5. Ella

Chapter five

Ella

T he crack of ozone splits the air in two, but I stand my ground.

It's not real lightning. It's the Alpha trying to intimidate me with his scary Alpha energy, and he is sorely mistaken if he thinks he can put me on edge.

He's mistaken if he thinks he can dominate me, and there's no missing the smirk curving his lip as I challenge him.

When I fail to show him the respect he so rightfully deserves, that cocky grin only spreads wider, and I spy a shiny white canine.

Well, I have canines of my own.

Asshole.

The soft scent of rain at my side reassures me, but the burning inferno at the desk is livid. The governor is pissed by the Alpha's display, but Jeremy at least tries to play mediator.

Why can't I go home with one of them?

They already have two Omegas each.

Also, they're not mine; I'm still trying to figure out what that one even means.

Could the smug Alpha before me possibly be mine? I give him a quick once over, and it looks like someone works out.

He flexes his muscles when he sees me checking him out, but I offer him my ire instead of my lust.

I'm not impressed…

Finally, the Alpha chuckles, bored of me at last, it seems, and now he turns to the governor.

A small smile takes over my face. I won that round.

"Seriously… this one?"

Gryphon grinds his teeth. "Yes."

The Alpha shakes his head. "I knew you hated me, boss, but come on… this is just torture …"

I lift my chin higher, hoping and praying he looks my way again.

When he does, he raises a prominent eyebrow, and now I hold his gaze.

He has good eyebrows, I decide, and why am I admiring his hairy caterpillars of all things?

He may be a prick, but he's one beautiful Alpha. Tanned skin covered in ink, black hair shaved at the sides, and obsidian eyes you could fall into.

They're the opposite of my very light blue, and it looks like dark meets light at last.

He curves his chiseled Cupid bow lips again, and I will cut those lips with my fingernail.

A light sparks behind his infinite eyes once he spies my second challenge, and he chuckles. "She's hot though. A little haggard, but I can work with that."

Well, excuse me. They didn't exactly give me a hairbrush while I was in my cell.

"Watch it, Titan . You're on thin ice as it is…" Gryphon warns through his teeth.

Ozone scoffs, "Come on. It's not like she's your Omega's sister too. Why do you even care? She was sent by the enemy to throw us off. Best to just kill her and be done with it."

I growl at that remark, and Ozone narrows his eyes at me.

The air crackles and now my sinuses burn as his Alpha energy hits me at full speed.

Finally, I look away, ignoring the tears in my eyes.

He snickers. "Thought so. That's right, little Rogue. Respect your betters."

The choking scent of burned sugar wafts our way, and now Gryphon steps forth. "The choice is yours, Titan. Either take her home or I press charges. You go down for murdering a fellow guard…"

Ozone shows his teeth, and now Jeremy shows his hand.

His usually soft scent of rain and moss turns bitter, and Ozone has no choice but to put his fangs away.

Finally, his too-dark eyes find mine, and there's no missing his wrath.

He hates me. Good.

Because the feeling is mutual.

I am going to make his life hell.

The Alpha lowers his face and nods. "Fine. But I want triple pay now."

Gryphon grinds his molars. "Fine. Triple it is."

Ozone's face tics as he glares at the other Alpha for a few moments. Then his whole demeanor changes, and now a cartoonish smile takes over his face.

"Pleasant doing business with ya."

He extends his hand. Gryphon just glowers at his outstretched fingers and scoffs, returning to his desk. "Jeremy will help you escort her to your car. Along with several guards."

Ozone laughs then pushes his way through the door. "Well, what the fuck are we waiting for?"

He vanishes down the hall, and Jeremy looks down at me, gesturing his hand forward.

My heart pounds, and then I take a deep breath.

Well, from one prison to the next.

***

Jeremy helped me in the car, but I had no choice but to leave him on the sidewalk as the Alpha sped away.

I couldn't help but notice the regret in the gray-eyed Alpha's eyes, and I hope he understands that there are no hard feelings.

He did everything he could for me, but at least this way, I won't be sentenced to death.

I'm not quite done with this life yet.

There are plenty more Alphas I wish to terrorize.

Theo, the name of my new captor, yells along with the lyrics of some rock song on the radio, and he needs to put a sock in it.

He gave me a seat in the back of his dirty beat-up car. There is plastic wrappers everywhere, and a moldy sandwich, and Gods, he's filthy.

His onslaught of sound continues, and I cover my ears when he increases the volume.

The speaker is right by me, and I wish I could go back to my old cell.

At least there was only white noise there—the thrumming of a nearby air vent.

Perfection.

We drive through the city, and I stare wide-eyed when we pass shouting crowds of people.

Betas.

A few block the road, and Theo revs up the engine, almost knocking several down in the process, and he has no shame.

"Fuckers!"

I stare at him aghast.

"Suck my big, fat cock, bitch!" he yells at one woman, and she shows him her middle finger.

"Yeah, that's right," he growls. "Keep dreaming, whore."

It looks like my new jailer is a psychopath.

Great.

We soon drive through the outskirts of the city, and it's a long time before we pull up inside a wooded area.

My heart pounds and I guess this is where he plans to kill me and bury the body.

But I have a feeling he cares far more about his triple pay than letting me perish.

He opens the rear door, and I shrink away from him.

"Out."

I stare into those dark eyes, wishing I could pluck them out with one of the stray plastic sporks hanging around the car.

But I'm tired, and I just want to rest.

I'm way over Alphas at this point.

So, I climb out of the car, and he leads me through the woods.

We soon come upon a stone building, and I have a bad feeling about this.

Theo tugs at the door, and its creak seems to wake something old and ancient in these woods.

But I suck in a breath and step through the door.

There's nothing in the building, save for a cage with a few chains and shackles, and I grind my teeth.

Of course.

What was I expecting?

A five-star hotel?

Theo opens the cell, and I don't look his way again as I step inside, jumping when he slams the door behind me.

I keep my back to him as he turns the key on the padlock and then pockets it away.

Then he whirls on his heels and whistles as he leaves the building.

He doesn't even bid me goodnight.

Soon, the car drives off, and I gaze around my new cell.

It's a one-up from the one I left at the prison.

After all, there's a toilet.

And a bed.

I lay down on the moth-eaten blankets, wondering why he has a random cell out in the woods.

Sleep soon finds me, and it's a shame how accustomed I have become to cages.

After all, a cage is my safe place.

I have never known much of a world without bars.

So, the jokes on him…

I'm in my zone here.