Page 3 of The Comfort of Pain (The Black Market Omega #1)

Beth

“I’m going to miss that delicious pussy,” Linden says, grabbing my ass.

“Lower your voice.” I slap the beta’s hands away, then scan the trees around us. Thankfully, everything is still dark and quiet. “I don’t want someone to hear us,” I say before double-checking that my shirt is on the right way.

Linden scrunches up his face, clearly not bothered. “It’s two in the morning,” he says matter-of-factly, then he looks past me at my family’s home. “There are no lights on,” he points out.

I glance back at my family’s little cabin to make sure. He’s right. All the windows on the bottom and top floors are pitch black. But that doesn’t make me feel any better.

“No one is awake to hear us.” Linden wraps his arms around my waist, holding me to his firm body. He’s so sexy with lean muscles, long legs, and a beautiful tanned complexion. “Plus,” he presses his forehead to mine, “we’re in the middle of the damn woods.” He narrows his sexy brown eyes. “You worry too much.”

I fight the urge to glare at the beta. “I have three fathers, in case you forgot. And two of them are alphas,” I say flatly. “ You’re the one that should be worried.”

A sexy smirk lifts one side of his mouth. He chuckles and his dark brown hair falls into the corner of his eyes. “I come from a big family just like you, omega.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “And I have just as many fathers as you.”

This isn’t the first time he’s dismissed my fears, but I don't have time to argue about alphas and their attitudes toward their beta sons versus omega daughters. Plus, his fathers are loving. They dote on his mother and siblings.

He has no idea of the hell I live in.

“I should go.” I push up onto my toes, placing a quick kiss on his lips. He follows me when I pull away, keeping his mouth on mine. It makes me giggle, and I playfully smack his chest. “Go home,” I urge him, secretly happy that he doesn't want to leave me. I don’t want to leave him either. “You have a very long walk home.” I glance up at the night sky. “You’ll be lucky if you get there before dawn.”

“Worth it.” Linden winks, then he lets out a sad sigh before cupping my cheek. “Dream of me, my sweet omega.”

A shiver cuts through me and I squeeze my legs together. My body is still humming from the orgasm he gave me less than twenty minutes ago. “Good night.” I kiss him once more, then turn.

Linden holds my hand for as long as he can, letting my fingers slowly slip away. I want to look back, but I can’t. If I do, I’ll never leave him.

Moonlight cuts through the leaves overhead as I creep toward my home. The wind shifts and I shiver again, but this time it’s not from excitement. It’s early fall, meaning brisk winds. This time of year, my mother keeps all the windows closed except for one in the kitchen. But once it gets too cold, she shuts the house up tight, and tonight feels especially chilly. I hope it hasn’t been closed.

It’s my only way in or out.

I tiptoe past the garden, then around the side of the house. Relief washes over me when I spot the little window. Thankfully, it’s still cracked open. My hands tremble as I lift the glass pane, forcing it up. It fights me. I grit my teeth and shove. Finally, the window moves, jerking the whole way up.

Hoisting myself up, I come face to face with the kitchen sink. The edge is smooth and cold, and my fingers skid as I drag my body across it. It takes a few tries, but I finally get inside, crawling awkwardly over the counter.

The house is deathly silent. No movement. Just shadows of furniture, faintly outlined by the moonlight streaming through the windows.

Moving slowly, I lift up onto my toes, then inch my way across the kitchen. I choose my steps wisely, avoiding the creaky boards. The living room is just as dark, but the stairs are in sight and my bedroom is the first one at the top. If I can get to it without waking anyone up, then I can fall into my nest and dream about the next time I’ll see Linden.

Sweet, sweet Linden.

My mind wanders to his passionate kisses and warm hands as I pass the couch. I place one foot on the bottom step—avoiding the creaky center—and grab the rickety handrail.

“You smell like beta cum,” a deep voice slices through the silence and fear makes me freeze.

Shit.

I slowly turn, finding my father in the armchair in the corner. How did I not see him?

The shadows hide his face, but I don’t need to see to know it’s Burke. Long hair falls over the pack alpha’s shoulders, and the faint outline of his bare chest rises and falls with obvious rage.

“You startled me.” I don’t know what else to say, but I do know one thing: this is going to hurt.

“Elizabeth.” The black-haired alpha pushes his big body out of the chair. He’s massive, towering over me. But then again, everyone towers over me. Even my twelve-year-old brother, but it’s obvious he’s going to be an alpha. “Where the fuck have you been?” Burke’s voice is a quiet growl, obviously not wanting to wake Mom or the baby, but he’ll yell soon. He always does.

