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  “I still see some in there,” Adrian said in a warning tone.

  Giving a little cough, she rasped, “Can’t swallow. Too dry.”

  Allowing the tears that threatened to show in her eyes, she said every prayer she could that he would give her the glass.

  No one was listening.

  Gripping her jaw again, Adrian forced her mouth open, tipping the glass over it until a tiny bit spilled into her throat. Sitting the glass on the floor next to them, he reached up and pinched her nose shut, covering her mouth with the palm of his other hand and forcing her to swallow if she wanted to breathe.

  23. Ethan

  Adrian had continued to beat him for a few minutes as the second beta kept him in a headlock. Ethan’s vision grew dim as blood flow was cut off, and he finally lost consciousness.

  When he awoke a second time, he was once again alone in the room though he didn’t think it had been long since he passed out. The scent of the other two still lingered heavily in the air and he could hear footsteps running past his door, along with yelling from nearby.

  He thought the yells had sounded feminine, too high pitched to be from one of the men, but after a door slammed into the wall, rattling his own in the frame, the only sounds he could hear were low-pitched, masculine voices. Straining his ears, even those sounds faded away. He thought he could still hear a low murmur, but it was nothing he could make out.

  Footsteps came and went again, slower this time, but no one stopped to check on him. Still not sure if what he had heard earlier was Penelope, or even a woman, Ethan went back to working on his bonds.

  The rope was tougher than it seemed. The rough feel of it had made him think it was old and would be easily worn down, but he was having a harder time than he had expected. The awkward position his hands had to be in wasn’t really helping him work at it.

  The house was fairly quiet for a while, and the silence began to get to him. Ethan needed to find out where Penelope was and if she was okay. The rope was taking too long to weaken, but he couldn’t think of anything else he could do.

  Looking around the room again, he couldn’t come up with anything that could help short of trying to break the window and get a piece of glass, but that would create too much noise. The bucket wasn’t going to help any, and there was nothing else he could try to pick up while still tied to the chair. A wooden chair he might have tried to break, but the metal one he was tied to was far too sturdy to even attempt smashing against the wall or floor.

  Glancing to the window again in desperation, he decided to try and get closer to it. His ankles were tied to the front legs of the chair, but they had enough give that he could lean forward and balance on his feet to get the legs off the floor. Raising up on the balls of his feet, Ethan gave a little hop, almost overbalancing and landing on his face.

  Chair thumping back to the floor, he waited, hoping no one had heard him. Not hearing any footsteps after a moment, he rocked himself forward again, turning to face the window. Instead of trying to hop, he leaned to one side, swinging the other forward. Once again, the chair thumbed back to the floor, but at least he was closer to his goal.

  It took Ethan a while to make his way across the short distance to the window. It was awkward to try to balance himself and the chair while trying to step forward, and he actually fell backwards a couple of times, but he finally made it.

  There was sweat trickling down his spine from the heat in the room and suit jacket he was still wearing, and he took a moment to sit and listen for any other activity in the house. He had occasionally heard footsteps while making his way across the room, but none had come close to where he was.

  Slowing his breathing, he focused. He could just barely hear something, and it took a moment for him to figure out what it was.

  Crying.

  Rage flooding his system, Ethan got back to work. He tried to pinch the rope between the back of the chair and the window frame, then use his arm to move it up and down to create friction, but he wasn’t sure how much good it was doing. His wrists were so raw at this point he couldn’t tell if it was sweat or blood running down into his hands.

  He was staring blankly to the side as he tried to hear over the small noises the rope made scraping against the frame when he realized what he was staring at. A rusty old screw was sticking about halfway out of the wall on the opposite side of the window.

  Heart racing, he scooted the chair over, sliding his hand as far up as the rope would allow. Elbow bent out to the side and shoulder jutting forward, his fingers brushed against the screw. Wiggling it back and forth, he loosened it in the wall before beginning the tedious process of unscrewing it. His hands ached from working at the rope, but he forced his fingers to obey, occasionally giving the screw a tug to see if it would pull out. It was a fairly long screw and took a while to work free.

