28. Hux
Chapter 28
Hux
A loud boom echoes outside and I rush to the window, heart racing. Men in SWAT gear storm the building, armed to the teeth. At first, I think they're authorities, but then I recognize the hellhound insignia on one of their jackets.
"What is it? What's happening?" Bex's voice trembles with fear.
"The Hounds," I mutter, my voice filled with dread. Sterling's local gang... What are they doing here?
Another round of guns sound, and screaming pierces the air. The basement is flooded with men, all clad in gear, who rip open the cell doors and begin dragging omegas out kicking and screaming.
"What is it? What's happening?" Bex's voice trembles with fear.
My heartbeat is erratic, and I've never felt more helpless than I do right now. I know what's happening. The Hounds are here for the omegas, and Rebecca will be next.
The basement door creaks open, boots thudding down the steps and my grip tightens on the bars.
"Rebecca, don't fight back," I urgently warn.
"Why?" Rebecca's voice rises in hysteria.
My mind races. How do I explain to her what is going on, and have her stay calm? She has been trapped here for months, and if I know anything about Rebecca, she will use this as a chance to fight back.
"They'll kill you if they think you're more trouble than you're worth," I growl, running a frustrated hand through my beard.
"What?" Rebecca demands.
Before I can answer, Jordan steps up in front of Rebecca's cell, blocking my view.
"Well, well, well, pet," Jordan sneers. "Looks like it's just you and me. We're going for a walk, baby girl. But first, something to keep you compliant."
"You've got to be kidding me," Rebecca spits. "If you think I'll go with you willingly, you're stupider than you look."
Jordan cackles, and with cat-like reflexes, grabs her by the face and shoves something inside her mouth.
"Son of a bitch," I growl, shaking the bars. "Let her go, Jordan!"
Jordan ignores my demand and grabs Rebecca by the arm, yanking her out of the cell. She struggles against him, her cries echoing through the basement. She gags and chokes, her body convulsing as she tries to fight him off.
"Don't touch me, you bastard!" she screams, her voice filled with defiance.
But Jordan is relentless, throwing her over his shoulder. Her body slumps. The drugs taking effect. "I'm going to have so much fun taming you my little omega," he croons.
Desperation wells up inside me as I watch Rebecca being hauled out of her cell. I have to do something, anything, to stop him before it's too late. But locked in this cell, there's nothing I can do but shout and rage against the bars, my fists pounding in frustration.
"Let her go, you son of a bitch!" I roar, my voice echoing off the concrete walls.
"Shut the fuck up, Hux!" He draws a gun from his waistband and points it at my head. My heart beats steadily in my chest as I stare him down. He doesn't have the balls to shoot me point blank. I can practically taste the fear in his scent.
I slowly smile at the alpha, waiting for him to make a move. His hands shake and his brow glistens with sweat.
Movement from my left catches my eye, and I peer up the steps to see a familiar figure creeping down the stairs. I watch in stunned silence as Sabrina emerges from the shadows of the staircase. Hanging limply in her hand is a crowbar, a determined look clouding her face. As she sneaks up behind Jordan, I see what she intends to do.
She lifts the crowbar above her head and swings with all her might, the metal connecting with Jordan's skull in a sickening thud. Jordan has little time to process what's happening as his gun goes off, the shot going wide and hitting the metal door of my cell.
The impact of Sabrina's blow reverberates through the room, and Jordan crumples to the ground, blood pooling around his unconscious form. The air is thick with tension as Sabrina rushes to Rebecca's side, her hands trembling as she unties the gag from her daughter's mouth.
"Mom?" Bex slurs, her voice barely audible over the chaos and screaming.
Tears fill Sabrina's eyes as she embraces her daughter’s limp form, holding her close, as if trying to shield her from the horrors of their reality.
"Oh, sweetheart, I'm so sorry I didn't come sooner," Sabrina whispers, her voice filled with anguish. "I was wrong for letting them take you. Please forgive me."
I grip the bars of my cell tightly, trying to reign in my rage. Disgust surges through me at the sight of a mother begging for forgiveness for her own betrayal of her daughter.
"We need to get out of here," I growl, my voice low and urgent. "The longer we stay, the more at risk we are."
Sabrina turns her gaze to mine, a hardness coming over her. "I'm sorry, but they would never let me leave with you, Hux. I can't help you."
My gaze shifts to Rebecca's slumped form,a new wave of dread washing over me. "How are you going to carry her out of here? Did you know they gave her two doses of that drug, Sabrina?" I ask, my voice steady, though I'm anything but.
Sabrina flinches at the revelation, her grip on Rebecca tightening reflexively. For a moment, the weight of our predicament hangs heavy in the air, the reality of our situation threatening to suffocate us all.
Another loud boom sends a shockwave through the basement. Sabrina staggers under the impact, her grip on Rebecca faltering for a moment before she steadies herself. Dust and debris rain down from the ceiling, filling the air with a choking haze.
"We need to move. Now!" I alpha bark over the chaos.
With bated breath, I watch as she turns towards my cell. Sabrina finally nods in agreement.
As the door swings open, I step out into the dimly lit corridor, my eyes immediately drawn to the gun lying discarded on the floor. Without hesitation, I snatch it up, the weight of the weapon a comforting reassurance in my hands.
"Don't make me regret this," Sabrina warns, her voice tinged with apprehension.