“I needed some fresh air.” I drop my gaze, trying to look respectful.

“Liar,” Burke snaps, making me flinch. “You’ve been out getting fucked.” He stalks toward me, his big body like a wall of unforgiving muscle.

My instincts scream to run, but it’ll be a thousand times worse if I do.

“Is this what you’ve become?” He stops right in front of me. “Are you just another omega slut that gives it away all over town?”

I want to point out that we don’t live in a town. We live in the middle of nowhere, forcing me and my siblings to live a lonely, isolated life. We don’t have friends or neighbors. Hell, we don’t even have electricity. All I have are brief descriptions of an easier life that I read about in books.

“Answer me!” Burke roars right as his open hand lands on my cheek. Stars burst behind my eyes and I fall over, smacking my hip against the hardwood floor. The baby cries upstairs and I hear my mom shush him quietly.

“Get up.” Burke’s fingers curl around my upper arm, jerking me back onto my feet. “Who fucked you?” The room is so dark, but I can still see the hate flashing in his eyes.

“No one.” I grit my teeth, refusing to answer.

The unhinged asshole would track Linden down and kill him, and no one would do a damn thing about it. It’s part of the reason my family lives out here. In the North, laws are more like suggestions. It’s not like the cities down south, where there are strict governance boards. Out here, alphas do what they want. They take, hurt, and kill without anyone even trying to stop them. And the rest of us have to live with it.

“Look at me, omega.” Burke pushes his thick angry scent into the air. It feels like acid in my throat, making me want to gag. “I’m giving you one chance.” His teeth flash, and his voice drops. “Tell me who fucked you.”

“Does it matter?” I say flatly, and the alpha’s open hand slaps my face once again. His vicious grip on my arm keeps me from falling, but my head spins as if I did.

“Burke!” My mother’s panicked voice rips through the quite house. I look up, devastated to see her standing on the creaky staircase. Her eyes are wide with panic and her graying hair falls into her face, sticking to her cheeks. They must be wet with tears. “Please, alpha.” She stops halfway down the staircase, pleading from a distance. I don’t blame her for not coming any closer. Her lip is still busted from two days ago. It simply refuses to heal. “Don’t hurt her.”

“Go to bed, Momma,” I say in my calmest voice. Thank god, I’m not sprawled out on the floor anymore. “Everything is okay.” I smile, trying to reassure her, but she knows this game too well.

Burke barks at me, I provoke him, and I get hit while trying to convince her that everything is fine. It’s an exhausting, never-ending cycle.

“Burke?” Mom’s dark eyes drift from me to her mate, then back again. “Please. Whatever Beth did, we can handle it in the morning.” She takes a single step toward us, and my immediate reaction is to rush to her. I want to shield her from Burke’s spiraling rage. But if I can convince her to go back to bed, then I can take the full force of his anger, and he’ll leave her alone.

It’s better for me to take the brunt of the alpha’s beatings. I’m stronger than her and heal much faster.

“Go, Deanna,” Burke snaps at Mom when she doesn’t move. The rough sound makes her jump and her shoulders curl inward. The baby begins to cry.

Tony comes up behind her. “Deanna” The alpha slips one hand around her upper arm, gently tugging her backward. “Scott needs help with Toby. Go on.”

Mom’s eyes stay glued to mine as she slowly backs up. The baby cries louder and the floorboards overhead creek. Everyone is awake.

“It’s okay. I’ve got this.” Tony stares as Mom slowly goes back up the stairs. He doesn’t move a muscle until we hear the bedroom door click shut. Finally, he turns to me and lets out a frustrated sigh. “What’s going on?” He comes down the stairs, taking them two at a time. The quick movement makes his shaggy red hair fall into his eyes.

I look up at the alpha with pleading eyes, praying he’ll save me this time. But I know he won’t. Despite his big, scary muscles, Tony is useless when it comes to defending our family against Burke. But I always hope.

“You can’t hit her,” Tony says, shocking me. Have my prayers finally been answered?

“Our daughter has been out fucking the entire Northern Territory,” Burke snarls.

“What?” Tony squints at my face, then he moves to a nearby lantern. He picks up a box of matches, lighting it. A soft orange light fills the room. Finally able to see, I look the alphas up and down. Burke looks like he’s on the verge of killing everyone in the room, while Tony just looks confused.

“Beth?” Tony holds the lantern up, looking at my face. His eyes drift to where Burke hit me, but he doesn’t react. I assume our pack alpha didn’t leave too bad of a mark, but it feels like my skin has been ripped open. I’m sure I'll have a bruise tomorrow . “Why are you out of bed?” Tony asks, narrowing his dark eyes.

