"Again!"
Lady Amanda's voice rang out like lightning across a dark clouded sky, sudden and vicious. Without hesitation, the white coat by the computer cranked the knob sending even more electric currents through the preteen who cringed in protest.
"Come on Christos...break those chains and it will all be over. And you can see him again."
Though Lady Amanda taunted the boy, she was secretly pleased that he no longer screamed in pain. He took it. Endured it. And soon, he wouldn't make a sound.
"Push through it, Christos!"
The boy let out a ferocious roar, breaking the electric chains they wrapped around him. Breathing heavily, he collapsed to one knee. Before he could truly rejoice, a whip cracked against his back, knocking him completely to the floor.
"What did I say about making sounds?" Lady Amanda tsked, walking around the boy with a whip in her hand.
"Not to make a sound," Christos stated. His voice was clear and strong, without out an ounce of weakness.
"That's right. Get up. Let's go see your Daddy."
Christos staggered slightly to his feet before straightening up and following the blonde woman with blood and gashes battering his body. She led him through a series of halls and highly guarded doors until he finally reached a hall with rows and rows of cells. Each cell held an Omega, moaning and groaning either in pain or pleasure. The air was thick with hormones and though young, Christos could not help reacting to it.
Lady Amanda snapped her fingers and steel doors shut over each cell except one. Immediately, the hormones ceased and Christos was himself once again.
When they approached the cell, Christos peered inside. Huddled in the corner was a small Omega male with a small dark afro and light brown skin. His skin was scarred just as Christos's was. A small smile lit up on the young Alpha's face.
They were the same, he thought.
"Dad?" Christos called to the Omega.
The Omega stiffened, whirling around with crazed dark brown eyes. They landed on Christos and he let out a cry of horror.
"Get him away from me! Get away! Get away!"
Christos wasn't fazed by the screaming. "Dad, it's me. It's Christos."
The Omega launched himself at the bars, snarling, trying to rip at the boy violently. The intent to kill was evident. But there was something wrong with the Omega, his eyes were just a little too wild, and there was a weird substance dripping from his mouth.
"What's wrong with him?" Christos asked.
"I refuse to let my hard work go to waste. I will not tolerate weakness and he is your weakness. So we tortured him. Again and again with your face so every time he sees it, he'll try to kill you. You can't be burdened, not by anything. Because you're special."
"Because I'm special?"
Lady Amanda nodded.
Christos looked at the Wolf who gave birth to him, feral and monstrous. But beautiful, with soft and small features. The resemblance between the two was small but evident.
"I want to go now," Christos said.
Lady Amanda nodded, escorting the boy away.
Two days later, Christos was informed that his Omega father committed suicide a few hours after his visit.
Chapter Four
Things were bad.
They were really really bad.
The level of tension in the house is stifling. Ever since Asher heard the news, he's been aggressive. Towards Christos, towards Kai, towards...me. Not physically! Just...there's no gentleness in his tone anymore. He's angry all of the time, he doesn't come home until really late, but he does slide behind me and wrap me in his arms so tightly, as if he'll never let go.
Christos...
I don't know what to think of him. I try to avoid him when I can, but it's impossible because now more than ever, he's everywhere. Seeing him brings back all of the memories I tried so hard to forget.
He's a monster.
So why did I have to keep reminding myself of that?
Why did I just want to hold him in my arms every time I saw that wounded, lonely look on his handsome features? That hopeless and heartbroken expression whenever he saw Asher and I together?
What is wrong with me?
It's the hormones. It has to be.
"Asaiya, you need to eat."
Asher's gruff voice brought me out of my thoughts. I looked over at m mate-to-be with a frown. "I'm not hungry."
"You didn't eat dinner yesterday or breakfast this morning. You need to think of the pups. You're eating for six now."
I groaned but forced myself to swallow a spoonful of the oatmeal that was placed in front of me. It tasted bitter, but everything did nowadays. I just wasn't hungry. The thought of eating actually made me sick.
"Should I take you to Sherry?"
"I'm fine," I muttered. Being around him in his moods was not helping my own. I just wanted him to go his meeting already.
"Finish that bowl. I'll see you in a few hours," he kissed my forehead before leaving out the front door. I glared at the offending slop in the bowl only raising my head when I heard the front door open again.
Christos slipped inside, quiet as night, with grimy boots that he took off before he walked through the house. Even his faded blue jeans and white t-shirt were covered in dirt. As if he just rolled around outside for an hour.
"Why are you so dirty?"
Christos froze at the door, a little shocked that I was voluntarily talking to him. I think he was hoping to slip by unnoticed as he usually does. But I was curious.
"I was...gardening," came his soft and uncertain reply.
I raised a brow suspiciously. "Gardening?"
Christos nodded, looking a little embarrassed.
And somehow, it didn't seem so farfetched. I remember talking to him a few years ago. He said the one thing he wanted the most, was a garden full of flowers. That was the turning point for me, where I realized...he was a person.
He became real to me in that moment.
"I want to see it," I declared.
