by Piper Stone
Her words were challenging and direct. The girl had experienced enough horrors to harden her.
Then again, I’d challenged her more than anything else in my efforts to quiet the camp. My reasons held merit. Almost any one of the men would break his vows to the pack, ravaging every inch of her body in the middle of the night.
Or worse.
Her scent was ripe and ready, and I’d seen the increasing intoxication in several of them.
My need to protect her was innate, a product of the drug, or so I thought.
Still, the distaste in my mouth was significant. She was intelligent and cunning as well as drop-dead gorgeous.
The storm had raged on all day, the voracious wind knocking down two of the tents. I’d stayed inside my quarters, fuming and thinking. What the fuck had I accomplished? Finally, the tension had to break or tonight would be a disaster. Disciplining her in front of the entire camp was required given her atrocities, but I loathed the concept. Then again, I was that monster she’d talked about. There was no denying the fact.
I listened as the rain pelted against the thick material, leaking in several places. There was a single building that had been fortified more than the others, an actual roof built from scraps of lumber, the makeshift shingles nothing more than a roll of thick rubber. However, the oversized area allowed every one of our men inside, a necessity when discussing certain raids. It was also the location where Alex had been held against her will, locked down like a common thief.
And tonight? She would be disciplined then taken by not one but four men. My stomach churned at the thought. Did I want her, desiring to thrust my hard cock deep inside once again? Did I long to lick her sweet juice, savoring every drop, even allowing her to orgasm time and time again?
Fuck, yes.
I was an angry, vindictive man, loathing what I’d become.
Yet I’d taken her at will, although she’d surrendered easily enough.
The damn drug was powerful, much more so than I could have imagined. I simply couldn’t be without her ever again. Damn the government and the fucking war.
My bitter laugh was squelched by the pounding rain, snuffed out like so many lives I’d taken.
I stalked toward the small locked cabinet, fishing out an old-fashioned key and sliding in the nicked metal. The single click actually gave me a smile. Very little did. My thirst had nothing to do with the need for alcohol, my desires ignited by the flare of her nostrils, the scent of her feminine wiles, but the liquor was going to have to do for now. I blew dust off the bottle of bourbon, holding it into the light. I’d taken a single swig of my prized brown liquor since our arrival almost three months before. Tonight was occasion enough.
The formality of accepting her as my mate, allowing three others to share in the prize had been mandated by our laws several years before. There weren’t enough omegas left alive in order to satisfy every huntsman. The tactic was meant to help keep the peace and our raging libidos in check. When a fertile omega was within close proximity, there was little to stop their primal addiction to mating. Their ravenous behavior would have no conscience.
Many women had died because of this alone.
Alex wasn’t going to be one of them.
Once the official full mating had occurred, the others would be required to keep her safe. I almost laughed at the prospect. I had the distinct feeling that she was more danger to us than vice versa.
I poured a hefty amount of my prized liquor, holding the glass into the limited lighting, enjoying the way the cut crystal shimmered. During our first week, we’d found what I would describe as remains of a small group of homes, all overgrown by weeds and ivy. The places had been glorious finds, items well preserved from twenty years before. We were able to restock certain requirements, provisions laid out by our leaders. In a sense, we’d become the scavengers in order to rebuild our city. The glass had been a ridiculous item to take.
We’d even found guns, ancient artifacts from well before the war. I snickered at the thought. They would come in handy at some point. I sniffed the bourbon, savoring the intense scent before taking a sip. I heard the thunder louder than before indicating I had a visitor.
“Your presence has been requested,” Diesel said, making himself at home as he took long strides into my tent.
“By whom?”
He chuckled. “Not the flaming asshole you sent away, but I suspect we haven’t seen the last of him.”
“If not, he’ll regret the day. Who summoned me?”
“Your mate. She’s quite insistent.” Hissing, he flung water off his shirt, shaking his head. “Damn storm. Jesus Christ. I’ve never seen it this bad. I think Montana is right. The shit seems to have settled in. We need to forego our plans of leaving in the morning. From what the scouts just told me, there’s nothing going on out there anyway.”
I’d planned on the storm continuing but I knew better than to think the scavengers weren’t close. I bristled as another clap of thunder rumbled for a full thirty seconds. At this rate, the entire camp could become flooded. “Just like I said. I want guards posted from every direction, scouts sent out every six hours. We need to make certain the scavengers stay true to their behavior. If anything seems out of the ordinary, I need to know about it immediately.”
“You’re worried, more so than you let on earlier.”
“Very much so.” For various reasons including imprisoning Alex. Whatever she wanted to talk about riddled me with questions, my instinct continuing to find red flags.
“Then I’ll make certain that happens.” He flanked my side, finding another glass and blowing the dust from the bottom before pouring. “You’re keeping the good stuff all to yourself.”
“Had this shit with me for ten years.” I don’t know why I even said the words. I’d brought two duffle bags with me after hearing about the group of marauders, one full of the books she’d found. They’d remained important to me, whether or not I chose to practice medicine any longer.
