Page 15 of The Alpha: Part Two
God, I hope so. I hug her back, not feeling even a little bit awkward. I completely understand why Seth adores her. Her confidence in me might be stronger than my own.
Chapter eleven
Ben
I wanted Michael to knock me out, not break my fucking nose. It’s been broken before, but never like this. Fuck, it hurts. I’m glad for it, though. The pain will keep me sharp and grounded while I figure out what to do and how to do it.
Desie was going to jump off the damn catwalk. I think there was something wrong with her. I couldn’t smell her, there were too many other scents in The Backhouse and she was too far away from me to pick hers out, but I could feel her. She was there, sad, scared, and angry, then she was something else entirely before Michael punched me. I can’t put my finger on exactly what, but it was intense.
Michael is alive, which is what I was hoping for even though I was afraid to. I don’t even mind that we had to fight each other, I still got to see him. Smell him. I got to be next to him even if it was a shit situation. The stark relief on his face when he saw me said everything. He thought I was dead.
Lopez said there weren’t going to be any more fights. He lied, of course; but why would he tell me no more fights if he was just going to put me up against my brother? And how could they possibly think it was a good idea to bring Desie? Why? I mean, obviously they’d want to hurt us, but why put her through it? If they’re trying to win her over or some bullshit like that, watching me and Michael try to kill each other isn’t the way to do it.
My thoughts circle around to Seth. Every time I think about him I get angry. He just walked away. He didn’t fight for us, he didn’t try to explain anything, he just left. We already had a pack bond starting to form, how could he just walk away from that? And Desie, what kind of idiot would walk away from her without a fight? There has to be more to it. There has to be some reason.
A loud bang on the door has me jolting upright.
“Here,” a voice barks, and a tray of food comes through the slot.
The room spins when I start to stand up, so I crawl across the floor to get to the tray. My nose will heal, but my body is going to need fuel to get the job done. I spent too much time in the beginning refusing the food they brought me and I suffered for it during my first fight. So, I’ll eat the stale sandwich and whatever else they bring when they bring it. I’m breaking out of here, and I’m going to find Michael. Then we’re getting to Desie. After that, we’re going straight to the East Coast so I can beat some sense into Seth’s ass.
He’s our third. I don’t care that he did something fucked up. There has to be a reason. Seth wouldn’t have done something like what was in that file, there has to be something more to the story. I’ve had time to think about it. I don’t know if Michael is going to feel the same way as I do, but regardless of anything else, Seth is ours.
Hours, maybe a day later, Lopez comes for another visit. I’m sitting on the edge of the bed trying to decide how crooked my nose is going to be when he comes in and sits next to me. “Your balls might be bigger than mine.”
He shakes his head at me, then puts his elbows on his knees and starts aggressively rubbing his eyebrows. “They’re not.”
We sit next to each other for a few minutes before I break the silence. “Why are you here?”
He draws in a breath and forces it out. “I’m about to make a decision that will affect you. All of you.”
“Why tell me?”
He stands back up and looks down at me. “Because you’re more level-headed than Michael, especially right now, and I like you more than I like him.” He pauses to smile. “And I don’t want my nose broken.”
“Is Desie alright?” If he’s down here discussing his decisions with me, then he’s probably willing to talk to me about her.
“Truthfully,” he sighs, “no. She’s declining and I can’t make it stop. If we were going to take her as our omega, it would have been better if you and Michael had died. If you were dead she could maybe move on and it would have been better for her to be with us, at least we would have been familiar, provided for her in everything she needed as she healed and after. But I’m tired, Benjamin. I’m tired of causing damage to people who don’t deserve it.”
“Why are you telling me all this, Lopez? If you haven’t noticed, I’m a caged animal.” During our last conversation, he asked me what I’d do if he left the door unlocked. Maybe this is another of those conversations. If he has had a sudden change of heart and leaves that door open right now, I’ll blow right past him and find Michael. I know he’s somewhere in this building.
He sighs. “I’m not telling you anything yet. Your nose is very broken. Let me see it.” He steps in front of me and I am abruptly reminded of Seth stitching up Michael. I tilt my head back so he can have a clear view, and he clicks his tongue. “You won’t be as pretty, but your ego can take the hit. Ready?"
I give him a quick nod and he presses the pads of his fingers firmly on either side of the bridge of my nose. He doesn't give another warning before pushing my nose into a straighter position and I let out an involuntary grunt.
“Well, it isn’t perfect, but it's better than it was. At least now people will be able to tell you two apart.”
If he’s down here talking about me being pretty when I leave from here, it tells me all I need to know. I’m getting out of here. All I need to do is wait.
Chapter twelve
Seth
“You left her there.”
“I did,” Talia says, holding my gaze. “It was the right thing to do, Seth.”
“How? How was leaving her there to go back with Flores the right thing to do? I’m trying to understand.” I rake my hands through my hair. It isn’t Talia’s fault, but I’m so angry. And afraid. I don’t understand why Desie would choose to stay with Flores when she had the option of escape.
