Chapter 1

Chapter

One

AURORA

T he wails of the other prisoners used to bother me, but not anymore. The screams and the sound of the whip as those around me were tortured helped me sleep. It might be wrong, but it meant that the guards were preoccupied, and today, they might not come to my cell. I’d gotten used to the beatings and the rutting, but I just wanted it to be over. I wanted them to go too far and kill me or tell me that my father had paid his debt and I was free to go. It didn’t even matter which.

The faint squeak of the mouse that came to visit me daily had me opening my eyes, but they were heavy. I’d smacked the last guard who came in and tried to have his way with me and had been denied food and water since then. Many days had passed, and I refused to drink my urine. I was already an omega sleeping in my dirt and covered in dried come from so many donors that I lost count. There were only so many lows you could suffer before you had to draw a line.

Each day that I awoke and realized I wasn’t dead yet brought disappointment. I could hardly remember what my life was like outside of this cell. I remembered my father’s gruff face and my sweet younger sister and brother, who were only yearlings when I left. I remembered shifting and running with the herd, but most of all, I remembered the nights and the sounds of life all around me. That was all before I was given to Alpha Bull Gorrin to pay off my father’s debt.

The question that plagued me was, did he know? Did he know what they would do to me, and still he chose to hand me over? I hoped not, but it had been months, and no one had come to rescue me from this hell.

“Hi, Mouse,” I whispered and then licked my dry lips. My little grey companion, who was busy sniffing around for scrapes, turned his black eyes on me when there was nothing to be found. “Don’t worry, one of these days, you’ll have my bones to feast on.” I couldn’t hold my eyes open any longer, but I felt him sniffing the end of my nose and expected him to take a bite.

The loud banging of something hard hitting bars scared my companion off and sent a shiver racing down my spine.

Bang, bang, bang.

The sound drew closer, and at one time, I would’ve tried to hide in the corner or cover myself. Not only had I lost the ability to care, but I no longer had clothing or a blanket, and the illusion that they gave a shit if I was scared, was long gone. They stripped me of those as quickly as they had my dignity.

“Hey, Omega. Get your ass up and over to the bars,” the guard ordered as his keys rattled in his hand. I couldn’t lift a finger, let alone my body. “I said get over to the bars,” he demanded, but I still didn’t move. Maybe I’d get lucky, and he would bash my head in. “For fucksake,” he grumbled as the door squealed open. “Jarvis, when was the last time you gave the Omega any water or food?”

“Nobody told me to give her anything,” I heard one of my regular torturers yell back.

“Fucking hell,” he said a moment before water landed on me. The icy cold temperature added to my shaking, but I still couldn’t move. The guard roughly grabbed me by the hair, and I whimpered as he forced me to sit up. Every bone and muscle had seized while I lay in the fetal position. It felt like they were being broken as he lifted me by my hair and used my breast as leverage. I knew this guard. His name was Merk, and he’d been all too happy to use me more than once a day.

My head snapped to the side as his hand connected with my cheek. I hadn’t been expecting the slap or the sting that accompanied it.

“Open your mouth, Omega,” he commanded, as something hard pressed roughly against my mouth and banged into my teeth. Water dribbled past my lips, making me want more, and even though I tried not to swallow, it was no use. My mouth opened, and soon, I was lapping at the wooden spoon as hungrily as a newborn babe on a teat.

“That’s it, bitch. Drink up.” The other guard, Jarvis, walked over and handed a large roll to Merk. He pressed it into my hand and then snatched my chin. “Eat, and I’ll leave the water for you to drink. I’ll be back in ten minutes to fuck you, but if you refuse I’ll do worse than that.” He marched out and slammed the door. I would’ve cried, but there were no more tears to shed. My tear ducts had dried up long ago.

When I could no longer hear Merk and Jarvis, Mouse poked his head out of the small hole in the corner. Many times, I wished that I could fit through that hole. He sniffed the air and crept over. I shook my head at him as he stood on his back legs and squeaked, his tone annoyed.

“Just like all the other men in my life, you just want something from me,” I mumbled, but tore off a piece and tossed it at Mouse.

A breeze blew into the cells, and as it did, there was a fresh scent in the air that promised death. I could only pray it was mine.