5. Luca
5
Luca
Hudson wasn’t supposed to be home. He was supposed to be out working so that I could enjoy a free night at the diner but this entire night has gone to shit. The pain in Blake’s eyes as his Alphas held him back was the most gut-wrenching moment of my entire life, even more so than the moment I presented and I knew I couldn’t be his. Hudson’s hand around my neck tightens as he drags me into the bedroom, the Alpha shaking me ruthlessly. I do my best to weather my expression but the slow hiss that escapes me just angers him more.
“Your job is to submit, Omega. Submit.” His fingers dig in, pressing into the bandage on the left side. Tears gather in my eyes as I keep my hands fisted at my sides, refusing to give him the squeal of pain he’s waiting for. I blink rapidly, trying to stay conscious as he growls in my face. My Omega wants to run but I know that will only incite his need to chase. “I told you to fucking submit, Omega.”
My body relaxes completely in his grip, my head falling forward as I give in. I focus on Blake’s warmth and Grayson’s caring eyes as my lids fall shut. Anyone would be able to tell by my scent that I hate this situation and that my Alpha is hurting me but there’s no one here to save me. The few neighbors we have on either side of us and upstairs are rarely ever home.
“That’s a good Omega. Now go wash off that stink and present for me on the bed. You have 15 minutes.” He thrusts me forward, my back slamming into the wall beside the bathroom entrance. Pain shoots down my spine but I bite my tongue, nodding instead so that he’ll leave me to myself.
The moment he leaves the room, tears spill down my cheeks at the life fate has given me. I don’t know what I did to deserve this but I can’t fathom a forever like this. What little strength I have left takes me into the bathroom. Without even thinking, I rip off the bandage on my neck and dig my fingers into it, intent on ripping Hudson’s bite out of my shoulder.
I know it doesn’t work like that. That without my Alpha telling me he is breaking the bond or it being surgically removed, there’s no way to sever this connection. Still, I dig at it, watching as blood pours down my shoulder. The pain is nearly unbearable, my vision wavering but I don’t stop.
Fury bleeds through our weak bond as Hudson stalks back in, his roar reverberating through the bedroom. He wrangles me out of the bathroom and onto the bed before ripping my hand away from his bite.
“You’re a poor excuse for an Omega. Can’t even handle a little rough play, Luca? What good are you? Your parents promised me a willing, submissive creature, and you… you can’t even follow simple rules.” Hudson hovers over me, lapping at the wound like he’s starved for the scent of my blood. Seconds later, his teeth sink in, reclaiming me all over again. The weak bond strengthens, every last emotion he’s feeling rushing through me.
I cry out as the pain sharpens, needles pricking everywhere along my arms and legs. My hands push against his chest as I try to fight him off but he’s so much larger than I am that nothing I do will save me. Blake’s scent coating my skin most likely only spurs Hudson’s Alpha instincts on stronger, the sweet pear scent so much more inviting than my own.
Hudson claws at my clothes as tears blur my vision and I give into his advances. Fighting will only hurt me in the end, my traitorous body releasing slick and coating my boxers. My scent sweetens, thick and syrupy for an Alpha that has become my nightmare. Hudson was never nice but he wasn’t someone I was scared of. Now I just pray that the terror is over quickly so I can restart the healing process.
“Tonight is going to be fun, Omega. I’m going to mark you up so that everyone knows who you belong to. Everyone. ” He grins, blood coating his teeth and chin, his eyes wild. His hands grip my waist before flipping me over, my head lolling forward. My body is limp from the loss of blood but still responding to our bond and his touch. At least I won’t feel it, right?
The rest of my clothes are discarded, the sound of Hudson’s zipper being undone striking true fear in my heart. Even still, slick pours down the back of my thighs as my face is shoved into the pillow. Hudson’s hot breath fans my ear just before he pushes inside.
“Next time, bring that damn Omega I always smell on you. He smells like dessert and I think I’m owed a piece.”
Tomorrow, I’ll tell Shelly I’m quitting.
There’s no way that Hudson will get anywhere near Blake.
The next morning, I stumble into the diner, knowing very well that I look like death warmed over. I patched up Hudson’s bite on my shoulder again but there are so many other cuts and scrapes along my chest, stomach, and back that it hurts to move. Fuck, it hurts to think about moving. Still, I needed to be here for my last shift.
Shelly takes one look at me and frowns before pointing to the sink in the back. “If I was an Alpha, I would send you home immediately. Don’t look at me like that. Your Alpha is either a sick bastard or you get into a lot of trouble. Either way, I would be stupid to keep you here right now. If I was an Alpha. However, I’m a Beta, and fuck the system. What are you doing here, Champ?”
I manage a smile even though it hurts like hell as I shuffle toward the dishwasher. “Needed a distraction, Shelly,” I croak out. “But… last shift.”
Hudson left early this morning, leaving me in a heap of cum, blood, and sweat without any regard to if I was dead or not. I think he’d still fuck me if I was dead which only sours my mood further. Shelly lets out a pitiful sigh, glaring at me as I turn to face the mountain of dishes that need to be run through the dishwasher.
“I have no idea how you push through so much shit, Champ. I applaud you for it but maybe it’s time to say that it’s too much.”
I can’t do that. There’s no one to tell that my Alpha is abusing me. And when I leave here today, Hudson very well might kill me if I don’t find a way out of that house. I counted the monies I had left over and it isn’t enough to survive. However, I would choose starvation or death from the elements over his rough hand any day. It’s why I left a packed bag by the entrance of the diner so that when I leave today, I head anywhere but home.
Because that isn’t home.
It never was.
I reach for a plate, my vision wavering seconds before my legs buckle beneath me. I lost too much blood last night and Hudson throwing around my body only worsened my condition. A grimace slips through my lips at someone yelling my name, my limp body refusing to listen to me.
Get up, Luca. We can’t go to the hospital.
I moan, trying to move as more hands push me to stay on the floor. I struggle against them but I might as well not even be moving. The only thing I pray is that Hudson isn’t the one who shows up when I wake up from this hell.