Chapter One #2
The dark-headed one reached for me, running the back of his fingers down my arm where it had been scraped raw by the bricks. I shivered and pulled away, ashamed when my nipples tightened at the contact, unwelcome or not.
“No.”
The word was supposed to come out with force, was supposed to make them back off, but it was a bare whisper they ignored as if they hadn’t heard it. The blonde caged me in, leaning down to scent me beneath my ear, where the unblemished skin told the world I was unclaimed.
“Come with us, and we’ll take care of you.”
He grabbed my arm, his hand large enough to encircle my entire bicep with ease. When the dark-headed alpha took my other arm, my flight instincts finally kicked in, but it was too late.
“No!”
Unfrozen, I jerked back when they pulled me off the wall, fighting against their holds on me, but I had no chance against one alpha, let alone three. The third remained silent, watching, but he had moved to block my path to the stairwell, cutting off my easiest route of escape.
I stumbled as they pulled me forward, toward the door they’d been lingering near. My prior panic didn’t compare to the terror flooding my system, bringing with it sharp clarity of what would happen if they got me behind a closed door.
The fog of my heat lifted enough for me to think. I had mere seconds before I was stuck with these strange alphas through my cycle, and possibly for life if one lost control and bit.
Sometimes being an omega sucked.
Adam had always worried about me being a single omega, vulnerable to any alpha.
Despite my reluctance, he’d taught me a few self-defense moves, mostly how to break holds, and while I’d felt betrayed by him only moments before, gratitude surged to the surface as I dropped my shoulder and twisted, managing to slip free of the blonde.
The dark-headed alpha’s grip was better, but another twist and a quick jerk had me free of his clutches, even if it left my skin burning.
Heart fluttering, breaths coming in short gasps, I turned to run. It had been stupid to walk the long way when the stairwell closest to Adam’s apartment would have been the safest route, and I had to hope I could somehow outrun the alphas to get there before them.
I barely managed three steps before my bubble of hope exploded, a short scream leaving my throat when I was yanked to a stop by a grip on the back of my shirt that tightened the fabric and made it ride up to choke me.
A chest hit my back a split second before another hand clamped over my mouth, muffling my noises as I struggled to break free.
Tears flowed down my cheeks as I fought, flailing my legs and trying to wriggle from the alpha’s arms. Growls echoed throughout the walkway, making my belly clench and slick wet my pants even as I struggled to escape.
When I threw my head backwards, hoping to break his nose and make him release me, all I hit was his chest, and mine tightened with sobs that couldn’t get past the lump closing my throat.
“Bad omega. You should know better than to run from alphas. You need a knot, and we have some for you. Just behave, and everything will be fine.”
He was squeezing me so tight my lungs couldn’t expand, his hand blocking my mouth and half my nostrils, leaving black spots dancing in my vision.
When he spun around I caught sight of the other two who had been with him, standing where they had before, confirming my attempt to run had been pathetically easy to stop.
The world wavered and danced, taking on a sparkle as more moisture filled my eyes.
The light at the end of the walkway, so close, blinded me to the details as I was carried toward the dark opening of the apartment that stank of the three of them.
I was torn between fighting harder, or just giving up, but I threw all of my energy into the last few moments of freedom I was likely to have.
Held against his chest, I no longer posed a risk, so the forms of the other two alphas disappeared into the darkness ahead of us. Blinking to try and clear my vision, I was able to focus just in time to lift my feet and brace them on the door jamb.
I knew I was likely only delaying the inevitable, and possibly angering my captors, but there was a part of me that couldn’t give in and let this happen.
I’d been so careful, for so long, and I’d known it was a risk to come looking for Adam.
It was my own fault, yet I couldn’t help the spark of anger directed at my friend, and I used that to kick off the frame, hoping to knock my captor over.
And for a moment, I thought I’d actually managed it.
The alpha stumbled back, not expecting the sudden movement. His hold loosened enough so I managed to twist a little. I just needed a smidge more space to slip free, and if he fell, I would have another chance to run.
Braced for the impact, holding what little breath I had in hope, it was all dashed away as another dark form appeared beside us, catching the alpha and keeping him steady.