“You brought liquor with you to join a pack. Nice going. I’m surprised one of the leaders didn’t take it away from you. Weren’t you probed and tested like the rest of us?” He laughed, the sound hearty. Diesel had a love for life, gregarious in all things. He’d become a fast friend after I’d joined the huntsmen, showing me the ropes in an effort to keep me out of the punishment zone.
The rigorous entrance into the group had been arduous. I’d been grilled, searched, examined before being given an assignment to a pack. I’d become the leader within eight months.
After I had blood on my hands.
I took another sip as my thoughts drifted to my mate once again. “Alex is secured?”
“She is as you requested. Curious. How did you know her name?”
“She told me. Alex Walters. She was attempting to communicate.” Snorting, I held up my glass. “She truly believed in the stories that have been told.”
“Stupid mutes with low intelligence. Most people believe that shit, which has worked quite well to our advantage.” Diesel narrowed his eyes. “By the way, there’s something about her that seems familiar.” He moved into the center of the tent, swinging his glass. “Real familiar. Did she tell you anything else?”
“You mean other than the fact she would cut my eyes out one day? No.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “You know how to pick them.”
“Need I remind you what she was doing?”
“Oh, no. No reminder needed.” He took a swig, eying me with a curious look. “I’m going to guess that she was someone important. I mean prior to the government takeover.”
“You’re calling the war a takeover?” I burst into laughter. The apocalypse and subsequent battles, including the overthrow of the government, had been called many things but that wasn’t one of them.
Shrugging, he walked toward the same case where she’d found my book. “Did you talk to her?”
“There was nothing to talk about at the time.”
He noticed
the lock hadn’t been secured and actually opened the lid, peering inside. “I take it you caught her snooping.”
“She found my things.”
“Then she has to be curious about you as well as our mission. You don’t belong here, Scorpio. I’ve always told you that.”
I didn’t belong anywhere. Not any longer. “She doesn’t deserve to know anything.”
Diesel groaned. “You took her as a mate, just like a huntsman is required. I have to say, that surprised the hell out of me. Serum or no serum, you follow your own rules. Granted, times are more primitive than when you and I were kids, but if you want forever happiness, you’re going to have to confide in her.”
He was the dreamer, as if we would ever be anything more than primates. I walked away, quite frankly not interested in addressing his statement. But I did anyway. “I did it to protect her.”
“Uh-huh. Do you think she’s going to buy that shit? Even if the others do, she’s not like the other omegas I’ve met. She won’t succumb easily.”
“No, she’s not like the majority of women left on this Earth. What does that matter? She’s required to follow our rules now and in doing so, she will be given a safe haven. Whatever happened to her, my gut tells me she was trying to protect her own in every manner that she could. That gives her the right to live.” I had a feeling she had a wealth of information stored in her mind.
He swaggered closer and I could feel the heat of his glare even though I wasn’t looking in his direction. “That’s a pretty significant change for a man who has lived up to his killer reputation.”
I gripped the glass with so much force I thought I might crush it between my fingers. “Don’t challenge me, Diesel. I am still the alpha!”
“Whoa. You’re right. You are. I apologize. Sir.” He shook his head as he backed away, his look of disdain remaining.
The lump in my throat produced bile. I took another swallow, fighting to get it down. “I don’t need a woman. I don’t want a companion. I was merely trying to save her life.”
“If that’s what you need to tell yourself to get through another day, go for it. I know you too well, my friend.” He walked closer, patting me on the shoulder. “You’ve paid for your sins over the years. Maybe it’s time you let go. We can’t eradicate the past or what we’ve been turned into.”
“And I told you!” I started, immediately regretting my tone. “I’ve done horrible things, Diesel. I’m not a good man and some of the vile acts have nothing to do with being turned into a freak. There will be no change in this life bringing back what we lost. There is no fight that will end this. There is no overturn of the government possible, at least not during our lifetime. We are little more than animals. That is a simple but truthful statement.” The desperation in my voice was unusual. Every plan had flaws. Every desire to return to some level of a normal life had been thwarted so many times. My grandiose ideas were ridiculous.
He hesitated, staring at the liquid in his glass. “If that’s what you’ve convinced yourself, then there is nothing I can do. Maybe you’re right. Maybe this life is nothing but eating, sleeping, fighting, and sometimes fucking. Oh, and mating, as required. Then again, maybe I’m the only one who has any fuckin’ hope. But you know what? Hope is what keeps me going.”
The tension was horrible, thick and ripe with anger, but our rage wasn’t directed at each other. We were exhausted from constant skirmishes, fighting a war that wasn’t ours in the making. I was beginning to think our mission was unfounded, at least the one I’d been sent to achieve. “What does she want?” As if he knew the answer.
“My guess is that she needs an understanding of what’s going to happen to her. Maybe she wants to rake you over the coals again. I honestly don’t know. What I do believe is that as leader, you should talk to her. If what you say is true and she was hoping to feed and care for people she feels responsible for, then you are very right, and we are nothing but animals.”
I could tell he was waiting for confirmation. I had nothing else to say.
