If Jason hears the dangerous threat in his voice, he doesn’t react to it. His chest inflates with pride as he launches into an explanation.
“It’s a series of techniques originally developed during the omega war. By subjecting the omega to these on an ongoing basis in a restricted environment, it was discovered that complete obedience can be achieved much more quickly than by the years of training the current programme offers.”
“What techniques have you used?” I ask. I’ve studied some of this previously, but surely, he can’t mean—
“She responds especially well to sensory deprivation, along with temperature control. Iced baths work well as a quick method, and we also trialled the Chinese water method. We haven’t had a huge amount of time to see that one through, but it had promising results during the three hours we tested it. Bamboo canes have also been successful, although more for punishment than conditioning.”
The fuck.I bite back a snarl.
Chinese water torture. It’s a miracle she’s even functioning. Prolonged water torture can cause a psychotic break in a matter of hours. I swallow down the sick feeling in my gut and wave a hand at him to continue. Catching Dev’s eye, I shake my head slightly to stop the protest I can see forming on the tip of his tongue, remembering my father’s warning.
Do not react.
If we want to get her out of here, we need to be as nonchalant as they are.
Jason waits for my father’s nod before continuing to the second step. I recognise the commands now from my reading last night. The three stages of omega submission. I find myself holding my breath, dread pooling at the base of my spine at what’s coming next. Devlin’s hand is clenched so tightly on the end of the chair I swear I hear it creaking in protest.
This time, he uses his alpha bark.“Spread!”
Our omega immediately spreads her legs, revealing the tiny scrap of lace between her thighs. Her hands press against the inside of her thighs as though she’s holding herself open for inspection, and she thrusts her chest out invitingly. Even battered and bruised, she’s absolutely mesmerizing.
Devlin swears under his breath, and I shift in my chair, my slacks suddenly feeling tighter than they did a second ago. I wrestle the feeling down, hating myself for reacting to this horrific situation. This is an absolute violation in every way.
Then a low, pained whine fills the room. Dev and I immediately jump to our feet, taking a step towards her as the omega’s scent surrounds us. Cinnamon and oranges rise up in the air, drawing our alpha pheromones to the surface.
Ours. Protect.
The urges hit me like a freight train, and aggression taints the air as Jason blocks our view, a low growl rumbling from his chest.
“Enough!” My father’s bark holds enough dominance to make each of us take a step away.
He barrels between me and Dev and grabs Jason by the throat. His weaselly face purples, and he tries to back up, but my dad grips him tightly.
“Have you bitten her?” he demands.
Dread fills me as Jason chokes in response, his eyes rolling back in his head as he shakes it from side to side. If he’s given her a bitemark then we won’t be able to separate them without causing her pain, possibly death. Bitemarks link omegas to the alphas they’re allocated, an extra layer of control.
I drop my gaze to the omega. She hasn’t moved, although her scent is much stronger now. Glancing down quickly, I rip my eyes away. There’s a damp patch spreading across her underwear as her body responds to the hormones in the air. Her shoulders are shaking and there are tears rolling down her face, cheeks flushed red with humiliation.
I desperately want to drop to my knees and comfort her, give her something to cover herself with. My hands fall to the end of my shirt to tug it off before I remember Dad’s warning. My hands clench against the white material.
Is this really the infamous omega control they talk about? Because I’m not seeing any manipulation here. Just a petrified, abused girl at the mercy of an unforgiving regime.
I turn away from her in case my urge to go for Jason’s throat overwhelms me and drag Devlin back to his chair by his arm, shaking it until he looks at me.Hold it together, and maybe we can all walk away from this.I push reassurance down the bond and he grimaces, nodding slightly. I can see his clenched fists shaking. The last thing we need is for Devlin to lose it.
Dad throws Jason away from him and he hits the floor. Colour rises on his face as he pulls himself up, and he makes a move towards the omega before my dad speaks, his words cutting and dripping with ice.
“I’ve seen enough. I find myself… unhappy with your progress.”
Jason immediately starts to protest, and Dad slams his hand down on the desk. Jason shuts his mouth with a snap.
“You may leave. I’ll be in touch.”
The girl lets out a single, broken sob as Jason reaches for her leash. My heart just about tears from my chest and I take a step forward, but my father gets between them, his hand on Jason’s chest.
“Your services on the Phoenix project are no longer needed. Return to your post.”
Jason splutters in shock. “But – but my father—”
