Chapter 20
Twenty
Vivian
The throbbing in my head isn't as bad as the total exhaustion that weighs me down. I opened my eyes a few minutes ago but haven't built up the courage to move.
Each time I blink, my eyelids try their damndest to stay shut. Not only am I struggling to comprehend the fact that I was kidnapped and physically hurt, but I'm working so hard to block my bonds.
My friend, Amaya, told me all about how she was able to cut her mates off from feeling everything she felt when she was in captivity. I was more than intrigued; I soaked everything in and took notes.
Lying here on a stupidly comfortable mattress, I'm thankful for the ability to shield my mates from what's going to happen here. I don't want them to feel my fear and aching body, not when I'm sure they're already losing their minds over me being gone.
A masculine grunt and a curse wake me up a bit more. Rolling my head to the side, I blink in surprise. The man who smells like metal and vibrates like static launches himself into a seated position.
"Fuck fuck fuck!" he growls and gingerly touches his fingers to his forehead. I cringe right along with him when I see the blood. At least he can sit and speak.
Slowly, so as not to draw attention to myself, I roll onto my side and watch him some more.
He seems a bit perturbed by the nice things in his cell.
I was too when I realized I had a queen-size bed with all the blankets and pillows an omega could want.
The lighting is warm and cozy, and the temperature is wonderful.
There's even a bouquet of flowers on the nightstand.
"What the fuck?" He looks at the fluffy rug beneath his black tennis shoes with so much disdain I almost smile.
A small ounce of concern washes over me when he stands and sways, but he shakes it off. What is he going to do?
His back is to me as he approaches the beautiful arrangement of lilies and, to my complete displeasure, grabs the vase and slams it against the wall. My skull throbs at the loud noise, but I'm quickly riveted to the scene in my neighboring cell.
The stormy man glances at the cell door and quickly starts sifting through shards of glass. A weapon maybe?
Just as he finds one on the ground, four guards run by the bars of my cell and rush into his. I watch silently and a bit confused when all they do is detain his fighting limbs, remove all the glass, then take the comforter from his bed.
It happens so fast and efficiently, or maybe I just passed out for a second. I swear I blink and they're shoving him to the ground before kicking him in the back. Wincing, I wait to see what he does after the guards lock the door back up.
They didn't even say anything, and it took them mere moments to descend on the man.
Nauseated over witnessing such brutal treatment, I swallow and shift around on my sheets.
I freeze when his head whips in my direction and he realizes I'm here too.
We're the only two people in this little block of cells.
On my right is a cement wall, same with his wall on the left.
The wall opposite the cell doors is also cement.
We're literally neighbors and the only thing each other can see aside from the shadowed hallway. Just one set of bars separates us, so I remind myself to stay far away from them until I know he won't hurt me.
I wonder if he would grab me and threaten to kill me just to get the guards to come back and set him free. Or maybe I don't matter at all and they'd just let the agitated alpha kill me.
"What are you glaring at me like that for, Omega? It's your fault we're in here. Damn it!" he snaps, standing up once again only to kick the bed frame.
I stiffen and glance out to the hallway again. Nobody comes to punish him for his second transgression. I blow out a quiet breath of relief. As long as he doesn't draw attention to himself, I'll be good too. He just needs to sit down and shut up. It's worked fine for me the past five minutes.
Wait, my fault? It's times like these when I wish I had control over my voice. Unfortunately, I'm stressed and scared beyond belief, blocking my ability to defend myself.
The man pouts and grumbles for a bit longer.
Since there's nothing better to do, I watch.
He's incredibly handsome—in an edgy way.
His black hair is messy and a little greasy.
His jawline is strong as hell, and his eyebrows are constantly pulled together.
He reminds me of one of those guys who would look good with a shiny black motorcycle beneath him.
His sigh brings me out of my admiration haze. "My name is Riot," he introduces himself, slumping onto the edge of his bed.
Riot...Yeah, total bad boy vibes with this one. Even his parents knew from his birth that he was destined to be broody and mean.
"What's your name?"
I don't say anything.
Riot raises an eyebrow and smirks. The tilt of his lips isn't a nice one though. No, this alpha is pissed, and right now he can only direct it at me. I wait for the moment he realizes I'm mute and his attitude changes, but it never comes.
"Somehow," he drawls and rolls his eyes, "I had a feeling you wouldn't respond. Not talking to me seems totally on par with what I've already experienced with you."
My eyes droop. Who knows what he's going on about, but I'm exhausted and battling my mates’ fear in the bond is stealing all the energy I have. I'm not used to this. We're an open mind, open feelings, kind of pack.
