Escape Read online

  Escape

  The Omega’s Alpha #2

  R. Phoenix

  Contents

  Prologue

  1. Van

  2. Omar

  3. Omar

  4. Van

  5. Omar

  6. Van

  7. Van

  8. Omar

  9. Van

  10. Omar

  11. Van

  12. Omar

  13. Van

  14. Omar

  15. Van

  16. Van

  17. Omar

  18. Van

  19. Omar

  20. Omar

  21. Van

  22. Van

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Also by R. Phoenix

  Escape (The Omega’s Alpha #2)

  Copyright September 2019 by R. Phoenix

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  This book is meant for sale to adult audiences only. It contains sexually explicit scenes and language which may be considered offensive. All sexually active characters in this work are eighteen (18) years of age or older.

  Created with Vellum

  Prologue

  OMAR

  “Omar?”

  Omar groaned, reaching for his pillow to put it over his head, but he couldn’t find one to grab. He blinked, blearily trying to open his eyes, but his eyelids felt too heavy to lift. Fuck it. He burrowed more against the uncomfortable sheet beneath him, grabbing for the blanket over him instead.

  There wasn’t one of those either.

  No pillow, no blanket, and he was really fucking cold. What the hell?

  “Omar, it’s time to wake up.” The voice became firmer.

  “Oh, fuck off,” Omar mumbled.

  Something lit up in his veins like he’d just pushed a finger into an electrical socket, and he choked on a cry. His eyes flew open, but his vision was blurry and swam with the current running through him. His throat burned, where he felt a necklace encircle it, stinging his skin. He grabbed at it to yank it off — only to be shocked again. Queasy and shaking, he yanked anyway, only to be subjected to a third shock.

  Finally putting the pieces together — at least, a few of them — Omar’s twitching fingers let go of the necklace-thing. His eyes finally began to focus. He blinked, rubbing at his eyes, and his muscles spasmed with the aftermath of the jolts.

  “Sit up,” the voice commanded.

  Fuzzy-headed, Omar obeyed, shaking as he sat up and tried to focus on the source of the voice.

  A balding beta stood over him, beady eyes locking onto Omar’s as soon as he looked up. “Good.” He flashed a light into Omar’s eyes, making him recoil, but he only hummed.

  “Where am I?” he asked.

  He started to get up, but before he could, the beta ordered, “Stay down, Omar.”

  Oh, fuck him. He stood up anyway, just in time to feel the same blinding shockwave of pain seize him and leave him slumping back down onto the makeshift bed.

  “What…” Omar croaked, but he couldn’t get another word out.

  “That’s the training collar,” the beta informed him.

  Training collar? What the fuck?

  Before he could ask, the man continued, “For now, it’s keyed just to you. Every time you display aggressive behavior, you’ll receive negative reinforcement.”

  Aggressive behavior. Negative reinforcement. He’d tried to stand up. How the fuck was that aggressive?

  He tried to remind himself that he’d come here willingly, knowing it wasn’t great for alphas… but the truth was that he’d had no fucking idea what he was walking into.

  “I haven’t been aggressive yet,” Omar snapped, rubbing his neck. “What the hell is going on?”

  “My name is Tyler,” the beta answered. “I’ll be your trainer until you’re ready to return to society. I understand you aren’t from Salvus so you may be a little confused—”

  “I’m not confused,” Omar retorted. “I’m fucking pissed off! I just came to this fucking city, and now I’m stuck in some cell with a shock collar around my neck while some asshole—”

  Tyler cleared his throat. “Mind your aggressions, alpha. I won’t warn you again.” His fingers went dangerously close to some sort of remote control.

  “What did I do wrong?” Omar asked tersely, his eyes not leaving the remote.

  “What did you do?” Tyler arched a brow, looking genuinely… puzzled.

  “I must’ve done something wrong to be drugged and electrocuted,” Omar hedged, trying to keep a check on his tone of voice and mind his aggression.

  “You were taken into monitored custody because you’re an alpha.”

  They tried to cage me like some alpha, Jason’s words echoed from his memories. It hadn’t clicked at the time, but now Omar was keenly aware of just why Jason had been so pissed when he’d spoken.

  “Because I’m an alpha,” Omar repeated. “Seriously?”

  Tyler’s lips formed a line. “It’s for everyone’s protection, including yours,” he said calmly.

  Omar barked out a laugh. “My protection? I don’t need protection, especially if it comes from psychos who put a fucking shock collar around my neck. I want out of here.”

  “I’m afraid that isn’t an option,” Tyler replied, shaking his head. “We would be remiss if we released you back into the world like you are now, Omar.”

  Release him.

  What was he, some kind of animal?

  “You’re insane,” he stated, glancing from the remote back up to the man’s face. He looked so fucking normal, like he really believed what he was saying — and that was the truly terrifying part.

  “We know alphas have a hard time controlling themselves. It’s not your fault, but we do have to do something about it. Omegas just aren’t safe around you otherwise.”

