Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

2 Weeks Later

MORRIS

A dira is napping on the couch, while I tell her it’s normal to sleep this much and gaslight the shit out of her whenever she asks about it. Every time I coo a honeyed word, I see my sister’s disapproving face.

After every meal, I make her a tea that makes her sleepy, practically falling asleep at the table. Damon glares at me and leaves to keep from punching me each time, while Kane gazes at me as if he wants to punish me too.

If I could punch myself in the face, I would.

After the first couple of times, the brothers stopped coming into the common areas altogether while she’s awake.

The only way to make our plan work is to keep her calm and malleable. Despite everything we are doing to save her, I wouldn’t be surprised if we lose her anyway.

The little omega is no longer on IV treatments, and her small incision is healing really well. Her lower shoulder blade is where the bullet went in, avoiding anything important. It’s a miracle it didn’t clip her lungs.

“Morris?” Jed asks, pulling me from my thoughts. Stepping back, I tear my eyes from Adira, my self loathing apparent on my face.

I can only force myself to hide from the little omega, my mask one where I’m an open book with nothing to hide. What a joke.

“Yeah,” I grunt, taking a labored breath as I meet his gaze. There’s worry deep in his nearly black eyes, the pupil and iris so dark, they appear swallowed by each other.

“We’re doing what’s best for her,” he says softly. “There’s no other choice for this to work.”

Jerking my head in a tight nod to him, I feel my ass vibrate. Stepping away, I pull out my phone, knowing it’s my sister instinctually. There are few people who have my number that I speak to, and she is one of them. Zela also seems to have a second sense when I’m in over my head.

I leave the house completely, leaving my sweatshirt pushed up my arms as I walk outside. The frigid air immediately freezes my breath, the world a sea of snow and quiet. As long as it’s no longer falling from the sky, I can allow myself to enjoy it for a few minutes.

I appreciate why my sister gets the hell out of Missouri over Christmas, but there is a strange sort of beauty here too.

“Hey, Zela,” I say tiredly as I answer the phone. Lately, it doesn’t matter how much I sleep, I never wake up rested.

That’s called guilt , whispers my subconscious.

I’ve been ignoring that little voice for the greater good. I would rather be a horrible human being for a short period of time, to save the little omega inside of the house. Adira can hate me forever, I don’t care.

“ What’s going on?” Zela asks sharply.

She’s going to be coming home soon, which means we are leaving at first light tomorrow. If my sister saw the state we’re keeping Adira in, she’d stab me with one of her large knives in the butcher block.

“A lot,” I tell her. “We’re leaving tomorrow to get back to work. The omega is on her way to recovery.”

“ From the gunshot one of the Dresmond boys shot prematurely, ” Zela says knowingly. “My cameras managed to catch that spectacular example of terrible gun safety. You’ve been ignoring my calls for two damn weeks,Morris.”

I have no doubt she’s been wanting to say that to me the entire time.

“Damon’s foot got stuck in the hole in the pavement of your driveway, sis,” I say wryly. “If we’re going to play dirty, game on. The omega is prized inventory?—”

Fuck…a…duck.

“I know you didn’t just choose to call a person ‘inventory’ as if she were an animal,” Zela growls. “We’re grown, but what do you think our mother would say? That woman would be even more disappointed than I am and is definitely rolling over in her grave.”

“Zela,” I groan. “You know who I work for. I don’t get a choice, and it’s not what it looks like, I swear. It’s complicated.”

“Explain it to me as if I’m a five-year-old,” she says pointedly.

“Okay, noted. Maybe I’m not using the correct phrasing,” I hedge. “I am going to need to do a series of really fucked up things in order to be able to accomplish something good.”

“That sounds like an excuse to make yourself feel better about being a dick,” Zela says. “Morris, why are you still working for these people?”

“They’re my pack.” I sigh. “And now, this omega is mine too. It doesn’t make any sense. There’s just something about her that’s destroying me. We’re already on a path I can’t change.”

“Morris,” my sister growls. Fuck, she’s scary. “What the hell are you talking about? As far as I've ever known, you’ve never really been interested in women. Why this girl? She’s trouble.”

“She’s innocent!” I yell, closing my eyes in frustration. Damn, I never yell at my sister. “Zela, look, it’s killing me. The things I’m going to have to do to keep that girl safe are going to haunt me. I don’t think she’ll ever be able to forgive me for it.”

“What’s the alternative?” Zela asks, hearing the desperation in my voice instead of reaching through the phone to smack some sense into me.

“She’s Damon’s scent match,” I explain. “They bonded during her heat, and it’s a tighter connection than normal. Granted, I don’t have a lot of experience with bonded scent matches, but?—”

“It happens,” Zela says, cutting me off. “Or rather, it’s possible when there are strong emotions and wild energy when the bond happens. If he can feel her emotions… Morris, this is really bad.”

“It’ll drive him insane,” I grunt. “He can’t cut the connection off completely to block her, though he’s trying to practice. Adira brought him to his knees during surgery from the pain she was feeling.”

“No anesthesia during a surgical procedure is a crime,” Zela snarls. “What else can you tell me?”

