The Director’s lips twitch upwards at the corners with the hint of a smile. It drops away quickly though, as he looks down again at the folder. It seems like he’s reluctant to move ahead with whatever-the-hell this is all about, but my hopes are dashed when he speaks again, his voice flat.
“I’ll agree to a short trial period, Jason. Two weeks, and I want to see your progress before making a decision on whether to move forward.”
Fuck.
The Director beckons me to stand up, and I curse my knees as it takes me a moment to catch my balance. I see the Director staring at them before he moves his eyes back to my face. God knows what they look like.
“The Phoenix project is a new initiative developed by the psychiatry facility at the compound.” I snap to and pay close attention, shocked that he’s even taking the time to explain this to me. The mention of the interrogation unit makes my stomach clench as I remember Ava’s pale face. Is she involved with this? God, I hope not.
“The aim of the project is to fully enable omegas to fulfil your core responsibilities to society in a more… effective, way. As things currently stand, you have an amount of autonomy over your life here-”
He falls silent as my snort of derision rings through the room. Mortified, I shift my feet from side to side. “Sorry.”
The Director clears his throat, ignoring me.
“As I was saying. The Phoenix project works on the basis that even thissmallamount of autonomy is not a suitable fit for omega biology, and in fact, can be more damaging for omegas in the long run. By introducing a more rigid structure and enhanced training, omegas can live a peaceful and fulfilling existence.”
I’m starting to freak out. This sounds…horrific. My breathing speeds up. The government wants even more control over omegas. Over me. I look across at Jason and the leer on his face draws a whine from my throat. The OC already controls every single aspect of my existence. What more can they possibly take from me?
“You will be the first test subject in the Phoenix project, 792. You’ll be allocated a single trainer, who will have sole responsibility for your activities and wellbeing. You will also be placed into a rigorous, one-on-one training program. The pilot will test if this approach may be a viable option in the future to expand to all omegas.”
The words are delivered flatly, almost as if the Director is bored. Then he drops the worst part.
“At the end of your training, should it progress satisfactorily, you will receive a bitemark from your trainer, and you will be allocated paired lodgings outside of the compound. You will be required to breed within twelve months. Any children produced will be placed into the surrogacy program, pending confirmation of their omega status in the future.”
I don’t feel my bruised knees hit the rug. I don’t feel much of anything, except white-hot terror splintering up my insides, threatening to twist me inside out. This is everything I’ve feared from the day I got here. Every beating, bruise, limited meal isnothingin comparison to what Jason will do to me.
I fix my gaze down at the floor and plead for my life.
“Please,” I beg, a whine slipping through. “I know I haven’t done as well as I could, but I’ll do better. Just please don’t make me do this.”
The Director stares at me impassively.
“My hands are tied. You will be the first test subject, 792. I suggest you think carefully about your behavior from now on. You will not be afforded the same leniency again.”
Fuck him and his damnleniency. I’m sobbing now, incoherent sounds squabbling to make their way out of my throat. They can’t do this to me.
“I’m a person too,” I try one more time, broken pleading noises spilling from my lips. “We’re people, same as you. Please don’t make me do this. I don’t consent.I do not consent!”
My last words come out as a scream as Jason grabs hold of my arm and I pull away. The Director shakes his head at me and looks back down at his paperwork.
I crumple down into the thick red carpet, my legs collapsing underneath me as sobs rack my body. Jason moves closer, his slimy touch roaming over me as he pulls me into his arms and turns for the door. I try frantically to pull away from him. This can’t be happening. It doesn’t feel real. He barks and my traitorous fucking body just gives in, relaxing even as the tears blur my vision.
I hate him. I hate Jason, the Director, this compound, this fucking life I’ve had the bad luck to be allocated. Most of all, I despise my own fucking body. The way any alpha can make my body crave him no matter my feelings. I’m a hostage to my own instincts.
“Jason.”
The Director stops us as we leave. My breath hitches with sobs as Jason turns, affording me a final glimpse of the man that’s condemned me to a monster.
“Two weeks,” the Director confirms, although it feels like a warning. Jason tenses beneath me. “And no bitemark before then.”
The implications of this hit me all at once. No bitemark… but everything else is on the table. Jason can do whatever he wants to me, as long as his teeth don’t end up in my neck.
Jason pulls me closer, cradling me in a gesture that might be considered protective from anyone else. He whispers gleefully in my ear, hot breath dampening my hair.
“We’re going to have so much fun together, 792.”
ChapterThree