  Omar gaped at him, not even sure how to respond. “What?” he finally asked.

  Tyler sighed, twirling the remote. “I know this is hard for you to understand. Your society is primitive—”

  “Primitive?” Omar stared at him. “You’re the one who collared me and are talking about training me like I’m a fucking dog.”

  “You’re a slave to your instincts, your hormones,” Tyler continued, his voice as patient as if he was trying to explain a difficult concept to a child. He even sounded… sympathetic, which only pissed Omar off more. “It’s not your fault, but it’s my responsibility to help you. Don’t worry. I’ll give you the guidance you need to become successful in society again.”

  “Guidance? Guidance?” Omar sputtered. “All I want is to go the fuck home.”

  “This is your home now.”

  “This is my home now?” Omar let out a harsh laugh. “What book did you just get that line from?”

  Tyler frowned at him.

  “You can’t hold me here.”

  Tyler cast a deliberate glance around them, almost as though saying, really? “I know it’s scary, but we’ll get around to managing all your feelings. Once you do, you’ll feel safe and at home here. I guarantee it,” Tyler added, as if he hadn’t just given him a look full of sass. The whole spiel had to come from some sort of playbook.

  “This is insane,” Omar
muttered, rubbing his eyes. “This is so fucking insane.”

  Great. He was going to have to figure this out on his own because he’d agreed there’d be no rescue for him. He was the rescue party, after all. If he could grab that remote and hold Tyler hostage, he might be able to negotiate his way out, though…

  “Welcome to Salvus,” Tyler told him. He took a step back. “I’ll give you some time to process before we transport you.”

  Omar lunged forward, grabbing his wrist and twisting until the beta dropped the remote. Tyler cried out but went still, and Omar manhandled him until the beta was pressed face-first against the wall. “Now,” he snarled in the beta’s ear, “you’re going to get me out of here.”

  “I can’t do that, Omar,” Tyler said as calmly as if he wasn’t being harshly handled.

  “No?” Omar twisted Tyler’s wrist more behind his back.

  The beta hissed in pain but kept still. “You think I’m the only one with the remote to your collar?”

  He had, actually. He hadn’t even thought about the possibility of someone on the outside being able to control it.

  “Any second someone can take action if they feel the situation is escalating beyond my control, Omar, but if you give up now, I can limit your punishment,” Tyler offered, still remaining utterly still.

  Limit his punishment. Limit. Omar didn’t want any punishment at all, and he wasn’t going to just stand by and take whatever they were going to give him lying down. He’d already done enough sitting down and listening to this madman. “Call them off,” Omar said, “or I will snap your wrist.”

  He didn’t get the chance, because now-familiar pain radiated from his neck through his body, making him drop Tyler’s hands as his body jerked. The beta pushed him back and stepped out, putting distance between them. While Omar was incapacitated, Tyler snatched up the remote again.

  “Sit the fuck down,” Tyler barked, all mock-friendliness gone from his tone.

  Omar grunted, but his body wasn’t going to respond to any instructions he was giving it. Even if he’d wanted to sit down — and fuck, he would if it would make that electricity stop coursing through him — he couldn’t do anything. He sagged heavily against the wall.

  “I said, sit down,” Tyler said, staying at a distance from him.

  Omar couldn’t have gotten back to the bed if he tried. He sat heavily where he was standing, his back sliding along the wall. His ears were ringing, and though the shocks weren’t active anymore, his body couldn’t tell the difference. He let out a low moan, his head resting hard against the wall behind him.

  “Good. Very good.”

  Like he’d really had a choice.

  “Do you understand a little better now?” Tyler asked, his voice low and conspiring. “Only a scared animal tries to attack a helping hand, Omar. It’s okay. You’re just not used to being a good alpha. But you’re in luck, because in Salvus, we understand that. Alphas have needs.”

  Omar barely had the presence of mind to glare at him. “Everyone lashes out when they’re backed into corners,” he croaked out.

  “What are poor omegas supposed to do when you have them cornered and your instincts take over?”

  Omegas.

  Omar’s stomach churned.

  Van.

  What was Van supposed to do if he was cornered? What would happen if these crazy fuckers had him cornered? What the hell was he supposed to do?

  “I don’t corner omegas.” Omar scowled, resenting the implications. “Not all alphas are like that!” he insisted, remembering too well his last conversation with Van where they’d argued about that very thing.

  “Betas and omegas don’t respond with violence,” Tyler said.

  Jason did. Van sure as fuck would too. Tyler just didn’t know the right omegas.

  “You drugged me, then trapped me in a fucking room and won’t let me out!” Omar retorted. “Who in their right mind would just be docile and go along with this bullshit?”

  “You’ll understand that we only want what’s best for you,” Tyler replied evenly, still watching Omar like he might get up and try to attack him again.

