34. Ella

Chapter 34

Ella

I ’m starting to doubt whether these fuckers will show; I don’t even know what they look like, since I never saw them without their face shields.

However, there’s one thing I do know.

My nose will be able to smell them.

Hopefully, Rotten Garbage, Sour Milk, and Burned Rubber take the bait.

Theo has been tracking them for days, and he finally found them at this dive bar.

What a shithole.

Everyone in here is a desperate, desolate soul, but what would one expect of the underground?

That’s right. I have willingly marched right back to the bowels of hell, and worst of all, I dragged Brody with me, too.

But he insisted on coming so he could protect me, and I’d find it sweet if not terrifying.

I know I can survive down here, but Brody is far too pretty.

Omegas only come here if they want to die or throw their lives away.

Many run here to escape the government.

Though I do think Gryphon is improving things for Omegas, Rogues especially.

But we stick out like a pair of sore thumbs down here. We still have life in our eyes, and all the hungry Alphas keep licking their lips, wanting to snuff that life out of us.

I have my knife. Brody has a handgun, and I would be lying to myself if I said he didn’t look hot before when he slipped it into his holster.

So, we’re well-armed, and I guess it’s time for Brody to show me how good he has gotten with a gun.

He's nervous as he sips a shot beside me in a sticky booth, stealing glances at me every few seconds.

I’m far too relaxed in this place, and maybe I am reckless sometimes.

No matter how many times I assured Brody that I would be okay, he still insisted on joining me.

“Have you seen them yet?”

I sniff, balking immediately. God, this place reeks. “No, but I’m sure I’ll smell them.”

Brody huffs, rubbing his face. He has opted for contacts instead of glasses for this mission, but I think he looks far hotter with them on.

He's wearing a leather jacket too, pretending to be the bad boy for once, while I wear a short black dress.

Alphas keep hitting on us, but we told every one of them to fuck off.

There are only three Alphas we are interested in today, and I know I will regret this.

My eyes keep searching the bar, but so far, my nose comes up empty.

“Ella?”

“Yes?”

I peer at him.

Brody sighs. “If anything happens tonight…”

My heart clenches. “It won’t. I will kill them before they have a chance to lay a hand on you, Brody.”

He shudders. “It’s just… I wasn’t so sure about this. Alastor told me he found you fighting in the pits down here, so I know you can take care of yourself, but I still worry…”

I smile, reaching across to take his cheek in my hand, then give him a swift kiss. “It’s okay. I know I will be safe because you are here, Brody.”

He grins, and now he leans in for a proper kiss, slipping his tongue into my mouth as I let him inside.

The whole bar seems to stop, and we look up.

Every Alpha watches us, but my gaze finds the three by the bar. My hair rises on end.

Don’t ask me how I know, but I can just tell by their slimy smirks that it’s them. Pack Rock.

My former jailers.

So, this is what they did in their downtime?

Scantily clad Omegas dance all around us in cages, yet they can’t take their eyes off me and Brody.

They know who I am.

Theo told me he overheard them talking about me, and apparently, they have deep regrets.

Sour Milk especially regrets not fucking my mouth, and I guess he’s the one licking his lips as he eyes me and Brody up.

They start coming over.

Brody tenses. “Ella…”

“It’s fine. And it’s them. I just got a whiff of their scents.”

They smell even worse than I remember.

Brody catches wind of their scents now and almost chokes. “Fuck, Ella… I’m sorry you had to put up with that…. that stench!”

I snort. “So, who do you think smells worse?”

“Between Burned Rubber or Sour Milk? It’s hard to pick.”

“Rotten Garbage doesn’t exactly smell as fresh as a daisy either.”

“Damn. No wonder they can’t get an Omega. I wouldn’t even subject Bridget to that raw stench.”

Bridget being his former arch-nemesis back at the Academy, and Brody really has lived a sheltered life.

I wonder what his Omega Representative, Felicia, would do if she found out he was here? Would she take Brody away from the guys and deem them unfit to take care of an Omega?

He came here of his own accord. He wants to prove that he isn’t a delicate China doll and that he is capable of protecting me.

I’ve heard that Gryphon’s Omegas, Oliver and Mila, are starting a new training program just for Omegas.

Especially graduates from the Academy.

Oliver feels that they don’t get enough military training, and I hope Brody joins.

I’m even thinking of joining myself.

Sure, I can fight, but I have never been taught in firearms.

It may be time I put the knives away in favor of bullets. There is war looming, and we must be prepared.

