Chapter 5
CRESCENT
We reached the door to their cell.
I squinted into it, and when my vision focused I first noticed the sea of colourful art that was spray-painted across the walls, which was odd, but comforting.
It wasn’t too cramped, fitting four bunk beds against the walls, along with a plain dresser.
In the centre was a decent space where a few old weights were scattered, and along the walls were two heavy iron doors.
There was a major issue with it, however. I took a deep breath.
It smelled really good in here.
Like… dizzyingly good.
Gunmetal. An ocean storm. Ironwood and ember. The dark, dry taste of a desert eclipse…
Those scents were in the air. In the blankets, and walls. Knit into every corner, every breath.
I hadn’t caught them before—the alphas must be wearing scent blockers—but now…
I jumped violently at a touch on my shoulder, then swallowed, looking up into blood-red eyes.
Which scent belonged to him? I couldn’t know for certain, but instinctually I came up with only one answer.
One scent was different from the others, soothing and caressing me with a presence behind it that spoke of something calmer.
Mine…
A dry wind in darkness.
My eclipse.
That was definitely Sin's scent.
I was shaking; I realized.
“Crescent." Sin was frowning down at me and I grounded myself.
You’re touch starved, silly. Any alpha is going to smell like heaven.
It was just the way I was wired. Even if the scents I’d caught back there hadn’t been like this.
I was scared, then. Now I felt safe.
That was all.
They reduced my exposure to alpha scents at the Convent if they could help it.
Or alphas at all—not unless the alpha chose it, fully knowing the risks of being around omegas with golden eyes, and the temptations that came with them.
What about this pack?
Did they know?
Now, I was in here with three alphas, and Sin was just standing there topless. It had been so kind of him to give me his shirt and protect me—and the other alphas in there—from temptation, but it was so, so hard not to stare at how much muscle there was across his chest.
My pulse got thready just thinking about it.
Or the kiss he’d given me…
With a name like his, I was half convinced this was all a test.
Maybe… maybe the Sisters knew what was happening in here, and just needed to be sure I wouldn’t be a problem again…
But it wouldn’t do to bank on that.
I forced a smile onto my face, then glanced around—not at Sin.
All of them were staring at me.
Just an hour ago, the idea of being stuck in a room with three strangers like this would have been terrifying, but my fear… it wasn’t of them. Which was unexpected.
“What… what can I do?" I asked. I looked around, examining the two doors along the walls, both bland and metal—one, oddly, with a metal peephole at around head height that seemed to be shut. The beds were messy, though, and I edged over to the nearest one, giving the blanket a little tug.
That’s what they’d want, right?
I’d been taught a thousand things about the role of an omega and internalized every one, always listening so raptly to Sister Josephine, knowing it was so silly to dream I might one day get to put that knowledge to use, but not being able to help it anyway.
It was dangerous to offer a bond to an omega as sinful as a gold pack without being steadfast in their faith.
Being a gold pack—marked by these golden eyes—meant I was lesser than other omegas. Within the first year of perfuming, all omegas were supposed to go to the Institute to get an injection that would make us fit in with society. Fail to do so and our eyes would turn gold, marking us traitors.
Our hormones, our instincts, everything about us was more… feral.
Evil.
I was a danger.
A coward.
Temptress.
It’s why I both wanted alphas, and was cruel in following that desire all at once. It’s why I should plead for a bond that would give alphas all the power, because how else would they withstand a connection with me?
Very rarely—a pack blessed by the Priests took pity on us—ones devout enough to endure a gold pack’s sin.
They would visit and we would line up, eager to be the one picked to escape the cold, lonely walls of the Convent. We could never have a bond like a normal omega—we didn’t deserve it—but being picked meant maybe being held in the arms of an alpha.
And perhaps, if we did well enough, we might even be loved.
But uh… I didn’t know how to start applying any of the rules I’d learned now that I was in Anarchy.
Anxiety skittered in my chest as I thought back to the chaos that had first met me.
