Heat Dens
Chapter seven
The van pulled into a garage and the metal doors rattled shut behind us, making any hope of escape vanish into thin air. I was almost choking on my own fear and my usually fresh, lemony scent was so bitter even I couldn't stand it.
"They need to get some scent blockers on this one," the beta guard muttered, hauling me out of the van.
I was the last omega to be dropped off. The others had been taken to a facility closer to the center, where they would only stay for the duration of their heats.
The van still reeked of their pheromones.
"Sign here." The guard held out a tablet and one of the two new guards signed quickly before taking my arm roughly and tugging me out of the garage and into a long corridor lit with white fluorescent lights.
"You been to a heat den before?"
"No." I kept my eyes on the guard in front of me, careful not to do anything that might upset them.
"Well, this place is a permanent heat den, so you'll have a room instead of a cubicle.
Three meals a day. If you miss one because you're entertaining, there are some protein bars and instant shakes in your room.
Stay hydrated. Shower between alphas. Think that's about it. Obviously, no biting or fighting."
We stepped into an elevator with metal flooring that grated against my sensitive feet.
It took us up three floors and I absently wondered what was on the other floors.
Or were there that many omegas who were useless to their packs?
The thought made me shudder, especially since I'd counted at least twenty rooms on this floor.
"Here's your room, 413." The guard opened a door with a gold number on it.
The room inside was very basic. A twin bed with white sheets and a small knit blanket filled one side of the space and there was a cabinet with clear doors across from it, full of lubes, a couple of toys, and some other items meant for heats.
Next to that was a mini fridge. The bathroom was set up in one corner by the cabinet.
It was quite small, just big enough to take a shower.
Still, after three weeks of sharing showers with the other omegas, it wasn't bad.
"You'll spend your days here and will be collected for meals.
" The beta gestured at the clock above the bathroom door.
"Breakfast is at 7 am, lunch at noon, and dinner at 6 pm.
One of the guards will escort you for the first few weeks.
You'll provide any alphas with satisfaction, as you've been taught.
There are always guards in the hallway if anyone gets too rough or if you need help. Just knock on your door or call out."
I nodded and looked around the room.
"For now, you need to change out of your clothes. You do have a robe hanging on the back of the bathroom door, but most of our omegas are simply naked in their rooms throughout the day. It's easier if you're just always ready."
A lump filled my throat. I wanted to ask how many alphas would be coming into my room and where the cafeteria was, but the words caught and I ended up just standing there, staring at the man.
"Change, shower, and I'll send the first alpha in shortly." The guard turned away.
My stomach clenched. Already? I thought I'd at least have a little time to settle in.
Reluctantly, I showered with the scent-enhancing shower gel and quickly dried my hair before donning the nearly transparent robe that awaited. Sitting on the bed, I brushed my hair out with the provided brush. It tugged harshly on my tangles, but the pain kept me grounded.
Then, it happened.
The door swung open and an alpha swaggered into the room, dressed in a black suit. He gave me a perusing look and took the brush from me, tossing it behind him.
"I've only got fifteen minutes left on my lunch break and my knot's good for five of those," he growled at me. "Present for your alpha."
I wanted to resist, but he repeated the command in a bark that meant I was forced to turn and scramble up on the bed, lifting my ass for him.
The alpha flipped my robe up and pushed into me hard and fast. Even when I cried out in pain, he didn't stop.
The pain and fear dragged me straight back to the forced heats with my pack and tears poured down my cheeks. The bond was wide open and I could feel their shock as the emotions hit them. Then the annoyance. They were probably with their omega and didn't want to be bothered.
The bond snapped shut, as if all three of them had come to the decision to block me out. It was like floating in the darkness as I lay there, nothing but a rutting tool for the alpha behind me, not one speck of emotion filtering through the bonds. I was completely alone as I endured.
When he was finished, the alpha had to wait for his knot to deflate. Fortunately, he'd been exaggerating about his lasting power and slipped free within a minute. Then he was zipping himself up and rushing out the door without a word.
It took me another few minutes to drag myself to the shower. The water ran pink and part of me wondered if it was worth calling the beta guard. But what would he do? Surely they couldn't lose money on a single omega who couldn't slick.
Before the next alpha could show up, I stashed a bottle of lube under the thin pillow and the second I heard the door crack open, I applied some. This round was easier. The alpha was smaller and gentler and even without my natural slick, the lube kept it from being too painful.
There were four alphas in total that afternoon.
While it was horrible to be with them, the worst part was sitting and waiting in between alphas.
Never knowing when someone would burst into the room, or what they would be like.
I didn't sustain any new damage with the rest of them, thanks to my trusty bottle of lube, but it was still not a pleasant experience.
I was starting to forget that I'd ever actually enjoyed sex.
Finally, the clock ticked over to six and the guard came to escort me to dinner. We joined several other omegas who emerged from their rooms. Most of them wore robes like mine, but a couple were just naked.
Several rooms still had the doors closed, the sounds of rutting echoing from inside and making me nauseous. None of the other omegas spoke, but I was used to the silence after the ORC. We just trailed along the hallway and down the stairs.
The cafeteria was on the first floor, in a huge room with windows that looked out onto a patch of grass. A massive concrete block wall stood just a few feet away, topped with razor wire. Was it meant to keep evil out or the omegas in? Probably the latter.
The row of omegas filed past the counter where three beta women in hairnets plopped food onto our trays.
At least the food looked better than what we'd been given at the center.
My tray held a baked potato with cheese, salad with creamy dressing, and a piece of chicken breast covered in fragrant herbs when I stepped away to find a table.
It smelled good, too, even with my stomach churning.
No one seemed to have an assigned table. I picked one at random and sat down without a word.
The other omegas didn't bother looking up as I started eating.
They were all thin and pale, obviously having spent far too much time indoors.
Was it because they'd been in the center too long or was it just that awful here?
The emptiness in their eyes frightened me.
All too soon, I'd be like them if I didn't get out of here.