Chapter 7

Liz

She knew her day could get much, much worse, but right now, Liz wanted nothing more than a clear path out of the market. With her heart pounding in her ears as she pulled them back against her skull and a million questions barreling through her mind, she focused on the present and tried to stop her body from running as fast as it could.

The man from the restaurant had just sauntered up to her, as cool as could be, and told her he had gone to the station to leave the planet but hadn't been able to go because he was worried about her. He'd said outright he knew he'd find her around here because she'd said she was going east and the blockade was already stopping people from passing when they'd met at the restaurant.

His mannerisms had been suave and collected, and Liz's warning bells had rung so loud she'd thought a city alarm had started. Knowing everyone else was in survival mode and wouldn't care about her predicament, she'd been as clear as she could while hoping he wouldn't get angry and hurt her, and then she'd walked away.

The market was a lost cause. She'd been listening in on conversations and asking around, but everyone said the same thing—the only way in or out of the city was through the gates. Which were blockaded. Heavily. And they weren't allowing any civilians to leave the city.

We don't need more victims for the enemy to use.

Liz was ready to pull her hair out with frustration, scream in terror, and cry over the danger her nana would soon face. She hadn't missed the dark shapes of ships hovering high above in the distance.

Glancing behind her, she stiffened when she saw a blond head of hair, taller than most of the crowd, still within sight. He wasn't moving closer, but he was following her. She tripped over something and would have gone sprawling onto the street if it hadn't been for a stooped beta male. The elderly man had grey hair and patterns on his flesh, but he smiled at her in understanding and helped her regain her balance.

She opened her mouth, unsure if she meant to ask him for help with getting over the wall or hiding her from a stalker alpha, but no words would form, so she swallowed and patted him on the shoulder before scurrying past.

Another glance behind her showed the handsome blond turning down a side street with another man. By his stature, the new male had to be alpha as well, and even though it looked as if she was no longer being followed, apprehension carried her feet faster.

Something was wrong. Her instincts screamed at her to get to safety, but she had nowhere to go.

Should she go to the city center? Or to the blockade? Who would help her, a stranger in a world on the verge of invasion?

Searching the surrounding street, Liz realized her panic had taken her further from the market than she'd intended. None of the buildings looked familiar. Every window and door had boards nailed over them, and there were way too few people in sight. She wasn't sure which direction she was heading, and even the sounds of the market had faded.

The street she walked split up ahead, giving her the option of turning either left or right. Since the sun was already past its peak and was on her left side, she instinctively went right, still pulled toward her nana's village in the east.

The moment she stepped foot on the new, smaller road, dread wrapped around her chest and made it hard to breathe. She didn't even know which direction the planet rotated, so what if she'd gone west instead, or mistaken one of the multiple moons for the sun? Or what if her instincts were broken and she was running for no reason? Her emotions were all over the place, and she wasn't sure she could trust her reactions.

Looking behind her, she saw the blond alpha a few blocks away down the side she hadn't taken, his lackadaisical stride as he moved toward her mocking. He still had his companion by his side, which quickened Liz's heart and feet.

Her instincts were right, she was sure of it.

As she turned back in the direction she was walking, she glimpsed another tall, dark figure stalking up an alley as she darted past. The wind shifted and brought her the same delicious, wild scent from last night, but she didn't stop.

Feeling like a rat in a maze, Liz dropped the pretense of calm and ran. She wrapped her tails around her waist and flattened her ears tighter to her head, desperate to get far away from the predators chasing her.

Fearing the blond and his friend were right on her heels, she turned to look behind her again, her heart hammering and lungs screaming for oxygen. She slammed into something that smelled of sour sweat, stopping her in her tracks. The solid wall didn't move an inch, except to wrap gigantic hands around her biceps to hold her still. Head reeling from the impact, Liz looked up into cold, menacing eyes.

"Soft little thing must be lost. Don't worry, we'll take care of you."

His grin showed yellowed, pointy teeth. Her feet left the ground as the stranger wrapped an iron arm around her lower back and plastered her to his front, leaving no chance to pull free. A disgusting bulge dug into her belly. Her body chilled as fear surged through her.

Still out of breath from running into the walking wall, Liz fought to suck in enough air so she could scream. Terror hammered her skull as the alpha turned, revealing he had a friend with him, too. He whisked her into a narrow alley to the right with the new alpha on his heels, the buildings on either side so tall no sunlight reached the ground.

Finally regaining her senses, she struggled and opened her mouth to scream.

"Well, well, look what we have here."

Bile rose in Liz's throat as the familiar voice, now full of anger, floated into the alley and choked off her attempt to shriek.

"You thought you could tell me no and get away with it? I even asked nicely."

The blond alpha stepped around her captor's shoulder so Liz could see his face. He reached down, tucked her windswept hair behind her flattened ear, and tweaked the sensitive lobe before gripping a handful of her tangled locks.

"Stupid omega. You're all alone, going into heat in a place where no one will miss you. Of course I won't just walk away."

Liz's stomach tightened as fresh panic stole her voice. She wished she could vomit, just to see him covered in it, but there was no food in her belly to expel.

"And since you were so rude about it, I'll share you with my friends, too. It's time you learned your lesson, isn't it, little bitch?"

He gripped her third tail and tugged so hard she whimpered before he gestured to his entourage. Four other alphas gathered close, eagerly watching her plight. Add in the blond and her captor, and she was in a darkened alley with six alphas, all of them staring at her like a piece of meat. She was going into heat with six alphas demanding to have their turn with her.

She screamed in horror and fought with everything she had, terrified over what they'd do to her. They'd leave her bloody and broken.

"Good girl. Scream louder. No one is coming to save you."

"Put her down."

Goosebumps pebbled her skin, and every ounce of breath left her lungs as the deep, gravelly voice sunk deep into her bones.

A few steps into the alley, a massive shadow with piercing yellow eyes and the deadliest aura she'd ever seen stood poised and ready for battle. Even with fur covering his erect ears, a thick mantle over his shoulders, and the fluffiest tail she'd ever seen, there was nothing soft or cuddly about the male. With his sharp cheekbones and chiseled jaw set in angry lines and his eyes gleaming with fury, she wanted to sink to her knees, whimper, and present her throat in submission.

The world spun as the alpha holding her chuckled, his arms still restricting her breathing. Despite their numbers, Liz knew with all her instincts, the men were foolish for laughing at the lone alpha. He not only radiated menace, but the lethal knowledge glowing from his eyes spoke of experience. He must be a warrior.

With a desperate sound, she sucked in oxygen as the arms holding her loosened. The wind brought her the eerily calm monster's enticing, wild scent again, drowning out the stench of the males surrounding her.

As her captors looked at each other incredulously, she knew they didn't stand a chance against the newcomer. He was going to chew them up and spit them out.

The question was, what happened once he'd won?

And why was she rooting for the terrifying beast with tantalizing pheromones?