These beautiful alphas had saved me from it, but if I couldn’t figure out what omegas were supposed to do down here…?
The room I’d been dropped into had been a cafeteria, so I supposed they wouldn’t need someone to cook. I didn’t know how long-term this was, but if I didn’t figure it out they might drop me back off for the others to fight over.
I should want that. I should even, perhaps, find the most feral alpha and allow that claim so I didn’t ruin anyone else, but… I was weak and afraid, and they seemed so much more gentle than I had expected.
If I did well, maybe they’d… I glanced at the beds. There were enough for me to sleep alone, but maybe…? For a moment, my skin had brushed Phantom’s, and I thought, as my mind went hazy, that I would go insane myself.
I inwardly kicked myself.
Horrible omega—all of this had happened and I was still so weak to temptation.
If I had any respect I’d hide in the furthest corner and make sure I didn’t sabotage their healing…
I swallowed, turning back to Sin, and realizing all three of them were watching me closely as I tugged at the base of the shirt that was keeping me barely decent. “I can make sure everything… is in order. And I’ll try to keep to myself.”
“Keep to what?” Sin asked, eyebrows rising as he turned to me.
“You saw what happened…” I swallowed. “They went mad.”
These were alphas trying so hard to balance themselves so they could reach freedom. How many had I just condemned? Gold pack omegas were nature’s traps. I shouldn’t be around regular alphas, but most especially not ones who were vulnerable to temptation and sin…
“Went mad suppose a lack of prior condition,” Sin chuckled.
I stared at him, unsure what he meant by that.
“We all backed the car off that cliff a long time ago,” Karma laughed, sinking down onto the bed nearest to me.
“Uh…” I frowned, parsing through that. “Oh.”
“Karma,” Sin said. “Go get cleaned up.”
“Really?” He looked unimpressed, poking at the sticky stain of red that was still coating his neck.
“Yeah. And take her with you. Me and Phantom will sort out some clothes.”
“Take me?” I asked, looking between them.
It was impossible to ignore how all their gazes seemed locked on me at all times.
“You need a wash,” Sin said. “I won’t have Holden’s scent in this room.”
I thought of the cruel alpha who’d slammed me against the wall. My back and head still ached from how harsh he’d been. “Of course.” I didn’t really want his scent on me either, now that I’d caught theirs.
But then…
The last thing I’d managed to do before I was shoved down here was to get a hold of one of the guards’ scent dampeners. I’d emptied the whole tiny bottle over myself in a panic.
A shower would ruin that.
But it would wear off at some point, anyway. Especially with how scared I was. And my heat…
How long before it was here?
I had to find a safe place to ride that out.
The spiral of thoughts cut off as Sin nudged me. I realized Karma had stood up, and was already in the open doorway to a room beyond this one. The same white clinical lighting was shining through it.
I hurried toward Karma, who was watching me expectantly, but when I stepped through the doorway, I drew up.
“Oh.”
I had no idea what I’d been expecting, but it was just one big bathroom.
No stalls or anything.
Just a barrier for the toilet, and a wide cool room with floors that looked more for utility than comfort, with a slope to a grate in the corner.
It reminded me of the shower in the Convent. Except there, only other female gold pack omegas were permitted.
Karma was tugging his top off, dumping it in a rickety metal hamper beneath the line of sinks, and heading for the showers to turn one of the streams on. He tested the water heat with the back of his hand before glancing back at me.
Lord, this was too much.
If it was a test, I’d failed.
Sin was more slender than Karma, with lean muscles making up his chest and arms, but Karma’s rich, umber skin covered thick, corded muscle.
He had a long auburn braid that fell to his waist, and a brilliant, mischievous smile he flashed my way as he caught me looking.
He was so beautiful it made my chest tight.
I dropped my gaze, cheeks burning red-hot.
These damned eyes were going to screw up these poor alphas.
But I was sure he would just wash first, and then I could use the shower after.
That was what he was going to do, right?