Christos gaped in shock before sputtering, "I don't t-think—I'm not allowed to—"
"I want to get out of this house, Christos. Now."
"Asher will kill me if I let you leave."
I narrowed my eyes at him before giving a harsh laugh. "I'm one hundred percent sure you could mop the floor with Asher. "
Christos's face hardened. "I will not fight him."
"Why? Why won't you man up?" I shouted. Just angry. I wanted to take my frustrations out and he was the perfect target. I wanted to hurt him like he hurts me every time I'm forced to look upon his face.
"Because I do not wish to hurt you any more than I have. You love him and I will not interfere."
My chest clenched at those words. Damn it!
Instead of replying, I walked over to him. Well waddled. He looked down at me in confusion with a slight fear. I backed him into a wall just peering up at him.
Very carefully, I raised my hand and laid it on his chest. Immediately I could feel the powerful beat of his heart, speeding up the moment I touched him. Before I could help it, a few tears escaped.
"You have a heart. I can feel it right now. So why...?"
Christos didn't dare utter a word or move an inch for that matter. I could tell he was too afraid to comprehend what I was doing or saying so he stayed still.
"Why can't I hate you? Why does your touch disgust me but pull me in more than even Asher's? Why dammit?"
"I am sorry," Christos whispered. His sweet breath washed over mine and I couldn't help but sigh in contentment. I stared into those red eyes, with lips parted.
Just...
"What are you doing to me?" I whispered.
Christos leaned down pressing his forehead to mine. His large hands, warm and rough with calluses, covered my own on his chest.
Kiss me.
And with that thought came violent memories.
"Please, Christos! Stop! Stop it!"
His hands. They were vicious, clawing at my hips, raking them along my skin until rivulets of blood stained my skin.
His eyes were wild and bright.
"Christos please!"
Why couldn't he hear me? Why won't he just stop? I didn't want it like this! I don't want this!
I broke the memory with a cry. Tears just fell quicker as I stumbled away from him. His touch, it burned me like acid. I needed to wash it off.
"Asa?"
"Don't! Don't come near me!"
"Asa, you are hyperventilating. You need to calm down."
I heard him, but I didn't. His voice sounded so far away. I could hardly hear anything over the pounding of blood rushing through my eardrums. And it was suddenly so hard to breath.
"Asa, you have to calm down. Asa!"
I staggered, catching myself on the railing by the door.
"Please don't hate me," Christos whispered before pulling my hair back and biting my neck releasing the full extent of his Alpha hormones. I fell limp in his arms unable to move. He lifted me effortlessly and carried me to my room, gently laying me on the bed.
I thought he would leave, but instead he laid beside me on the bed, stroking my hair out of my face.
"I could tell you over and over again that I am sorry and it will not be enough. I could tell you that I was forced to do it, but it will not change anything. I can do nothing but protect you and try my hardest to make you happy. And that is all I will do."
I didn't know what to say so I cried.
I cried myself to sleep.
*
I awoke a few hours later and was more than shocked to see Christos laying right beside me. Fast asleep. His large frame was curled into a ball and one would think that it would look awkward but instead, he just looked...adorable.
I stared at him for a while. My fingers moved on their own accord, gently caressing the side of his face, lightly rough with stubble. He didn't move, just barely stirred and that alarmed me.
Christos never let down his guard. Ever.
He must be so exhausted to let himself be this vulnerable.
Or he just trusts you.
I shook my head at the thought. He wouldn't let his guard down around even me. I had a poor track record of trying to gauge his eyes out. There was something else. It might've been the War or the constant fights with Asher or...me. Despite appearing invincible, he was still just a Wolf. Not superman. And everything takes its toll.
My thumb brushed over his soft, full lips.
"I don't hate you."
I sighed before pulling back and turning to climb off the bed, but froze immediately. Sitting by the door with arms folded and eyes narrowed sat Asher. He didn't say a word, just watched.
How long had he been there?
"How long have you been there?" I asked, voicing my thoughts.
He glanced at his watch, "About two and a half hours."
My body went cold.
"Asher—"
"I suspected as much. I mean, every time he came around, you'd get this look in your eyes. A look that was reserved for a lover not a rapist."
I bit my lip and stayed silent.
"But I still saw that fear and disgust. It overpowered the other look and with that I thought it would be okay. That we'd be okay."
"We are okay!" I insisted.
Asher cocked his head to the side. His blue eyes more intense than ever before. He studied me before smiling. But I knew him. It was one of his fake smiles. His diplomatic smiles. Not real.
"Asher, nothing has changed!"
"Not yet...but soon," he said softly before getting up and approaching me. He leaned down to kiss me tenderly. I melted into his embrace, pulling him down so I could get more, but he pulled away with a real smile.
"I love you," I whispered.
"I know you do," Asher replied.
He glanced over at Christos's sleeping form before pulling me into his arms and carrying me to the living room. We didn't talk, just sat there in silence.
Though after our declaration, where the tension was supposed to dissipate. Instead, it grew thicker than ever.
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