But right now, we will focus on our current battle, and that is getting these guys to spill.

They’re planning something in the shadows, and we will get to the bottom of it.

“Well, well, what have we here?”

That was Sour Milk, and I hold my breath as I meet his eyes.

His grin is disgusting.

“Did you miss me, boys?” I rasp, swigging back another shot. “So, this is what you all looked like beneath those face shields.”

Sour Milk sneers, slipping into the booth right beside me, then places his arm on the upholstered seat.

“Like what you see?” he chuckles, eyes going straight for my full mouth.

Brody did my makeup, and I told him to make me look extra slutty.

My lips are redder than a fire truck, and I can see Sour Milk licking his lips again, probably thinking about sliding his cock into my mouth like he said he would once.

I’d rather wipe my ass with sandpaper, thank you.

“And who’s your friend?” Burned Rubber asks, falling in beside Brody, and the Omega’s face turns visibly green.

Brody is beautiful and all, but he can’t fake flirt to save his life.

“Wait…” Burned Rubber says. “I know you.”

Brody takes his shot, swilling it right back, then winces at the aftertaste. “I have one of those faces.”

“I don’t think so. An Omega like you is far too pretty for this place. That skin…”

He goes to touch Brody’s cheek, but the Omega grips his wrist, twisting it around in his fingers, and when did he learn to do that?

Theo perhaps?

Yeah, when this shit is over, he can do that to me in the nest.

“Don’t fucking touch me,” Brody growls.

As hot as he looks and sounds, though, he needs to tone it down.

We’re supposed to lure these guys away.

“Silas, give it up. The Omega isn’t interested in you.”

That’s Dom, the leader of Pack Rock, and my eyes find his next.

He always used to linger in the corner when the other two would beat me in my cell, and I ball my fists.

Sure, he never laid a finger on me, but he was still just as bad.

Indifference is worse in my eyes.

I snort. “Silas? That’s your name?”

Silas growls on Brody’s right, and I shake my head, peering at Sour Milk. “And what may I call you?”

Sour Milk smirks, moving in closer to place a hand on my knee. “You can call me Daddy, Twenty-two.”

Brody grabs his holster, but I place my own hand on his knee next, telling him nonverbally to trust me.

“Okay then, Daddy…”

I lick my bottom lip and swig back another shot.

Brody and I bought a lot.

I think Brody just wanted to find the best way to get through this, but he can’t get too drunk now.

I’m still just about recovering from my heat, so I need to be careful myself.

“So, what are Theo Titan’s Omegas doing far from home?” Dom asks, regarding us distrustfully, and maybe he is on to us.

I shrug. “We got fed up with that miserable asshole. He never smiles. Isn’t that right, Brody?”

I look at my Omega.

He has a sour look on his face. It seems he can’t bring himself to talk about his Alpha badly, even though things are still a little tense between them.

I’ve already decided to forgive him, and maybe soon we can be bonded into the pack. This mission would be far easier if we could communicate with the Alphas, but I’ve got this.

Sour Milk makes his suggestion next. “Well, how about you ditch those bastards and come home with us? We’ll treat you both right.”

I meet Sour Milk’s eyes, pretending to think it through. “Sure, why not? I guess I was kind of missing you three. It’s been a while. How about we pick up where we left off?”

Yeah, with me beating you up in a jail cell, jackass.

The Alpha is so desperate for pussy that he can’t see what this really is. Revenge.

At least Dom seems suspicious enough, and Brody and I will have to keep an eye on that one.

Burned Rubber shouldn’t be too hard, and I still recall the way he tried to bite me in a moment of frenzy.

Thank God Dom stopped him, and I can see why he is in charge of this ragtag pack.

The only one with brains, apparently.

I just hope Burned Rubber doesn’t get the same idea to bite Brody’s neck; he certainly looks keen.

We’re two unbonded Omegas, so we must keep our wits about us.

Sour Milk looks at Burned Rubber. “What do you say? Should we take the Rogue up on her offer? I am finally looking forward to fucking that mouth.”

I bet he is.

He always wanted me for himself. And then he promised that when he was done with me, he would sell me to an underground heat farm.

There’s probably a heat farm happening right now in this rotten sewer as we speak, and I try to put the disturbing thoughts aside, focusing on the mission.

Another time, we will save them.

Sour Milk won’t get me to a heat farm; he won’t even get to put his dick in my mouth.

I peer at Brody. “What do you say, Omega? Want to go home with these fine Alphas?”

