27. Candy

Itried to keep myself as still as possible as I came round. Slow breathing, relaxed muscles, closed eyes, my head slumped forward.

A rush of heat flared through me, and I held back my hiss at the pain. Slick was already leaking between my thighs, my skin burning.

The tight bands around my ankles and legs had shifted, now binding me to a wooden chair. My wrists were secured on the arms of the chair, my ankles fixed to the legs, my knees open with full access to my pussy. I was still naked—no blindfold, no gag; just the sharp tang of alcohol, bubblegum, and sour lemons.

The warmth of the room was nothing compared to the raw fire within me. I needed a cock and a knot, or at least something filling me.

I could smell an alpha emanating harsh curls of lemon, which was foul compared to Odin's sharp scent. There were at least three other betas in the room.

I could only focus on the alpha when I was in heat. My instincts were determined to find a knot, no matter how rancid the alpha's scent or how dangerous he was. The betas faded into the background as my body responded to him.

My scent was attractive to almost everyone. I say almost, because every scent has a particular brand to it, a particular flavour, along with the person's pheromones that made it unique. I wanted to luxuriate in Odin's scent, spend forever snuggled against his chest, every breath pure heaven as his lemon vodka surrounded me. Because it was him, his biology, his unique scent that matched mine perfectly.

Whereas the scent surrounding me was like a lemon fallen from a tree, left to rot on the ground, trampled and dirty, pecked away by birds and insects.

There were scents that matched, and scents that clashed. And the alpha in front of me was a total clash for me. Because I was close to puking from just a whiff of him.

"I know you're awake." A deep voice came from the alpha. Powerful, dominant, confident, but something else shook there, and it wasn't because I was in heat.

Tilting my chin, I opened my eyes to meet his hard stare. A quick scan of the room showed me exactly what he was like.

Antique furniture, rich sculptures of marble and gold resting on pedestals. Persian carpets, a four-poster bed, black silk sheets, two guards at the elaborately carved door behind him. I couldn't see the windows that shone light into the room, but I bet anything they led to a balcony that looked out onto a shitty landscaped garden. Probably hung with lavish curtains as well.

I knew the type.

Moaning, I fluttered my lashes, trembling as I hunched my shoulders. I needed to appear as weak as possible, like a poor little omega in heat.

I gasped as my head shot up, my wide-eyed gaze flying around the room. "Wh-Who are you?" I asked breathlessly, my high-pitched all scared and weak.

He was large—meaty, not muscular. He stood in front of me, leering, close enough that I could have kicked him if I'd been free.

"Your new mate," he replied. I caught a brief twitch of his jaw before his fat lips split into a grin. He spread his arms out to display himself, as if the sight of an overweight business-class alpha twice my age was going to do it for me. But, to be honest, I would love Apollo, Zeus, and Odin no matter what they looked like.

The problem with scent clashes was they only worked one way. Scent matches needs two people to complete a match, but only one person could be repulsed by another scent. Which was why he was looking at me with horny eyes instead of recoiling.

He wore a pressed dark slate suit, a pale pink shirt, his blonde hair styled back, looking like seventy-five percent of the guests who bought me—the ones who seemed too rich for their own good. But no amount of money was going to fix that face.

I quivered underneath him, letting the full force of my heat free. My slick was already thickening simply by being in the presence of an alpha. I dropped my bottom lip, letting my instincts free.

"How did you find me?" I asked, my voice hushed, as if we were sharing a special secret. I'd spent most of my life acting, and I could do it here, too.

Shifting my body, I rolled my hips, splitting my knees so he could smell my slick. I moaned again, arching my back and holding his gaze. "I thought I didn't have a scent match," I whispered, as if his sour lemon tang was the most addictive thing I had scented.

I knew I hadn't fucked him before; I would have remembered his scent. Though there was something about him that looked familiar.

"I've been watching you," he said softly, reaching out and cupping my cheek. "I've been there every night, and I"ve been to every one of your shows."

I flinched at his touch. If it was two years ago, at the peak of my heat, I would be on my knees begging for his knot, but now I had control of myself. The only alphas who could make me submit were my mates, and I had to remember that as I sighed, turned my head, and nuzzled against his hand.

"Really?" I said, blinking up at him with awe in my voice. "Then why didn't you ever want to be with me?" I bit my lip, tears welling in my eyes. "If you were really my scent match, why haven't I met you before?"

Real darkness crossed his face as his hand whipped back, like the heat of my skin had burnt him. I had seen that darkness before. It was the same look that haunted me; ones of alphas who believed they were entitled to me simply because of their designation, alphas who were willing to do whatever it took to maintain their dominance.

Maybe I despised the betas who attended my heats, ignoring my cries for help unless I really was in danger, but at least they were there. There was nobody to protect me here, nothing I could rely on except for myself, exactly how it used to be. I'd become so used to the cushy lifestyle of the Club I sometimes forgot how hard my career choice actually was.

