Chapter 11
DIANA
Craning my neck up to see the home, realization snaps into place that I’m going to get fucked in that house. My first time, too. And there’s no way Judge isn’t going to let others have their way with me.
Our eyes connect for a small moment, like we’re both waiting on the other to move, before I bolt. Blonde hair flies out of my face, grass making me slower. With a few successful steps underneath me, I become exhilarated with the notion that I will somehow outrun this alpha.
Then the world spins as the ground is removed from beneath my feet, a massive arm wrapping around my waist as we roll in the grass, Judge positioning himself over me and pinning me down on the cool ground.
There’s no grace in the way I thrash, pain flooding me at times as I struggle the best I can, having never been manhandled like this before.
The way it’s almost effortless for him to prevent me from moving is embarrassing.
I loathe the vulnerability when my arms are pinned above my head, held by his iron grip.
His scarred face lowers to mine, those unnaturally pale eyes boring into me as a reminder that he has to be an echo.
His free hand moves to my face, and it’s like I have no more cognition as I bite his thumb hard enough to draw blood.
He growls out in either shock or pain, a deadly flash of violence in his eyes that angry brows furrow over.
I flinch and turn my head, waiting for him to hit me.
Nothing happens.
It’s just the cool grass underneath me, the silence of late fall, and some animals in the trees. Oh, and this hulking alpha pinning me down.
But no pain.
Judge grabs my face again, the warmth of his blood against my skin. “You might have caught me off guard back at the Enclave, but you’re not going to outsmart me. Don’t even think about running again.”
There’s no thought as I spit in his face, shock hardly lingering in his gaze as his laughter becomes my mockery. “Trying to piss me off? We’ll be sharing a lot of fluids soon, sweetheart.”
I scream in his face and thrash like I’m literally fighting for my life, muscles straining and hurting.
There’s a brief moment where he stops smothering me in his weight, only to pick me up like I’m a feral cat, arm braced around my own so I can’t use them.
We near the stairs, my legs thrashing. Now we’re in front of the door, which is already cracked open, so all he has to do is shove me inside the house before dropping me.
A quick tap of his finger on a button by the door sends me backing up against a wall.
All the windows shutter closed, the sound of mechanical doors locking, especially as he shuts the front door.
“What is this?” I ask, taking in the small space, a set of stairs leading to darkness above.
“A house for fucking an omega in heat.”
I spot the floor bed covered in fabrics, a shitty attempt at a nest, and a couch adjacent to it. With my hands roaming the wall behind me, I growl, “Don’t you touch me.”
A gritty sound rumbles in his chest, and slick soaks my underwear.
“Oh fuck you,” I manage out.
He smiles slowly and sits down on the couch. “In due time, nurse.”
Another growl from the alpha draws out a terrible cramp, something that aches to be soothed. “This isn’t fair. I don’t understand what’s happening.”
I wave around aimlessly to indicate the space, not knowing what he’s going to do. Why isn’t he mounting me yet? Are we truly alone in here?
“Have you ever heard of an alpha and omega smelling each other to discover a sort of ancient, predestined pairing? Something called a scent match?”
I roll my eyes, aware that my palms are incredibly clammy. “No one cares about that anymore.”
He snorts like he has the best secret. “Yes, well, I’ve come across many omegas, little one. None of them have affected me the way you do, even covered in chemicals.” He rests both hands between spread legs, those pale eyes burning holes into me. “What of my scent to you?”
I stop, thinking back to the car ride. I was rather complacent, and his scent hit me first while I was drugged.
I cramp again. Fuck. My estrous shouldn’t be here yet unless he’s right about the engagers.
He’s probably trying to spin that into some bullshit about scent matches.
“Your scent only has an effect on me because you’re an alpha. ”
“The fear in you washed away once you were in my arms, not that headless one.” There’s heavy possession in his tone. “Which is a good time to bring up that no one will touch you like that as long as I’m around. Do you understand?”
Wait, what? Is that true? Is that why I just entered a stupor once he picked me up? I run a hand through my hair that’s sticking to my face. “I need privacy.”
“We have it.”
“From you.”
“No.”
I glare at him, almost pacing in this space, trying to avoid looking at the bed at all costs. I can feel it coming on fast and strong. “Something is wrong.”
“No, it’s not,” he says slowly. “Your body is working as intended. It’s responding to its alpha.”
