I look around the room, looking for anything that might help me, but nothing is visible.
The ache to cut hits me hard. The desire of having relief from this pain, even if it is only momentarily. Getting on my knees, I stand up from the floor and move slowly toward the bathroom. Hopefully, there is something in there.
Towels, washcloths, bodywash, and hair products are carefully placed on the rack over the toilet. I squat down and open the door under the sink. Nothing but toilet paper and cleaning products. A deadly thought enters my mind. A way to end it all if my escape truly is inevitable.
“No,” I mutter softly. Standing up, I open the medicine cabinet. Nothing. I slam the door shut, placing my hands on the porcelain countertop and drop my head.
I need to think. Maybe, just maybe if I ask for a razor under the pretense of needing it to shave my legs or my armpits, they’ll give me one. Surely, they don’t want a hairy omega.
The need to be sure there isn’t a razor already here, takes over, and I check again. Nothing.
Turning, my shoulders slump as my soul drops, matching my sunken face.
My gaze scans the room as I wrap my arms around myself, accepting my fate.
This is not my home.
This is my prison. And there’s no way I’m getting out alive.
Chapter 9
River
Isit in their so-called nest, hating their putrid scents that surround me. There’s nothing sweet and enticing about them. If they thought this sorry excuse for a nest would make me desire them more, they have more than a few screws loose. The only thing it’s doing is making me throw up, which I’ve done twice. All I can do is sit in silence, in darkness. All I have is endless time to sit here and think. With my father, I was a weakling, letting Storm take punishment in my stead, and when he wasn’t there, I bore the brunt of his wrath alone. I’m tired of not being strong. Of letting men think they can control me. Of being everyone’s punching bag.
The faint drip from the sink is all I can hear in the darkness. All I have is time. Endless time to sit here and think about my life and how it's been nothing but darkness, nothing but survival.
I move as best I can, pulling on the cold chains. Even after all this time, they aren't warm. My body's too cold, too neglected to foster warmth at this point. I close my eyes, the memory of my father, with his vicious words and his brutal fists emerges. I tense, trying to push them out, but it's no use. Storm's faceresurfaces, taking those hits. Storm... he always protected me as best he could, but it never ceased to fail. He'd leave, and it would just resume. It’s time I stand up and take control of the situation. I will not let these fucking alpha’s think they own me. I will not let them control me. It’ll be hard, but I need to do it. I need to do it for Storm, and most importantly, for myself.
Bam. Bam. Bam.
The back of my skull knocks against the wall, a dull thud that rattles straight through my teeth. The plaster shivers, flakes catch in my hair, and for a second I wonder if I’m trying to break the wall or myself. All I want is a life with my brother, far from everything our father left behind. This place isn’t freedom—it’s just survival. Hopefully, he can have his, even if I can’t have mine. From what it sounds like, he’s found his pack. Someone he loves. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for him.
The faint clicking sound and rattling of the doorknob pull my attention from my thoughts. My gut instincts take over, and I scramble across the mattress as far as I can go. I pull my knees up to my chest, wrapping my arms tightly around them. A small piece of me wishes the action would make me invisible. My breathing becomes shallow, ragged, knowing that either one or all three of the monsters are on the other side of the door.
The door eases open, and one of the alphas steps through. For a moment I’m happy that it’s just one of them. But of the three, he makes my stomach curl the most. “Sweetmeat, are we learning to be an obedient little omega yet?” The cocky words fall from his lips as he smirks, his eyes roaming my body.
What was his name again? My mind drifts back to that night, when I foolishly thought he was attractive until he opened his mouth.Ray.That’s it. He takes another step into the room; the door left open, teasing me with the chance I would’ve had to escape if it weren’t for these damn chains.
When they first locked me down here, I thought it would be the same. The blows, the bruises, the way my father made me learn silence like it was a second language. I trained myself not to cry for him, not to give him the satisfaction. But this—this isn’t him. These men don’t move like him, don’t smell like him. They smile when they promise pain. My father never smiled. And that terrifies me almost as much as it steels me. Because with him, I knew exactly how far he would go. With them? I don’t know a damn thing. That sliver of not-knowing makes me reckless. Maybe even brave. If they want to break me, then they’ll have to work for it. I’ve already been broken once. I refuse to give them that piece of me so easily.
The stench of sulfur increases the closer he gets to me, causing my own cherry scent to sour as my body reacts to him.
“I asked you a question. Common courtesy would dictate an answer.” His voice deepens as his brows pull together, and his jaw clenches.
“Courtesy,” I blurt, before laughing hysterically.
“Yes, that’s what I said, Sweetmeat. I was told that you were smart. Was that wrong? I mean, it’s not a deal breaker for us. Our children can inherit their intelligence from their fathers.”
“You’re insane. All three of you.” I grip my legs tighter.
Ray smiles. The fucking asshole smiles. “Thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment.” He steps forward, cutting the distance between us with each word he says. In an instant, he’s right beside me, his head tilted as he gazes down at me. He reaches out, brushing his fingertips along the side of my face. I pull away from him and he releases a deep groan of disapproval.
“Don’t. Touch. Me.” I bite back, taking my time, enunciating each word. If this place is going to be the end of me then I’m going down with a fight before I end it all. My demise will be by my own hands. Not theirs. It’s the one thing I’m perfectly clear on.
“Oh, you have some fire in you.” He leans down lower, his lips grazing along my ear as I turn my head away from him. “Lucky for you, I like that. But Miles doesn’t.”
“Like I give a fuck. You’re never going to get away with buying me. My brother will come looking for me.” I really want him to, but he’s nothing compared to these men.
