4. Alastor

Chapter 4

Alastor

F uck. She kicked me in the balls…

That little minx.

Still, as pissed as I am, I can't let her go.

Brody sent me on a mission, and I can't return to him empty-handed. I promised him I would find her, and I don't go back on my promises.

"Ella!" I may have promised to find that Omega for Brody's sake, but I am doing it for hers, too.

And mine.

Because truth be told, I need her too. I felt the pull toward her the moment I laid eyes on her, and just maybe I could have two Omegas.

I want Ella as much as I want Brody. She's more than just a plaything.

So, I call her name again, "Ella!"

Finally, she stops, glancing over her shoulder. She stops at a door and where is she going?

Wait… has she been living in this dump the past week?

How many Alphas has she stained the floors with already? It's not worth thinking about.

I should have been here for her. There's no missing the pained expression on her face after I called out her name, but it vanishes quickly as she slips through the door, disappearing forever.

Well, not if I have anything to do about it.

Finally, I ditch the losers in the pit and rush after her, and now I follow the sound of her retreating footsteps in a dingy hall.

The fluorescents flicker and I cover my nose when a putrid smell hits me full force.

Please don't tell me she is living here.

I run down the hall after her, picking up on her lingering scent of watermelon as well as her distant gasp, and it hurts.

We all fucked up. If only I had challenged Theo sooner. He isn't fit to be pack lead. Because of him, this poor omega is scarred and will most likely never trust us again.

I haven't even laid eyes on the prick since the night he chased her away. I had to get away and find her.

When I return with Ella, I'm going to challenge him for the position. If it weren't for him, Ella would be back at home, happy and relaxed.

Our poor Omega Brody wouldn't have had to go to a goddamn heat clinic.

He has been keeping me updated, and I can’t believe that’s where he went in the end.

So, I have to make this right again.

I follow Ella up a stepladder, and I curse when I hear her footsteps above. She is living in this shithole. In the attic, of all things.

I climb after her, banging on the door when I reach the top. "Ella! Open up."

She whimpers on the other side. "No! Just go away! Haven't you made me suffer enough?"

I grind my teeth. "I know! But promise I won't hurt you again. When we return home, there are going to be some major changes… starting with the fucker who caused all this."

She sucks in a shaky breath. "It's not my home."

I grip my head. "It is… It can be if you just trust me. I fucked up, Ella. Made you feel used like some disposable toy. I'm… sorry."

Silence answers me through the wood of the door, but I go on, "Brody asked me to find you… but truth be told, I wanted to find you for me too. I honestly think that you could be something special, Ella."

She huffs. "D-don't call me that."

"Why? Is that not your name?"

More silence. Then she says, "It is. But only Brody gets to call me that. You… you don't get to."

Fair enough. But I refuse to call her Twenty-two. Fuck that name. That isn't even a name. It's a freaking number. And one of the worst too, at that.

Seriously, like a Catch Twenty-two; I didn't even like being twenty-two. Having a fully formed pre-frontal cortex is much more preferable, no offense to Brody and Ella, of course, who are still that age.

"Well, what if I call you doll? Does that sound good?”

A chilling silence answers me and just when I think I fucked up, she says, "Whatever. But that doesn't make me your doll! I refuse to be your little plaything, Alastor."

That's fine by me. I was a jerk back then. But I like to think that I can change. And I am prepared.

"Well, I'm quite happy to call you doll. I just hope I deserve to call you by name one day.”

I wish I could see her expression. The poor thing is still covered in blood from her fights.

That pit had been covered in gore and I'm impressed. And a little aroused.

"Can I come in?"

Damn, I can hear her pulse from outside the door.

It seems she is embarrassed that I can see where she has been living this past week. "It's fine, doll. I've seen much worse slums than this, trust me."

Mercenary work has its perks. One being the ability to see so many glorious and splendid places.

The world is truly full of wonders.

With a sigh, she steps toward the door, and I stand up straight, running my hand through my hair.

When the door opens, I meet that sole baby blue eye.

I try my best at what I hope is a comforting smile. "So, can I come in?"

Her blue eye closes, and then she steps back, giving me access. "Yes."

When I step into the attic, my heart plummets. It's worse than I thought.

Mold and damp are prevalent, and she can't stay another day. Her bed looks as if rats have been living inside.

She shrugs. "I had to make do with what I could."

I look her up and down. "Still, you managed to keep it quite clean, considering. Not a speck of blood to be found whatsoever."

"No, just damp and mold instead." She meets my eye and there's no missing the mistrust.

I will have to work on that. "So, what do you say? Will you return home with me?"

Fear crosses her eyes, and I reassure her again. "Theo won't be a problem. And if he is… well… I will toss him to the curb, right after I steal his position as pack lead from under his nose."

Her jaw drops.

"That's right. He will not be our pack lead any longer. When I get back, I am going to challenge him. I was never the leader type, but there's a first time for everything."

She just stares at me for a while, and I guess there's not much to say.

"So, will you come back home with me? Brody will be excited to see you."

Her eyes shine when I mention his name, and she really is a pure thing. All that violence and gore out there is a mere cover-up.

I bet she felt she had no choice. Kill or be killed in this world.

She bows her head and nods. "Okay. I will go with you. But… I have one condition…"

"And that is?"

She meets my eyes. "Theo is not going to stay in the house.”

A smirk crosses my face. "Then it's done."

A small smile crosses her mouth, and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't one of the most beautiful things I ever saw.

This Omega is out for revenge.

She turns around, giving me a wonderful view of her ass. "I have to wash up. I'm covered in some Alpha's guts."

Yeah, she is. I'd been watching her for a while; the girl can sure swing a knife.

I refrain from some perverted remark about watching her bathe, but I keep my mouth shut and stare at the mold on her wall.

It looks like a demon is trying to claw free from the plaster. Pure horror.

It's progress, I suppose, and now I tug out my phone and send a quick text to Brody.

Found her. And I'm bringing her home.

I put the phone away and smile at my small triumph.

I did it. I upheld my promise to my Omega.