Page 54 of Follow Your Instincts (Fairview City Omegaverse)

Maggie

R umbling woke me up. I was lying on my back, my hands trapped underneath me, tied or handcuffed, I couldn’t tell which. Even when I opened my eyes, I couldn’t see anything but what looked like TV static. It took me a moment to realize I was blindfolded.

My head felt thick and fuzzy. A sharp pain throbbed over my right ear. I took deep, steady breaths, trying to figure out where I was.

Another rumble shook the ground I was lying on, and I rolled to my side. My face pressed into cold metal. I was in a car.

“Quit moving,” a voice barked, and I stilled. My body recognized the voice and the thick, cloying smell in the air before my slow brain could catch up.

Todd. Todd had been in my apartment. He had a gun and had hit me with it. And now I must be in a car, being driven to a second scene. Second scenes were bad. They led to unsolved murder cases. Fuck .

I wasn’t sure how long we drove for. My head started to clear as I kept taking deep breaths, trying not to panic.

There was another scent in the car, one I didn’t recognize immediately. It smelled like licorice, and my poor brain finally placed the scent: Paul, Greta’s boyfriend. Of course he was here. He was Todd’s packmate.

When the car stopped, I didn’t move, pretending to be asleep again.

“You grab her,” Todd said. “I’ll get the door.”

The light changed as light poured into the back of what I’d realized was a van.

“Don’t try anything, Omega,” Paul said. Rough hands yanked me towards the doors, and Paul tossed me over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. I stayed limp.

He carried me into a building. I tried to get any clues about where we were, but all I could hear was traffic noise, which didn’t narrow anything down. Todd seemed to be leading the way.

We went up a flight of stairs, and then I was tossed unceremoniously onto a couch. I stayed where I landed.

“Cut the act,” Todd said and yanked down my blindfold.

I winced at the light as I sat up. My head was throbbing. Definitely concussed, then. We were in what looked like a windowless office, and we weren’t alone. Greta was there, sitting in a rolling chair and looking utterly miserable. Her blonde hair was lank, and she had a cut over her right eye.

Paul and Todd were standing at the entrance. Paul was as hulking as I remembered, and Todd looked completely unhinged as usual. This was so not good.

“So, here’s how this is going to work,” Todd said and leaned down.

“We’ll treat you like you deserve to be treated.

Good girls that behave don’t have to wear blindfolds or handcuffs.

” He gestured to Greta and she looked away, flinching.

“Bad girls who fight back or don’t do what they’re told face the consequences. ” He leered down at me.

I glared at him. Fuck this. I was not going to just roll over for Phillips of all people. “What’s the end goal here?” I asked. “We both know I am never going to be your good little Omega.”

“You will when we’re bonded,” Paul said, smirking at me. Then his eyes darkened. “I recognize you. You were at the club the other day. Nice to see you again, Katie . ”

I kept my mouth shut.

“You lied to me?” Paul asked Greta. His voice was low but menacing.

Greta shook her head but didn’t speak.

“I will never bond with you,” I said, meeting his gaze. He just kept smirking.

Todd reached for his pocket. I thought he was reaching for the gun again and my body tensed, but instead he pulled out a vial.

“Maybe not. But either way, we’ll get to have some fun with you. Synthetic heat hormone,” he explained, shaking the vial and smiling. “I think you’ll be fucking begging us for bites.”

Was that a real thing? Panic surged, but I beat it back. I needed to buy more time.

I could feel Soren in our bond. He was pissed and scared but he was determined, sending me waves of courage. I held onto hope that they would find me.

“That won’t work,” I said disdainfully, rolling my eyes and settling into the couch like I was completely unconcerned. “I just had my heat, you can’t force another one.”

Todd and Paul exchanged glances. “Is that true?” Paul asked.

“The bitch is lying,” Todd said, but he didn’t sound sure.

“We have to wait for Freddie anyway,” Paul said, smiling again. “He’ll be thrilled with our surprise.”

Their calm attitudes were disturbing me more than anything else. How could they be so blasé about kidnapping a woman? Two women, really, by the looks of Greta. She did not appear to be here by her own free will.

Todd looked down at me. “I want you to be able to use those hands later, so I’m taking off the cuffs. But if you try anything and it won’t just be you who’s punished,” he said, flicking his gaze to Greta.

