Chapter Thirty-Eight
Halley
A tingle of dread crawls down my spine as the Alpha stalks closer.
His eyes, that awful shade of molten orange, are locked on me. There’s no kindness in them, only hunger. The kind that makes my inner Omega curl in on herself.
Not our Alpha, she whines.
“An Omega needs an Alpha, not some limp-dick Beta,” he sneers, his voice thick with arrogant certainty. Like he’s already decided how this ends.
Recognition jolts through me.
I remember him. It’s the Alpha who refused the Pack entry when they arrived after rescuing me. He speaks in the same snide tone, dripping with derision and laced with disdain.
Shade steps in front of me, solid and unyielding, a living barricade between me and the Alpha with the growing smirk.
'Stay behind me,' his voice rings in my mind.
“She’s not interested,” he growls, tone low and lethal.
“Is that right, girlie?” the Alpha calls, and he takes another step closer, his nostrils flaring. He inhales deeply, groaning as he catches my scent, and my heart races in fear. “‘Cause from where I’m standing, you smell like you’re fucking gagging for a fat knot.”
I’ve grown complacent. Even if my suppressants aren’t working, I could have at least used my scent-canceling soap more. Washed the alluring scent that calls to Alphas from my skin.
I’m too used to my Alphas. The ones who check their strength, who pull back when I flinch, who listen when I say no. I forgot I was taught to fear Alphas. To cower and hide from them.
This one won’t show restraint.
“No claim means she’s fair game,” he says in a sing-song voice and it makes my stomach twist.
“Fuck off. She's my Pack's Omega.”
The stranger scoffs, rolling his eyes. "Pack? That what you’re calling yourselves now? What a joke. There’s no such thing. Just admit you like sucking each other off and sharing a cunt."
‘Don’t react to him. Don’t make eye contact. The others are coming,’ Shade says, slow and calm. I shuffle closer to his broad back, clutching his shirt in my sweaty fist.
"The bitch isn't claimed, and she smells breedable." He takes another step towards us, cocking his head. "Move aside Beta, you can't give her what she needs."
He grasps his crotch and squeezes the bulge of his partially inflated knot.
I fight down my revulsion, forcing myself to access my Omega Command. But it’s not like in the training room where I can focus. My fear and primal instinct to submit to the dominance pouring off the Alpha is overwhelming. I can’t get a hold of my anger under the waves of fear begging me to submit.
“This bitch needs a knot. Don't you, lovely? A big fat knot to fill that tight cunt. Are you a cock hungry little Omega bitch? Is that why you spread your legs for a whole squad?”
The wind blows and I gag on his scent. The potent testosterone and possessive pheromones are inescapable.
‘Viper!’ I call. My inner voice feels faint and pointless, dissolving like a wisp of smoke.
Fear has sunk its fangs deep into me.
What is the point of an all-powerful Omega Command if I can’t use it when I need it most?
He lunges for me, hand outstretched.
Shade strikes, his combat knife stabbing the Alpha’s gut.
Blood droplets hit the cobblestones with wet splats.
The Alpha snorts and wrenches the knife free.
He tosses it aside without looking and it skitters across the stone with a metallic screech, coming to rest at my feet.
He looks up with a smirk. “Was that supposed to hurt?”
Frack, frack, frackity, frack.
This is what makes Alphas so frightening.
It’s why I spent over a decade in a protected compound, avoiding any interaction with this designation. A Beta and an Omega don't stand a chance against him. He'll turn us to mincemeat in a flash.
Shade doesn't seem perturbed, and coldly remarks, "That's the only warning you'll get. If you touch her, you'll regret it. I promise."
I tighten my hand in his shirt, once again trying to drag my Command to the fore. It won’t budge.
The Alpha isn't paying attention to Shade anymore. He's fixated on me. His expression is a disturbing mix of leering arousal and sneering disdain. It’s a strange mixture of hatred and desire.
"You smell so needy, girlie. Don't worry, if my cock isn't enough, I won’t let you go without. I'll share my Omega… for a price. The other Alphas here will keep you stuffed full. You can call us a Pack if it makes you feel better about having all your holes plugged.”
"I would rather run through nettles naked, you fracking asshat," the insult spills from me before I can stop myself. The anger fades as quickly as it rose, slipping through my fingers like sand before I can get a hold of it.
The soldier blinks, and then his face contorts with rage.
Shade sighs. 'Baby girl, please don't antagonize the homicidal Alpha.'
'Ah… Sorry?'
The Alpha’s eyes dilate, and his nostrils flare. He doesn't like a Beta threatening him, and likes an Omega insulting him even less.
His muscles ripple and bunch with tension as he prepares to pounce again.
"Stupid bitch," he roars. "You need to learn your place. I’ll fuck that attitude right out of you."
The Alpha launches himself at us and I brace for impact.
A spray of wet warmth splashes over my face.
I inhale sharply.
The hostile Alpha gurgles, his hands clutching at a gaping wound in his throat as blood spurts. He staggers and collapses on his knees.
Knox stands behind him, his chest heaving with a murderous expression. His hand is raised and blood drips from his fingers. I squeak as I notice he has no blade. He did that with his bare hand.
The wounded Alpha wheezes in agony, but the gash heals rapidly. It only takes a few moments before he stirs, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the floor.
"Stand up and fight," Knox growls. "Or, do you only go after Omegas and Betas like a fucking coward?"