“If she’s sold, how is he supposed to be able to survive?” I ask. “Kane and Jed are going to lose their brother.”

“What about her?” Zela asks. “This is fucked, Morris. You’re involved now, and I can tell you’re going to continue on your merry way. But, what about her is so special to you?”

“There’s a fire in her,” I mutter. “She’s sweet but given half the chance she’ll definitely fuck you up. I haven’t even had a real conversation with her. The guys pulled me into her heat, and then I’ve been taking care of her through the gunshot wound. How did I catch feelings for this girl when I don’t even know her?”

“You’re an idiot,” Zela sighs. “Sometimes you don’t need to talk to someone to fall for them. Their personality is large enough to pull you into their orbit and you’re done for. I don’t see this ending well, Morris. Are you really taking her to an auction?”

“I have to,” I tell her. “Rock is already planning to sell her. I can’t tell you anymore. We’re leaving tomorrow.”

“What’s the worst case scenario?” My sister doesn’t have any issues reading between the lines.

“That’s what happens if Adira is sold to someone we can’t control and Damon kills himself to spare her,” I whisper. The words sound like the very gunshot that sounded two weeks ago out here, ugly and desperate. “I have no doubt in my mind that he’d do it. They’re tied closely enough that I believe they’d both die.”

“This is bullshit,” Zela snarls. “You’re involved in this because of them!”

“And I met the woman who could complete our pack because of it too,” I say mildly. “Zela, don’t you want to be an aunt? There’s a lot of special things about her.”

“You don’t know her,” my sister reminds me, exasperated. “You’re making me insane and my mates want to know why I’m yelling.”

“Sorry,” I mumble. “I’ll let you go. I’m going to be hard to get in contact with for a while.”

“I bet you will be. Stay safe. I seriously hate them,” she says.

“I can’t help who I love,” I rumble. “It’s been five years, they’re not going to change and neither am I.”

“I know,” Zela says, defeated. “Love you.”

She hangs up the phone before I can say it back, and I drop my head back.

“Love you too, sis,” I mutter to the air.

Fuck me.

ADIRA

“Hey, wake up, Adira,” Morris murmurs, shaking me awake. I swear, all I’ve done is sleep.

Something tells me that this is wrong, but I keep getting pulled back under before I can put my finger on it. I should want to run…

I just can’t remember why.

Blinking awake, I realize my bladder is screaming. I haven’t been hungry, even though I try to eat a few bites when I’m offered something. Damon, Kane, and Jed are scarce too, and I rarely see them, which feels odd.

Why is everything so confusing?

Struggling to get my thoughts together, I gaze up at Morris. He’s gorgeous, strong, and has been really nice to me. I wish I didn’t have to rely on him to walk me to the bathroom or shower. The beta has seen way more of me than I’m comfortable with.

The alternative is falling though. The stitches came out last night, or at least I think it was night. It’s so hard to keep track of time when I sleep for so much of it.

“What’s going on?” I rasp, my voice heavy with sleep.

Morris gives me a sweet smile, leaning down to pick me up.

“It’s early, I wanted to get you up and moving a little. It’s pretty outside,” he says as I drop my head sleepily on his chest.

“It’s cold out there,” I mumble. “Do we have to?”

“We do. Bathroom?” he asks as he begins to walk in that direction.

It’s quiet with no one around. I don’t think I’ve seen the brothers in a few days. I’m pretty sure it’s been at least that long, but again time is moving funny for me.

“I think I may be able to walk it,” I say carefully. I don’t enjoy being carted around. I’m not a princess. My father treated me like one, and look where it got me.

Naive, too innocent, in a position where I have to trust people who shot me. My memory before the gunshot is clear, it’s everything after that feels hazy. I don’t want to be a rag doll anymore.

“Are you sure?” the beta asks. The way he says it is as if he’s humoring me.

I don’t like it.

“Yeah, I am,” I say stubbornly. I’ll force the strength into my legs, but I’m going to pee alone, damnit.

“You’re the boss,” he says easily.

A sliver of fear fills me, the instincts that tell me when someone is lying to me, coming back online like a freight train.

As Morris puts me down, it’s away from the wall, and my knees threaten to buckle. I curse at him in my mind, leaning forward with a gasp. Laying on the couch for so long has made me weak. The skin around where I was shot is still healing, and I can feel the slight pull, which makes me nauseous with the fear that I’m hurting myself.

“Need help?” he asks, a little amusement in his tone.

“No, thank you,” I say, steeling my spine and stepping forward. Three steps and I’ll close the door. If I have to crawl to the toilet from there, then no one will know but me.

Curling my fingers around the wooden door frame, I use it to hold myself up as I flick on the light switch. Morris folds his well toned arms over his chest and I ignore him as I keep my back to him. I’m wearing someone’s long-sleeved shirt, and I can smell leather.

Jed. Wonderful. A part of me wants to lose the shirt, but being naked feels like the greater evil. Walking the rest of the way inside of the bathroom, I close the door on Morris’ next words.

