Chapter 13
The location Rafe pulled into wasn’t the same as the last time. It seemed to be an abandoned warehouse. Other than the mass of cars parked in the front, it was incredibly quiet . . . and eerie, with the full moon shining down over the lot.
Rafe shut off the engine. Dorian slid out, taking with him the radiating warmth I’d been fighting the urge to nestle against the entire drive.
He held out his hand, waiting for me to scoot out. I tucked the shawl more securely around my shoulders and took his offered hand. He placed it on the crook of his arm, shutting the door behind me.
“Are you ever going to tell me what you need help with? What you’re after?”
“Nothing you need to concern yourself with.” Dorian patted the top of my hand. “Just be a good girl and do what you’re told.”
Clamping my lips together was the only way to stop my retort to that lovely comment. We walked in silence over the smooth cement. I almost had to jog to keep up with his pace. He always walked like he was in a rush. I peeked up at him. His eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and he looked pensive.
“You promise that after I go through my heat with the Pack selected at the auction, that you’ll free me?” I hated how my voice warbled. He didn’t react to my question. He was such an unflappable man.
“You agreed to behave and do as you’re told as a docile Omega, and I agreed to release you.” I didn’t miss the threat in the words.
Behave or you’re gone.
Nothing could be a hundred percent positive. Would he keep his end of the bargain? I didn’t know, but I couldn’t fight him. Not with the hold he had on me.
“Got it,” I said, bitterness in my voice.
He opened his mouth and shut it with a sigh. We reached an awning casting the door into shadows. Dorian rapped his knuckles against the surface. I followed his gaze to the blinking red light high on the wall. A camera.
A few moments of silence later, then the door buzzed, and he pulled it open. Cade and Rafe fell into step behind us.
Two Betas stood in the dark hall, blocking a clear path into an area where chatter echoed.
“Mr. Ironwyld,” one of them said and waved his hand to the left where a curtain hung blocking the view. “Right through there.”
Dorian grunted and moved the curtain aside. We stepped inside, and there was another Beta. He opened the door, and we went through. It felt like I’d walked into a zoo.
A glass pane stretched opposite from where we entered. Faint blue light came from the other side where there was an enclosed area with more panes surrounding the space in the middle. On the platform was a woman dancing. She twirled skillfully, her body moving like water.
“You brought the Omega.” I followed the voice to Elias sitting on the black leather couch. A different man from the last time sat at his side with his blond hair cut close to his scalp, and a smile playing along his lips.
Elias waved his hand toward the couch across from him. Dorian sat poised and proper, while Cade sprawled like he was at home. His carelessness was purposeful. I could tell he was hyperaware. I perched at the edge of the couch cushion, and Dorian rested his hand on my knee.
“I prefer to stand,” Rafe said, striding behind the couch, watching the space with that moody look on his face.
Blond man’s grin widened and focused on me. “She’s a pretty one.” He had a thick accent I couldn’t place. It wasn’t quite Australian.
“Come greet your hosts,” Elias murmured.
Dorian’s hand twitched on me. I looked up at him. It took him a few seconds but he jerkily nodded, still not looking at me. Sliding my hand out of his grip, I stood with my shoulders straight.
I wouldn’t cower.
“Girls.” Elias snapped his fingers.
Women flooded into the room, as if they’d spawned out of thin air.
It was almost choreographed how they entered.
Sweet, tangy, flowery scents played along my senses as the Betas strutted in, lots of Beta women.
They must have doused themselves in those faux Omega scents that were all the rage on the market because Betas didn’t have a scent.
As cloying as it was, it was easy to ignore with all the Alpha pheromones in the room. None would smell like my Scent Matches—ever—so I couldn’t be too picky. I just had to find a Pack with pheromones I could handle. That I could grow to like.
I watched the women titter past in barely there outfits. Two went to Cade, framing him and hands grazed over his arm. His eyes rose to mine. I yanked my gaze away. My stomach turned as if I’d been punched. I couldn’t breathe.
Another woman slithered onto Dorian’s lap. He stiffened, straightening. The last two pushed against Rafe’s side, grabbing at his arms. Alpha-Chasers. They had it written all over them. Women who only cared about fucking Alphas. No matter what.
“Omega.” Elias’ voice slapped me out of my stare down with Rafe.
I curled my lip and turned on my heel, my steps echoing even over the low thrum of music. I stopped in front of Elias and stuck my hand out.
He looked at it, raised his eyes, and burst into laughter.
He took my hand and shook once, his grip hard.