The Alpha scrambles upright and charges, fists flying. Knox dodges the first swipe with effortless precision. The second punch misses entirely. He ducks low, seizes the Alpha’s arm mid-swing, and snaps it in a single, brutal motion.
Instead of letting go, he holds it like a fishing line as the Alpha thrashes. The broken bone is already healed.
"You wanted to touch my Omega with this filthy paw?" He snarls, shaking the healing arm.
The Alpha shudders and sweats.
“Hmm?” Knox prompts, leaning down as if to hear what his captive has to say. “Nothing to say?”
He jerks the arm sharply.
Crack.
The bone snaps again.
The Alpha roars in pain, and I flinch at the sound of the bone breaking.
“Didn’t think so, maggot,” Knox sneers in his face.
Thundering boots echo down the shadowy hallway, and Blaze and Viper burst onto the balcony, scowls etched on their faces.
They skid to a halt, taking in the scene.
Viper comes straight to me. I'm still cowering behind Shade, my sweaty hands fisted in his shirt.
"Did he touch you?" Viper grunts in a hoarse voice as he runs his palms over my face and body, searching for any sign of harm.
I shake my head, licking my lips, unable to tear my gaze away from Knox and his prey. I'm shocked by the display of violence… but my inner Omega is thrilled.
Slick slides down the inside of my thighs.
Our Alpha is the strongest.
Knox drops his opponent's broken arm and shoves him to the ground. He shouts in pain, the break is not healing as quickly as the first time.
I'm not sure whether he is particularly dumb or if it's a stubborn Alpha trait, but he doesn't back down even as he kneels cradling his maimed arm.
Instead, he foolishly opens his mouth and digs himself a deeper hole.
"Who the fuck do you think you are? The Omega has smelled like rotted shit for months, and now that she finally starts smelling like something worth mounting, you bastards come from nowhere and snatch her up like you’ve got some right. "
Blaze moves to stand beside Knox, his eyes distant, dark, and sharp.
I swallow.
My Blaze is not home right now. The shadowy creature who loves to maim and torture is in residence.
The hair at the nape of my neck prickles as I realize the severity of the situation.
‘Easy, pretty girl.’
Sensing my distress, Viper steps closer, pressing me between Shade and his warm, comforting chest. The encompassing pressure calms my Omega almost immediately.
I know that I'm protected and safe between my mates.
"You wanna know who we are?" Knox asks as his red eyes glint in the sunlight. His face twists into a terrifying grin. "I'm Prime Alpha Knox and this is Scorch Squad. Have you heard of us?"
The Alpha stiffens and his breath catches.
"Ah, so you have heard of us." Knox nods, his smile falling, and the Alpha flinches. "Good. Then you understand when I tell you that you've made a big fucking mistake today. Huge."
Unexpectedly, he crouches down to the injured Alpha’s height, hands hanging loosely between his knees like he has no care in the world. It’s a mocking position, showing that he sees him as no real threat.
“I’ll give you one chance to be useful,” Knox says, his voice quiet and cold enough to freeze bone.
“Go tell the others. Any Alpha who so much as looks at her will be flayed alive. I’ll string up their twitching, skinless body in the courtyard for the crows to feast. And when they finally stop screaming, I’ll come for you next.
You’ll answer for it. Every time. Do you understand? ”
I swallow. Frack.
I shouldn't like that.
It’s… it's deranged. Disgusting. Insane!
More slick spills from me, a rivulet passing my knees.
Viper inhales, his lips smacking as if he can taste the scent of my arousal, and a low rumble comes from his chest.
“Dirty Omega,” he whispers in my ear and I shiver.
Knox’s victim nods vigorously, clutching his mutilated arm. It’s still not healed.
Unsatisfied with the answer, Knox tilts his head.
"I asked you a question, soldier. Answer me." His voice lowers with an added vibrato. "Do you understand?"
It's an Alpha Command. A strong one.
A small whimper slips from me. His pulsing authority, even when not directed at me, makes my neck bend in submission involuntarily.
My blood feels like it’s on fire, and I crave Knox’s attention. I want him to turn that intensity on me.
"Yes!"
“Yes, what?”
“Yes, Prime Alpha Knox,” he cries.
It reminds me of when we met, and Knox demanded I use his rank when speaking to him.
Back then, I was frustrated and irritated, but never afraid.
Only now do I realize he’d been holding back.
Being gentle in his own way. This is how he usually treats insubordination.
I hadn’t seen how terrifying he could be, how much control he truly commands.
The sharp stench of ammonia hits, and I wrinkle my nose. The Alpha has pissed himself in fear.
“Disgusting. Leave us.”
The Alpha scrambles upright, head still bowed in submission to my Prime Alpha, and turns to flee.
Relief floods me. It’s over. I start to exhale, only to choke on a scream.
Blaze lashes out.
A single swipe with his sharp blade.
Flesh parts and a wet, meaty thud hits the ground.
The Alpha’s severed hand lies twitching in the dirt, his wrist spraying jagged arcs of crimson as he howls in agony.
“W— why?” I stutter, unable to understand the senseless violence.
The Alpha yowls, staring down at his bloody stump.
Blaze turns his empty pale eyes to me. “He wanted to touch what’s ours. Now he gets to touch nothing at all.”
I spin, bend over the balcony, and heave.
“Not so grabby now, is he?”