I nod solemnly, my determination mirrored in her gaze as we exchange a silent understanding. I take Rebecca into my arms, gazing down at her pale face as worry churns inside me.
We need to get her to Sterling Hospital before it's too late.
"Stay close," I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper.
As we round the corner, we come face to face with Stacy Bramwell, huddled in a corner, fear widening her eyes as she sees us approach.
"Oh my God, Hux," she says, coming out of her hiding spot. I don't have time for this, but I can't just leave her here to be collateral damage either. Fuck, why do I have to care so damn much?
"Come on. Follow us," I growl, and Stacy's shoulders sag in relief.
Without breaking my stride, I lead the way towards the back door, my senses on high alert for any sign of danger. As we step outside, the chaos of the fight raging inside seems distant, even though bodies and bloodshed stain the ground.
We head down the stairs and around the corner, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on us like a leaden blanket.
"I have no idea how we're going to make it out of here," I admit, a sense of helplessness creeping into my voice. "We don't have a car or an escape route, and Sterling City's skyline sits across the water."
Before I can ponder our next move, the unmistakable sound of a gun cocking sends a ripple of fear down my spine. Instinctively, I force Rebecca into Sabrina's arms and force them behind me.
As I turn to face Titus, the Hound's leader, his malicious grin sends a chill down my spine. "Owen Huxley," he greets with a dark chuckle, his eyes scanning the three women behind me with a predatory gleam. I refuse to break eye contact with him, my grip on the gun at my side tightening in anticipation. With Titus's gun trained on my temple I can't make any sudden movements.
His gaze briefly flickers down to my hand before meeting my eyes once more. "Drop the weapon," he demands, his voice dripping with authority.
I weigh my options carefully, my mind racing with possibilities. But in the end, I know that my priority is the safety of Rebecca. I have to do whatever it takes to bring my kitten's best friend home.
"Fine," I reply, my voice firm as I lift my chin defiantly. "But let them go."
The air grows thick with tension as Titus steps closer so that the barrel of his gun is pressing into my temple, his predatory gaze never leaving mine. Every instinct in my body screams at me to fight back. But I stand my ground, my jaw clenched in determination as I prepare to face whatever comes next.
The sound of Titus's chuckle sends a shiver down my spine, his eyes gleaming with a malicious glint. "It's time for you to pay for your sins," he sneers, his words dripping with venom.
Without giving him time to follow through on his threat, I smack his hand to the side, forcing his shot to go wide. A piercing scream echoes in the clearing, but my focus remains fixed on the alpha before me. With a surge of adrenaline, I launch myself at him, giving him everything I've got as we crash into the grass.
We wrestle for control of the gun, our bodies colliding with bone-jarring force until, finally, it slips from his grip. "Game over, Titus," I growl, my voice low and menacing as I deliver two shots into his chest.
As the light fades from his eyes, I watch the blood bubble up from his throat, a grim satisfaction washing over me. But before I can revel in my victory, a deep voice booms from behind me, causing my heart to plummet.
"Hux!"
Slowly, I turn to see Creed and Vaughn running towards me, their expressions a mixture of concern and determination. My breath catches in my throat as I pull Creed into a tight embrace, his presence a comforting anchor in the chaos around us.
"Why are you here?" I ask, my voice laced with disbelief as I take in the sight of my pack standing before me.
"We saw the commotion from the marina, and we couldn't sit by and do nothing," Creed explains, his grip on me tightening with a sense of urgency.
Gritting my teeth, I force myself to focus, my breath coming in short pants as I scan the clearing. "We need to get out of here," Creed says, his gaze falling upon Stacy's broken and bloodied form.
"Sabrina?" Creed's confusion is palpable as he turns to her, only to be met with her anguished screams.
"Rebecca! Oh my god, no!" Sabrina's voice is filled with panic as she rushes to her daughter's side, her hands trembling as she tries to soothe her.
Rebecca's convulsions intensify, foam bubbling from her mouth, and my heart clenches with fear and desperation. But Creed's firm grasp on my shoulders pulls me from my spiraling thoughts.
"Kaylani is at the hospital. We have to take her there. I've dealt with this before. We don't have much time," Creed growls, his words cutting through the chaos with a sense of urgency.
"What the fuck is happening? Bex is alive?" Vaughn murmurs in horror, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Barely. She's overdosing on a drug called Heat. She doesn't have much time," I spit with fury. My eyes blazing with anger as I meet Creed's gaze. His brows are pinched with worry, his tostled blond hair clinging to his forehead.
How he knows about this drug I'm not sure, but we don't have time to talk about it.
Rebecca is dying.
Creed's expression shifts from rage to fear, the gravity of our situation sinking in. "We have to hurry. Tiny will know what to do," Creed says, his voice urgent.
I nod, the weight of our mission heavy upon my shoulders as I quickly pull Rebecca into my arms. Her body continues to convulse, each movement sending a surge of fear coursing through me. "Hang on," I pray silently, the words a desperate plea to whatever higher power may be listening.
She can't die like this, I’ll never forgive myself.
"Let's go!" I yell over the increasing gunfire, the sound growing closer with each passing moment. With a sense of determination burning within me, I hold Rebecca close, her life hanging in the balance as we sprint towards safety.
"I'm coming home, kitten," I whisper fiercely, the promise driving me forward as we race against time to save our girl's best friend.