  It finally gave just as he heard a thud from somewhere in the house. He knew using the screw was still going to take a while, so he curled his fist around it and began the process of moving back to where he had been just in case someone checked on him. Not caring as much about the noise, he moved faster and almost made it back to the center of the room before footsteps came towards his door again.

  He froze as the door swung open, holding his breath so he didn’t give away his exertion as the second beta walking into the room. Looking up at the man as his fingers worked to rub the screw against the rope, Ethan noticed his clothes looked disheveled, and a bruise was blooming just under his eye.

  Giving the man a smirk, Ethan asked, “Did you get in the boss’ way? Or did you trip and slam your face into the wall?”

  Scowling, the man moved closer.

  “You should keep your mouth shut or I may decide to use you while I wait for my turn with that little omega.”

  Ice rushed through Ethan’s veins, freezing his fingers, before a ferocious growl tore through him, causing the beta to take a step back, eyes widening in fear.

  “You won’t be touching me or her,” he snarled.

  Eyes narrowing, the beta shook off his natural reaction to an Alpha’s anger, leaning closer to Ethan.

  “Soon she’ll be begging for our cocks. That medicine’s some strong shit. She’ll be in heat for at least a week. He may have first dibs on her, but I’m going to get my taste.”

  Smirking in Ethan’s face, the beta couldn’t react in time to avoid his lunge. Slamming into his stomach with a roar, they went down in a tangle, the beta trying to push Ethan off of him. With no other way to inflict damage, Ethan bit into the man’s side, drawing a cry of pain from him as he tried to pry Ethan’s head away.

  The faint scent of jasmine and the distinct smell of slick further enrage Ethan, the pain from the previous beating fading away even as the blows being rained down on him now were ignored. Tensing his arms and shoulders, the rope on his right wrist finally gave with a snap.

  Swinging his arm forward, Ethan released his teeth from the man’s side, grabbing the beta’s shirt and dragging himself up the man’s writhing body. Rolling himself and the chair onto the man’s legs, he used his greater weight to pin the beta down and reached higher, getting a grip on the man’s throat.

  Gurgling, the man continued to swing wildly and try to buck Ethan off as the fingers curled around his neck. The lingering scent of Penelope made Ethan’s fist clench tighter, the beta’s movements slowing and growing weaker as his eyes rolled back in his head. Even once he stopped moving, Ethan didn’t let go, fingers digging into flesh and a continuous growl rolling from his chest.

  It was a few minutes before he was able to calm himself enough to pry his fingers from the man’s throat, a squishy lump all that was left. Rolling to the side, he looked around for his screw, spotting it next to the man’s leg. Snagging it, he went to work on the ropes still holding him to the chair. He had to save Penelope before she went into full-blown heat or he would never be able to think clearly enough to get them out of this house.

  24. Penelope

  Pain
like she had never felt before ripped through her stomach causing her to double over, arms wrapped around her middle. Gasping, Penny pressed her face into the bare mattress as she let out a whine.

  Adrian had forced her to swallow the water, sip after sip until most of the glass was gone. Tears streaming from her eyes, she had given in, knowing she was going to need it. Once he finished with that he had sat back, crouched on his heels at the end of the bed watching her. She had moved until her back was pressed to the wall again, waiting for his next move, until the first cramp struck.

  Panting as the pain subsided, Penny stayed where she was, curling in on herself. Adrian had seemed to realize the other beta was in the room when he drew in a deep breath, scenting for slick, and turned to him with a glare.

  “Get the fuck out, she’s mine!”

  The other man stared at him with a dark expression and a muscle jumped in his jaw.

  “Don’t forget our deal, Adrian. I get to use her too. Before her heat is over. It’s not like you’ll be able to satisfy an omega in heat anyway.”