Brody closes his eyes, shuddering. “If it’s what you want.”

Sour Milk snorts at his response but Burned Rubber purrs, “I’m sure he will loosen up eventually. Come on, let’s leave.”

Finally. I just want to get this over with.

***

We drive back in silence, and I’m so glad to put the underground behind us at last, promising myself I will never step foot in that place again.

Brody couldn’t wait to leave, but out of the frying pan and into the fire, as they say.

It's still not over…

We just have to play this game a while longer.

Brody and I sit on the back seat between Sour Milk and Burned Rubber, while Dom drives, keeping a careful eye on me the whole time through his rearview mirror.

He suspects something, and we have to be quick about this.

Just lure them away to a quiet, isolated place.

That was Theo’s instruction.

They’re tracking us via Brody’s phone. I don’t have one, of course, but hopefully, they can keep up.

The cab drives us down a row of abandoned warehouses, and Brody tenses beside me. While suspicious, it’s just exactly what we need to pull this operation off.

It’s quiet and far off the beaten track.

No one will be able to hear the gunshots for miles.

“Here we are,” Sour Milk says, getting out of the car as he takes my hand.

Burned Rubber leads Brody away, and it looks like they’ve made their choices.

Dom gets out of the driver’s seat, putting the car into park as he trails behind us.

My heart pounds but I am prepared to see this through.

Brody and I are not completely helpless. We came bearing arms.

I believe we can do this.

Finally, we enter the warehouse, and I backtrack.

Something is definitely up, and I peer at Brody then. His hand goes for his holster, and he needs to learn to do so more subtly, or he will give himself away.

I shrug, peering around at Sour Milk. “So, how do you want to do this? Brody and I are very eager…”

Sour Milk smirks, eyes raking me up and down. “Soon, Twenty-two, soon… I’ll get what I want.”

What he wants?

Okay.

Brody eyes him evilly, and I’m not the only one who senses it.

“Cut the fucking crap, guys, and just gag them already. The others should be here soon.”

Others?

I glance around at Dom, but before I can speak, Sour Milk places a gag around my mouth.

Burned Rubber does the same with Brody, and he yells out for me before he’s gagged too. “Ella!”

Fuck.

I guess we should have seen this coming. They were the ones luring us away in the end.

Brody struggles in the Alpha’s arms, and I hope the guys get here soon.

“Tie them to the chairs.”

Now they tie me and Brody back-to-back and classic. Truly.

They take our weapons, and now we are truly helpless.

Dom steps closer, bringing his rotten garbage stench. “Did you two think we were that stupid? We know what this is…”

He yanks off my gag so I can speak, and it’s my time to laugh now. “A shame. I was really looking forward to fucking you guys.”

Dom growls. “Shut up. Do you think I would touch a Rogue whore like you? Better you all died. Gryphon is going to get us all killed if he keeps this up. You were sent by the enemy. You can’t be trusted, and neither can he…”

My heart thumps. “So, that’s why you plan to assassinate him? You don’t agree with his Rogue Rehabilitation?”

“No, and we’re not the only ones. Don’t worry, you will get to meet them soon, and then they can all watch as we kill you and send your head to Gryphon as a warning. Rogues aren’t fucking welcome!”

Brody growls, and it looks like Burned Rubber removed his gag too. “Don’t you fucking touch her!”

Dom sneers at him. “You shouldn’t have come along. A shame a good Omega like you has to die too, but needs must.”

Shit, shit, shit.

Well, at least we know that Theo was right, and I will always trust his hunches from now on.

He just has to get here first.

The door to the warehouse opens, and footsteps surround us. I swallow hard, heart pounding.

Seems they really are going to kill me. All just because they think I’m the enemy.

They’re not wrong. The warden sent me so he could overthrow the Alpha government and take it for himself.

There’s enough growing hostility in the Beta government as it is, so it was only a matter of time until Gryphon lost the favor of his fellow Alphas, too.

I bet it was what the warden always wanted.

To weaken the government from within. To create strife and disharmony...

Sour Milk steps toward me, and I spy a group of vicious Alphas watching in the shadows. They regard me like I’m scum, and I ball my fists.

Do they think I asked to be a Rogue? I was taken against my will, and they can go and kiss my ass, the lot of them.

Honestly, I don’t care what they do to me.

They cannot hurt Brody. He's innocent. He's never killed anyone.

Me, on the other hand… I've killed plenty.

It’s me they want.

