Page 5 of Consider The Lilies

“Do you want him or not, Angelica?” Cardis shifts, clearly eager to put me down.

“I’m sure he’ll make an excellent toy for someone,” the she-alpha—Angelica—says. “Let’s get him processed.” She walks off, and Cardis quickly follows.

The three alphas continue to talk as we move through the trees. I scan the forest floor, wondering how the heck that woman is able to march so confidently over the rough terrain in a pair of heels.

Soon, the sound of birds falls away, drowned out by overlapping voices. It sounds like dozens of people are near, accompanied by the sound of metal clanking and wood being chopped. I can smell the burn of a fire and some kind of roasted meat. I should probably be hungry. I haven’t eaten in days, but food holds no interest for me. Right now, all I can concentrate on is the fear building in my gut.

The trees disappear as we step into a meadow. Risking a peek through my hair, I take in the sight of a bustling camp. There are several small canvas tents dotting the land, with alphas and betas moving around large metal poles and heavy boxes. It looks like they’re building something. I have no idea what. After all, we’re in the middle of nowhere. What would be worth building out here?

“Dr. Plume!” Angelica says brightly, and I drop my head again. “We have a new piece for you to assess.”

“New piece?” The soft voice of a beta pricks my ears, and the knot in my belly eases a bit. Betas are safe compared to alphas. Less violent and unpredictable. At least that’s what Mari always said.

“Bring him in,” the doctor says. “Let’s have a look.”

Cardis steps forward, and we’re suddenly inside a massive tent. It’s huge, easily the size of a house, and it smells weird. Like rubbing alcohol and some kind of bitter medicine, but it’s the potent scent of distress in the air that makes me lift my head and look around. There are little cots separated by thin partitions. Large carts are pushed around by other betas in dark scrubs, tending to a few omegas. I stare at the patients, trying to see if they’re abused or scared, but I don’t have time to see anyone’s face. They’re all a blur as Cardis picks up his pace.

“Set him down here,” the doctor says as we step around a partition.

Cardis heaves me, dropping me onto my back. I grunt as my back slams into a hard metal surface. It’s an exam table.

“How long is this going to take?” Andros crosses his arms, glaring at me like I’m wasting his precious time.

“Why don’t you two head over to the kitchen?” Angelica says from the other side of the partition. I can only see her silhouette. She’s tall. Easily six feet. But I can’t see anything else about her.“We’ll get our friend fixed up, then I’ll head over, and we can discuss your payment.”

Cardis’s brows lift, obviously happy with that. “You got alcohol over there?”

“We have beer,” she says. “All other spirits are for the event tonight. But there is lots of food. I’m sure you gentlemen are hungry.”

Andros nods, seemingly happy. “I guess I could do with a beer.”

“Lift your arms, omega,” Dr. Plume says, gripping the hem of my shirt.

I tear my eyes away from the alphas who killed my sister and look up at him. The doctor is shockingly young. He’s tall for a beta, thin, and has lush brown hair and tan skin.

“Don’t be scared.” He smiles down at me, and my face warms. “That’s a good boy,” he praises me as he strips me down. “You’ve been through it lately, haven’t you?” He caresses my chest, and I quickly cross my arms.

I’ve never been touched like this by anyone. Ever. It feels…wrong? I’m not sure if that’s the right word, but I don’t like it.

“I thought they’d never leave,” Angelica groans as she moves around the partition, stepping into view.

The sight of such an impressive alpha makes me want to curl into myself. She’s very tall, wearing a tight black dress with a plunging neckline, long sleeves, and a high slit. She has sleek black hair that falls over her shoulders and glossy red lips.

“How does he look?” she asks the doctor as she glances down at me. Her eyes are a pale blue, accentuated by the dark makeup etched around her lids. It makes her look so glamorous and terrifying at the same time.

I want to stare at her pretty face, but I’m too scared. So I look at my knees instead.

“He’s clearly malnourished,” Dr. Plume says, flashing a small light into my eyes. I squint and turn my head.

“Hold still, omega.” Angelica slips her hand around the back of my neck. Her grip on me is firm, almost possessive. It’s weirdly calming.

“How about we give you something to relax?” Dr. Plume asks as if offering me a beverage. It reminds me of when I was little—before Mari and I ran away—when my omega mother would greet guests in our big, fancy home.That feels like a lifetime ago.“Small pinch.” Dr. Plume pushes a needle deep into my upper arm.

The clear medicine burns as it slips into my puny muscle. A pathetic sound pushes from my chest before I can stop it, and my chin quivers. I don’t want to be so weak, but I can’t help it. It’s just the way I am. If Mari was here, she’d have ripped the needle out of her arm and stabbed the doctor in the eye with it. But I’ve never been strong like her.

My pretty sister. So strong. So fierce with her golden blonde hair, slowly bleeding crimson red.Is she floating with the angels now?

“I feel funny,” I mumble as a thick fog slips over me.

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