Page 30 of The Omega Archives: Part Three

“Is that what you see us as?”

I knew that was what they were.

I held my ground, refusing to cower before the man who had haunted my nightmares for so long. Despite the fear and anger churning inside me, I forced myself to meet Benjamin's gaze with defiance. I had to. If not for me. For Peter. For all the times I hadn’t before when I thought that it would get better and I was doing the right thing.

We were wrong. And I had to make this right.

Even if it didn’t end well.

Benjamin's facade cracked for a fraction of a second before he schooled his features back into a mask of indifference. "You will regret your words, Elena," he warned softly, the threat hanging heavy between us.

I had no doubt that was true.

“You have no claim over me.”

Benjamin’s emerald eyes glinted with an unsettling mix of amusement and something darker. “Oh, Elena,” he purred, leaning forward slightly, “you misunderstand. We’re not giving you a choice in the matter. Plus, that isn’t true. We had a deal all those years ago. You’re mine whether you ran away on some little defiance or not.”

His words sent a cold shiver down my spine, but I refused to show him any sign of fear. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. “I’ll never go back with you. I’d rather die.”

The room fell into a tense silence, the air thick with unspoken threats and challenges. Benjamin’s smile turned predatory, and for a moment, I could see the cruel glint in his eyes that haunted my nightmares.

“I suppose that’s an option. But truly, let’s play this out. Huh? I’m nothing but a giving man,” he chuckled.

He waited as if I was going with him.

“Where would you go?”

“Excuse me?”

“Where would you go if I didn’t take you back home? You’re already registered to my pack even if there is some nasty tape to go through now that you are here at the academy doing things properly.” He waved his hand to the side as if brushing aside a cobweb. Nothing but an annoyance.

“I could stay here. Court others. I’ve been encouraged to.”

He barked a louder laugh. “They have to encourage all the omegas to court, Elena. I didn’t realize that you had become stupid.”

I clenched my jaw.

“Not to mention, I wouldn’t allow it.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Who do you think is paying for all of this, Elena?” He raised an eyebrow.

My heart stopped in my chest. I hadn’t given a thought to who was paying for the academy. I assumed the tuition came from Omega funds, as Jessica at Omega Services mentioned.

She did say that, didn’t she? But, she also told me that I was going to learn at school. She told me that I was going to court a multitude of other alphas that weren’t the Prestford Pack properly.

My mouth tasted sour again.

“Once they get you back into proper order, you truly are a beautiful omega, Elena. From what I heard, you’re perfect yet, even if you did run. Even if you decided to hoard yourself to a life as abetafor the past six years.” He said the final statement with disgust.

A beta.

To him?How lowly.

I wanted to tell him that he knew nothing. That he was a bigot and horrible and I would never want to be with him no matter what he told me. Instead, I stayed silent.

I knew all too well how much more he hated it.

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