I had to stay calm. I had to see what he wanted, find a way to play this in my favour. There was no chance of escaping from the bindings when they cut so deep, but if I played it right, maybe he'd take sympathy on me.

"Because you never wanted me," he said, his jaw tight as he glared at me.

I held back my heavy sigh, knowing I'd gotten his type spot on.

Alphas who needed their egos stroked were the worst, but it was part of my job.

"How could you say that?" I whined, shaking again. "I can smell it; I can feel you like you're inside me. Our scents are perfect together. Why would you think I wouldn't want you?"

That was the problem with a scent like mine. You could find strawberries and vanillas everywhere you went, so scents like bubblegum stood out, particularly with my perfume. And it meant idiot alphas like him thought we could scent match just because it was unique.

The chloroform was still fucking with my head, and I had to keep biting the inside of my cheek to pay attention.

"I bid on you every night, but I know you blocked me. Those bids are rigged," the alpha growled.

I dropped my mouth open, gasping in shock. I pushed my voice a pitch higher. "How could you say that?"

"Because I would have won if you really wanted me!" he snarled, and I recoiled from him, as much as I could with being tied down.

Like Benny pointed out before, there were nights where I'd asked an alpha host to sneak into the crowd and bid on me. It meant we could have a party in my room rather than spend an evening fucking, but it wasn't all the time. We only did it once or twice a year so the other managers didn't pick up on it.

"I don't even know your name," I said softly. "How could I fix the vote when I don't know who you are?"

His eye twitched as his weak aura pulsed around him, his pride making his scent even worse. He straightened his back, pressing his hand to his chest as he puffed himself up. "Gordon Roberts. You must have heard of me."

I honestly hadn't, but all guests used aliases, and I wasn't usually interested enough to find out their real names. Though there was no way I was going to tell him that.

"Oh my God," I gasped. "You're Gordon Roberts?"

I peered up at him with wonder on my face, thinking of how sweet Apollo was when I sucked his cock—his strong fingers gripping my hips, the muffled sounds of his pleasure, how his hips jerked when it became too much and he came. More slick slid from my aching pussy and I moaned again.

Gordon picked up the scent, and his hand twitched as he reached out for me. I opened my legs wider, and he missed the grit of my jaw as I forced myself not to flinch. I let him do what he wanted as he pressed his fingers against my pussy. I nearly rolled my eyes as he stroked me, his hand trembling like a precious princess.

He lifted his hand to his mouth, groaning as he licked his fingers.

I tried hard not to gag. I was used to alphas of all kinds playing with me, but he was so foul I didn't want my slick anywhere near him, especially when I still had Zeus's cum inside me.

Gordon didn't deserve it, not a single drop.

"I knew you wanted me," he rasped. "I knew you were waiting for me, too."

"Of course I was," I simpered. "Even omegas like me dream of their scent match." My body writhed as I attempted to control the ache of my heat pains. I had to be filled; I'd go crazy if an alpha didn't fuck me. The only thing I could do was use it.

"Please, it's so hot. Please, Gordon, I just need a knot. Give me your knot," I keened, pushing my hips forward.

The cable ties that kept my wrists flat on the arms of the chair were burning more fiercely than my heat. I couldn't move them. My hands were going numb, and I swear I could already see a blue tinge in the tips of my fingers. I had to get out of there.

"I want to touch you, Gordon. I want to feel your skin on mine," I mewled, tipping my head back, licking my lips as I met him with a heady stare and perfumed. "Why would you tie me up when we belong together? Don't you trust me?"

I pushed out my aura, thickening my scent, trying to push him further.

Nearly there. His eyes were glazing over. If I had to fuck him, then I'd do it, but I wasn't taking his knot, no matter how much my body said I needed it.

"Why don't you cut away these straps so I can show you how much I've been longing for you?" I whimpered again, panting, my breasts rising and falling, letting him slaver over me. "I can already feel you inside me, Gordon. You'll slip in so easily. We can fuck until my heat is sated." Though Gordon would never do it for me, the physical pain which came from not being with my alphas would be worth it if I could escape.

He was getting hungry, and I just had to push him a bit further, bring him closer.

"Don't you want that? I thought you said you wanted me. We're mates, Gordon; I need you." I sent another wave of my aura, and he shuddered.

He was panting, his cock straining against his trousers as his cheeks flushed with desire. Alphas like this were all the same.

Gordon came closer, near enough to stroke my cheek again. I sighed, as if I was complete from a single touch. It was easy to imitate when I felt that way last night with my alphas.

Another bloom of perfume wafted around us. "You smell so good," I moaned, reaching out my tongue and licking his palm. "You're my perfect match, Gordon. Bubblegum and lemon. We're just meant to be together."