“Thanks for the drink. I needed that.” He gulped the rest, placing the glass on the solid wood table with a hard thud, twisting his head until he was able to look me in the eyes. “Don’t lose what’s left of your humanity. You’re going to regret it.”
The man had a way with words. As he left, I moved closer to the table, barely managing to slide my glass onto the surface. I grabbed the edge, leaning over and taking several deep breaths. I had done terrible things in the last decade, all with the ‘cause’ in mind. Hell, what did I know about fighting the good fight, finding redemption?
I would follow the rules as necessary, until I could find a better way.
I stormed through the camp and by the time I reached the location where she was being kept, I was drenched from the pouring rain. Sadly, the water hadn’t cooled my rage by any means. The two guards flanking the sides of the door nodded, moving quickly to the side to allow me access. In their hands were two of the guns we’d secured, no doubt a command from Rock. I allowed Rock leeway, appreciating his battle skills, but one day the man would go too far.
One day I wouldn’t be able to save him from himself.
I walked closer, my boots thudding against the makeshift hard floor. Even with the sound of thunder rolling in the distance, she heard my approach, her head jerking up, her long strings of hair damp from the humidity. She’d been shackled to a chair, her wrists and ankles wrapped in thick chains. Even though her clothes had been stripped away, leaving her open and bare, the same defiance remained on her face.
She was a true warrior.
“I didn’t think you’d have the balls to show.” She chuckled after saying the words.
“Goading me isn’t a good idea, woman. No matter that I did save your life, I am not a man you want to fuck with.”
Alex gave me a long and hard look, her mouth twisting.
“Why did you want to see me?”
“To ask you two simple questions,” she threw back.
I studied her before answering, enjoying the way the harsh light still managed to highlight her beautiful porcelain skin, fiery eyes that held nothing but contempt.
And I wanted her all that much more, twinges of electricity soaring into every muscle. My cock remained stiff and aching, my balls tight from need. My mating needs were increasing, stealing aspects of my rational mind. Fighting my instincts would take everything I had.
“All right. Ask. My time is limited.”
“First. What is your name?”
I lifted an eyebrow and folded my arms, a cold rush infiltrating my system.
“Dr. Canton. Dr. Jacob Canton, you’re needed in the surgical unit.”
Inhaling, I resisted snarling under my breath. “Scorpio.”
“Are you a doctor... Scor-pio?” Alex whispered the question, elongating the only name that mattered as she shifted her gaze toward my arm. Immediately her lower lip quivered. She had no reason to trust me, but she felt she was forced to do so.
She’d thrown the question out, but I could tell she’d garnered far too much information from her unexpected exploration. I recoiled from hearing it, never wanting to talk about my former life again. There was nothing I had to offer that could matter. “What does it matter? You’re not sick.”
She looked away, taking deep breaths.
“Then I’m leaving if you’re not going to answer me.” I took a step away.
“Stop! You’re right, I’m not sick but some of my people are. I’ve done everything I can to help them, but they’re not getting any better. That’s why I went out. I’d heard there was a doctor that used to live close by, so I searched for supplies. I just wanted to help them. You took away any chance of administering aid by imprisoning me.”
I didn’t blink or utter a word. I wanted to see where she was going with this.
“If you’re a doctor then you’re bound by an oath to care for people.”
“That concept was destroyed when the bombs were released for
the second time, smashed into hell the moment that asshole took over.” I eyed her warily, still uncertain of her insistence to learn the truth.
Alex rolled her eyes. “Yeah, you’re right. There’s no such thing as right or wrong any longer.” She muttered under her breath before continuing. “But you know what? The people in my camp saved me from monsters like you. They protected me when they could have sold me to the scavengers or another pack of huntsmen for food or shelter. Instead, they cared for me, nurtured me. Loved me. They’ve lived a horrible life, but obviously something I’m certain you wouldn’t understand. You came out of the war unscathed, your every need fulfilled while so many are dying.” She had such conviction in her voice, the same bitterness that I’d felt for years.
I gave her a hard glare, shaking my head. “Unscathed? As you said, I’m a monster. How would you know what kind of life I’ve lived? Do you know how many people I’ve watched die? Do you understand the effects of the war? If the bombs didn’t incinerate within seconds, the gas was prepared to alter DNA. The lucky ones died within a few days, the survivors treated like animals, altered forever. Then the real battles began, man fighting man for conquests and food, more bombs destroying almost everything else. I thought this was something you understood, little girl. Or were you lying?”
“I’m not lying. I was forced against my will to become an omega, just like you were a huntsman and an alpha male. Everything you told me is horrible as well as true, a disgusting picture of what human beings were turned into, which is why you need to help them.”
Everything inside of me fought against her words. “Do you understand that I can no longer practice medicine? Not allowed unless mandated by a new government that seems to be guiding us toward another apocalypse. Do you know the people I tried to help and failed? How many died under my care?” I was exasperated, reeling from the memories and not from her question. “I was a doctor, Alex. You found my dirty little secret; however, I am no longer. That part of me is dead. Dead.”
I clenched my fist, calming my anger.
“But you remember what it felt like to provide aid, even curing the sick and injured. I know you do,” she insisted.
