Page 12

Della

My pounding head feels like a bowling ball, extremely heavy to lift.

I wince as I dig my fingers into my side, convinced the taser burned through my shirt to the skin beneath.

“Give them hell,” I mutter as I peel my cheek off a cold concrete floor and sit up, resting my back on a damp wall as I squint at the world around me. “Great fucking idea, Della.”

My world is dark, cold, and one hundred percent unfamiliar.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Someone is slamming a door or kicking it. I can’t decide which.

I flinch with each hard bang, cradling my abused head, which has suffered enough.

Then laughter. Male.

“You think she’s awake?”

“Zach got her good with the taser. Doubt it.”

Fuck you Zach. Seriously.

“Soon, she’ll be awake and we’ll have an omega to do whatever we want with.”

I stare at the door.

They couldn’t go clubbing or out for drinks? Maybe watch a movie? Spend Daddy’s money on overpriced shit?

Grabbing an omega from Haven Academy is their idea of entertainment? Except they didn’t grab an omega. I don’t know what they’ll do when they find out I’m a beta, but I don’t plan to stick around and find out.

I scan my surroundings again, more carefully this time.

Black walls and a freezing concrete floor with a metal door on my right. That’s it.

Footsteps move closer.

A key slides into a lock with a metallic clang.

I dip my head, my hair spilling into my face as I close my eyes, yet I keep one open just a tiny slit.

I might only have one chance to escape. I can’t afford to miss it.

“She’s still out,” someone sighs. “Shit.”

“So, we shock her awake.”

“We shocked her before. We don’t want to fry her brain, otherwise she won’t be any good for fucking.”

Hate spikes white hot in my veins, and it takes everything I have to pretend to be out cold as their footsteps move closer.

“I say we shock her or something. We don’t have forever with her, and she’s fucking hot in that little uniform.”

Footsteps halt just inches away. Through one slitted eye, I watch a guy in black jeans and a black V-neck tee drop into a crouch, a taser loosely clasped in his right hand. His hair is black, and his eyes are a dark blue.

The asshat who shocked me in the parking lot. Zach.

I wait for my opportunity.

He leans close, sniffing loudly. “She smells good. Sweet.”

That’s because it’s perfume, you jackass.

“Slap her awake, then we can take turns,” another alpha eagerly suggests.

“Who says we have to take turns with her? I never spit-roasted an omega before. We’ll leave her uniform on.”

Fucking pricks.

One of them laughs.

The one crouched in front of me turns around to say something.

I dive for the taser, rip it out of his hand as I slam my palm into his chest.

He hits the ground, and I’m up, throwing my hair out of my face as I grip the taser with both hands.

“Stay the fuck away from me,” I snarl.

Their scents swirl around me, thick and oppressive in this windowless room.

Sharp apple and spice.

Wild forest and juniper.

Maple and tobacco.

Two alphas keep their distance, eyes wary as Zach, the dark-haired alpha I knocked down, chuckles as he gets to his feet. “The bitch has fighting spirit.”

“I’m not a bitch.” I watch Zach closely, ready with the taser.

His nostrils flare as he rises. “She’s no omega.” His lips twist as he sniffs his shoulder. “Perfume. The fucking bitch was wearing perfume.”

I was spraying them with my perfume in the parking lot. He must have smelled it on him and put two and two together.

Shit.

He edges toward me, his maple and tobacco scent overpowering. I lift the taser, point it at his face, and press down on the trigger, the electric crackle warning him away. “Come near me, and I swear it’ll be the last thing you ever do.”

My back is to the wall on the other side of the partially open door.

I have Zach in front of me to get past first. Then there are the other two blocking the door out of this place. I can figure out where I am and how to get even farther away once I get past these three jackasses.

“Chase, she’s going to try for the door. Don’t move.” Zach’s eyes are on the taser in my hand.

He lunges.

I dance out of Zach’s way and trigger the taser.

Electric crackles. He yells and stumbles away from me, rubbing his belly.

After that? Things go pear-shaped.