Page 6 of The Omega Trials: Part One

Of course, it all goes back to the Echelon.

Everything begins and ends with the Echelon.

Once considered nobility, the five families were the ruling aristocracy for centuries until the people rose up and disbanded their collective power in favor of a democratic government.

The aristocracy was never truly killed, only reborn in the shadows as a clandestine organization that could now rule from the darkness: the Echelon of the Lourdes Bacleon.

Like the nobility, each family or clan of the Echelon is made up of several different lineages with superior biology. Not only are there higher rates of designation, but they have the strongestexpression of alpha or omega traits. Their alphas are ten times stronger than a common alpha and twenty times stronger than an undesignated male.

And true-blooded omegas are the key to unlocking this higher alpha power. Only an omega of equally noble birth can trigger a true rut and allow the alpha to access the limits of his strength. Because of this, Echelon omegas are chattel from the moment they’re born, used like pawns and traded among families. Each new pack of alphas is gifted an omega like a trophy for their shelf.

“A fate worse than death.”I recall the words my grandmother told me repeatedly my entire life.

I lean against the cell wall and look at the old ring wrapped around my middle finger. A band of gold holds a gem of glass with a small, dried flower suspended in the center.

A Dusk Daisy.

My great-great-grandmother risked everything so that one day, I could wear this ring. She didn’t know when she escaped her Echelon pack 100 years ago that I would end up exactly where she fought so hard to keep me from.

Locked. Caged.Owned.

By the time I hear approaching footsteps down the dark hallway, my ire is burning hot and indignant. The smarmy man from before, Vincent, comes to stand on the other side of the bars.

“Strip,” he orders blandly.

I don’t even consider it. “No.”

He bellows a laugh. “Oh, youareyour mother’s daughter.” He clicks his tongue. “For your sake, I hope it doesn’t take you as long as it took her to learn the consequences of the word no.”

“Celia was never my mother.” He arches a brow, and I add, “Whatever you see of her in me is purely coincidental. Do not mistake us for the same person.” Celia was selfish and weak.

He chuckles as he unlocks the cell door, flipping open a switchblade. “I recommend taking your clothes off before I cut them off. You don’t want to start your contract by adding to your debt when I have to buy you new clothes.”

I bite my tongue and begin removing the old cotton T-shirt and boxers I slept in. His lecherous gaze soaks in each additional inch of skin I reveal. I push down bile when he tells me to spin. I can feel his eyes like claws on my backside as I slowly turn.

Stepping up to me, he lifts the necklace off my neck. I can smell the sour odor of beer and sweat as he dips down and bites the single pearl pendant.

“Fake. You can keep that,” he says but doesn’t let go. I swat his hand away, and he catches my wrist.

My heartbeat spikes when he holds out my hand and his greed-filled eyes light up as he takes in my ring. “But this is real, isn’t it?” he drawls.

I reply with nothing but a scowl. He chuckles again and rolls his eyes as if amused by my defiance, then holds out his palm and says starkly, “Give it to me.”

“No.” His eyes widen as I refuse him once more.

“Stupid bitch,”he curses. I see his fist coming.

Dipping down just in time, I dodge his blow and sprint the short distance to the cell door.

“You’re even dumber than her if you think you’ll get far.”

My mouth curls into a smirk. I was never planning on running.

Standing in the hall, I glower at him inside. I don’t give myself time to think about it or him time to figure out what I’m about to do.

Pulling the gate open wider with one arm, I inhale sharply before slamming it closed.

The howl that rips from my throat is like nothing I’ve heard before. It’s a pained wail and battle cry in one.

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