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. I’m a shit liar, but if I don’t say something Burke might use his alpha voice on me, and I’ll end up giving Linden away. “I left the house,” I say to the red-haired alpha. “I’m sorry.” I drop my gaze in a submissive display. “I’ll never do it again.”

“You know better than to go outside without an escort. Why would you do that?” Tony leans down, trying to see my face, but I keep my head down. I'm scared he’ll see the lie in my eyes. “What happened? Did someone hurt you?”

“Can you not fucking smell?” Burke growls loudly and the baby fusses again. “She reeks of beta cum.”

Disgust, followed instantly by shame, grips me, and my eyes burn with the threat of tears. But I force them back. I refuse to let either one of them see how upset I am.

“Well, that’s not ideal.” Tony’s voice is unsettled, but it’s not filled with concern for me. Confused, I lift my head. Both alphas share a tense look and something like dread moves through me.

“I promised them a virgin,” Burke says through gritted teeth. His expression is grave, maybe even scared. “What the fuck are we going to do now?”

Virgin ?

I look between the pair, trying to figure out what the hell they’re talking about.

“They might not be able to tell,” Tony says, glancing at my neck. “She’s not marked, and she’s never been knotted. She’ll still bleed when they take her.”

Swift fear threads through my veins. Are they talking about me? I mean, I know they are, but my mind is still struggling to fully wrap around their words.

“Who was promised a virgin?” My voice is softer this time. More scared. But both alphas ignore me.

“I think it’ll be okay,” Tony says, and Burke’s grip on my arm lessens. “They probably won’t care if she’s been with a few betas.”

“Who are they ?” I ask, terrified of the answer. Deep in my bones, I already know, but I need to hear them say it. I need them to admit they’re getting rid of me.

Tony’s mouth pulls into a tight line, but the asshole doesn’t say anything else. Coward .

“Your new alphas,” Burke says in a deep, scary voice. “Have you been fucked by an alpha before? Or just betas?”

I would normally recoil at such a crass question, but I can only focus on one thing. “My…my alphas ?” My voice cracks and I have to fight the urge to run upstairs. I want to tell my mother what her horrible mates have planned. I’m being sold . Honestly, I’m shocked it hasn’t happened sooner, but I thought I’d have a little more time with my family. Or maybe I just hoped I would.

“They’re good people.” Burke glares down at me. “Better than a whore like you deserves.” His ugly words make my blood boil, but I don’t say a word. There’s no point. He says horrible things like this all the time hoping I’ll give him an excuse to hit me.

“It’s okay, Beth.” Tony pats my upper back, obviously trying to soothe me, but the gesture just feels cold. “Let’s all go to bed. We can worry about this in the morning.”

Burke slides his angry gaze to me, then he says to Tony, “You go. Beth and I aren’t done talking.”

A pained look crosses Tony’s face, but he doesn’t argue. The coward simply nods, then turns. He doesn’t make a sound as he heads up the stairs. He takes the lantern with him, leaving me alone in the dark with this monster.

How can he and Scott walk away when Burk is like this?

How can they let him hurt me? My brothers? My mother?

I hate them all. Every single damn alpha in this house is a weakling and a liar. They claim to want to protect and defend us, but all they want is Burke’s approval. And all Burke wants is unfettered fear and mindless submission.

The second Tony’s footsteps fade, Burke releases my arm, flashing his teeth as he speaks, “Tomorrow morning, you will be on your best behavior for your new pack,” he growls softly. “Do you understand?”

Honestly, I’m just thankful he’s not yelling anymore.

“Does mom know you’re getting rid of me?” I ask, prepared to get hit again. “Because she’ll never let me go and you know it.”

“You are mine, Beth!” Rage flashes in Burke’s eyes and his pungent scent intensifies. “You are mine to keep, sell, trade, or kill if I wanted.”

My fear shifts. I grow cold and numb at the same time, bracing myself.

“I have fed you, clothed you, and protected you,” Burke growls. “And all I get for it is disrespect. I’ve put up with it long enough.” He closes the little space between us, forcing me to back up. “You don’t even have the decency to care how your actions could affect our family.” He sucks in a sharp breath, curling his fists into tight balls. “You are so fucking selfish.”

My shoulders instinctively curl inward, but I keep my head up. While I don’t know if he’ll kill or sell me, it’s clear this is my last night in my home, and I won’t spend it cowering in the corner.

“Do you have any idea how hard it was to find a respectable pack to take you off my hands?” Burke takes another step, and I back up again. “You’re uneducated, weak, and disrespectful, Beth.” His fangs flash as he snarls, “And now, on top of everything else, you’re used ,” he practically spits the last word. “Your mother would be disgusted if she knew.”

