Four

Kira 

The unmerciful guard led to a dungeon alive with the sounds of rats scurrying, distant voices, and torchlights flashing through the cracked walls.

"Look what we've got here," a rough voice called out, breaking the silence. "Fresh meat."

My bladder loosened. I'd never been so terrified. I could hear boots approaching and clanging against the stone floor, and raw terror tightened its hold on my body. 

The torchlight grew brighter, bringing two guards into view. Both were big men and heavily armed. Their cruel and hungry eyes raked over me.

"What do you think, Jack? Think she's worth the trouble?" one said and leaned closer to sniff me.

The guard who brought me in stopped him. "The alpha said not to touch her."

"But that doesn't mean we can't have some fun with her," another guard with an eye patch demanded in a gruff voice. "Let's take a good look at her."

It was a struggle to breathe properly as panic clouded my mind.

"Please don't hurt me."

They looked amused at the sound of my pleas. "Poor little Omega. I bet you never thought you'd end up here, huh? What did you do to offend the alpha?" The pervert guard taunted. 

Luck was on my side. The guard who brought me in seemed to outrank the others who were taunting me, so he pulled me close, locked me in a cell, and secured it with a padlock.

"She's pretty enough. Too bad we can't touch," the one with the eye patch mused while leaning against the bars.

"Yeah, too bad," his companion agreed, his gaze lingering on my exposed lap. "I never knew omegas could be curvy. I think I might have a new fetish."

My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears. I wanted to scream, but all I could do was stare back at them with fear until one of them reached through the bars to flick my cheek. I flinched away and pressed myself against the cold wall of my cell.

"Leave her alone, Jack," their boss said, though there was no real sympathy in his voice. "Go to the whore house if you wish to get laid."

The leer on the guard's face remained until he walked away. A burst of relief washed through me, leaving me dizzy. I sank onto the cold floor and rested my head on my knees. The pounding of my heart gradually slowed as my breathing steadied out. 

Dampness seeped into my bones as I lay there in the darkness. I'd been stripped of my dignity and I felt so alone in the cramped cell, which was empty except for a filthy toilet and sink combination in the corner. 

How long would I be here?

My mom's crying face flashed in my vision. She would die of heartbreak. Hot tears blinded my vision as I wept aloud and rocked back and forth. 

The fact that all of my friends were able to escape hit me hard, including the main culprit, Zion. I felt so betrayed and unsure of the exact reason for my arrest. 

Was it because an omega dared to enter the main pack, or did Alpha D'Angelo arrest me because I was his mate and he intended to get rid of me?

Horrible thoughts flooded my mind and I became desperate for a way out. If only I'd stayed back at home, I wouldn't be in this mess.

It was a miracle that I was able to get some sleep. But even in my sleep, the guards continued to taunt me with lewd and graphic words. Then I saw my mom lying flat out. She wasn't breathing. 

In another nightmare, my screams echoed in my mind, mingling with the jeers of my captors. They dragged me to the center of the cell, throwing me onto the hard ground. I cried out as my bare skin met the unforgiving stone, and the impact sent shocks of pain through my bones.

I screamed awake when they were about to cast a dark veil over my face. To my utter horror, a guard was opening the gate. Gasping in shock, I protected myself as best as I could by trying to curl into a ball.

"Such a pretty little thing," the guard murmured, his sleepy eyes tracing the curve of my thigh. Then he yanked me up. "You have a visitor."

Someone else joined us, and I was stunned to see Alpha D'Angelo's Beta. His hand gripped my jaw painfully tight. 

"Open your eyes and look at me," he ordered, his voice cutting through my thoughts.

With fear seizing my body, I obeyed. The hatred in his eyes burned like flames. He leaned in closer, his breath hot against my ear.

"Now, listen to me, because I'm not going to repeat myself. The alpha has made it clear that you're to be released from this place, but he doesn't ever want to see you in his pack and borders. He called you a useless omega scum."

Every drop of moisture inside me froze and my heart tore apart. There was nothing worse than an omega rogue. My mom and I would never survive the harshness of being one. Alpha D'Angelo had reduced my world to tatters.

His Beta watched me with a flinty gaze, making me feel like a tiny insect. The more time I spent with him, the more I wanted to run and hide. 

"But... the alpha needs to reject me and break-"

"You worthless piece of shit!" He spoke through clenched teeth, and I could feel the cold steel of his hand tightening around my neck, causing my windpipe to constrict even tighter. "Don't ever speak his name. He rejected you. Don't you get that?"

"I... I...I...apologize," I stuttered between gasping breaths. He let me go.

"You're a fucking disappointment to him and he isn't going to waste another second dealing with a disgusting, lowlife freak of nature who deserves to be dead and gone! The moment you step out of here, I'm taking you back to the Omega camp, where you and your pathetic mother will pack your stuff, say goodbye to your loved ones, and disappear from the face of the earth. If I ever see you again, I won't be responsible for what I do."

My heart pounded in my chest. Unable to speak, I nodded and tears welled up in my eyes. The humiliation stung, but the fear of what would come next paralyzed me.

"Now move," he commanded, giving my neck a rough shake. With trembling legs, I took my first step.

"You must disappear. Do you understand?"

Again, I nodded, my throat too tight to form words. He released me abruptly,pushing me forward. "Move," he ordered, his voice leaving no room for argument.