Paul walked over to Greta. She flinched away and he snapped out his hand to grab her hair. “You have some making up to do for lying to me,” he said, pulling her head forward to grind her face into his crotch. My stomach roiled in disgust. “ Maybe you girls can put on a show for us as an apology.”

Todd came around behind me to unlock the cuffs and I stayed completely still. I wouldn’t do anything to put Greta in danger.

Once the cuffs were off, I rolled my wrists and blood started flowing down into my hands again.

Paul finally released Greta’s hair.

“Be back soon,” Todd said. They left the room, and I heard the door lock click behind them.

“Are you okay?” Greta asked as soon as they left, rushing over to me. She grabbed my hands and squeezed them.

“I’m… I mean, this is not great, but I’m okay, I think,” I said. “Are you okay?”

Greta laughed bitterly. “No, definitely not.”

“How long have you been here?” I asked.

“Two days. I tried to leave the pack house when I overheard Todd and Paul talking about you, and they lost it. I managed to calm them down a little, but they still won’t let me leave,” she said.

“We’re going to get out of here,” I said, trying to sound as confident as possible.

Greta shook her head. “Hardly anyone knows about this warehouse, and there’s never anyone around. And the only way out is the way you came in.”

“Is the jewelry here?” I asked. It made sense for the pack to have a hideaway to stash stuff. And after seeing how comfortable they were with committing multiple crimes, I doubted this was the first time they’d been involved in a robbery. It made sense. Todd was a huge piece of shit.

“They were. They’re gone now. I didn’t know they were like this, not at first. Stephen, my cousin, introduced me to Paul.

He seemed like he was interested in me, even though I’m just a Beta.

We started going out, and then I met Frederick and Todd, and they made me feel… important,” Greta said miserably.

“They told me they wanted me to help them with the job, and I thought Todd was joking at first. He wasn’t.

I knew they would hurt me if I didn’t do what they said.

So I made sure all the most valuable pieces were on the floor and in one specific case that day.

And they had Stephen do the actual robbery. ”

That made sense and even explained why she’d been so terrified that day, even though she’d technically been in on it.

“I’ve wanted to leave this whole time, you have to believe me,” Greta continued desperately.

“I know. I’m so sorry they did this to you.

But listen, my pack is coming for me. I know they’re going to find me,” I said.

“Todd took me from my apartment and left his stench everywhere. Soren is going to recognize it. It’s just a matter of time before they figure out where this place is and get us both out of here. ”

Greta didn’t look convinced. “I hope you’re right. But in the meantime, just please do what they say. They are… not good men.”

That’s the understatement of the century , I thought. I met her eyes, though, and nodded. “I won’t put you in any more danger,” I promised. “But what do you know about that heat hormone? Where did they get it?”

Greta’s eyes shuttered. “I know that it works. They’ve used it on me a couple of times. I’m not an Omega, but it made me want to… do things I never would’ve wanted to do normally.”

A fresh surge of rage pulsed through me on her behalf. I was going to make these men pay for what they’d done to her.

The anger was keeping me steady, and I tried to hold on to that as we waited for them to return.

Time stretched and contracted oddly. I tried to count my breaths to keep myself grounded, and pinched my legs to stay focused, but I still dozed off a few times.

Each time I jerked awake, my head seemed to pound harder.

Greta sat unmoving next to me, staring silently at the wall, her legs curled into her chest.

When we heard movement on the stairs, Greta scrambled back to the office chair. Adrenaline brought me back to full alertness. I held tightly to the bond with Soren as steps clomped up towards us.

Todd and Paul entered, but I heard another pair of footsteps. This must be ‘Freddie’ , I thought grimly. A scent of leather had been added to the sweet orange and licorice. I almost coughed on the overpowering mixture.

The third Alpha walked in, and I swallowed my gasp of surprise. It was Sergeant Broad.

Our eyes met. He looked surprised for a moment, too. Then his expression quickly changed to anger and resignation.

“What have you done?” he asked, shoving Todd in the chest. “I entertained this nonsense for too long. She is not worth this trouble!”

Todd growled and shoved back. “You don’t fucking tell me what to do.”

“Freddie, relax,” Paul said. “We have it under control.”

“I doubt that. She’s already successfully beaten the shit out of you once,” Broad said dryly to Todd. “So, what is your plan here? I would say I assume you have one, but you’re clearly both idiots.”