“You might have drugged me!”
“If what you’re telling me is the truth, then you’ve never experienced a heat without pills. Which means it will hurt until a proper knotting occurs. Your body is going through a rapid hormonal change from all the fucking around with chemicals, and now with my pheromones in this room.”
Lies. He had to have drugged me. “Why would you do this to me? Why not give me privacy?”
He doesn’t answer, and when I glance at him, all he’s doing is studying me. For a moment, I swear I can see he has a real answer. “Have you ever treated a patient for what was in their best interest, and not what they wanted?”
“This is not in my best interest.” Holy shit. I’m going to enter my heat with this fuck-whit in the room.
“You understand the wastes have their own rules?”
I don’t answer.
He continues. “You have been marked as mine by whatever guides our instincts, and if I don’t solidify that within a certain timeframe, it delegitimizes you.”
“To whom?”
He stands to move near me, and the omega side of me doesn’t move, wanting more of that annoying alpha musk.
He places two pills on the table near me.
“These are suppressants. That’s not what was given to you.
” I nearly reach for them, and he grabs my hand, his warmth on my bare skin.
I can smell him better, and it’s persuasive.
“What you are experiencing is the most primal call an omega can have. You will not be allowed to deny it forever.”
“Or what?”
“Something will come for you that is worse than me.”
That gives me chills, but my brain is currently inaccessible to decipher it. “If you’re here, though, things will happen.”
He smiles. “I’m aware. I’m also aware that if I leave you in here alone, it’s the worst thing for you since they gave you engagers. You cannot ride this out by yourself.”
“I shouldn’t be here at all!”
He seems to contemplate things again, but chooses to ignore that. I yank my hand back. “You’re aware of something and are hiding it.”
He quirks a brow, shrugging a shoulder. “I’m aware of a lot of things.” He rubs his chin, and I watch that hand like I want to see it rub more than his face. “Do you think omegas are safe?”
“Not with you around.”
He laughs. “Omegas are like holding a handful of water in a desert, little one. People will take them quietly so no one notices. But you’re safe with me in here. Dominion is outside, guarding us. You need to fear nothing.”
My breathing quickens, a slight sweat forming at my roots. I clamp my hand over my stomach, backing up again until I’m against a wall. It’s as if I’ve been struck with a fever. “This place smells awful.”
“You need a nest.”
“I need a shower.”
He hesitates, like he didn’t expect that. “A shower?”
“I always take one while in heat and with extra suppressants and eucalyptus oil. Extra smelly,” I say through a pant, waving my hand.
“There’s a shower around that corner.” He motions behind me, only to pinch the suppressants between his fingers and head to the kitchen. “I don’t have your oil, though. Or suppressants.” He drops them down the sink, and I bolt for the front door, hitting that button like my life depends on it.
Nothing happens. The door doesn’t budge.
“And you?” I ask, frantic. I’m so close to losing all control. “You better stay away from the shower.”
I turn around to see there’s more hunger and amusement in his eyes now. “I’ll be here rutting until you’re begging for a true alpha to take care of you. Which I will then happily oblige.”
I near him like I’m going to scold him, but I genuinely can’t see straight with the way I ache.
I lunge at him, my hands smacking against his chest, trying to shove him away, claw at him—anything.
But contact is the worst thing I could’ve done.
The moment my skin touches his through that thin layer of fabric, heat sears through me like wildfire licking the edges of a dry forest. My breath stutters.
I recoil fast, like he’s covered in spider webs, and stagger back, panting, disgusted with how my body flares up.
He laughs more. “Touchy.” Then, as if we’re not in the middle of this unbearable standoff, he shrugs out of his jacket so he can remove his fucking shirt.
His body flexes as he does, and I almost hate how easily he commands the room without lifting a finger.
He’s covered in tattoos, and for some reason, I like it.
“Keep your clothes on.” I move to what seems to be the bathroom, relieved when I spot a shower, turning on the light in the room. But it’s all wrong. The thought of being in here is unbearable when there’s a rutting cock behind me, ready to knot me through this heat.
When I glance back over, he’s leaning back in his chair, arms stretching across the sides like a damn throne. “Go ahead, Diana. Wash off the stench of Trinity.” His voice darkens, laced with something far more primal. “So I can properly smother you in mine.”