I'm grateful I know how to block them from my misery and whatever awaits, but I wish I never had to use it. I bet Amaya felt the same way...
"You falling asleep on me already, huh?"
The rumble of Riot's voice doesn't disturb me. I easily slip into a sleep so deep I hope I'll be recharged when I wake. Let's also hope Riot doesn't cause any more issues while I'm out.
I wake to growled threats and banging on bars. What really restarts my brain is being called a whore. "Wake up, whore!"
Slowly, because fuck that guy, I sit up. It takes a lot of effort, but I hide my cringe and stuttered breathing at the way my brain throbs. Shit, when I saw the gun coming at me, I didn't think it would hurt this bad. Being pistol whipped fucking sucks.
"Hurry up, bitch!"
Frowning, I swing my legs over the side of the bed and take my first look at the asshole shouting at me. He's huge and absolutely terrifying. Honestly, if this man could garner respect from anyone instead of fear, he'd be a force to be reckoned with. Alas, he's just a prick drunk on power.
I blink at him. The bushy beard on his face hides his angry blush, but I don't need to see his complexion to know he's about to hulk out. He's clearly not in charge around here because nobody who runs an operation like this one can manage it with the temper this guy has.
"Stand up!"
Does he have volume control? Forcing my eyeballs not to roll at his power trip, I blink again. Why would I stand for him?
There's a quiet curse in the other cell, making me glance at Riot. What's his problem? Narrowing my eyes at the alpha, I raise an eyebrow. What did you do while I was asleep?
"Look at me, omega whore!"
This time I can't control my facial expressions and my nose scrunches up. This guy clearly didn't get enough attention when he was a child. Is it right for me to blame the parents, though? Maybe he didn't have any parents and that's why he's an abusive fuckwad.
Whoa, I'll need to curb the nasty thoughts before I go home. Kade would have a fit if he heard these thoughts. Imagining my alpha's reaction makes me laugh a little.
"Fucking hell, really?" Riot glowers at me.
"STAND UP!"
That makes me jump. A chill skitters down my spine when I see saliva dripping from the guard’s chin. Damn...
Unfortunately for the beast, I freeze instead of complying. I do find fascination in the very obvious vibrating going through his large body. Maybe he shouldn't have told me to do something if I wasn't going to do it, you know?
Now if my mates told me to stand, I would. They've earned the ease with which I trust them. My submission is for my pack. I may be an omega, but that doesn't mean shit in the face of a threat. I have pretty sharp teeth and I keep my nails long and healthy.
The guard switches gears when he realizes I'm not doing jack shit. Yet, he still tells me to do something. "Take off your shirt."
That draws a little hiss out of me. By little, I mean my upper lip curls and I release as big of a warning signal as I can. There is absolutely no fucking way I'll bare myself to anyone but my pack.
"Shit. Fuck," Riot mutters, pacing his cell with his hands in his hair.
The clanking of keys snaps my attention to the threat in the room. Although I'm not one hundred percent certain Riot isn't a threat. He seems to have some attitude issues.
"You're going to regret that." Oh, now the guard has some volume control. I'm not sure I prefer it if it means him coming closer.
My sass flies out the nonexistent window as his gut roiling scent reaches me. That's not the most concerning thing; his dirty hands also reach for me. More specifically, my shirt.
My canines feel the chill of the air as I hiss and growl. I know without a doubt that if he gets his hands on me my shirt is going and probably more. Riot's shouting, but I can't hear him over the roaring of my blood in my ears and the sounds coming from my throat.
Words don't come but my omega does. Fierce and feral, I snap my teeth this way and that, my skin burning each time he touches me. With my heart in my throat and terror making it hard to breathe, I shove my instincts forward and hope my claws, teeth, and lack of consent keep him away.
He comes at me like a predator, ripping through the fabric of my jeans at my calf as my legs kick out. No matter how far I scramble away, he drags me back. A heavy slap across my cheek rings through the room, dazing me and making me want to scream. No, no, no!
"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HER!"
That startles me. Why would Riot say that?
Doesn't matter because that split second distraction gives the beast an opening between my flailing arms. He tears my shirt from my torso. It burns as the fabric drags across my sensitive skin. A small cry rips from my throat, and my arms fly up to cover as much of me as I can.
To my utter horror, the guard drags my shirt up to his nose and obscenely inhales my scent. Then he spits on the bed. "Whore."
With that parting jab, he stomps out of my cell, taking the vase of flowers with him too. For some annoying reason, that brings tears to my eyes. Or maybe it's the adrenaline drop and trauma.
Or maybe it's all of it and I just wanted to smell the pretty flowers...