Omega (Alpha & Omega #1)

{Chapter Sixty Eight}

Jay sprinted faster than I could have expected. And since I was thrown over his shoulder, I could only see what was going on behind me. I couldn't see what we were running towards. But if it was like the behind, I didn't want to see.

The moment he turned and took a step, all hell broke loose. Betas tried to calm the alphas, reaching out and grabbing them, only for them to be thrown across the room. Bodies hit walls and tables and there was just utter chaos. The usually calm alphas were overcome with a need I was sure half of them had never felt in their lives when it came to an omega.

And through the pain and the gasping for air, I realized that this is what my father had planned for me. He wanted this to happen. For me to fear alphas more than I had before. For me to feel unprotected and vulnerable.

He poisoned me with the intention of me either dying, or being attacked.

Keon and Cayson tried to follow, only for them to have to turn and stop yet another alpha from coming after me.

Teo and Seth's eyes were bright with their power, and even then they couldn't hold everyone back.

Jay moved through the crowd with incredible speed and accuracy, and we were outside within only a few minutes. The night air made the pain switch and I clutched the back of his shirt and closed my eyes.

"I know," Jay said. "Just hold out."

Hold out. Hold out for what, exactly? For me to have to endure this heat in the back of a car? For how long?

Pain made me cough out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding, and with that cough came blood. It spattered down the back of Jay's white shirt and the moment he felt it, he skidded to a stop.

"Phoenix?" His voice was worried.

When I coughed again, more blood coated my tongue.

Jay lowered me to my feet, and the moment his eyes landed on my mouth, his face paled.

My legs gave out and he caught me against him. He swore. "Oh, fuck."

That was comforting.

Theo was the first to come out, his knuckles bloody and his face annoyed. But he saw the blood on the back of Jay's shirt, then saw the blood draining out of my mouth.

And he suddenly didn't look so annoyed anymore. He looked scared.

He turned. "She's coughing up blood."

Cayson appeared next, his shirt torn and his lip bloody, but he didn't seem to notice it. He stared down at my mouth, and watched as another spurt of blood coated Jay's shirt.

I reached up to try and wipe it away, but only succeeded in smearing it.

"What are you feeling right now, Phoenix?" Cayson's voice drew me away from the blood on Jay's shirt.

"Pain," I croaked. "So much pain."

There was no pleasure anymore. The pain radiated through my abdomen and lungs, burning me from the inside out.

"Where, baby," Cayson asked as Keon drew me away from the horrified Jay.

"Everywhere." My eyes were filling with tears.

Teo and Seth walked up next, their clothes and bodies no worse for wear. But of course they weren't. They didn't need to touch anyone to hurt them.

Seth's eyes widened slightly. "It hasn't started yet? Why is she bleeding?"

Teo looked calm and collected, as usual. And the words he spoke were definite and final.

"The poison," he said.