, my heart in my throat.
“I’ll show you where you’ll be staying,” blank-face with the long-sleeves said. He took a few steps before realizing I’d stayed glued in place. “Rafe.” He jerked his chin at me.
The moody-looking one was Rafe, and he was coming right for me. I stumbled back, and he captured the back of my neck, forcefully pulling me after the blank-faced Alpha.
Rafe could probably feel the pound of my heart under his palm, but his hard expression remained the same. I staggered next to him, following while also trying to make a note of any exits . . . and also trying not to fall. I had a feeling if I lost my footing, he’d just drag me.
The entry of the hallway was connected to the foyer and stretched down a lengthy path to another door.
Every inch of the place was in the same modern style.
All smooth lines and reflective surfaces.
Blondie’s stride had him reaching my other side with no sign of the woman as he walked to the door.
Rafe finally released me. The Alphas were so large that the width of the endless hall suited their size.
Even with the beasts walking beside me, there was still room.
My heels clicked loudly, the tick of each step echoing off the walls.
We were heading to a door at the end, and the closer I was made it harder and harder not to bolt in the opposite direction.
I smoothed my sweaty hands on my dress, wanting to be out of it.
This was sick. Even though I’d known and understood my entire life that this would be my fate, it didn’t change how fucked up it was.
Not all Omegas were treated like this. I just had a shitty father and was born in a country that allowed Omegas to belong to the male figure in their life .
. . but now? Now I was here, and I could escape and build a life.
Settle in a small, close-knit town or even a big city I could disappear in, maybe I could find a way to get my hands on the strain of supps that removed scent entirely. I could pass myself as a Beta.
It sounded heavenly.
“Pick it up,” Blondie snapped, and a shove against my shoulder sent me stumbling forward.
My heel slid out, and I toppled onto the ground face first. Pain rippled across my cheekbone.
It was purely my experience with hiding my reactions that allowed me not to scream.
My tooth snagged on the inside of my lip, and liquid dribbled from the corner of my mouth.
The Alpha striding in front continued without looking back.
I pushed onto my arms to swipe the back of my hand across my mouth. It came away red.
Blondie’s snicker sent me over the edge.
I didn’t think; I just reacted.
I lunged, aiming for his legs. A hand tangled in my hair and ripped me back before I reached him.
I landed on my side. Rafe stared down at me, calm and collected like he’d swatted a fly to the side.
My lip tried to wobble, but I forced my mouth into a sneer.
The way he stared at me made me want to crawl into my skin and hide forever.
“She’s not being very obedient.” The blond one snickered again, and my God, I wished to tear him open. I dropped my eyes, exhaling sharply.
“Up.” This was the first word I’d heard from Rafe. His voice was raspy and deep.
Rafe raised an eyebrow, studying me dispassionately.
Patience. I gritted my teeth, kicked off the heels, and climbed to my feet. I kept my head held high and marched to the door where the third male waited.
“She’s not what we expected, huh?” Blondie said from behind me, speaking to Rafe. “Can you smell the pheromones coming off her Scent Gland? She’s a needy thing. Maybe I’ll put her out of her misery and fuck her later if you want to watch.”
I ground my teeth like I could cage the scream behind my teeth. And my body? My body betrayed me as soon as I envisioned his words. Him fucking me as Rafe watched tempted me more than I wished to admit.
But the way they spoke, as if I were insignificant, was a blow to my heart.
Father would always order me away, never talking about anything important when he knew I was around.
But they didn’t even bother trying to hide it.
I meant that little to my Scent Matches.
I brushed against the third Alpha. This close, I had a better look at his features.
From the hard set of his thin lips, a beauty mark on the crest of his sharp cheekbones, to the slim high bridge of his nose.
Indents dipped on the sides of his nose like he’d recently removed glasses.
He was classically handsome, but beneath the expressionless control, energy rippled.
Green eyes, a shade darker than Blondie’s, studied my face before turning away like he wasn’t impressed.
My heart stalled, but I yanked myself around to face the hall exit.
A couch faced the door, and to my left was a huge television mounted on the wall.
Hallways stretched in opposite directions past the entrance I stood in.
Slowly fading sunlight from a window spilled light across what I could see of the tile to the left of the hall entrance.
Their scent was everywhere.
I stepped forward on shaky legs, unable to keep myself from inhaling the coffee smell coating every surface.
This was hell. I’d died on the flight over and had been plopped directly in hell.
“Show her where she’s staying and make sure she can’t run off, Cade,” the classically handsome one said.
Blondie grabbed my arm and said, “Gladly.” So he was Cade.
I stumbled after him, able to keep my balance now that I’d tossed my heels.
He half-dragged me up the three steps leading into the hall on the right and opened the first door.
Dark brown accents decorated the bedroom.
The comforter, the lampshade, and the curtains.
He didn’t stop though. Cade went across the room, passed a closed door, and opened the next which had two locks.
He flipped open the latch lock and shoved me inside. I stumbled, my foot catching on the carpet. I staggered and managed to right myself.
“Be a good girl,” he said and slammed the door shut, leaving me in darkness.
There was the click and drag of the locks sliding into place.
I bolted forward until my hands connected with the wall.
My fingers glided along a switch, and I flipped it.
The light came on, allowing me to see the doorknob.
I flew to it and grabbed it, jiggling it like my life depended on it. Even though I knew there was no point.
I let it go and pressed my back to the door, taking in the small space. Other than an upholstered foot rest pushed up against the furthest wall that looked uncomfortable, it was an empty closet.
The split in my dress parted, and I yanked it to cover my cold legs. I hugged my torso, rubbing my bare arms.
Father had made sure I’d been dressed nicely, hair done, makeup done, but the Ironwyld Alphas didn’t give a fuck.
So why purchase an Omega?
Was it simply because they could do what they wished with me? I wasn’t in the Omega Registry . . . that didn’t exist in Mexico. Was that the reason?
If that wasn’t the case, then why?
I squeezed my eyes shut tightly. Whatever the case may be, I knew in my bones it wasn’t good. I could end this farce, tell them I was their Scent Match . . . but what if they locked me up for good because of that? I shivered. No, I’d hold on to the information and find a way to free myself.
After that, I’d find peace, and somehow, I’d figure out how to survive without them.
I rubbed my arms, trying to soothe the need crawling through my skin. The same need that would only worsen with each moment I was surrounded by my Alphas.