Chapter 6: Luxurious cage

Julian's eyes slowly open to the cool touch of latex gloves between his thighs. His wrists are restrained to the headboard of the massive bed in a luxury suite, arms stretched above his head.

Soft morning light filters through the floor-to-ceiling windows, but even the view feels like a taunt.

He is still naked, legs parted slightly for access, while Dr. Reyes works efficiently, cleaning the hand bruises blooming along his inner thighs and his entrance, e

ach gentle swipe of antiseptic makes Julian flinch.

"Hold still," he says quietly, voice clinical. "The bruising is extensive. Deep tissue trauma from… repeated penetration."

Julian turns his face away, cheeks flaming.

He remembers every detail of his first night in this damned house. The memory of Enzo's brutal rhythm, the way he'd stretched him open and claimed him over and over again, last night.

What's worse is the way his own body had responded last night. Again. Reduced to nothing but a clenching, whimpering mess.

Dr. Reyes moves lower, carefully re-bandaging his swollen ankle. "Your leg needs elevation and rest. The antibiotics should prevent infection."

He glances at the restraints, then at Julian's face. "I can also ask for these to be loosened if you promise not to try and run."

Julian nods eagerly. "Yes, yes. I promise."

The doctor sighs and nods. "Okay I'll be right back. I need to get a few supplies."

Julian nods, completely calm. But the moment the doctor leaves the room, he yanks hard. The wood in his left cuff gives slightly.

Using his good leg, he twists and accidentally kicks at the bedside table, knocking a lamp to the floor with a crash.

He winces at the sound but wrenches again, ignoring the pain in his wrists as he finally manages to slip one hand free.

Barefoot and shaking, Julian bolts for the balcony doors before the doctor can return. If he can just climb down the trellis, and reach the gardens...

Julian doesn't even make it that far.

The sound of the lamp crashing had attracted some of Enzo's men. So the moment he turns down the hallway...a hand reaches out and grabs him.

Julian falls to the ground with a loud thud, pain exploding up his already swollen ankle.

"Ah! Shit!" He hisses, clutching the leg.

The man doesn't give him chance to stand completely before he yanks him back up by the shoulder. "And just where the fuck do you think you're going?"

Julian tries to pry out of his hold. "Let go off me!"

The guard laughs coldly, yanking him up harder. "Feisty one. Boss really likes picking troublesome Omegas lately, doesn't he. "

Before the words fully left his mouth, Enzo appears behind him with dark silver eyes.

His gaze drops to his hand still wrapped painfully around Julian's shoulder, down to the painful expression etched on the omegas face and his throbbing leg.

"Good morning boss, caught him trying to run--"

Enzo doesn't wait for him to finish speaking. He seizes the guard by the back of the neck and slams him face-first into the wall with savage strength. The crack is sickening.

"Did I say you could touch him?" Enzo growls, voice low enough to send a shiver down their spines.

He wrenches the man's arm off Julian, then throws him to the floor like discarded trash, while the other men slowly back away from the Omega.

Julian presses himself against the wall, breathing hard, the sheet barely clinging to his hips.

"And you...!" He turns to face Julian, lifting him off the ground as if he weighs nothing and throws him over his broad shoulders.

Julian struggles, slamming his fists into Enzo's back, leaving the other guards in stunned silence--because Enzo has never been this protective of any other Omega. No matter how often they serve him.

He takes his time walking back to the suite, one hand possessively gripping Julian’s bare thigh. He can feel every squirm, every frustrated twist of Julian's body, and it sends a dark thrill through him.

He enjoys the fight. The way the defiant little Omega still refuses to accept his place.

Back inside the room, Enzo throws Julian down onto the sheets and quickly re-secures both wrists, tightening the cuffs this time.

"You never learn, do you?!" He growls angrily, warm breath brushing Julian's face, "hmm?"

His hand trails down Julian's side, fingers pressing lightly into one of the fresh bruises on his thigh. The touch sends unwanted heat through his body.

"Running while my marks are still fresh on you. Clearly you haven't gotten enough then."

The door opens before Julian can retort. Behind them, the doctor freezing when he sees Enzo bent over Julian.

He clears his throat awkwardly. "Mr Moretti-- with all due respect, I think you should let him rest. You went really hard last time and I just prescribed--"

The look he gives him, makes his mouth seal shut. "I'm sorry sir. I m-meant that--"

"If I had truly lost control," he says, "then he wouldn't still be trying to escape at all."

The doctor shoots Julian a 'really?' look, and sighs, turning back to scribbling some instructions into his notes which he quickly places onto the table, and leaves faster than he needs to.

He isn't paid enough for this.

Alone, Julian slowly meets Enzo's angry silver eyes again. They're glinting with something crazy, jaw tight.

"I can't trust you to stay in the east wing anymore." He says suddenly, hand resting possessively over the bandage on his leg. "I'll have you moved to my private floor. The entire top level. My bedroom. My bathroom. My territory. You sleep where I can watch you. Bathe where I can reach you. Every second of every day, you'll be within my sight."

Julian snorts, still fighting against the restraints around his arm despite the cold metal bitting into his skin. "I'm not your pet, Enzo! Let me go!"

"But you are. You are whatever I say you are." He leans in back in, "And right now, you're my property! Mine to break. Mine to keep alive." Then he pulls away, straightening his jacket like he wasn't keeping him locked in this luxurious cage.

"The guards will move your things today. Try running again and I'll chain you to my bed permanently. No clothes. No privacy. Just you, waiting for me."

Julian swallows hard as the Alpha's gaze drags slowly over Julian's restrained body, a faint smirk perched on his lips.

"Get some rest after the move," he murmurs. "Tonight, is going to be another long night."