Chapter 46
Ariana
Maybe I’ve died and gone to hell.
Or maybe it’s sleep paralysis. All I can do is lay down and watch the three men I never wanted to see again stand over me. My bones may as well have been turned to lead. Every limb of my body feels too heavy to move, not even to turn over.
“Try not to look so disappointed, sweetheart. Do you know how much effort we put into bringing you home?” Ian, my scent match, the devil I’m bonded to, spits out.
One of Liam’s hands finds its way to my neck. I whimper, the sound coming out strangled from my dry throat. He doesn’t wrap his hand around it like I expected. Instead, he runs his thumb against the skin.
He doesn’t touch our mating mark, but one of the spots I’m dimly aware the Coates pack left a hickey on during my heat. “They touched you. You let them?”
Frozen at his touch, I don’t respond. I don’t want any of them to touch me. I don’t want any of them to be near me. A whine comes from my aching throat instead this time.
“Are you alright?” Cole leans further in.
The stinging pain my chest relents at the closeness, but my stomach twists. He smells like caramel apples again. I wish he would turn away again, the way he did on that rainy night.
Unable to move my head, I avert my gaze to my stomach instead. It doesn’t let me avoid the glimpses of the familiar furniture or the sight of Liam’s arm as his hand rests against my throat.
My lips part, but no sound comes out. It takes several tries to form proper words. “I want to go home.” I whine weakly, feeling tears begin to prick my eyes.
Cole straightens, looking at the other two alphas.
“You are home.” Ian states flatly.
The tears start rolling down my cheeks at that. Clenching my eyes shut, I let out a labored exhale. Liam’s thumb on my neck stings the skin. With all the strength I can muster, I pull my head away from the contact.
“She’s confused.” Cole says hesitantly. I’m not sure if he’s trying to explain that to me, himself, or the other two alphas. “It’s probably the fever and whatever lies they’ve told her.”
They, as in the Coates pack. I whine again. I miss them. I wish I was in my nest with them, instead of laid on the same couch I watched another omega touch herself on.
Clothing rustles as I feel the presences above me move away. “Sleep. We’ll talk later.” Ian commands.
Whatever drugs were pumped into me may keep my limbs heavy, but they don’t let me sleep. Rest continues to evade me once they leave. Longingly, I stare at the door. If I wasn’t so ill, I could walk right out.
My eyes fly open. Nothing’s stopping me from trying. I’m not the same omega who does what they want anymore. I don’t have to stay here.
It takes all my strength to move. I don’t manage to stand, but I’m able to wrench my upper body off the couch. Arms pressed against the floor, I have to stop to catch my breath.
Determined, I try with my legs next. Sliding to the floor with an inelegant grunt, I mentally thank whichever interior designer chose the thick rug under the couch.
Unlike the Coates apartment’s open concept, walls close off the rooms from one another.
Between that fact and the rug, it’s unlikely my scent matches heard me slam onto the floor.
Already panting from the effort, I fix my gaze on the door. The living room isn’t far from the elevator. I only have to make it a short distance. Attempting to raise myself with my hands only makes my wrists roll and ache.
Fine, crawling it is. I drag myself forward, hair sticking to my face from sweat. The sound of footsteps approaching makes me desperately move faster.
“Having fun?” An annoyed voice asks. The caramel and toffee scent is sweeter than I remember. In my feverishly delirious state, it makes my stomach ache.
I don’t stop at her words. Amy walks in front of me, stopping me in my tracks.
Refusing to look at her feet, I painstakingly raise my head. “Miss me?”
The other omega laughs, high and gratingly loud. “All the time. You look like shit.” Her face is cruelly amused.
My head’s pounding and my vision is blurring at the edges. I can’t deal with her bullshit right now. I have to get out of that door. “Gonna go cry to your alphas again? Tell them I’m running off?” Wheezing, it’s hard to speak around how thick my tongue feels.
She doesn’t answer. Instead, she walks over to the door and turns the lock, unlocking it. “Best you’re going to get. Open it yourself.”
I don’t thank her or ask why she’s helping me, and she doesn’t stay to hear if I will. Amy walks away, stepping over my body. I move in the opposite direction, away from the residents of this apartment.
My spirits soar, making it to the exit. Raising my trembling arms, I unsteadily grab onto the doorknob. Using it as support, I shakily manage to bring myself to my knees. Hands slickened with sweat, they slide off during my attempts to turn it.
It does open, eventually. I’m crawling with renewed vigor, despite the effects of my exertion kicking in. Similarly, I struggle with the door to the foyer’s lock and knob, but that too opens.
Bile rises into my mouth and I swallow it down. It doesn’t matter how much it hurts, the elevator is in sight. Pressing my head against the cool metal of its doors, I take a deep, shaky breath. The buttons for it are higher than the doorknobs.
From my position on the floor, I can’t reach. I’ll have to get on my knees or stand. The smooth doors offer no purchase or grip, so I have to use my own strength. My legs refuse to cooperate, still heavy and exhausted now too.
It takes a number of tries, but I’m able to raise myself high enough to press the button. Panting, I stare at the floor.
I’m going to get out of here. Once I’m in the lobby, I just have to make it to the receptionist. Far enough to call one of the alphas or even the police. Despite the pain flaring through my body, my lips curve up into a tired, relieved smile.
“What’re you doing?”
The concerned voice makes my blood freeze. Stilling, I halt in my tracks.
Then I start slamming my hand into the elevator button, palm turning red from my pounding. The button lights up and the elevator begins humming.
“Ariana.” The scent of apples grows suffocatingly stronger as his footsteps come closer in unhurried steps.
“Please open, please open, please open,” I whisper frantically to the doors, bashing my hand against the metal.
My prayers are answered. With a chime, the doors slide apart. I’m so relieved I could almost cry. Lurching myself forward, I dive desperately into them.
Hands slide beneath my armpits, suspending me in the air. “Where do you think you’re going?” Cole murmurs, lifting me up.
“No!” The scream tears from my raw throat.
With the last of my strength, I thrash wildly in his arms. In my weakened state, his hold only tightens. The touch makes me want to claw my skin off.
I don’t relent. “Help!” I yell hoarsely. “Someone, please!” The images of Sebastian, Nico, Jason and Evan flash into my mind. Wailing loudly, I strain for the elevator. My fingertips brush against its frame as Cole pulls me back.
“Please don’t do this,” I croak out again, this time from the other side of the elevator. Once more, Cole walks away from it, dragging me back into the apartment. “Please, Cole.” I whine.
“It’s okay, Ariana.” Cole hushes me gently. “You’re just confused.”
My vision blurs at the edges, the fever taking its toll on my body. I go limp in Cole’s arms, watching the elevator doors slide together.
The alpha murmurs something I can’t distinguish through the pounding of my heart in my chest. The bile from earlier makes its return, but I can’t hold it back this time. The vomit burns my throat, spilling down my chin onto the front of my clothes.
I hardly notice. I was so close to making it out of this cage again. Once more, I’m trapped in their hands.