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CHAPTER NINE

CAMDEN

H enley, Brooks, and River have been nowhere to be seen since I’ve gotten back to school apart from the classes I have with them. Even then, apart from them staring at me practically the whole class, they haven’t even tried to talk to me.

I don’t get it. Why did they go from making it their life’s mission to torment me to then not wanting anything to do with me at all?

And why does that fucking sting? I shouldn’t be upset about it, yet some part of me feels rejected. I know it’s because on some freaky biological level, they’re my alphas. I crave them, ache for them. I fucking hate it.

I shouldn’t be lying awake at night thinking about them, desperate to catch a smell of Brooks and his smokey scent, River’s rich coffee aroma, and hell, I’ve even been hoping for a whiff of Henley’s chamomile and cinnamon fragrance.

What is wrong with me? These men hate me, despise me, want to watch me fucking burn, yet every time my cock grows stiff and I need some relief, it’s their faces I’m seeing.

I’m sick. Fucked in the head. God, sometimes I fucking hate being an omega with no control over my damn body.

Other than the screwed up sexual desires of my omega mind.

For the past few days, life has been good. Almost too good.

I’m not stupid enough to think that there’s not some sort of catch to this new found good luck.

Tonight is my third night working at The Frenzy, and I really enjoy it there. The atmosphere is great, the people are nice and the music isn’t too bad. Not to mention the tips are amazing. I’ve left both nights with almost half of what I’m expected to make for a month's worth on my check.

With where the club is located, I was expecting more college students to be there. For the most part, it seems to be more of a high-end, classier clientele ranging from twenty-one all the way up to mid forties. There’s even been the occasional older gentleman, but for the most part, it’s young adults.

Tonight I’m working with Lizz, an omega who kind of scares the shit out of me, but who’s also a badass bitch who knows how to put the customer in their place when needed, and Isaac, an alpha whose head over heels in love with Tracy, one of the waitresses who won’t give him the time of day.

It’s an interesting place, that's for sure. I guess no matter where you go, there’s always going to be some sort of drama.

At least it’s not mine for a change.

After taking a shower, I head into my room to change for work. The uniform is black pants, shirt, and shoes. I thought my pink hair would end up being a problem, but so far no one’s said anything about it. It’s in need of a touch up, but maybe I’ll hold out and let it fade a bit.

Grabbing the bottle of pills on my desk, I open it and pop one onto my palm.

For a long moment, I just stare at it, the urge to shake out a few more is strong. Now that I don’t have the stronger dose of suppressants, I’m worried that it’s not doing its job, that people will be able to smell me, to find out what I am.

I know it’s not true, the pills are doing their job. I just can’t shake the feeling.

The anxiety and depression meds the doctor at the hospital prescribed me seem to help a lot with the paranoia I’ve been dealing with for a while now.

Honestly, I’m not sure why I didn’t go on them before. But I’d have to have gone to a doctor for that, to reveal what I was and risk my father knowing.

The night I ended up in the hospital because of the overdose, I had no control over the doctor finding out what I was. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to care about the fact I was an omega. And why would he, I was a stranger to him. All he cared about was that I was okay.

Legally, he’s not allowed to ask why I’m on suppressants, even if it was the cause of my overdose.

It’s my right as an omega to take them as long as they're not affecting my health, and in regular doses they aren't. For now. He did mention if I kept taking them at this consistency, in a few years I would start risking long term issues like infertility among other things.

That itself doesn’t bother me, as I have no plans to have kids. Ever.

I thought that maybe if I met the right alphas, that mindset would change. But after finding out who I’m meant to be with, there’s no fucking way I’m starting a family with them. Poor kids would be traumatized.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath and pop the pill into my mouth before capping the bottle and tossing it back onto the desk.

One pill a day. That's it. That's all the dosage is.

Makes me wonder what kind of damage I was doing to my body before when I was taking them multiple times a day.

It’s been hard. Really hard not to just pop one any time I feel like they might be wearing off.

The down side of these pills, they only block my smell, and suppress my heat. That's it. Everything else that comes with being an omega is present.

