2 - His Bleeder

GREY’S POV

I’m thrown into a dark room.

“This one gets to see the Alphas first. Get him into action, Jessica,” one of the hefty men commands before they jam the door behind them.

For a split second, I struggle to see or hear anything. Heavy smoke infiltrates my senses and I cough. Finally, as my sight settles, I see someone in front of me.

Her subtle voice doesn’t complement the smoke being blown from her throat. “I’ll be picking your size for you. Come closer, Omega.” When I don’t do as she instructs, she adds, “the weed doesn't bite or do I. Now, come here.”

I wish to be out of this room as soon as possible or I’ll have my lungs spoiled. The small knife is still in my grip and I hold it tighter, like my life depends on it.

Maybe it does.

“Why should I?”

Oops. That does it.

She snaps and steps closer to me. Red hair streams down her back, a flat porcelain face touched with soft beauty, and plump lips that draw attention to her. Omegas are more blessed with beauty and fanciness compared to the other gender, making us desirable in every way. That confirms it. She’s an Omega herself.

“The Alphas arrived a few minutes ago and they’re already impatient. The door behind you is made of metal you can’t break down, while the curtain before you is the only thing separating you from the Alphas. Behave, or they’ll have your head ripped from its joints in the most horrific way imaginable.”

She proceeds to a table standing in the middle of the small, dimly lit room. “And you don’t strike me as someone who wants a worthless death.”

“You’re an Omega. Why are you helping them?” My attempt to sound stern fails as I release another cough.

“Fierce but naive, I see.” She cracks up as she fiddles through a list of underwear. I’m not going to put any of that on, am I? “Each of us has a role to play in this System, Omega. Here’s yours.” She holds out a thong, blue with shiny sprinkles on the waistline.

This is ridiculous. Omegas used to be worshipped and pampered. That’s how nature built us. We weren’t meant to be enslaved, but the world has been entirely corrupted. In ancestral books, they spoke about how Alphas went to war to win an Omega’s heart, and how the respect shown from an Alpha to an Omega was impeccable. Our bodies were sacred to them, and that was the dynamic.

But not anymore.

Not since the existence of Nikolai Blackwell. That uncultured maniac!

Jessica punches my chest with the thong. “Put it on now. You’re presenting.”

“No, I…”

“Resist and I’ll have the guards force it on you,” she says firmly without blinking. I shiver, recalling the blisters I suffered from earlier manhandling.

I pack my shoulder length hair into a bun and hide the knife underneath. Then I put on the thong, feeling utterly naked, and before I know it, I’m ushered to the stage.

A spotlight lands on me, blinding my vision for only a moment. I can’t see anything in front of me.

Until suddenly, a gruesome voice comments. “First Omega, and it’s a skinny one?” The disgust in his tone makes my skin burn. Other growls fill the room, low and commanding, almost forcing me to my knees. Their pheromones are domineering, and I feel inferior.

“Seems this one doesn’t give a fvck what you want, Cornelius” a thick masculine voice snickers loudly. 

“Fvck off, Xavier. Pick on something else, if you like.”

The bass of their voices shakes me to my core, blending together like a shadow of threats.

They speak like we are nothing but toys they own, property they can trash at any moment if it isn’t befitting of their wants anymore.

“You two will be quiet now.” Another protruding voice comes, this one much stronger. It piques my attention, but I still see nothing ahead.

To my left, another light flickers on. Mrs. Dominion steps forward to stand before a podium and begins. “Sires, North America’s most prestigious academy is glad to have you here. I shall begin by presenting Grey Sylvester, a student of the academy, who today shall be judged by the school’s grade and your decree.”

She clears her throat and continues, a feigned smile on her face. If witches were real, I’d say she was one.

“Unlike the other academies, under Alpha Marcellan Hale’s guidance, we offer two extra courses to the already five courses Omegas are taught: Mathematics, English, Health Education, History, and Geography, with the addition of Biology and Home Economics. These two courses make our graduates top notch in meeting your needs, both in skill and service.”

“Sires, on your screen are the grades of this student. I await your response.”

I stand there, shifting my gaze from Mrs. Dominion to the blind darkness in front of me, then back to her. The anticipation followed by silence skins me alive and I can’t even scream. My heart leaps as adrenaline shoots down my spine.

“Poor thing with poor grades. He shall be a Bleeder,” one of the Alphas announces, a woman. Growls of approval ripple through the room.

