Elian
I lean in and whisper to the alpha that is ruining me. The scent of leather mixes with a hint of sweat. I take a breath and lower my eyes as I try to get the words out. "Alpha... can I leave the villa today?"
Aurelia's breath is hot on my skin. Her breasts are pressed against my back. "You won't leave the villa." Soothing hands brush my hair. "It's not safe to go outside. There are Alphas who would take you away." Her kisses dully tease my narrow neck, though not enough to truly satisfy our need.
"You always say no" I whisper, accepting the teasing kisses. "Just for an hour" I plead. "I won't go very far. And I can take Raina with me." Flipping around, my hands find the hard muscles in her abdomen, I sting her nose softly as I raise my head to lock eyes with her. "Please, Alpha?"
Aurelia looks into my eyes. Her tongue darts out to lick at the corner of her mouth, her eyes turning molten under my scrutiny. "You will stay by Raina's side. Only for an hour. I will be waiting for you after that hour." Once Aurelia agrees, I quickly and slowly put on clothes. Aurelia watches me as I struggle to all on shoes or socks.
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Raina rolls her eyes at me and shakes her head, handing me A-shirt and a pair of pants. She says, "Those clothes you're holding are u-gl-y! And not your size." Raina emits a burdensome sigh as she snatches the clothes out of my hands. "And, if you're so desperate to buy clothes, you could've just told your Alpha that you needed more clothes and she'd have bought them for you."
"I don't want Aurelia buying me clothes, Raina" I answer firmly. Raina sighs again, this time with more amusement than exasperation. "You're a stubborn one, always wanting to do things your own way. Fine, Elian. Let's go shopping. But if we run into any trouble, I'm telling Aurelia everything." Her lips curve up into a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes, then turns to head down the street. I take one last look at the clothes rack I'd been browsing, then hurry to catch up with her.
The mall is bustling with people, the air thick with scents and sounds. I'm distracted with only my head above the crowd with screens showing colors and music making the noise. The place is huge, and because I don't visit them often, I often forget how large it can be. Before I can see that there is a stack of cardboard boxes, stacks of cartons, facing another cart of magazines.
Suddenly my gaze falls on the Alpha and Aurelia's rival, Tarek Likaris. I nudge Raina's arm. "Raina, Tarek is here!" I whisper, fear evident in my voice.
I glance sharply at Raina, my breath catching in my throat as I tense in reaction to the sudden fear. "He just started moving towards the cashier at the corner... he's not looking our way..." my scent takes in pheromones of distress, fear and if I am not careful the hallway will trickle with the traces of my arousal. "Stay close, Elian" she murmurs, holding out her hand for me to take.
I accept her offer and take a step closer. Her small grasp is warm to feel, and it helps to ease some of my anxiety. "What will you do?" I ask, looking up at Raina for direction. The beta's rich brown eyes flutter as she focuses downwards towards me, a smirk tugging at her lips as she relaxes her shoulders.
"Let's not be conspicuous and hurry up before Tarek finds out you're at the mall" Raina replied. I nodded and we both headed to a cafe in the mall to calm our worries.
We order two warm espressos and sit down. Raina keeps an eye on the crowd passing by outside. I settle myself on the chair opposite the Raina's. Raina smiles, and I return it, making my body relax against the wooden seat. Sighing, I run my nails on the face of my coffee mug, feeling the smooth edges. The chaotic atmosphere of the mall disappears, and all I can hear is the murmur of the customers.
The clacking of my nails on the side of the cup rings in my ears. I focus on the sound, deepening my concentration on the vibrations of the ceramic itself. The warmth of the drink leaks into my arms and legs, filling my body with a radiant heat. "Elian." Raina says, her voice laced with concern. "Are you alright?" "Yes. Yes, I'm fine." I manage to get out loud enough for Raina to hear. My voice sounds so small.
I look up sharply as Tarek Likaris comes around the other side of the coffee shop counter, his gaze quickly noticing my raised head. There's a moment, a fierce stare, and then I know I'm exposed. A heart-wrenching shiver runs down my spine as his eyes lock onto me. He stands there, Alpha, staring at me, like a predator who knows he's just found his prey. Me, the last Omega in the world.
Tarek stands up straight, and walks confidently towards our table. Every part of my body stumbles under his fiercely dangerous aura, his scent, it's penetrating and intoxicating and completely soul-shattering. Threatening. Dangerous. It scrambles my thoughts, makes me loose control. Aurelia wouldn't approve. He stops in front of me. I slide off my chair, closer to the ground.
Raina pulls me behind her thyroid body as Tarek approaches our table. "Stay here, Elian" she orders, and my boots dig into the floor. "What do you want, Tarek?" Tarek's gaze hasn't left mine, and Raina's low, muffled voice doesn't change his focus. "You can help me by keeping your mouth shut, beta."
I feel the squeak from Raina's boot with Tarek's foot. Even before I have the time to get up, he grabs my wrist and pulls me towards him. "Let me go!" I kick and push away, anger flooding through my veins. "I want you to be mine!" He says.
Tarek's scowl hovers menacingly over my frame as he reaches for my waist and hauls my body towards his. A trembling whimper falls from my chapped lips. I can't stop him, I never could. "Please, don't." I barely have the strength to speak those words. "Keep him away from me!" The Alpha pushes down my struggling figure, jaws tight.
I open my mouth to scream, but a glowing light flashed before my eyes. I jolted, the shadows becoming nothing more than a part of my imagination. I try to force myself back to reality after I lose myself within an eternity of shallow breaths. The first thing my eyes catch is a pair of hands, brawny, splayed on Tarek's chest, pushing the powerful Alpha away from me.
It's hard for me to recognize the smell, I wasn't expecting anything like this since I was forcibly abducted. But I recognize the familiar scent immediately. Standing above me is Aurelia Knox. "Are you trying to steal my Omega, Tarek?" Aurelia mutters, blocking my view with her back. "You can't blame me for trying, Knox. Since he's the last of his kind, there aren't many Omegas around."
Her lips curl back, her jaw clenches. "It's that time again. Stay away from my Omega, or it'll get worse!" Tarek's green eyes darken with even greater fury. I watch the fortress on my body open as a deep, growl pierces Aurelia's teeth and slowly forces Tarek's grip to slip. It's as if I've just come back from a deep sleep.
My muscles are tensed when Aurelia takes my hand and pulls me from my seat. I want to cry and shout, but the Alpha's iron grip around me causes my throat to clench. I can feel the tears welling in my eyes, so I shut them and shut everything else out, so I'm no longer forced to see Tarek smiling as I'm dragged away. My shoulders sag a little as we walk down the street.
The steel on my wrist clicks loose, leaving me with a light sense of freedom I haven't noticed since I stepped out of the villa. "Get in the limousine!" Aurelia barks. I swallow down the lump lodged in my throat and hurry to the car. The leather seat is warm against my thighs after the cold outside. The front seat is empty.
Aurelia slides in next to me, the power of her presence setting off my instincts once more. I feel too aware of how close we are in this car, how much of her can reach out and touch me at any moment. I'm reminded of all that she has taken, all that she owns. Her silence fills the car and I feel my magic prickle. Aurelia's displeasure and anger can be felt across the limousine.