13. Belle

He hates me. Troy.

And for that reason, I cannot stay. Everything he said was true.

I will only bring danger to the pack.

The pack…

I"ve only just learned what a pack is, and that all of them are Alphas—sans Rian, who is Beta.

It makes no sense, but then it also does make sense…

So, that"s why my scent changes from time to time, especially these past few weeks.

I"m an Omega.

Rian explained that Omegas reach maturity when they"re twenty-one, and I"m not even quite sure what that means.

All I know is that my skin feels hot and foreign lately and that I have this overwhelming need inside me that must be sated.

Like a cup that needs to be filled…

Empty, is the word I am searching for.

This flaming desire burning inside me makes me feel as empty as a cup.

Back at Francis"s apartment, I was humping pillows and throw rugs. Desperate for friction of any kind, though it wasn"t as if Francis allowed me toys.

Is that even normal?

Do normal girls hump pillows or just girls like me?

Girls who are Omegas.

My entire world has been tipped on its axis, and when I reach my new "room", I lock the door, backing away to the corner so I can rock back and forth, gripping my head in my fingers.

It"s dark out now. An entire day has passed since I last saw Francis.

He"s probably out there right now searching for me, and my body seizes.

My muscles won"t move.

When I see him again, he will be prepared this time.

The man must have believed he had tamed me into submission, so when I attacked, it took him by surprise.

But he has that little bell, and no matter what, I have to ensure that I never run into him again.

Because if I do, I have no idea what will become of me.

Francis had turned me into something awful. My dreams were filled with splatters of blood, and now I tug at the roots of my hair, yanking hard so I can feel something, anything.

Even if it hurts.

Francis always revered my hair. He bought me the best conditioners and brushes so I could keep it shiny and soft.

If I pull out all my hair, would it piss him off?

How beautiful would he find his most prized possession if she was bald?

That twisted male won"t get his hands on me again.

Not if I can help it.

Footsteps approach the door, and now my strong nose detects the scent of baby powder and fresh laundry.

One of them knocks. "Belle, let us in!"

It"s Rian, and no matter what, I cannot let him in.

I can"t let myself get close to either of them, no matter how much my Omega craves their touches.

Damn, how she craves them. But I shut off my want, then close my eyes.

I should try and escape out the window. But I"m too afraid to move.

What if Francis is right outside the window, waiting with his evil little bell?

It"s too dangerous. But if I stay, I will only bring misery to the whole pack.

Just like Troy said.

Rian tries again. "Belle, please… I just want to talk…"

"Yes, kitty cat. Don"t listen to a thing that asshole says," Leo reassures, and there he goes with that kitty cat nonsense again.

I won"t hear any of it, covering my ears. "Please… I just want to be alone…"

Both males fall silent on the other side of the door. Then Leo makes that earth-shattering growl again, the one that has my Omega squirming with delight.

How she"s drawn to that sound.

Some primal, intrinsic part of me just wants to go to that beast and let him swallow me up in his arms, but I grip the carpet beside me, digging my nails into its fibers.

"Like hell I will let that happen…" Leo rumbles. "You"re never going to spend another day alone, kitty cat. Not if I have anything to do with it."

My heart thumps, and then my eyes fill with tears. They drip down my cheeks, and I gaze at them surprised.

I"m crying again?

It must be Leo and his words…

No one has ever uttered such sweet things to me before.

No one has ever made such a bold declaration of love and devotion to me.

And it"s way more than I deserve.

I shake my head, wrapping my arms around my knees as I bury my face into my dress.

I"m still wearing Francis"s white dress.

The type he always made me wear.

It seemed to be his favorite color, and hell knows why. Considering that his heart was as black as the night.

Leo tries again, and the door shakes in its frame as he attempts to break it down.

I whimper, backing away further, and if I could, I would disappear into the wall behind me.

"Belle…"

Leo sounds angry, and now look at what I have done.

All I do is cause misery…

I can"t stay.

But I can"t leave either.

"Leo… stop…" Rian warns.

The Alpha finally stops, and now the only sound that fills the void is my rapid heart.

I fight every urge in my body to run towards that Alpha, and once again, I tug at the roots of my scalp, hoping it will knock some sense into me.

Finally, it"s Rian who speaks through the door, and his voice is so sweet, like honey dripping from a comb…

How can a male look, smell, and sound so sweet?

I thought Betas were supposed to smell bland.

Francis always smelled boring and plain.

But Rian is something else.

"Belle… please know that Troy is alone in his thinking. You will always be welcome here. After all, you are my responsibility now, and I vow to keep you safe. But you are not a prisoner. You are free to go whenever you want…"

I bite my fist now, hoping my teeth will chase the pain away.

"We all vow to protect you from whatever you are running from…"

I shake my head, even though he can"t see.

No. I"m not supposed to be here. I"m not even sure where I should be.

The memory of that young boy in my dreams returns, and I choke back a sob.

My brother is out there somewhere, but I have no idea how to find him.

I don"t even remember his name…

But he has to have been real. The more I spend time with Rian, the more I remember his face.

He was a gentle soul too.

"So, you just take as long as you need."

I lift my eyes, staring at the door.

No one has ever given me such freedom before and it"s… odd.

"Well, I guess we will be seeing you at breakfast. There will be plenty more eggs and bacon to go around."

Finally, the Beta leaves, yet Leo lingers.

In fact, I think he even camps outside my door for the night, and his presence is comforting.

Many times, I was desperate to let him into my room, but I held back and stayed in the corner. I even pulled down the quilt from the bed and slept on the carpet.

When I fall asleep, the blue eyes of my brother return to me, and once again, we are laughing and running up that hill.

One day, I will see him again.