Page 46 of The Alpha: Part Two
"It's the saliva that does it more than the teeth," Nathan puts forward for the second time. "We're trying our best to overcomplicate something that is really a very simple process. We use our sharpest teeth to make the path for our saliva to enter the omega's system. We lick the bite, which allows the omega's blood to enter our system. Those biochemical processes are what makes the physical claim possible. He could stilltechnicallymark an omega if he cut into one. All he'd have to do at that point is lick the wound."
"But jerking out his teeth would make a statement," Ben argues.
"And it would hurt like a bitch," Trent finishes.
"That!" Desiree lifts a fist in Trent's direction. "That is the majority of the point. But also to take the act away from him. He told me so many times that he was going to put his mark over the twins' marks. He said he was going to override our bond. I want him to understand that he will never be able to do that."
Trent holds up his fist for her to tap it with her own. "Fuck yeah. No wonder Talia loves you."
"I'm doing it." Michael has been clacking the pliers together over and over for the past ten minutes. "I'll pull out all his goddamn teeth if you want me to. I'll string them up and we'll hang them from the rearview mirror."
Trent's eyes light up like the happiest of fireworks. "We can get one of those tiny drills!"
I pinch the bridge of my nose. "No. I don't want to ride around with that asshole's teeth. Does it really matter if he would still be physically capable of marking an omega even without teeth? He's not leaving that cube alive or in one piece."
Nathan shrugs. "It's the thought that counts."
Ben suppresses a chuckle. "We're good, then? Do you have what you need, Des? Show me again which vein."
I turn my arm over so she can point out the right vein on the underside of my elbow. "This one," she puts her finger on the most pronounced blue line near my elbow. "The basilic. It will hurt immediately. A lot. But the bodily reactions won't start happening until it has time to start working through his system."
"You sure you want us to just leave him?" Trent asks.
She nods. "If you could swing by a couple times to hydrate him so he doesn't die before we get the information we need, it would be good. But don't clean him up. Take face masks. It's going to be rank in there. More than rank."
"It won't kill him? To be in that… mess?" She said it wouldn't, but I don't want us to miss the chance to wring information from him.
Desir'ee and Nathan both shake their heads. "No," Nathan responds. "He's an alpha. It will take a lot more than skin breakdown and dehydration to kill him. He can take it."
Chapter twenty-five
Desie
Flores is bound to a metal chair that looks like it belonged in some industrial office and someone knocked the wheels off it so it can’t roll anymore. It has a heavy metal frame so he can’t get free even if he managed to get out of all the rope and tape he’s been secured with. There are multiple straps stretched from his torso to his thighs wrapping around the back and seat of the chair, and his hands and feet are duct taped to the arms and legs of the chair. The tips of his fingers have turned a grayish blue color and I couldn't be happier about it. I hope they fall off, and I hope it hurts when they do.
He lifts his head to glare at me when Seth finally lets me into the unit. "Hello, Desir'ee."
Michael, who happens to be standing right next to him, doesn't do a thing but bring his fist down into Flores's face. He grins at Ben. "I've been dying to do that."
Seth crosses the short space and leans down to speak into Flores's ear. "Don't say her name again."
"I'm surprised to see you're still here, Pratchett. I thought you'd be back on the East Coast where you belong." Flores's bravado and arrogance is still front and center regardless of his current situation. I wonder how long they'll last.
Michael chooses then to clack the pliers again as Seth smiles down into Flores's face. "Why would I be on the East Coast when my pack and my omega are here?"
"You took her from me," Flores snarls.
Seth's head tilts to the side, dropping his smile. "She was never yours."
"She will be. Trust me on that."
"Will she, now?" Seth drawls, and steps away from the chair and the pathetic man in it. "She told us about your big idea to cancel out the marks we put on her. You didn't really think that would work, did you?"
"You're not a full pack. I could have given her a stronger bond. My pack is whole. Strong." His eyes move from Seth to the twins and back, uncertainty finally creeping in.
"Your pack has been dismantled," Seth says. "And the few that didn't run aren't loyal to you. None of them were loyal to you. Not a single one."
"Cowards," Flores spits. "Where is Elijah?"
