Alpha Lost

Nature

Trigger Warning... Just a reminder that Christoph is not the nice warm and fuzzy type of guy!

"My baby," Selah couldn't help the whisper that escaped her, and despite the madman at her side, she felt a golden glow start in her chest and spread throughout her body. She vaguely recognized that Christoph was speaking to her. When he commanded that she get up, she let her body respond on autopilot while she focused internally to see if he spoke the truth.

Rationally, she knew it was too soon for her to detect the baby's presence. Malcolm had always told her she smelled like orange blossoms, and during her heat, her scent changed to include a hint of vanilla. Alphas could scent their mate's fertility during heat cycles. It was one of nature's ways of continuing the species. Nature had also made it possible for Alphas to scent when their seed had found a home in their Omega's womb.

When that little bundle of cells found a place to latch onto and grow, it changed the mother's scent. Typically, only an Omega's Alpha would be around that close to the end of a heat cycle, allowing the couple to rejoice together. A breeding Omega also drew out the Alpha's protective side even more so than usual. Many of Selah's Omega friends had lovingly complained about not being able to lift a finger without a growly Alpha over their shoulder once that first scent change occurred. Eventually, their mates would calm, but those first weeks of pregnancy could incite an Alpha to panic over a stubbed toe.

Christoph and Tobias had forced different circumstances. She should be at home tucked in her Alpha's arms where Malcolm would be the one to discover that they had finally conceived. Instead, serial killers surrounded her in some out of the way warehouse threatening her with pain and what else? Enslavement?

Oh, hell no.

She knew that Malcolm was searching for her, but she didn't know for sure if her trick with the radio had worked. For now, she was on her own. Not paying attention to what was going on around her was a surefire way to get herself and her baby killed.

Forcing herself to come back to her current reality, Selah realized there was a firm hand wrapped out the back of her neck. She was walking towards the rusty frame that they had cuffed Ashlyn to. Empty metal handcuffs still attached to the top of the exposed springs caught her attention, and Selah tried to turn her head to see where Ashlyn had gone.

Shit! She'd been so wrapped in herself that she hadn't paid attention to her friend. Christoph's hand on her nape refused to let her fully turn her head from their clear destination, but Selah caught movement from the corner of her eye.

Tobias was dragging a limp Ashlyn over to a small low-lying cot against the metal wall on the right. Red stripes marred the flesh of her naked back, and rivulets of blood ran down over her skin. He dropped her unmoving body half onto the thin mattress so she lay on her stomach with her knees almost touching the floor. Tobias took a step back and started to pull out chains attached to the legs of the cot.

"No." Christoph gave a firm command and a little shake for extra emphasis. "She's Tobias' toy for the night. You should worry about yourself, little slut."

Selah's mind raced for a solution as she realized that Christoph intended to lock her into the dangling cuffs. She tried to control her breathing and not panic as Malcolm's words whispered in her ears, "Don't panic. Whatever you do, don't panic. Once you panic, you can't think and then you can't help save yourself. Just breathe."

Counting while she inhaled should help keep her focused and calm. It wasn't working. Selah tried to concentrate on taking normal breaths instead of the heaving breaths of air her overwhelmed senses urged her to take.

Christoph led her to the front of the rusted steel frame. The fabric that had once covered the springs had deteriorated long ago. Faced towards the frame, Selah could see the spring's jagged edges that would dig into her soft skin. A glance down revealed droplets of crimson liquid that could only be Ashlyn's blood.

He kept his one hand on the back of her neck, and reaching for her shoulder, he ghosted the fingers of his other hand over her bicep. Spreading his fingers, his large hand spanned the distance from her arm to the curve of her breast. Shuddering in revulsion as a man who was not her mate touched her so intimately, a little mewl of despair escaped her lips. Christoph squeezed his fingers around her neck to remind her of his dominance over her before the fingers of his other hand continued down her arm to wrap around her right wrist.

He raised her wrist to the metal cuff pressing his front to her back. Using the weight of his larger frame, he forced her closer to the jagged rusty metal. She felt the cuffs brush her wrist when he brought his lips to her ear.

"Mmm... maybe not this way. If I face you this way, I can stripe your back, but I can't make you look into my eyes while you learn who's your new Alpha." Holding her wrist, he drew her arm across the front of her body and turned her within the close circle of his frame. Now facing him, her breasts brushed against his chest.

Breathe. Don't panic.

Letting go of her wrist and keeping her crowded between the steel frame and his large form, Christoph raised deceptively gentle fingers to the buttons of her shirt. Slipping them from their holes one at a time, he purred, "Plus, I can't see these tits of yours. I think you've been covered up a little too long, Omega. Once we get to my place, I'll make a rule that you'll never wear clothes. Years ago, Sarah's father started a small but growing community of Alphas who want to live the way the gods designed. When I take you into the village, you'll be naked at the end of my leash."

Christoph leaned closer so that his lips brushed her temple, "Your body at my disposal. To fuck you, however whenever I want. All the Alphas are free to keep their Omegas as nature intended. Bending you over and fucking your ass while waiting for my oil change," he shrugged, "all part of a day's errands."

An invisible steel band wrapped around her torso shrinking and constricting her breathing. Clients had described panic attacks to her. They'd told her. Chest tight. Hard to breathe. Black spots in her vision.

Don't panic.

His fingers finished unbuttoning her shirt, and in complete opposition to his vulgar words, his hands were gentle on her skin. Unfastening her bra and brushing the shirt from her arms, he followed the fabric until it cleared her wrists and fluttered to the floor. Wrapping his fingers around her wrists, he raised his arms so that Selah's arms rose along with his.

This close to him, Christoph's scent reminded her of a tart Cabernet Sauvignon with a hint of clove. Her stomach rolled being near an Alpha that wasn't her own. A newly breeding Omega didn't tolerate the scent of other Alphas.

He took a step closer to her using his body to press her to the metal frame behind her. The jagged edges dug painfully into her back. His hands on her wrists raised and spread her arms. Her heart started pounding even harder as she realized that soon he'd have her bound and at his mercy.

His lips ghosting over her ear, he murmured, "Or maybe we'll get rid of the little problem? Babies can be such a distraction for an Omega, don't you think? When you serve me, I want all of your attention. First, get rid of your mate, and then this extra little package you're carrying."

Blink.

Selah's vision cleared.

She could breathe.

A low buzzing noise. Voices. Perimeter alarm.

Blink.

Deep breath in.

Heart rate slowing.

Blink.

Realization.

She wasn't having a panic attack.

She wasn't scared.

She was furious.

Selah's vision sheeted white.

The last thing she heard was the sound of metal as it was torn and twisted out of shape and a primal roar that vibrated the metal frame at her back. Blazing gun-metal gray eyes pierced the white fog surrounding her.

Alpha.