Page 24 of Unhinged Omega

"Nikolai Vlakov, at your service."

I bristle at the sound of my mother's language on his lips. Each word feels like a personal insult.

"You sick son of a bitch," I hiss, getting up from the cot and stalking closer.

What stops me from getting any further isn't fear, it's the fact that I don't trust myself not to visibly scent the air around him. It's hard enough to focus from back here, considering I'm used to having to hold my breath in an alpha's presence.

Even—no,especially—my father's.

"You should be ashamed of yourself," I spit. "Kidnapping and imprisoning a helpless omega in this cesspit."

"Helpless?" He arches an eyebrow with a doubtful snort, leaning casually against the open door frame. The gesture seems deliberately calculated to draw attention to the fact that he's leaving my escape route wide open, even if I would have to brush past him to get through it. Whatever had him looking like he saw a ghost earlier has vanished, and even though I can't fully see his eyes behind his tinted lenses, I can tell he's amused. "Aren'tyou the one who injured three members of the legendary Ghost Alpha Unit before they managed to subdue you?"

My chin lifts with stubborn pride before I can stop myself. "It was four," I correct him. "And you're next if you don't release me at once."

A low chuckle rumbles from his chest, and the sound does things to me I refuse to acknowledge. He gestures gallantly at the open doorway. "Be my guest," he purrs in that accented voice. "If you can get past me, you're free to go."

I narrow my eyes, studying him. He's tall, even for an alpha—he probably had to duck down just to enter the room—and the way he fills out that ridiculous coat suggests he's not just for show. But there's something in his posture that seems... off. Like he's trying too hard to appear relaxed.

Is he taunting me? Testing me?

Or is he actually giving me a chance?

As remote as the latter possibility seems, I have to take it.

I take another step closer, watching his reaction. His scent grows stronger. Blood and steel. I hate him so much, I want to claw his eyes out. But the best I'd be able to do is a good rake across his face that would dislodge his tinted glasses.

Looks like someone else already tried, judging from the huge scar cutting diagonally across his face.

"What's the catch?" I ask, not bothering to keep the suspicion from my voice.

"No catch," he says with another smirk.

He's fucking with me. I know he is.

And he's going to regret it.

I take another step forward, watching his posture shift ever so slightly.

He just thinks I'm going to try to dart past him.

Predictable alpha.

Instead, I launch my knee up between his legs as hard as I can. The impact is solid and satisfying. His breath leaves him in a pained whoosh as he doubles over, and I take advantage of his new position to slam my forehead into his nose, just like Azarel taught me.

The crack of bone is music to my ears.

"Vryzat!" he curses in Vrissian, stumbling back against the doorframe. Blood streams from his nose, staining his pristine white shirt crimson.

I don't wait around to admire my handiwork.NowI dart past him and sprint for the stairs, my bare feet slapping against the cold concrete. Behind me, I hear more creative Vrissian curses echoing off the walls as he stumbles through crates to get to me.

Clearly, he wasn't expecting that.

My heart pounds as I reach the door at the top of the stairs. I yank it open and instantly regret it as blinding sunlight floods my vision. After days in that dark cell, it's like staring directly into the sun. I throw up my arm to shield my eyes, stumbling forward.

And nearly collide with something solid.

Something solid that wolf whistles.

---