  “You’re fucking delusional,” Omar muttered, shaking his head. There just weren’t any words for how insane this was.

  “Take the time you need to adjust,” Tyler said, and it all sounded too fucking nice. Psychotically nice, like the beta really believed this. “You’ll understand your place in our society soon enough, and then we can get you settled in.”

  “As a fucking dog?”

  “I’d trust a dog more than I’d trust an alpha,” Tyler replied quietly. “But you can be trained. You can learn the way things should work. You can, and you will. You’ll be grateful to us for protecting you from yourself once you learn to control your feelings.”

  Omar glowered at the beta as he slipped out of the cell.

  Never.

  Never fucking ever.

  1

  Van

  “Van?”

  Van closed his eyes, not wanting to have to face Nathaniel — Nathaniel, with his ever-present concern and sweet words…

  Nathaniel, who had gotten him pregnant without a second thought, who had been so sure he’d be fine with it.

  “I… made you breakfast. I know you don’t want to see me, but I was hoping you’d let me bring it to you. Then I’ll leave, okay?”

  Van let out a heavy sigh, not even sure how to respond. No, he didn’t want to see Nathaniel — and the worst part of all of it was that he didn’t think the beta understood why he was so upset. He knew Van was pissed off and that it had to do with the gender of the baby — their baby, which made Van queasy to think about — but he suspected that was about it.

  “Please?” Nathaniel’s voice wobbled. “I… I love you, Van. I know this is a really bad time to tell you that, but I just… I don’t want to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you.”

  And all right, it was Van’s fault too. He’d agreed to this. Hell, he’d encouraged Nathaniel to fuck him senseless even without birth control. He’d known what could happen… but he would never have done it if he’d known the beta could get his hands on condoms. That was the ultimate betrayal.

  He’d been so fucking stupid.

  He was so disgusted with himself for relying on the old pull out method, for not insisting on waiting, for…

  Everything.

  Sighing, Van crawled out of bed and went to the door, opening it. He hadn’t bothered to lock it, but Nathaniel never would’ve entered without his permission anyway. He was disgustingly perfect that way… except for the fact that he wasn’t perfect at all, was he?

  Nathaniel held a tray in his hands, and on it was a plate of pancakes, a side bowl of fruit, and a cup of tea. There was also a fucking flower in a vase. Van wanted to groan at the sight of it.

  “You didn’t have to do this,” he said, looking at the tray so he didn’t have to look at Nathaniel.

  “I know,” Nathaniel said, offering the tray out to him. “I wanted to, though.”

  Did he want Van to eat well, or was he worried about the baby?

  Van couldn’t help but be cynical. It seemed like his body was there just to be bred — just like it would’ve been back in Pine. The only difference was that he’d known what was coming there. Here, he’d been utterly blindsided.

  He took the tray even though he was too nauseated to even think about eating. He’d try to poke at some of it before he went to work — because he damn well was going to go to work even though he technically didn’t have to. Maybe when he got too pregnant to move, he’d consider staying home, but until then, he wasn’t going to stay at home and be bored all the damn time.

  “I need to head to work early,” Nathaniel said, running a hand through his strawberry blond hair. “But… Do you need anything else before I go?” He looked so fucking hopeful that Van started to feel guilty about freezing him out.

  Van inhaled deeply and slowly exhaled, stalling for time before responding, “No.”
>
  Nathaniel looked crushed, but he nodded and studied his feet instead of looking back at Van. “Okay,” he whispered. “I… I’ll see you tonight then.”

  “I think I’m going to stay over at my apartment tonight,” Van told him.

  Nathaniel reeled back as though he’d been slapped. “I… What?” He sounded genuinely baffled, which only made Van want to sigh again. “Please don’t.”

  Wetting his lips with his tongue, Van closed his eyes for a moment. The tray in his hands was impossibly heavy. What the fuck was he supposed to do? Nathaniel was like a fucking puppy, and it was like Van had just kicked him in the face. Didn’t Van matter? Didn’t what Van wanted fucking matter?

  “I’ll text you after work and let you know what I’m doing.” Van turned to bring the tray into the room, setting it on top of the dresser. “That’s all I can do right now, Nathaniel.”

  “I don’t understand why you’re so upset at me,” Nathaniel replied in a whisper.

  “I know.” And Van did know, which was part of the reason he was so pissed. He turned back to look at Nathaniel. “How things are here… It’s not okay. It’s really, really not okay. I thought I hated alphas, but… I’d never think about like… segregating them. And omegas? It’s not like we’re all helpless and need to be protected.”

  And betas? They weren’t much better leaders than alphas had ever been.

  They weren’t any better at all.

  “I know,” Nathaniel echoed.

  “Do you?”

  Nathaniel was quiet for a long moment. “I didn’t,” he said slowly. “Not before you. But I’ve started to wonder things I never thought about before. You’re right. You don’t need to be protected. I mean, I don’t know about alphas.” He grimaced. “They’re like animals…”