  Turning to leave, he hadn’t seen Adrian spring up, rushing at his back. As the other beta opened the door, Adrian grabbed the back of his head, slamming him face first into the edge of it. The man whipped around, fists ready, but stopped himself, grumbling under his breath before walking out into the hallway and slamming the door behind him.

  Penny watched the door shut with watery eyes, waiting for the next cramp to strike. She theoretically knew what to expect since everyone went through health class in school, but she had been on suppressants since she presented and had never had a heat cycle.

  Adrian began to pace across the front of the room, staring at her and then the door, muttering under his breath. After the next cramp had rolled through her, he came closer, tipping his head back and scenting the air again.

  “What’s taking so long?” he said in irritation.

  Penny let out a pained chuckle, muffled by the mattress.

  “It’s not going to happen instantly asshole. My body has never done this, plus I’ve been on suppressants my whole life.”

  Chest heaving, she rolled onto her side, hands still clutching the space between her hips.

  “It takes days to go into heat naturally. The medication may rush it and cause an unnatural one, but it’s not going to happen in minutes. Might as well get comfortable.”

  Scowling at her, Adrian continued to pace as another cramp hit. The pain started in the middle, rolling around her hips to her spine, pulling. Feeling like it was all being sucked into a black hole where her womb should be. Crying out in pain, she buried her face in the mattress again, rocking to try and distract herself.

  When Adrian tried to approach her, Penny growled, kicking out and pushing herself into the corner. Baring his teeth, he reached for her, but she lashed out with her nails, catching his wrist and leaving streaks of blood going down the back of his hand.

  Jerking it back, he lurched to his feet.

  “You better stop the shit. You’re going to need me soon.”

  Penny snorted as she pushed herself up until she was propped in the corner.

  “You won’t get to touch me. I’ll need an Alpha! Your puny cock won’t cut it,” Penny sneered at him.

  Head jerking to the side, stars burst behind her eyes when he backhanded her. Lifting a hand to her cheek, she fought the tears that wanted to come.

  Gritting her teeth, Penny swallowed the sobs and glared up at the man standing over her until a muffled roar caught her attention. Knowing in her gut it was Ethan, she slid down the wall when Adrian looked towards the door, trying to slip past him.

  Attempting to launch herself to her feet and make a run for the door, her boot once again foiled her. Catching on the edge of the mattress, the boot stopped her momentum and she fell to her hands and knees on the stiff carpet as another cramp tore through her body.

  She could hear Adrian laughing at her as he moved next to where she had curled up on the floor.

  “Dumb slut,” he said, aiming a kick to her already aching leg.

  Boot jerked roughly, the sobs broke free as Adrian knelt, yanking her head up with a hand buried in her hair.

  “I hope you’re ready when I get back, because slick or dry, I’m going to start fucking you.”

  Shoving her head back to the floor, he stood and moved towards the door. Penny looked up as he opened it, the dark silhouette standing in the hall catching her attention.

  Adrian stood in the doorway, stunned to see Ethan. He seemed to react at the same moment Ethan did, attempting to swing the door shut as Ethan roared and lunged forward. Slamming a large shoulder into Adrian’s chest, Ethan charged into the room, knocking Adrian to the ground.

  Glancing over at Penny, she saw his nostrils flare and she watched as his eyes darkened. She knew he could smell the beginning of her heat. Adrian scrambling back to his feet drew his attention away from her, and she pushed herself up to a kneeling position. She had a good idea of what was about to happen, and she didn’t want to be sprawled on the floor where she could be stepped on.

  Using the wall to help her stand, Penny pressed her back against it, hands spread beside her, and edged towards the corner by the door.

  “She’s mine, just get the fuck out and forget about her,” Adrian yelled, gesturing towards the door as he tried to move around Ethan to where Penny was. “I don’t care if you leave. Run off and be free.”

  Ethan’s growl was animalistic. Full of malice and rage, it froze Adrian where he stood.