A low growl vibrated from the back of his throat. I drew in a deep breath, letting his scent blanket me.

I was used to all kinds of scents, but there was something particular about him which made my stomach roil. It was probably the steady tremor of fear that thudded through me. I had to be careful. I couldn't mess this up.

Heat flashed through my body, and I coughed, tipping forward. If I could at least come it would help ease the pain.

My head dropped, my mind racing as I tried to harness my need. My senses were escaping as my omega instincts wrenched control. I had to focus, but the pins and needles were already buzzing in my feet. If I didn't get a knot, real or fake, I might end up going feral and tearing at my restraints just to get to Gordon and fuck him.

I was stronger than this. I hadn't been fighting my biology for years to lose here.

Curving my back, I lifted myself up. "Gordon!" I cried, my eyes squeezing tight. If he thought I was presenting to him, maybe he would cut me free. "Please, I need your knot."

I released another burst of perfume, hitting him hard, and his lids fluttered as he moaned. I was getting to him, just a bit more.

"What you need is a bite," he said, another one of those grins spreading his lips over plump cheeks.

Real fear pounded through me. My whole body jerked, my gasp echoing in my ears, pupils blown as my heart plummeted. Suddenly, the heat which had been raging through my body vanished as I was plunged into ice.

I barely managed to catch myself, winded by his words. "A bite?" I choked out. "So fast? You don't want to get to know me first?"

He brushed away my question with a flap of his hand. "Why would I when we have forever together?"

The game had totally changed.

If he bit me, that was it. Though I had to fuck anyone and everyone at the club, I had every luxury I could imagine. But if I had even a trace of a bite mark on my neck, I'd be thrown in the bargain bin. I could argue that I was kidnapped, though it wouldn't explain why Zeus, Odin, and Apollo were in my room during my heat. That was if I escaped. Even if Gordon died, the bite would turn black on my skin. I'd be ruined either way.

He sucked in a breath, obviously concentrating as his aura swept over me. He was trying to calm me, probably to make it easier to bite me. I was surprised he actually had the balls to kidnap me with an aura that weak.

"Will you at least kiss me?" I moaned. "I want to taste you before you bite me."

His eyes softened as he paused, sighing deeply. "Of course. Of course. And when you're mine, I'll give you everything you want."

Gordon's smile felt genuine this time, but that was worse. He clutched my shoulder as he bent down, leaning towards me. If it was five years ago, I might have accepted the offer, no matter how disgusting his scent was. Even if it felt like licking and drinking bleach every day, I'd have somewhere warm to sleep and food to eat.

But looking at his piggish face, the way he was slavering over me, how his fat fingers kept twitching in anticipation, I'd rather take the risk and try to return to my alphas.

"I've bought this whole mansion for you. All you have to do is present me your neck, accept my bite, and you'll be all mine."

And that's when I took my chance.

I rocked my head back, just enough to shoot forward and crash my forehead into his. Agony rang through me, stars scattering in my darkened vision as I cried out in shock.

Gordon stumbled back, his hand going straight to his forehead as his kind smile twisted into fury. "You bitch!" he shouted.

There was no sign it was coming. He simply raised his hand and slapped me clean across the face.

My head whipped back from the force of it, another shudder of pain through my skull. I moaned again, my jaw snapping with pain.

And I perfumed.

I fucking perfumed.

He ruined my self-control for a moment, and suddenly, I really was a horny omega, dying for a knot.

"Oh? You liked that, did you? Does Candy like a bit of pain?" Another smile, another look on his face that said I owed him for the honour of letting me sit in his presence.

More slick leaked out, sliding underneath my thighs.

"Is this how you treat your new mate?" I coughed, swallowing the blood pooling in my mouth.

He growled again, his body stiff, his rank aura blanketing me. I could see how a lemon scent might appeal to some omegas, but it was nothing compared to the sweet cocktail of my mates.

"You have no idea what I could do to you." His body shook as he laid another slap on the same cheek, and I yelped like an innocent dog. "You're under my command now."

And I was done with this shit.

"What is it you say?" He laughed. "‘A day without a cock in me is a day wasted'? Well, I'm about to fulfil your dreams! I'm not letting you go, and if you struggle, you'll feel more of my hand."

"You really think I want to be with someone who can't afford to buy me for one night?" I choked, the force of his slaps blurring my mind. But I could still see his surprise as I changed tactics.

"Don't talk back to me!" he yelled.

As I predicted, he landed another hit, my left cheek this time. It was harder, more anger behind it. I cried as my head cracked sideways, pain ricocheting through my skull, racing through my throat and down my spine. Black spots clouded my eyes, and I was knocked to the side. The only reason I didn't fall to the floor was because he kicked the chair to keep me upright.

My head dropped forward, panting as my blurry vision returned.

