Chapter 21
Twenty-One
Riot
What the actual fuck just happened? The shock I felt when she didn't stand up to begin with has absolutely nothing on what I'm feeling now.
I've seen omegas fight off their attackers with fire and desperation. But this one? Fucking hell. I'm horrified and a little green. The way she looked at the guard, like she couldn't care less about his dominance and threat, was scary.
I found myself hoping like hell she would find some common sense and just do what the guy said. Shit, she's a tiny thing and should know she stands no chance against any alpha she comes across.
Watching her try to fight the guard off sent me into a tailspin of rage and terror like I've never known.
I've seen many innocents hurt and fight for their lives.
Never has my alpha roared and battered against the cages I use to keep him under wraps.
I could easily become a beast with no moral compass for her.
..That's why I haven't said a damn word to the trembling omega for the past five minutes.
I must be in shock.
Fuck, I mean I just watched her get assaulted and I couldn't do anything to help. The tear through my heart and bleeding wound in my soul is completely unwelcome, but that was awful to witness.
The hissing and growling from her will haunt my dreams. I don't know what will upset me worse in my nightmares: the sounds she makes while fighting off an alpha or the dead look on her face right now.
Fuck it. "Hey, are you okay?"
Nothing. It's then I realize I've just been standing here for a long time staring at her. My lips twist with concern and uncertainty. I'd expect the little firefly to glare at me for staring, but she doesn't even glance at me.
"Dumb question," I murmur and sit on the ground.
It's a strategic move I've made many times in my life when trying to get a traumatized person to talk to me. I've just never been so perturbed by someone's silence.
Closing my eyes to block out the visual of her stress response, I shiver. Her pale, shaking body is etched into the back of my eyelids. Needing to check on her, I open my eyes and look her over again.
With her knees curled up to her chest and her chin resting on her knees, she doesn't blink. Just stares at the small puddle of saliva on the bed. I try not to stare at her body, but the simple black bra peeking between her arms makes me feel better. At least she has that.
Biting my lip, I try to think of something to help her. This whole situation is fucked up and I'm worried if I do something, I'll get her hurt.
"You could wrap a blanket around you," I suggest and cringe because it's weak as fuck. The silence continues as does the dead look in her gaze. "Can you talk to me please?" I grit out, but she doesn't even fucking twitch.
Breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth, ignoring her stressed scent, I work to hold my patience. She's been through an awful amount of trauma since I've laid eyes on her. I don't even know her name.
"What's your name?"
Why am I even trying? Sighing at the lack of response, I tip my head back and close my eyes. It's not personal. She didn't even snap back at the guard. Maybe she's a quiet girl.
Squeezing my eyes shut against the recent memory of her hissing and growling, I force myself to push it away. There's nothing I can do if she doesn't let me help. And honestly, I can't even help myself, so maybe our distance is for the best.
I couldn't do shit while she was attacked the first time, or the second time. Falling asleep to the feeling of failure and helplessness isn't a first, but this time it feels like there's more at stake.
"You're going to cause yourself a lot of problems, whore."
A quiet hiss makes me sit upright so fast I need to grab my head to stop the dizziness. I force myself to take in the scene as fast as possible. The omega sits on a bare bed, but what confuses me is the pile of blankets and sheets piled near the door. There are two guards staring at it.
One of them is the asshole who spit on the comforter. A small grin lifts my lips as I realize she tore them from her bed herself. I'm quick to jump to my feet in alarm when I see the rage in the bastard’s eyes. He feels disrespected by her actions.
If she were my omega, it would feel like rejection, but—my omega?!
"Open the door," the man who attacked her barks at the smaller guard. The short one jumps to do it quickly, and I swear the creak of the hinges is louder in the tense atmosphere.
"Firefly..." I mutter, glancing at her to try to convince her not to make this worse. Fuck, I don't think I can handle watching more abuse.
The breath is completely sucked from my lungs when I see her uncoil from the bed and stand tall.
It’s not her challenging stance that punches me in the heart; it's the mating bites I notice for the first time.
Three of them...One on her neck, one on the top of the swell of her breast, and another on her right wrist.
She has a pack...Oh my hell. I can't imagine what her mates are going through right now.
They aren't my focus though, because now I get it.
I understand the zoning out a bit more. Her soul is literally being ripped into pieces the longer she's away from them.
At least that's what I learned in school.
Then, to my utter horror, she lifts her chin and stares the big abusive prick right in his beady eyes. "Firefly, no."
My warning doesn't land or it doesn't matter to her. She's hellbent on defying our captors, and I just don't think I can change her mind. Especially now that I know she has a pack. But why wouldn't she do everything in her power to get home unscathed?
"Ungrateful bitch," the guard snarls and punches her in the stomach.
"NO!" I bellow, rushing for the bars, unable to keep myself away. She needs my help. Yanking and snarling, I try to get to her. "You fucking prick!"
Snarling and demanding I protect her, my alpha rages in my chest. He takes over my mind, forcing me to think through all the options. I have to help her.
The guard yanks the soft rug from the ground right before she collapses to her knees. I watch as her smooth skin breaks on the concrete through the rip in her jeans.
Nausea and rage seal my throat, but the energy has to go somewhere. Growling and squeezing the bars, I glare at the blood pooling around her knees. My ears burn listening to her pained wheezes.
Curled in on herself, she stays on her knees and holds her stomach. The only time I look away from her is to make sure the guards leave. Sadly they remember to lock her door.
"Why..." I clear my throat after a while when her heaving breaths have evened out. "Why did you have to put up a stupid fucking fight again?"
Her shoulders rise and fall like she doesn't even hear me, but to my surprise, her head lifts until it's tilted so far back she stares at the ceiling. Her red hair touches her toes behind her.
Actually, her movement doesn't surprise me. What shocks the shit out of me is how serene she looks. No frowns line her sharp features, and her mouth rests in almost a small smile. What the actual fuck? I've never met someone who confuses me as much as infuriates me.
What the fuck is she doing? Exasperated once again, I snap, "What the hell is going on, little Omega?"
My heart stops and absolutely implodes on itself when she snaps out of her trance and looks at me.
Eyes wide and dripping with tears she sucks in a breath.
What did I say? Oh fuck, she's crying. Then my heart turns on me and beats against my chest in retaliation when a broken sob explodes from her lips.
"Shit, hey..." I coo, voice rough with worry. "What just happened? I'm sorry."
Climbing to her feet, she doesn't seem to care or notice the blood that slowly trickles down from her knees.
Sobs and tears continue breaking the silence in our cells, then she fucking walks away from me.
Why do I want her to come to me? Why does it make me feel slightly fucking feral that she'd rather climb onto her cold, bare bed and curl into a ball with her back to me?
It shouldn't hurt so much that she would choose isolation over me...