  “She is not, and never will be, yours, and I’ll never run off and leave her.”

  Ethan’s whispered words sent a shiver of fear down Penny’s spine even though the threat wasn’t directed at her, and warmth bloomed in her chest at his last words. His pheromones were filling the room and the primal part of her reveled in the power of the Alpha before her.

  Core clenching, she felt the first gush of slick soak her panties. Gasping, she closed her eyes and pressed a hand to her stomach, fighting the strongest cramp yet that tried to bring her to her knees.

  Choking on a sob, her eyes opened and focused back on the center of the room. Both men were panting and quickly caught the scent of her slick, two sets of eyes turning to focus on her. Their pupils were blown, the blackness swallowing the colored ring as their bodies responded to hers.

  Staring into Ethan’s face, Penny could read the desire there as he stared back. Nostrils flaring to take in more of her scent, his growl changed pitch, becoming a hungry call before he noticed Adrian moving towards her again.

  Stepping between them, Ethan snarled at the beta, seeming to swell in size.

  “Penny, you need to leave the room,” came his rumbling voice. “Go out into the hall and wait for me.”

  Whimpering, she did as she was told, slipping from the room.

  25. Ethan

  Penny was distracting him, and he didn’t want to risk her getting hurt on accident. Ethan had to get her out of the room. His instincts were calling for him to eliminate the other male and mount her, but he was trying to stay in control. One body was hard enough to deal with, and Penny hadn’t planned to be in heat, much less asked to be tended through it.

  “You’re going to follow me to the other room where I’m going to tie you up, then we’re going to call the Force and wait for them to get here,” Ethan growled, glaring at Adrian as the beta watched Penny limp from the room.

  Chuckling, Adrian focused back on him once she was out of sight.

  “What makes you think I’ll do that?”

  Taking a threatening step toward the man, Ethan clenched his fists, baring his teeth in a snarl. He didn’t have the patience to deal with this properly right now.

  “Because the other option will be more painful for you.”

  He could see the uncertainty in Adrian’s gaze. Ethan was an Alpha. Larger, stronger, faster. Evolution had made him the apex predator, and a beta, alone, stood no chance in a fight. Adrian’s ego wouldn’t
allow him to back down though. Or maybe it was his level of crazy that wouldn’t allow it.

  Sneering up at Ethan, his posture relaxed as his arms crossed over his chest.

  “You can’t touch me. I’m not some dumb Alpha in one of your camps that you can make disappear. I’m a citizen. A protected part of society.”

  “You lost that protection when you attacked and kidnapped an omega. You’ve broken the laws of your society,” Ethan responded.

  “She’s mine and I’m going to have her,” Adrian hissed, eyes clouding as he launched himself at Ethan.

  Stepping back, he caused Adrian to miss, lashing out with his own fist to land a punch to the side of his head. He had a longer reach and landed another hit to Adrian’s side before the beta stumbled back.

  Baring his teeth, Ethan snarled, losing his grip on his anger. Crowding into Adrian’s space, Ethan swung his fist and connected with Adrian’s already broken nose. Howling in pain, the beta doubled over, cupping his hands over his face.

  Ethan was about to continue when he heard Penelope cry out from down the hallway. Worried someone else had shown up, Ethan kicked Adrian to the floor before spinning and racing out the door. He found her standing in the hall looking into the room he had been tied up in, with her hands over her mouth.

  The room that contained the body of the second beta.

  Moving towards her, he slowed when her eyes darted to his.

  “Is he…”

  She didn’t finish the sentence, but he knew what she was asking. Giving a slow nod, he stopped moving, not sure how she was going to react to him. When she winced and doubled over, he closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms around her to keep her from falling. The scent of slick saturated the air and his cock throbbed.

  “I’m sorry,” he said quietly when she began to cry in his arms.

  Shaking her head, Penny straightened up, clinging to his arm as he tried to angle his hips away from her.