August

The rest of the meeting passed by as buzzing static. The excitement of finding out London was alive was shadowed by the fear of being here and what Cain would do to her. He didn’t seem like he had a gentle side. He had known London for a long time and he knew she had some fight in her. She wouldn’t go down without a fight. His belly twisted. But this was Them he was talking about. Even as an Omega, Merrik had been able to overpower him. London would have no chance. And yet, it had appeared she had hurt Cain before he managed to grab her. It gave him some hope that she would survive.

The rest of the room stood from where they sat and began to leave one by one. This left only Malakai, Merrik and himself behind. His heart quickened with fear and he felt himself tensing up when he felt Malakai’s gaze on him. 

“I heard you raided the cold storage.” His voice seemed loud in the room and clearly directed at Merrik despite his eyes still on him. He immediately felt queasy. It was a reminder that he was dealing with Them. How close had Merrik come to drinking him dry? He kept his gaze downward towards the table, avoiding Malakai’s gaze. 

Beside him Merrik remained calm and composed. “You know how I feel about drinking from the source.”

Malakai gave a sound of amusement, the chair creaking as he leaned back. “I practically gift wrap your own personal blood source and yet, you slap me in the face with refusal. I’m sure you realize that I can’t just let this slide. I don’t appreciate your childish behavior.”

“Father-”

Malakai’s chair slid back and August looked up just in time to see the Beta walk around the table towards him. He didn’t even have time to take a breath before his face was being slammed down onto the table top. The food and plates on the table scattered in the movement and he hissed in pain at the force of it, his cheek throbbing. Beside him, Merrik had stood, hands clenched but he did nothing more to stop his father. 

August was well aware of the Beta standing beside him, his cold hand tight on the back of his neck. His heart was beating so fast and hard it almost made him nauseous. Or maybe that was the intense fear. He wasn’t even sure. Even his inner Alpha had withdrawn in fear. He knew when he didn’t stand a chance in a fair fight. 

“Father-!” Merrik started again but Malakai’s hand tightened around August's throat and he made a choking sound as the pressure of his airways being compressed sent heavy pounding to his head.

Beside him, Merrik stiffened. 

“I suppose if you’re not going to use him, I could. I hear the taste of Alpha blood is a rare vintage and I do enjoy my exotic flavors.” Suddenly, he was being yanked back, his back colliding with the hard plane of Malakai’s chest. The Beta’s hand moved around to the front of his throat and he scrambled to claw at the male’s hand to loosen his grip. 

He grew cold and still when he felt Malakai’s nose against his neck, breathing in the scent of him, or probably, the smell of his blood that pumped hard through his compressed veins. A part of him was hoping Merrik would step in and stop him but the Omega remained where he was standing, face turned away as he felt the pierce of the Beta’s teeth into his neck.