Something deep inside me snaps, and red, hot rage erupts as I scream, “It’s not my fault you raised me in the middle of the goddamn woods!”

Burke’s hand flies out, slapping me so hard I spin, losing my footing. The floor rises up, crashing into the tip of my nose. Bright lights erupt in my vision and my ears ring. It takes a second for the pain to register. It’s hot, pulsing through my gums and eyes. Thankfully, the sensation quickly fades as something wet drips over my lips.

Blood .

“Get up.” Burke grabs a handful of my hair, pulling me off the floor. I scramble, holding onto his wrist as he lifts me onto my feet. “Do you have anything to say for yourself?” He pushes his ugly face into mine.

But I can’t talk. Blood is pouring over my lips and down the front of my neck. I clamp my lips shut tight, trying to keep it from getting into my mouth, but it’s no use. It still seeps between my lips, the copper tang spreading across my tongue.

Taking my silence as submission, Burke’s face slits with a triumphant smile. “I’m serious, Beth.” He drops his voice to a quiet rumble, pretending to control his temper. “When the Frolen pack arrives, I expect you to act like a proper omega. You will be sweet, and soft, and quiet .”

My heart pounds in the center of my face and hot blood rolls down my chin and under my shirt. It’s slick and sticky at the same time.

Burke jerks my hair, making me grunt. “Do you understand?” He uses his alpha voice.

I manage to say, “Yuh-yes.” My lips are numb, making it difficult to speak clearly. “Yes, sir.”

The vicious alpha straightens his back, looking down at me with a satisfied glint in his eyes. I hate him so damn much . “Why do you have to make everything so damn difficult?” He releases my hair, pushing me away from him. “It’s not hard to obey, omega.” He rests his hands on his belt. “Know your fucking place.”

I take a single step, but I’m still dizzy from the last hit, and I easily fall. My palms take the brunt of the landing, and my fingers tingle and sting.

“Clean yourself up.” Burke glares down at me. “Your new mates will be here in a few hours. I expect breakfast to be on the table and for you to be presentable by the time I wake up.” His dark eyes sweep the shadows around me. “And wash the floors, too. You got blood everywhere.” He shakes his head, letting out a bitter snort. “I should have left you in the gorge the second you presented.” He looms over me. “What a fucking waste.”

I hang my head, done with his abuse.

Heavy feet step around me, then stomp up the stairs.

I hear the familiar voice of one of my brothers, followed by Burke’s angry command to go back to bed. The baby babbles and mom whispers something. Then a door slams shut and silence settles all around me.

I’m left with nothing but the sound of my own blood rushing in my ears.

“Get up, Beth,” I say to myself, forcing my feet under me.

I slowly walk into the kitchen, then rest my hands on the lip of the sink. The window over the sink is still wide open, letting in the crisp night air. I wish I could smell it, but my throbbing nose feels like it’s stuffed. I’m so sad that I might never get another chance to scent it again.

While I hate living here, I think I might actually miss the aroma of fresh pine and crisp mountain air. Not to mention my family. I’m gutted to leave my mom and brothers.

I stare out at the twinkling stars, thinking about the new blanket Mom and I are quilting together. Anthony is going fishing for the first time in a few days, and Toby is starting to babble. His first word will be any day now. And I’m going to miss all of it.

An imaginary clock ticks away in my head.

A couple of hours . That’s what Burke said.

My new pack will be here in a couple of hours, and I’ll be gone forever.

I dread to see what kind of men that asshole has picked out for me. I’m sure they’ll be just as mean as him. I’ll spend the rest of my life catering to a group of violent alphas who will hurt and use me, filling me with their babies over and over again. Just like my poor, sweet mother.

Rage bubbles in my belly, followed by fierce grief.

Burke doesn’t even care that my heart is broken. A real father would be comforting his daughter, telling her that he loves her and will miss her. But Burke doesn’t give a shit. Tony either. It's like all they care about is that there will be one less mouth to feed.

Screw both of them.

They should be forced to suffer just like me.

My heart quickens once again, but this time it’s not fear. It’s rage.

I fucking hate my fathers.

I want to do something so shocking, that it’ll hurt both of them ten times worse than they could ever hurt me.

Without giving it any real thought, I let the impulse overtake me.

The floorboards creak as I make my way to the worn wooden door next to the kitchen table. I turn the bolt to unlock it, then I walk outside, leaving the door wide open behind me.

Good luck explaining this to the fucking Frolens.