Chapter 26

Chapter

Twenty-Six

ELLA

I heard someone screaming before I realized the blood-curdling shout was escaping from my lips and was unable to stop. This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be happening.

I fell to the ground as I cradled Lucas over my legs, in my arms, however, I could to keep him up and with me.

"No no no," I said over and over again. Tears were no longer hiding, flowing down my cheeks as my body curled over itself from the heat and a whole new kind of pain. "NO."

I wanted Lucas to say something. Anything.

But he just stared at me. His cool aquamarine eyes stare at nothing. The sparkle in them when he laughed and held me… It wasn't there.

Where did it go?

Where did he go?

I gasped for air. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't. I didn't want to.

"Stay with me," my voice shook if any actual words came out at all. "Lucas!"

Lucas said nothing.

He was nothing. He was gone.

Gone.

I was all alone. My mate. My match. My… my…

Nothing.

Not a whine, but a wail escaped me.

"Dear lord, pick her up," Benjamin scowled, waving at his father's friends.

"NO!" I screamed as they reached for my arms. "No no."

They couldn't take me away from him. I couldn't let them take me away from him. I was meant to stay here. I was meant to be with him.

I couldn't see through the mess of my tears as I reached out, slamming my arms against everyone and everything. My nails caught on something and there was a slickness on my hands.

"She's fucking feral."

"Just get her in the car," shouted Benjamin at everyone again until suddenly he was pulling me against him and into the vehicle that came around. "I told you what would happen if you misbehaved. Why don't you get it yet?"

His voice was shrill in my ear before he shouted for someone to drive.

Being in the car during heat felt like agony. The air was stale and the men holding me down were painful as I screamed.

Lucas… Lucas was gone.

Dead.

My heart pounded rapidly while the rest of me ached until it was all I could feel and see in a swirl of painful reds and angry yellows and oranges around me like a sunset I wish would set once and for all and take me with it.

It was as if I wasn't even there anymore as I was finally yanked from the car and into the home I vaguely remembered from my one visit with Benjamin.

"See?" he asked, though I couldn't bear to pay attention as he pulled me down the hall. The men who had come with us remained behind, snickering.

My feet tripped over one another and I fell to the ground. My knees scraped against rough carpet and hardwood floors as we made our way past the den and living spaces, heading deeper into the large, cold mansion. The walls were too high and arched over me like shadows looming.

My chest shook as I whimpered.

Benjamin paid my noises no attention until we came across a room at the far end of the hall. There was a lock on the door. Outside. He easily shoved the doors over and pushed me in.

Inside was a large four-poster bed. The place was opulent and beige and had minimal furnishings. Other than the bed.

"This is your room. Do you understand your place yet, omega?" Benjamin asked me, though I was certain he was talking to himself as I swayed.

I couldn't breathe let alone talk right now as my stomach cramped, sending me over into a crouch the moment Benjamin let go of his tight grip on my arm. This was it. It was all over. Lucas was gone.

He was gone.

Everyone I loved.

My life.

It was all gone.

"I will provide for you the way I see fit and you are going to like it. We are going to get out of here and you will never even think of that stupid, pathetic life you thought you could ever have without me."

Benjamin shoved me towards the bed.

I blinked. I blinked again. What was happening? What was happening? I was yanked along in a state of unawareness. Lucas was right there a minute ago. He was rushing towards me outside the academy. He was in my arms.

He bled out in my arms and… and I…

I couldn't go into heat right now. I couldn't.

Though clearly, it was already too late.

"You are nothing but a stupid omega. Act like it and stop fighting!" Benjamin barked at me. "Present for your alpha."

My body fought against the order, but ultimately relented, shaking from the fear and upset raging through my body. I couldn't speak or care about anything anymore. They all had left me.

Every one.

Loud voices called out in the house. Benjamin growled looking over his shoulder. "I'll be back."

Benjamin left, barking at me to stay put.

I rolled this way and that, trying to abate the pain and need brewing inside of me. Lucas was gone. Everyone was gone.

I knew that maybe if I could break the order of the bark, I could run. I could get out of here. But I couldn't move. I couldn't find the will to or the strength.

I was nothing but an omega.

I sobbed.

I was-

Citrus wrapped around me and I groaned.

"Sh sh sh," a voice murmured. "I got you."

Marko?

I groaned, unable to do anything else.

"I'm here for you. Don't worry about anything now, darling," said Marko. "You're safe."

We barely got a few steps outside the bedroom towards the back kitchen door before a shot rang out.

And Marko dropped me with a grunt to the tile floor as he fell to the side.

I screamed.

It was like watching Lucas all over again.

No no no. This couldn't be happening.

What was happening? Was this a dream? Was this the heat? I couldn't tell, but if it was, I hoped that maybe it would be too much for my body. Maybe suppressing it for so long would kill me.

Maybe it should.

I screamed louder. Or at least, I tried, but no more noise was coming out. Was I next? Maybe I wanted to be as Benjamin made his way over to me, growling in irritation, and didn't hesitate this time before he yanked me to him roughly and bent me over the table.

He was saying something, yelling at someone, but my head was too fuzzy. My eyes were unable to even see his lips move before–

His teeth ripped into my shoulder.

My mouth opened, and at last, no sound came out. Nothing.

I thought that bonding was supposed to be a beautiful thing. But this? This didn't feel beautiful.

It felt like a whole new pain encompassing my entire being.

Only it would never let go as it sunk deeper and deeper into me, infecting me like a sickness of his scent and presence rolling through me. Malice boiled in my veins and sweet satisfaction felt like acid.

"Now you are mine," Benjamin said, teeth red with my blood. "Mine, Elena. Once and for all."

But then, just as quickly as I thought I was about to die looking at Benjamin Davinson, an apt end perhaps as my body wanted to reject the bond even if it took the rest of me with it– He collapsed down to the ground.

If I thought the bonding hurt, the feeling that happened when it broke took me to my knees.

Everyone flooded all around me, pulling me into arms and rushing me away from the scene.

But I was gone.

I was gone from understanding. Gone from Benjamin Davinson once and for all in one uncertain swoop that I couldn't make sense of. I was gone from the men I thought were my pack, unquestioning.

I was done. I was done fighting.

I just wanted to disappear.

I fell into the pain.

Into the feelings and shock of what had just happened.

Into the heat.