Chapter 10

Lincoln

The first thing I heard was her crying. It was that sound that had me almost flying across the waiting room and flinging open the door, which slammed behind me.

I didn’t like her crying. The sound of it ripped at my resolve. The second thing I noticed was the reason she was crying. The man, in his guard uniform had left his position guarding the companions and was-

And was-

My eyes narrowed as I noticed where his hands were. One squeezing her breast so hard, that I could see fingerprint shaped bruises beginning to take form on her skin and the other was between the legs that were behind held apart roughly.

“What the hell is going on here?” I boomed. Against my lip my teeth elongated and my voice was more growl than anything else. “Why is that beta touching a companion?”

They froze. All three of them.

“Alpha Lincoln.”

“What kind of shit is this, Nell?” Stalking forward I tried to keep my eyes on the woman standing there and backing away slowly with her hands up in surrender.

“She wouldn’t cooperate.”

“So you had her touched by another?” I couldn’t help it I let my eyes sweep across the metal guerney and the moment I did I wished I hadn’t.

Because she was beautiful. Slimmer than she should be. But with curving hips and high small breasts.

Each breast was topped with a rose nipple that my mouth ached to curl around and tease up.

Pure omega perfection.

If it wasn’t for the marks that asshole had left on her skin.

My eyes darted down between her legs. To the massive contraption that-

There was a speck of blood on her. Or it might have been rust from the ancient contraption Nell had been trying to push into her body. Either way it made me furious.

Rage took over completely, without warning I moved and my knuckles slammed against the betas face. Opening up his cheek as he fell backwards to the floor. The kick I aimed at his head made him grunt once but that was the only noise he made as I lashed at him with my booted foot over and over again.

Within seconds the only sound was the noise of the crunch of his skull as I kicked his head in and the life left his body.

On the bed Hope sobbed, biting into her closed fist to stop herself from screaming.

Taking a deep breath I lifted my eyes to Nell. “The only reason that is not you is because of your alpha status Nell. Be more careful from now on.”

There was a flame of anger in her eyes that she blinked away quickly. “Of course Alpha Lincoln.” She flashed him a smile. “We were having problems inserting-“

“It’s because she has never been touched by an Alpha. Her body isn’t used to things of that size.”

“But her notes.”

“She has never been knotted. You will need to use something much smaller or not do that check at all.” It was a barbaric practices and I didn’t really understand the need for it.

They said it was to check for signs of heat but who needed that when I could smell an omega in heat from blocks away.

More than likely it was just a reason to put these girls through more trauma. Like they didn’t have enough coming their way as it was.

“A smaller one-“ Nell shook her head but scurried off.

Turning to face Hope, I reached down and smoothed my hand across her hair before I could help myself. Smooth, no frizz or knots. It glided through my fingers like silk.

“I am sorry that happened to you. Are you alright?”

Mutely she nodded. “He was going to rape me.”

I shook my head. “No he wasn’t. He wouldn’t have dared to do that but you don’t need to worry about him anymore because he’s dead.”

Her eyes widened, tear filled and sparkling. “Because you killed him.”

“Yes I did and don’t worry about Nell. I will stay with you and make sure things don’t go beyond what is proper again.” I promised.

“I still have to have something-“ she shivered. “Please, I just want to go home. I don’t need any check up. I don’t think I want to be a companion anymore.”

Fuck, I hated the tears in her eyes and the wobble in her voice. She was shaken, and with good reason but if she couldn’t take a simple examination then she was going to be in a lot of trouble moving forward.

“Sssh.” I pressed my fingers to her lips , silencing her. “I will stay with you. It will only hurt for a few seconds.” And then I will kiss it better I added silently and had to shake myself.

I would not be doing that. No matter how tantalising her scent was. She was destined to be a companion and I would not be taking one.

Not now and if I had my way, not ever.

She flinched as Nell moved back between her thighs, her hands working quickly.

“It’s ok.” I said again because the girl on the table was terrified. Her whole body tense, the muscles twitching as she tried to stay still.

“When was your last heat?” Nell asked, her frowning face lifting.

Hope bit her lip.

“Answer her. When was your last heat Hope?” My finger pulled her lip down and then moved away.

Confusion pinched her eyebrows together. “My last menstrual cycle was about two years ago. But don’t worry I’m not pregnant. It just stopped.”

My head snapped around the stare at her face. What the hell was she talking about? Omega women didn’t have periods. That was a beta woman thing.

“You’ve never come into heat?” Nell asked sharply.

Hope shook her head. “I just -“

She didn’t know what one was. What part of the world was this girl from that she didn’t know anything about our ways?

Leaning over her, I trapped her between my arms. “Your heat Hope. When your slick flows and you need the touch of an Alpha. Where you need to be filled but know that going out will be dangerous because every alpha in a miles range will take you whether he is the one you want or not. Have you been locking yourself away for it?”

She did a weird sort of recoil, her lips pursing. “I have no idea what you are talking about. I’ve never had anything like that happen to me and I don’t know what slick is.”

Straightening, I blew out a breath. Glancing at Nell like she would have the answers I needed.

“Is it possible she’s not an omega at all?” She asked and I shook my head. There was no possibility of that. I could smell Hope. Her very scent drew me to her.

“You know she is.” I countered. “I just don’t know how she’s gone this long without-“ I couldn’t even finish the words.

“Me neither but the others are going to eat her up. You know the first heat is always the most intense. Someone best tel her father to increase her companion price.”

“Yeah.” I glanced at Hope's confused and still tear stained face. “Someone best do that.” I mumbled but it wouldn’t be me.

Hope was an omega who had never had a heat.

The alphas were going to eat her up and leave nothing left.