“Let Brody go,” I whisper, but Sour Milk ignores me, gripping my chin as he runs his callous thumb over my lips, smudging my makeup.

“I’m afraid I can’t. Silas is already invested.”

I hear Brody getting groped by Burned Rubber behind me, and Brody spits in his face. It only spurs the bastard on, though.

“Fuck you, cunt,” Brody growls.

Burned Rubber chuckles, pawing him once more.

Sour Milk grips my hair, yanking my head back. “It looks like I’m going to get to fuck that pretty mouth after all. And I’m not the only one. We will all take turns before we kill you…”

As vile as a scenario that would be, at least it buys us time.

Still, if he puts that shrimp dick anywhere near my mouth, then I will bite it off with my teeth.

Like fuck I’ll let him derive any pleasure from this.

A gas bomb smashes through one of the broken windows, and hopefully, it’s our reinforcements.

Armed soldiers rush inside, all Alphas in government black, and when did Theo have time to call them in?

I don’t care. So long as we’re rescued.

Three Alphas move toward us, and I know by their scents that it’s our Alphas.

Meanwhile, the other soldiers take on the rest, and now the warehouse fills with screams.

I can’t see for shit over all the smoke, though.

“It’s okay, we’ve got you,” Theo whispers, untying my ropes.

Once I’m free, I reach my arms around, rubbing my wrists. “Took you long enough.”

Alastor and Kellen see to Brody, and once the Omega is free, he rushes to me, checking me over.

“Ella? Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

I sigh, shaking my head. “Barely a scratch.”

I’ve been in far worse spats.

Brody shudders in relief, wrapping his arms around me. “Thank fuck it’s over.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

Once the smoke clears, we let go of each other, taking a look at all the dead bodies around the warehouse.

It's nothing new to me, but Brody pales, staggering. Theo captures him in his arms.

It seems Theo’s team dispatched them quickly.

I spy one Alpha covered head to toe in blood over Sour Milk’s body, and when he yanks off his face shield, I meet those luminous ice-blue eyes.

Even though Sour Milk is good and dead, the Alpha still leans over his body and stabs him more and more, and he seems like my kind of Alpha.

His long, blond hair flies about his face, and he’s an attractive Alpha, even with all the blood smearing his skin.

Brody gasps, “Oh, God.”

Theo growls, “That’s enough, Hart. You’re scaring my Omegas.”

Hart? As in Gryphon Hart?

The blond Alpha glances up, and his eyes go straight through Theo. That’s when another veiled Alpha comes along and removes his face shield, and I recognize Gryphon.

What is the governor doing here?

“Sorry about him,” he apologizes. “Barret!”

Another Alpha steps forward, but he doesn’t remove his face shield as he yanks up the crazed blond and hauls him away.

All the while, the blond rubs the blood into his cheeks, cackling like a maniac the whole time he’s dragged away, and even Alastor shudders behind me.

“Fuck, that Alpha is nuts.”

Kellen growls. “He took my kill. Sour Milk was mine!”

I take note of some of the other Alphas next. One removes his face shield and waves at me, and I recognize Jeremy.

Belle’s Alpha.

It seemed they all came to our rescue.

Gryphon steps toward Theo, patting him on the back. “Well done, Titan. I guess I owe you my life. We got them all.”

I doubt that.

There will be more insurgents out there somewhere, and we have to be prepared.

Gryphon glances at Alastor and Kellen next, and they stand at attention. “And you two as well. My pack is in your debt.”

Alastor smirks. “Does this mean you will give us all jobs, hey, now, Governor?”

Theo growls at him.

Gryphon laughs, heading out of the warehouse. “We’ll see.”

It seems they didn’t kill them all.

Dom is still alive as Jeremy hauls him away with two other Alphas, and I guess they’re the rest of pack Snow.

I don’t see the other two Alphas as their own faces are covered, but I did meet some of them briefly at the ball.

It seems they’re all working for Gryphon now.

Dom glares at me as he's dragged away, and I guess they need to keep one alive for questioning.

Burned Rubber and Sour Milk are dead now, so he has no accomplices.

Alastor got to Burned Rubber before I could, so I didn’t get my chance to enact my revenge on him.

He put his hand on my Omega, and I hope he rots in hell.

Soon, it’s just the five of us, and it seems all members of Pack Titan are spoken for.

Theo smiles at me. “Let’s go home.”

I like the sound of that, and something shifts between us all now as we head out of the warehouse and toward our future.

We are finally a pack.

It was long overdue.