The alpha presses on. "Salt, right? I’m Steph. Do you know there’s some gossip about you?"
My face must say enough, because the alpha laughs and adds,
"I heard that on the outside you were called the Alpha Slayer, that you killed four of us. Do you have something against alphas?"
"I have something against alphas who kidnap and rape omegas, yes."
The other alpha laughs like my words amuse him and snorts,
"Where did you lose your own alpha? Killed him too? Scared away? Or were you just insufferable?"
"Not your fucking business," I snarl and try to walk past, but then the other one takes a step toward me, blocking my way, and says, "Isn’t it a little lonely? Missing some alpha dick?"
Before I can answer, the dining hall door opens, and none other than Bashir steps out, calling from the doorway, "Steph, Carl! Can I have a word with you?"
I take the opportunity to slip past the two alphas and head inside, while Bashir stays outside with them for a moment.
In the dining hall, I can see Fred sitting at a table, staring at the window that shows Bashir talking to those alphas. They obviously came here for a late-night snack too, but noticed me and decided to intervene. Hmm. I must say, I’m glad they were here.
"You shouldn’t walk around alone. Some alphas found out you killed four of them and are upset about it," he says quietly.
"The Alpha Slayer can always add some more of them to his killing list," I mutter sourly, though I’m well aware that without a gun as a force equalizer, I’m screwed.
Fred keeps a neutral face as he answers, "Please, for your own safety, let Bashir take care of this."
"Fine!" I growl and go get my sandwich.
I’m annoyed, infuriated, and all over the place. I don’t want Bashir’s protection. I would rather Eliano do it. But oh well, I did actually scare him away. Steph was right. That’s on me.
The next few days I spend mostly locked in my unit. From time to time, I can hear footsteps behind my house and someone knocking on the windows or the walls, as if they’re hunting me, encircling me, cornering me.
One day, I find "Alpha Slayer’s Lair" graffiti on the side wall.
Yeah, I’m pretty pissed off about it, because I remember the last time I had to live in constant fear of violence from alphas, and that was when Senu and I lived on the streets. I promised myself never to end up in a similar situation again, but here I am, and it just sucks.
Well, I guess I’ll just have to live with the consequences of kicking Eliano out, won’t I?
Then one day, music bands arrive on the island, local ones, brought in to play for the third anniversary of the facility’s opening.
Each band is assigned to a different sector. Gomez has no intention of mixing the crowd.
Our band is scheduled to play Latin music, and it is clearly meant to be a cheerful event.
Evan and Roman knock on my door for a good five minutes before I finally open it.
After some long negotiations, they manage to drag me out of my module, despite my justified resistance. I explain the situation with the alphas to them, but they promise that Bashir will be there and that he’ll keep an eye on me.
They insist I need some fresh air, since I’ve been locked inside for too long. I get the impression they’re worried about my mental state.
We sit at a table and talk. Or they talk. I’m sulking.
Bashir is seated at the next table, engaged in conversation with three couples who hold seniority on the island.
At some point, I notice two other alphas nearby, drinking beer at the bar, chatting, and watching me. They’re not the same ones I talked to before, but they’re clearly into me.
Unexpectedly, they grab extra mugs and come over to us.
"Mind if we join you, gorgeous?" one of them asks me. "Want a drink?"