"Honestly, there's nothing worse than a desperate alpha," I groaned through the pain, forcing myself to look up at him. "I mean, I get that you're after me, but this?" I hitched a brow. My face was burning and talking stung as much as his slaps. "Why the hell would I want a mate who beats me?"

He snarled as he spun to his side, ripping one of the marble statues from the desk right next to him, lifting it above my head.

"Oh God," I whispered to myself. I wouldn't survive it if he hit me. He was too angry, and the marble was so solid. There was no way my skull would win that fight.

I had to survive; I had to see my pack again. It would ruin them if I died. Apollo and Odin were right all along—being together and resisting our urges was better than losing each other.

My numb fingers clenched around the arms of the chair, praying Gordon wouldn't strike. If he thought I was his mate, his instincts should hold him back. Though, how many stories were there of omegas who were murdered because their alpha's primal nature took over?

"Mr Roberts, sir!" A guard cut through Gordon's rage. My eyes flicked to the beta, his hand on the radio connected to his bulletproof vest.

"What!?" Gordon snapped.

"I think you better come and look at this."

The guard's gaze flicked to me. He sounded too worried for it to be ignored.

Gordon straightened his suit jacket, fussing with his sleeves. "I'll be back for you," he spat at me.

"Sure, I mean, I'm not going anywhere, am I?" I wished I wasn't so cocky, though it was worth it to see his rage take over.

His eye twitched as he raised his fist. "You—"

"Sir, there isn't time." The guard cut in. I'd never seen a beta order an alpha like that without the alpha biting back, especially such a highly strung alpha. But Gorden's panic told me it wasn't just about whatever was going on outside.

Gordon left the rest of the beta guards as he flew out of the room. They threw nervous looks at each other, adjusting their guns, checking various pockets, shuffling from side to side, and doing whatever they could to not pay attention to me.

Something was happening. Something that had them scared.

A small flicker of hope lit inside me, but I kept it tamed. I didn't want to think my mates had come for me. There was no way for them to know where I was, or any way for them to get to me.

My head shot up as shouts sounded out from somewhere in the building.

Gordon burst back through the door, followed by four more betas, panic marring his already sallow face.

He ran straight towards me, two guards following as the other two joined the first two at the door, adjusting their guns.

"Your knife." Gordon panted, turning to one of them. "Give me your knife."

"Sir, Michael said—"

"I don't give a shit what Michael said. She's mine. He's not taking her."

I looked up at him in shock. I couldn't work out what they were saying. The words were there, I understood them; it was just trying to process what it meant that I tried to understand. A mix of heat haze and concussion muddled my brain, but it was so slowly clicking into place.

He said Michael… They both did…

Gordon's hand shook as he snatched the knife from the guard. A sharp serrated edge, a heavy blade, easy enough to rip my throat open. I swallowed carefully as he lifted the knife, pressing it against the soft curve of my neck, right on a pulsing vein.

"Why did you say Michael?" I asked.

"Shut up."

"No. What the hell is going on?" I growled, fighting against the ties on my wrists. "What's this got to do with Michael?"

"Shut up!" he shouted, pushing the knife hard enough to break the skin. My blood cooled as it ran down my throat, and I finally saw that as my cue to be quiet.

There was still noise from the corridor beyond the doors, more pops like guns, growing louder, closer every second.

Gordon was sweating, his hand twitching, the knife right on my neck. I leaned back, tilted my chin, looking up at him. He was staring at the door so intensely his eyes popped out of his head. He'd already given the game away. There was something wrong with this. Why was Michael involved at all?

The problem was, I'd never been good at taking cues, even during a show.

"You're pathetic," I said to him. "Did you really think the best way to win me over was to kidnap me and bite me? Really?"

"Be. Quiet."

"Oh, no, Gordon. If you want me so badly, you get all of me. And all of me includes the part that hates alphas who think they have a right to my pussy just because I'm on a stage."

He slammed his hand over my mouth. "Quiet, you little bitch!"

But he didn't have a chance to finish.

The beta guards had their guns ready, some edging closer to the doors.

They flung open, and the room descended into chaos as shots fired around us.

I needed to get away from Gordon's knife.

I sucked in a breath through my nose, praying as I pushed the balls of my feet against the ground and threw myself backwards. The chair tipped, knocking into Gordon's fat stomach. He had no time to react as Zeus stood at the door, his face determined as he raised his gun and fired.

Gordon screamed as we fell together, his body collapsing beside me. He cried out, scratching at me as the back of the chair pinned his feet to the floor.

A snarl tore through the room before a familiar scent showered us, powerful enough to leave me trembling. Mangos, and passion fruit, and the harsh tang of lemon vodka I'd been luxuriating in last night.

There was the sound of someone moving, and all I saw was Apollo's bright blond hair before he shot past me, descended on Gordon, and beat him within an inch of his life.