I breathed his scent in, tasting it. Even though his pheromones coated my tongue, leaving a too sweet taste, his knot was a knot—damn, now I sounded like an Alpha-Chaser.
I turned to the sharp-eyed man and did the same.
But as soon as my hand slid into his, he jerked me onto his lap. I gasped in shock.
He inhaled loudly, his nose settling in the crook of my neck where my Scent Gland was. A shiver coasted down my spine. I think this pack may be a good option . . .
“Enough!”
The bitten-out word ripped my eyes open. Dorian stood towering, and the woman who had been on his lap was on the floor. Cade leaned forward, his jawline bunched and accusatory eyes on mine. All three looked pissed.
And I liked it.
I met Rafe’s eyes. If I thought he looked angry before, it had nothing on the storm cloud on his face. He swatted the groping woman.
“Let’s not quarrel,” Elias murmured. “After all, Omega pussy is Omega pussy. It makes us all a bit crazed. Let her go.”
At his order, the Alpha groping my hip sighed and released me. I landed between them. The Ironwyld Alphas didn’t relax.
“I looked into you lot. I read you were all housed in the same orphanage.”
I stiffened, eyeing them.
“Similar to your pack,” Dorian drawled. Elias stiffened almost imperceptibly. If I weren’t right next to him, I wouldn’t have realized it.
“So you looked into me as well.” His smiled widened. “Wouldn’t have expected any less.” His eyes went to the disgruntled woman brushing at her miniskirt. “Take this lovely Omega to the changing rooms.”
“Yes, Alpha,” the Beta flounced over, waiting. I met Dorian’s eyes.
“Go,” Dorian growled. “Now.” I jumped to my feet, almost tripping after the girl waiting by the curtain the Betas had entered through. On the other side of the shifting curtains, I hesitated, stopping to listen in.
“You’re looking for a woman named Susanna.” Elias’ voice reached my ears. I rubbed my arms, nerves making me want to bolt. Cade’s laugh was sharp and abrupt.
“Yes, she’s our Omega.” Dorian destroyed me with one sentence. I buckled in half, holding my stomach. It felt like knives sliced into my stomach. Their Omega.
“He—” I burst forward and clamped my hand over the Beta’s mouth. It went silent inside the room. Fuck, they’d heard us. I balanced on the toes of the shoes, not allowing my heels to click, and I shuffled away.
Each step away was a slam against my heart. And my body, the damned betrayer, pulsed for them. Even now.
“Oi! Stop runnin’, I need to show ya where you’re goin’,” the Beta crowed as she scurried faster toward me.
I zoomed past another layer of curtains and came to a stop at the hallway branching into different directions. She caught up to me; the perfume she’d doused herself with singed my nose.
She hooked her arm with mine to tote me after her. I didn’t want her touching me. “. . . so hot. I hope he chooses me to . . .”
I tuned her out or else I would end up raking my nails through her eyes. She was speaking about my Scent Matches like this. Mine—
What a joke. No wonder the Ironwyld Pack hated me so much. They had an Omega already. One they were actively searching for.
Now it all made sense.
“Girls! I brought someone we need to prep for her debut,” the Beta tittered. We entered through another panel of curtains to vanities lined up with light bulbs attached to the mirrors.
Only three of the seats were filled.
A redhead woman with tight coils close to her head studied me with a quick flash of her eyes. “Marge.” Her voice was light and tilting. “Introduce us.”
“She’s being offered,” Marge said, and I finally managed to extricate myself. The other two women hadn’t said a word. They only exchanged a glance and smirk. “She’s an Omega.”
The redheaded woman’s entire demeanor changed. It was so brief, only a flash, but it wasn’t lost on me. I’d had plenty of experience around catty women. She approached, almost slinking forward.
I didn’t bother looking at anyone other than the redhead dressed in a two-piece. A jeweled brassiere and matching panties with sheer skirt panels that reached the ground and swayed with her every step.
When she neared, her scent, so wholly Omega, slapped me across the face.
“Demi,” she introduced herself with a small nod, her nose slightly wrinkling. Then her smile widened, and she grabbed my arm like we were old friends. “It’s so nice being around another Omega.”
It didn’t hurt to use her to answer my questions.
“Are you going to be auctioned as well?” I asked.
“Nope.” She waved her hand in a circle. “I’m the Greymont Pack’s Omega.”
“They claimed you?” Color me stunned. The way they touched and sniffed at me didn’t tell me they were taken.
“They will,” she said gloatingly.
“They’re not your Scent Match?”