Chapter 6

Cherry 

I'm more frightened than ever.

I am once more dragged from my room in the citadel, but we don't use the restroom. We instead make a left turn and head back toward the front entrance, where I can hear the rain pelting the house's metal exterior.

I begin to ask, "Should we go outside—" but Henry cuts me off with a look.

"Omegas are not to speak," he declares.

I exhale quickly, swallow it, and then close my mouth.

Okay.

I am immediately drenched in rain as he drags me out to the platform. I'm tired of being wet, but I forgot that's how living by the sea feels—constantly getting drenched in salt water. My nipples are peeking out from behind the translucent fabric of the revealing dress, which is clinging to my curves.

I now understand what the ritual is.

Before I left, they used to do this, but it wasn't exactly like this. The number of applicants for an omega was restricted, and to reduce the level of violence, it was always done in the daytime at the new moon. Now that I'm being claimed by all the unmated alphas, I feel as if I'm about to be consumed by them, thanks to Arthur.

Perhaps I am.

I might pass away tonight with this many alphas just emerging from their rut.

I detest the idea, but it might be for the best.

My father appears in the middle of the crowd as Henry drags me to the center of the circle and pushes me to my knees. He's had a damaged, faded edition of the Bible in his hand that he always seemed to have about him; the gold enamel on the black leather cover is completely worn out. He approaches me while holding up his Bible as if he were the most upright person who has ever lived.

 "You see the traitor before you." Arthur says ."We never expected the princess to return home. But she's here, and she has to learn a lesson, don't you think?"

Alpha males roar. I keep my head bowed and fix my eyes intently on the deteriorated, broken concrete below me.

Because the Bible clearly states that this is what it means. As the alphas writhe, Arthur says while stalking around the circle. 

"Your husband will rule over you, and your desire will be for him. Omegas should be aware of their role in our society".

I forcefully spit. I want to run away and curl up into a ball, but I have to do the opposite. No matter what I do, I'll probably wind up with the worst of them all. I'll have to struggle to escape, to even survive.

Arthur points at me and says, "As retribution for her treason. The meanest alpha of us all, the one who can claim her, will be granted my one and only daughter as a mate. Which means it's time for a good old-fashioned brawl, boys!"

My eyes enlarge as the males applaud. I finally raise my head and look directly into my father's eyes. “Papa—”

He approaches me from behind and glares at me. "Don't you ever fuckin' call me that again, girl," he scolds. "When you assisted our omegas in escaping, you forfeited the privilege. You now have to pay the price for it. Keep in mind Elsa, I do not allow a woman to educate or exercise power over a man; she is to remain quiet."

He meets my eyes with a murderous glare while holding his fingers to his lips.

"Now hush ! ", he exclaims.

The noise around me is getting louder and louder as the alphas all chuckle. In the middle of everything, I ball up and cover my ears.

They'll battle over what they believe is theirs, and either kill each other or rip me to pieces. perhaps both. My dad must be aware of that.

"You know the rules," he continues, "but tonight...tonight is a little different. Anyone who desires her has the opportunity. I'm going to allow her to add to the fun, to hide, Make it into a small game. You enjoy having a little fun, right Elsa?"

I want to cry and then rush back to Austin. I need my pack behind me. I wish to return home.

I mumble, "Please," not to Arthur but to anyone who might be able to assist me.

I briefly believe I saw something.

Or, I think, sense something?

Someone is a light in the shadows among the alphas milling about. The way an alpha is meant to smell, like a mate out to murder anyone who would touch his omega, is like he's in distress and trying to protect me. I have to hope that he will be the one to catch me even though I dare not peek into the crowd.

However, who might it be? Nobody in this room cares.

"The storm's eye is right here", Arthur continues." Now, you all have the opportunity to attack her and one another at the sound of my pistol. You know your pals on the Rig can heal from those kinds of wounds, so don't be frightened to bleed out. And once this is over, you'll receive your reward".

I repress the temptation to hide from the world by curling up even more tightly. I must get ready to flee by running. I take a lunge while trying to maintain as much stability as I can.

"Are you ready?" Arthur declares.

He raises his gun into the clear sky and points it at the hurricane's eye.

“Set.” He grins.

The gun then fires.