“Ten minutes and then I’m coming in after you,” he says, looking uncertain as he begins to lose sight of me.

“Yes, Warden,” I mutter under my breath. I'm being held captive. There’s no sugar-coating it.

My life isn’t mine anymore.

I use the toilet and wash my hands in exactly six minutes, using the remaining time to splash cold water on my face, in an attempt to push the last dregs of sleepiness away. I want to be awake and aware of anything that happens next.

I feel apprehensive. Morris doesn’t typically wake me up early, because there’s nowhere to go. What’s so different about today?

Drying my face, I feel better by the time Morris turns the knob and pushes the door open. What does it say about me that I didn’t even bother to lock it?

“You good?” he asks, his eyes running down my body as if to search for injuries.

I want to yell and rail at him. Ask him why it matters outside of how much I’ll sell for. The longer I’m awake, the more I’m reminded of how angry I am with this pack.

“Mmhmm,” I murmur instead, turning to face him. “I’m fine.”

“Let’s take a walk outside, then,” he says.

I refuse to mention the lack of clothing I’m wearing, specifically shoes, and simply nod instead. Morris states platitudes, but doesn’t give me answers. The cobwebs are brushing free. My mind is turning and whirling as I process things, still confused by what he’s doing.

My legs hold me as I walk forward, Morris steps out of the way as he shadows my every move. His fingers brush my back, tugging down the shirt gently.

“The bandage is still in place,” he says to himself. “It’s healing well from what I’m seeing. You’ll barely see a scar.”

“How nice for you,” I tell him. Scars aren’t my concern right now. I have bigger worries.

“Thought you’d like to know,” he says with a shrug, releasing the shirt. “Out the front door, Adira.”

They rarely use my name, and my skin erupts in goosebumps. I still don’t ask questions, because I know the answers aren’t forthcoming.

It’s freezing as he opens the door, and I step slowly onto the front porch. I don’t remember seeing this area. Christmas decorations are up and reminding me of the cheeriness of children. Whoever lives here is very blessed to be so happy.

While I’m not completely sure they are, this porch just seems to radiate the Christmas spirit. I, on the other hand, missed the holiday completely due to my heat. Probably for the best if I don’t dwell on those details.

It hurts.

Wrapping my arms around my waist, Morris closes the door behind himself as he moves to lean against the railing in front of me.

“You’re healed now and we’re leaving today,” he says slowly. “Rock Dresmond still wants you to be sold. He believes you owe him for your father’s debts.”

“I don’t,” I state. “I also have nothing of value. I’m not a virgin anymore.”

His lips twitch as he regally inclines his head toward me. “Rock wants your humiliation, sweetness. He doesn’t give a shit about your virginity,” Morris says. “Pain, suffering, that’s the shit that gets him off. My pack works for him, so we follow his orders.”

“This isn’t right,” I whisper, shaking my head. There’s nowhere to run. The front yard is a giant pillow of snow, the driveway freshly shoveled, and the SUV taunting me. I can feel a dead weight inside of me, reminding me of an alpha I’m tied to. He’s shielding from me and I glare at him from within myself.

Coward! I scream, feeling him flinch. I will gladly torture him for the rest of his days. I don’t have a sacrificial bone inside of me. I’ll bring him down with me.

“You were born to the wrong family,” Morris agrees easily, pulling a syringe and a pill out of his pockets to show them to me. “You have a choice to do this the easy way or the hard way. Which is it going to be?”

I’m trembling between a mixture of the temperature and fear, my fingers spasming with anxiety.

“They’re both going to make me sleep?” I ask, fisting my hands tightly to keep them from twitching.

“Yes,” he says. “The syringe is going to burn though, and probably make you nauseous. The pill just brings quiet and sleep.”

My heart is pounding, my ears ringing as I gaze at him. Did he really bring me out here to make this choice? I’m having trouble understanding his motivation.

“What’s going to happen while I’m unconscious?” I ask, my voice cracking with tension.

His hazel eyes don’t blink or move away from me as he holds my gaze. “We’re moving locations, and as much fun as it was to have you strangle Kane while I was driving, I don’t want a repeat. You’ll be kept at that location briefly and then transferred to the auction house for preparation,” he says.

My body shudders as I consider what that means. The dark web had very scattered information about what happens at auction houses, but I was able to read enough to know it’ll be awful.

There’s no sympathy or softness at the auctions, though every silken word from Morris’ tongue has been a lie.

“I suggest keeping the guns away from Damon,” I tell him without remorse, stepping forward to pick up the pill and swallow it dry. Gagging as I struggle to get it down, I cough as I feel it travel.

“He may swallow the barrel instead of shooting me next time.”

Morris’ eyes widen in understanding, because I refuse to go down alone. Putting the syringe away as my eyes begin to droop and my knees collapse, the beta moves in smoothly to catch me.

“Good girl, don’t stop fighting,” he rasps, his face swimming before me as a tear leaks from my eye. “Burn it all fucking down, baby.”

Whimpering, my eyes shut completely, my consciousness pulled into the darkness that’s beginning to become way too familiar.

I plan to.