Every need to whimper, whine, and rub myself against my alphas has been coursing through my body since I’ve gotten back from the hospital.

While my brain is telling me to seek them out for their protection and comfort, it seems to forget the fact that they hate me and all they want is to cause my pain, not stop it.

Unfortunately biology isn’t so easy to outsmart.

With a heavy sigh, I take a glance at myself in the little mirror behind my door.

Staring back at me is the sad omega with pink hair I’ve always been.

“Not today.” I tell myself. “Today we do our job. We make some money and have one less thing to worry about. Tonight is going to be a good night.”

While I wasn’t completely convinced, I did have a new found spark of hope.

It didn’t do anything to help the aching pain in my chest that screams at me to go to my alphas.

“Get a hold of yourself, Cam. They’re your enemies. No matter what fate is telling you.”

I wonder if the pain will ever get any better. Whether over time I’d be able to move on with someone else?

Just the thought has me whimpering.

Shaking my head, I quickly grab my bag and head out, pulling the door closed before making sure the automatic lock catches.

The drive there was quick and before I know it, I’m pulling into the parking lot.

Shutting off the engine, I just sit in the car and stare at the building. It’s still early, and it’s not expected to be busy for another hour or so.

It helps going in while it’s pretty dead and getting into the swing of things before the rush.

I’ve caught on to the job pretty quick, and really enjoy it. So as I get out of the car, a smile finds my face. Tonight is going to be a good night.

* * *

For the most part, tonight has been good. The customers are polite, the drinks are flowing, and the tips have been insane.

I’ve laughed, smiled, and talked with Lizz and Isaac. Turns out Lizz isn’t so scary when she’s not in a shitty mood. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that she mentioned she got laid last night. A comment that had my cheeks going bright red. She teased me about it.

About an hour ago, Isaac had to leave as he wasn’t feeling well. Thankfully, things have slowed down. So, Lizz and I have been handling customers just fine on our own.

The only thing that has me on edge is the one older gentleman who’s been sitting at the bar for the past half hour.

He’s been watching me with leering eyes. I hate it, it’s making me uneasy. But he hasn’t done anything to me. There’s no reason for me to cause alarm or say anything to my co-workers.

Maybe I’m being paranoid and making it a bigger deal inside my head than it needs to be.

Just to be sure, I watch him from the corner of my eye as I work.

He sits, and watches me back.

I smile politely at the customers in front of me as I make their drinks and make small talk. Lizz cleans down the bar top, with no one to serve at the moment. Meaning she’s free to take drink orders.

So tell me why this man who’s watching me waits until I’m free to raise his glass, insinuating he wants another? He grins at me, licking his lips as his eyes sweep over me.

A gross feeling settles over me and I know I don’t want to go over to him.

“Lizz.” I get her attention. “Could you get that gentleman another drink? Are you okay if I go for my break now?”

His face drops as he frowns.

“Sure thing.” Lizz says, before going over to take the man's order.

Needing a moment to myself to breathe and some space away from that guy, I quickly make my way around the bar and towards the back of the staff room.

Grabbing the bathroom door handle, I go to open it but find it locked. “Occupied,” a voice shouts back and I curse.

I really need to use the bathroom. So, I leave and head back into the club towards the customer bathrooms.

Beelining past the people using the urinals, I lock myself inside the last stall.

Sitting down on the toilet seat, I put my face in my hands and take a few calming breaths.

I’ve been doing so well with my anxiety. I should have known it was too good to be true.

Maybe I’m overreacting, but that guy gives me bad vibes. I only have a half hour left. My break is fifteen minutes. I didn’t take one because I didn’t feel like I needed it. Maybe if I go tell Lizz how I’m feeling, she will let me go home early.

“Stop being a pussy.” I grit out, grabbing handfuls of my hair. This is the real world, Cam. You can’t run every time you feel overwhelmed. It’s life. Get over it.

Taking another few minutes to get myself under control, I leave the stall and go over to the sink to splash some cold water on my face before leaving.