Todd pulled out the hormone vial again. “We have some fun. Maybe even bond her, have the happy little Omega at home, always ready to satisfy our every need.” His smile was sharp with malice.

My blood ran cold. Need more time .

“I told you that won’t work,” I said as calmly as I could. “I just finished my heat. You can’t force one again so quickly.”

Broad studied my face. “It’s a good effort, Maggie, but for once, Todd is right. This hormone will induce you to have another heat, no matter how soon your last one was. It’s not the safest process, but I assure you it will work.”

Paul smirked at me, then at Broad. “And you said we didn’t have a plan. I always thought he was exaggerating, but you have to admit she’s enticing. Now we all get to have a taste.”

Broad sighed. “You can have your fun, but we can’t keep her. Those Alphas that showed up at the hearing won’t just let her go.”

Todd scoffed. “I fucking deserve her. I should have bonded her that night when I had the chance. And you know once she’s ours we can make her behave,” he said, flashing me another menacing look.

I thought of Bridget’s mom, shackled to men that abused her, and unable or unwilling to leave. That could not be my future.

Broad sighed. “Your inability to leave this Omega alone is evidence enough that the pack will not just accept her leaving.”

“They haven’t bonded her yet,” Paul said, shrugging. “Maybe it was just an easy fuck for them.”

“And once the bitch has our bites, she won’t say anything against us,” Todd said.

I tried not to imagine what it would be like to have the connection I had with Soren to these horrible men. My stomach churned with panic.

Broad was quiet for a moment, rubbing his temples.

“Have your fun with her, but we’re going to have to get rid of her after. And I guess we’ll need to take care of you, too,” he said, looking at Greta as if he finally remembered she was in the room.

My stomach dropped.

“No, you don’t have to do that,” I said.

“Yes, I’m afraid we do,” Broad replied calmly.

“You don’t get to make all the decisions,” Todd protested.

“ Shut up, ” Broad barked and struck him in the face.

Todd fell silent. “It doesn’t matter if she’s bonded to us.

No one will ever accept that an Omega whom you assaulted would willingly bond with you.

Least of all that pack. So, that leaves one very messy solution.

Now, if you want to fuck her, then fuck her. But she’s not leaving here.”

I tried to swallow, but my mouth had gone completely dry. I looked at Greta. She was crying silently, her eyes wide with fear. I promised they wouldn’t hurt her anymore .

“I’ll bond with you now, just please don’t hurt her,” I said.

Broad looked at me coldly. “Do not insult my intelligence. ”

“I’ll bond with you willingly. And tell everyone that I was lying about Todd hurting me. I’ll do whatever you want,” I said, desperately.

Todd looked triumphant, but Broad shook his head.

“I’ll wait downstairs while you… partake,” he said to Paul and Todd. “Let me know when you’ve finished with her and then I’ll do your dirty work, yet again.”

Todd pulled out his gun and trained it on Broad. “I say we kill you instead,” he said, that unhinged light gleaming in his eyes again.

Broad laughed derisively. “You won’t. You’ve always been weak. A coward. Who’s planned every job we’ve pulled? Me. Who convinced the DA not to press criminal charges against you for attacking her ? Me. I am the only reason this pack-”

The gunshot deafened me. Broad crumpled to the ground. Greta started sobbing, and Paul was screaming at Todd.

I took my chance. I charged at Todd and tackled him into the stairwell.

He crashed into the wall, yelling in fury and pain.

I slammed my elbow down on his face and I felt his nose shatter.

As blood poured down, I quickly stood and stomped on his hand holding the gun.

It clattered down the stairs and I chased after it.

I scooped up the gun and pointed it back up the stairs where Paul was now looming over Todd. These fuckers had obviously forgotten I was also a cop.

“Let Greta go,” I panted.

Paul laughed harshly. “Not happening,” he growled. “ Drop the gun ,” he barked.

I fought it as hard as I could, but my grip loosened.

“Drop it, now!” Paul barked again, and I screamed in frustration as it toppled from my grasp. “On your knees .” My knees landed hard on the concrete floor.

Todd stood up from where he’d crumpled on the landing. Blood was running freely down from his nose over his lips and chin and onto his shirt. But he smiled through the blood, his teeth red. “You fucked up, Omega. ”

I refused to be afraid. I held on tight to the bond with Soren as I stared Todd down. “Fuck you,” I spit.

Todd rushed down the steps towards me, and I closed my eyes, bracing for impact.