“Buttercup. Open up.”
I never gave him my real name. I thought it best to hide my true identity as much as possible.
The door bangs again, and I scoop up my things, throwing them haphazardly into the suitcase. Then I fasten the latchproperly.
Maybe I can swoop beneath his legs and find the fire exit. Then I can hop onto a bus at the nearest station and vanish.
My first heat may have been unbearable, but there was something quite liberating about lying in the mud like some ancient swamp queen as I slowly came to accept my fate.
I am alone in this world. And no alpha will ever come and rescue me.
I accepted that fact long ago.
The smell of burnt toast grows stronger on the other side of the door, and I gag. Just picture blackened toast when it’s left in the toaster for too long. That’s Steve, and not evenbuttercould sweeten up that train wreck.
His burnt toast odor grows stronger and more metallic when he’s pissed, and that’s my signal to leave.
Jumping back to my feet, I kick off my platform heels, deciding to go barefoot. I need all the speed I can muster, and I am pretty fast.
I’m Speedy Gonzales. Here one moment and gone the next. Sure, I will get glass in the soles of my feet, but beggars can’t be choosers.
“Buttercup?”
Time to open the door.
I step closer, gripping the handle. Then I count to three. When I reach number three, I yank on the door, whizzing past the alpha who smells like shit on toast.
“Hey! Get back here!”
I don’t bother looking back. My number one goal is to find the fire door that leads onto the side street. Then I will find the main road and rush through the throngs toward the bus station.
Freedom will be mine.
From this day onward, I will spend my heats alone in the mud with nothing butfrogsto keep me company.
I don’t even make it to the fire exit. Something hits me hard at the back of my skull, and I roll several feet across the floor.
Whoever they were, they knocked me out good. The hallway spins and the sniggering, evil voices that hover around me next seem to come from afar.
Finally, I glance up at those three vultures.
Well, well, if it isn’t Martini and her sidekicks.
My vision tunnels. Darkness creeps in at the edges as I slowly lose focus, and I bet they’re loving the show.
Now all I hear is the sound of my raging heart as it pumps the blood through my veins. I swear it even jumps out of my chest, and those hormone stimulants have really screwed with my anatomy.
One day, I will get her back.
Martina raises her fist, and I lie there helplessly as she swings it toward my face, shattering me to pieces.
It looks like my secret is finally out. Everyone knows I’m an omega.
I hope they give me a quick execution.
Chapter 4
Ravyn