And maybe, by then, the hot water would be used up, and it would be cold. I needed that. Even just looking at him for a few moments, I could feel slick pooling between my thighs.
This heat had to wait.
I clenched my jaw, trying to focus on anything else. I was right beside the open doorway, where mist was filling the air, and I could just catch the low conversation from outside over the running water.
“This was blatantly suicidal!” That was Phantom’s voice.
“Come on,” Sin replied. “If I call in all my favours—”
“You think those will hold up now?”
Sin snorted. “They fucking better.”
“And the gun. Now everyone knows you have it—”
“Everyone already knew—”
“Now they know, know. That changes everything.”
“We’re going to be fine. Vandle will be out of his rut by tomorrow. You know what he’s like; they’ll be attached at the hip. We only have to ride this out for another ten days.”
“Exactly my point—why the fuck did you choose now to throw a wrench in—?”
“Because she’s ours!” Sin’s words made me blink, and it felt like there was something closing around my throat.
Theirs?
A strangled whine tried to escape my chest.
They really wanted me?
But…no, no. He didn’t understand what that would mean for his pack.
And now I knew how much risk I was putting them in…
“You’re mad!” Phantom snapped back.
Okay.
I took a breath. Good, at least one of them was sane. “Even if you’re right, there is no way any alpha in Anarchy will accept our pack with her and—” I jumped violently at the loud clang of the metal door as they left, and it slammed shut.
Dang.
Me and what?
“Moonlight.” Karma’s voice caught me off guard, and I spun, looking up to see he was leaning against the wall at my side, peering down at me.
When had he snuck so close?
I’d all but stuck my head around the doorframe to hear Sin and Phantom’s conversation.
“Hi.” I blinked, trying to figure out what to do with my eyes with him and his rippling-muscled torso so close. I tried to drop my gaze, but then I was just looking at his crotch.
At least he was still wearing his sweatpants.
“I can go after you,” I stammered, eyes darting wildly around the room.
“No.”
“No?” I squeaked.
“You’re my omega. I’ll help.”
My lips parted in shock.
His?
What did that mean?
And what did help mean?
I tried to ignore the little bloom of warmth at the words.
This was so wrong.
But Karma didn’t have any intention of explaining himself. Instead, he swept me up like a doll and carried me into the running shower, clothes and all.
The hot water shocked my skin, and then his palm brushed my cheek. I flinched at his touch. At the electricity of our connection. The shirt had acted as a barrier when he grabbed my waist, so it was the first time his touch had truly found my skin.
He went still, eyes wide, a rumble of a growl rising up his throat, fingers tangling in my hair as he tilted my head up.
Dang.
His pupils were blown wide, eyes fixed on me as water streamed over both of us.
I couldn’t find my words as he stared down at me.
“We shouldn’t be… this close,” I whispered.
“Why not?”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
I understood, now that I’d heard what Phantom had said, how much they’d risked to bring me here like this.
And Sin thought they were claiming me?
Karma flashed me that brilliant smile that made my stomach flip. “Hurt me?”
Was I too late?
“I’m gold pack.”
“Yeah, I can see that, Moonlight,” Karma said.
I forced myself to look away, resisting the urge to squeeze my eyes shut. His fingers pinched my chin, though, and my gaze snapped back to him.
I watched diluted trails of red flow over his beautiful, rich umber skin as the shower washed water down his neck and torso.
So much blood.
Blood he’d drawn to protect me.
All wrong.
“I’ll corrupt you,” I whispered, trying to keep the tremble out of my voice.
That’s all we could do. Corrupt. Break. Any children we bore would be rogues, alphas who weren’t bound by the same laws, making the world a dangerous place.
One of his brows cocked, and he tilted his head slowly, eyes even more intense than before. “You’ll what?”
Oh my word.
“You don’t know?” The squeak was out of my mouth before I caught it.
“Know what?”
How did he not know?
What about Sin and Phantom? Had they just risked everything with no idea?
Everything about this was wrong.
The weight of everything that had happened today all crashed in at once.