As I round the corner, heading back towards the bar, I bump into someone.

“Sorry.” I say, stumbling back.

Two hands reach out and grab me. My eyes snap up to find the man from the bar. “Woah there,” he chuckles.

Pure panic fills me as my heart starts to race again. Swallowing hard, sweat breaks out over my body. He’s touching me. I don’t want him to touch me.

“I-I need to get back to work.” I manage to get out, moving to take a step out of his hold, but he grips my shoulders harder and I can’t help the whimper that slips free.

His eyes flash with hunger, a low growl leaving his chest as he pushes me up against the wall.

“I knew it,” he chuckles low, deep and sinister. “I wasn’t sure if my nose was playing tricks on me or not.” I should be screaming for help, knee him in the fucking balls, but I can’t. I’m too afraid to say anything, do anything. My eyes slam closed as he brings his face forward. “But being this close, I can smell you. A sweet, ripe little omega you are.” He groans.

Bile rises in my throat as I swallow hard, hands fisting at my side.

“Don’t touch me.” I whisper harshly, unable to get my voice any louder.

He just laughs at me, like I said something funny. “Don’t be like that, little boy. I can show you a good time. Treat you real good. I’ll give you my knot and you're gonna love it.”

I can feel myself start to hyperventilate. “No th-thank you.” I stammer out. “I have a pack.” I lie, hoping that he would have the decency to respect that.

He raises a brow as he looks at my neck. “I don’t see any mate marks.”

“I have a pack.” I try again, but it comes out as a scared whimper.

Of all the times to be an omega, right now is the worst.

“See, I don’t believe you. It’s okay. You don’t have to be afraid of me. I promise not to hurt you,” he gives me a slimy grin. “Unless that's your thing.”

Come on. Do something! Scream for help, fight him off. Anything but sit here and take it. But he’s bigger than me, and the sounds of the music would drown out my cries.

He steps closer, trapping me against the wall. I gag when I feel his stiff cock pressed against my stomach.

“No.” I say. “Get off me.”

His smile drops, his face morphing into a snarl. “You’re a fucking tease. A dirty little slut of an omega. You smile at me all night, give me the impression you're into me, and this is how you treat me.” He growls. “You’re going to shut the fuck up, and take it like a good whore.” He uses his alpha bark and I feel my whole body going stiff, unable to do anything anymore. I lost my chance. Now I’m being weighed down by his command.

Stupid. I’m fucking stupid. I let my fear and anxiety get the better of me and now I’m going to pay for it.

I close my eyes, willing anyone to come save me as tears spill down my cheeks. I want to go home. I don’t want to be here anymore.

“That’s it,” he purrs as his hand slips down my pants. He grasps my limp dick and I want to fucking die. This can’t be happening. Anything but this. “Come on. Be a good boy.”

He tries to jerk me into being hard, but it does nothing but make me want to die.

A sob manages to slip free as he grunts.

Then the pressure is gone. My eyes snap open and I drop to my knees in relief when I see that the man is on the ground. Someone is straddling him, their fists pounding into his face. They're shouting something but I can’t hear it over the ringing in my ears.

“Camden.” A voice shouts, two hands cupping my face.

I flinch away, eyes darting up to see a blond haired angel. No, not an angel, Henley.

Never in my life have I felt more glad to see his face. Before I know what I’m doing, I launch myself into his arms.

He holds me tight as I sob into his chest, shaking violently as the control of the alpha bark breaks. My body slumps forward and I cry harder. My hands grip his shirt, fisting it for dear life as I beg him not to leave me.

“Shhh. I got you, baby. I got you. No one’s going to hurt you. You're safe now,” he murmurs, rubbing his hand up and down my back.

“Lee.” A voice barks. “Get him out of here, now!”

“Come on, Little Beta. Let’s get you out of here.”

I can feel my legs moving, but my eyes remain closed. I let Henley take me out of the club and into a car. “Cam.” His voice sounds worried as he taps my cheek. “Baby, are you okay?”

It’s all too much, my head is spinning. And then, I pass out and pray he’s right about me being safe.