I thought I accepted the truth, but now that it’s really happening, I’m frightened. My feet are glued to the floor, like if I move I’ll fall because of how sweaty my palms and soles are. My breathing becomes raspy.

Mrs. Dominion’s tone shifts. “Should any of you want to choose the Bleeder, click the button before the stopwatch hits zero.”

I was a thorn in her shoe for the longest. When none of the Alphas speak, her smile widens. “Very well.”

The curtains slide open and the two men from earlier appear. “Gentlemen, get the Bleeder to the Cold Room for reassessment.”

Cold Room? As in the Cold Room where Bleeders are put in cages, placed under freezing conditions with a new house master who will undoubtedly be insanely cruel? Anyone can purchase you there... Beta, Delta, even Alpha.

I shiver just thinking about it. I can’t have that, and this is not how I planned my day. I can’t die just standing here, watching like a fool.

As the men near me, I prepare to fight.

Mrs. Dominion grunts and storms toward me, menacingly stating, “You will learn to respect those above your stat…” before I know it, I cut her off by slashing across her face.

I swear I didn’t mean to. She was just too scary. I acted out of reflex. 

“Get him! Now!” she screams, pointing at me with death in her gaze.

“No. You’ll leave him.” A voice I haven’t heard before speaks, and the two men step back. He’s one of the Alphas, and his bass sends tiny sparks of electricity into my veins. “I will choose you, fierce one.”

Alpha Marcellan Hale.

Bright amber eyes that I’ve never seen before. He’s strong, tall, and muscular. Even inside his brown shirt and black pants, I can tell he’s a force. If I were in heat, I’d be unleashing slick at his magnificent presence.

While his demeanor is composed, I’m breathing raggedly. “I’m not your pet nor anyone’s. Fvck off!” I snap back to myself.

“This is exactly why I want you.”

No, I can’t be chosen by any of them. I need to get under their skin, make them mad like Mrs. Dominion was. I spit on the Alpha’s face, immediately earning life threatening snarls and seethes. For a second, nothing happens until he reopens his eyes, swipes away my spit, and scoops me off the ground.

All within seconds.

My toes stretch like there’s something to hold onto. “You’re unsubmissive. I love it. But you will respect me.”

Before my senses can catch up, he snatches off the thong and throws me onto the stadium floor. He takes a sniff and nods. “Not bad.”

I scramble away with tears blurring my vision. I’m completely naked with only my small hands trying to cover my genitals. 

Not humiliation, not becoming a Bleeder, I wished for death!

“Stop this, Marcellan. The Omega interests me. I want him.” I feel a cold breath behind my ears and spin around, only to face another intoxicating view of a man. His beauty is immaculate. My eyes glue to his facial features. Like the ocean itself, I can almost find myself swimming in his eyes. His warm beige skin is flawless, blending with his tousled hair and strands flowing down his forehead. He takes away my breath.

“Hypnotized, are you?” he questions, and I snap back to reality.

“Get away from me. All of you. Either you kill me or I do!” I yell at the top of my lungs, one hand holding onto the knife while the other covers what part of my nakedness it can. I can’t imagine my reflection right now.

“You don’t ever choose a Bleeder, brother. Why now?” Alpha Marcellan asks.

“A man can’t be questioned for a change of heart,” the stranger simply says.

“Yours is dead, but fine, I’ll leave him for you,” Alpha Marcellan replies. I attended most of my history classes, so I know this stranger isn't one of the seven Alpha Kings.

And if I remember correctly, Alpha Marcellan doesn’t have any brother except for the close relationship he shares with the…

My eyes pop out as Alpha Marcellan shifts to me. “Since the Prime Alpha has chosen you as his bleeder, you'll definitely see me again.”

Wait!

Nikolai Blackwell?

The most powerful Alpha and creator of the New System?

This has got to be the worst day of my entire existence!

“I’m supposed to chain you up. You’re a wild one, but I’ve got business to do. My commander will take you.” He turns away from me to a new presence walking toward us. The buzz cut Delta pins my hands behind me and pulls me with him like my thrashing does nothing to affect his hulk frame.

“No, let me go! You better kill me, bastard, or I’ll make life hard for you!” At this point, I’m saying anything that comes to mind. I’m terrified like sh*t.

“Trevor, this Bleeder screams too much. Please, shut him up.”

“Gladly.”

The Prime Alpha King’s commander flips me like a card and lands a punch that sends me into orbit.

Darkness shuts me out.