Page 2 of Rescue Me

The faint sound of Hailey’s footsteps on the stairs reaches me a moment later. She pauses in the doorway, her sharp eyes scanning the room.

“You missed a spot,” she says, pointing to an invisible stain on the counter.

My hands clench around the rag but I nod. “I’ll take care of it.”

She tsks again before a cackle slips through her lips, a terrified shiver running down my spine. Her bare feet slap across the tile and I hold my breath, waiting for whatever blow she’s going to dish out. Hot liquid splashes on top of my head before spilling down my face and seeping into the collar of my shirt.

I hiss from the burning tea on my skin, moving out of the way so that I don’t have to continue suffering. Hailey’s eyes are alight with mischief as she chucks the porcelain against the wall. It shatters across the kitchen floor, her lips pulling up in a snarl. “I thought I told you to make itperfectly.” I know for a fact that she didn’t even taste it but pointing that out will only make this worse.

“I apologize. I thought I did.” My snark slips out but it’s too late to pull it back.

“I told you to take a shower!” she snaps, her tone dripping with disgust. “You smelldisgusting. Like other Alphas.”

That doesn’t make any sense since I haven’t left today but Hailey’s reality is the only one that matters here. I start to open my mouth to apologize, but the words die in my throat as she reaches out and rips the rag from my hand.

I flinch, instinctively stepping back, but it doesn’t matter. She raises the damp cloth and slaps it against my face with a wet, stinging crack. The shock of it burns more than the pain, but the welt she leaves behind throbs all the same.

My ears ring as I stumble, catching myself against the counter. The overwhelming smell of bleach fills my nose and for a moment, the room tilts, the edges of my vision blurring. But I blink it away, forcing myself to stay upright. I take several deep breaths to calm my anger, knowing that attacking an Omega, especially my pack’s Omega will land me in jail.

“Youreek,” she hisses, her voice lower now but no less venomous. “Do you think Jackson and Lyle want to come home to their Omega smelling another Alpha on the help? Do you think I want to smell it?”

The help.That’s all I am. I’ve heard horror stories from pack Betas but I thought those were few and far between. The Wilhelm family is well known in this part of the city. I should have known better that that didn't mean anything.

I keep my head bowed, my fists trembling at my sides. “I’ll shower again.”

“You’ll do itnow,” she demands, tossing the rag into the sink with a wet splat. “I don’t care if you have to scrub your skin raw, Reid. Get rid of that stench.”

She steps closer, her head tilted back to glare up at me. She’s smaller than me by a good foot, her frame delicate, the perfect version of an Omega. If the dynamics were different, I could overpower her without a second thought. But they aren’t. The Wilhelm mark on my shoulder isn’t a bond—it’s a brand, a reminder that I’m here to serve, not belong.

Her gaze lingers on my face as I feel the weight of her scrutiny. I force myself to stay still, to keep my shoulders slumped and my expression neutral. Any sign of defiance, even unintentional, will only make this worse.

Finally, she scoffs and steps back, her lip curling in disgust. “Pathetic,” she mutters, more to herself than to me.

She turns on her heel and stalks out of the kitchen, her robe trailing behind her. I stay frozen in place, waiting until the sound of her footsteps fades into silence as she heads upstairs. Only then do I allow myself to breathe.

The sting on my cheek burns, a reminder of how easily she can break me down. I reach up, my fingers brushing the welt, refusing to let myself experience the emotions I keep stuffing down.Anger. Fear. Sadness. Rage.

I stare at the sink, at the rag she discarded, and the shame wells up in my chest like a tide. I swallow it down, lowering my gaze to the floor. Taking my chances, I sweep up the porcelain pieces and discard them, knowing that Hailey would have my ass for that later should I leave it. Then, I escape into my room at the end of the hall.

Showers have always been my escape, my moment of peace. They’re slowly becoming part of this hell.

Chapter two

REID

My room is barely that—a small box with a bed shoved into the corner, a dresser too narrow for its drawers, and a bathroom that smells faintly of mildew no matter how much I clean it. The Wilhelm mansion is massive, every inch of it polished and pristine, but my space feels forgotten. It’s fitting, really. I’m not part of the family, not part of the pack. Just a Beta with a contract and no way out.

I close the door softly behind me and lean against it, letting my forehead rest against the cold wood. My cheek still stings where Hailey slapped me with the rag and the dull ache in my shoulder has worsened. Her aim was terrible, but the lamp she threw the other day connected just enough to leave its mark.

The worst part is that I could stop her. I’m taller, stronger,faster. If I wanted to, I could shove her aside, walk out the door, and never look back. But I can’t. The mark on my shoulder binds me here. The Wilhelm crest, a decorative tattoo stamped into my skin during the ceremony, and the unspoken brand of my family’s betrayal keep me tethered. That and every time I tried to leave, the Wilhelms called whatever police officer they had in their back pocket to retrieve me. There's literally nowhere to go.

I strip off my shirt, tossing it into the corner where it joins the pile of other ruined clothes. The fabric is worn thin in spots, stained in others, and I can’t afford replacements. Not when everything I earn funnels back to my parents.Reid, this is for all of us,they’d said.You’re doing something good for the family.

A bitter laugh tumbles from my lips. I’m just a pawn they sold off for a life of comfort I’ll never see.

The mirror above the sink is cracked, a jagged line splitting my reflection in two. I don’t bother looking at myself as I step into the shower. The tile is cold against my feet, the faucet groaning before water spills out, icy at first and then scalding. For some reason, I still find comfort in this silent space, reaching for the bottle of descenter body wash in the corner.

I pour the thick liquid into my palm, the sharp chemical scent stinging my nose. It’s designed to mask all scents, even the faintest trace of individuality. It’s ironic, really. The Wilhelms demand I have no scent of my own, yet Hailey insists she smells something offensive every time I walk by. This brand adds a chemical edge to my natural smell and while there are so many other types, Hailey insists on this one.

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