AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Prologue
Six Years Ago
Elias associated love with pain.
Anyone would when lying in a pool of their own blood, staring up at a ceiling fan spinning lazy circles. No stamina coursed through his limbs, not even a glimmer. Using the last of his strength, he'd lunged towards the desk and grabbed the letter opener, swiftly plunging it into his boyfriend's neck.
The blood went everywhere. With each splatter, gore coated the walls, saturated his hair, and filled the room with the unmistakable odor of iron. He slipped in it when the dead weight of his aggressor fell backward, leaving his weak body without an anchor. Since then, Elias had just been lying there, counting his rattling breaths.
In. Out. In. Out.
This could be the end, and Elias had put in so much fucking effort for such a long time that he could finally be fine with it if it happened. He pursued affection until he became numb. The outcome never changed, no matter what he did, and he was tired.
So, so tired…
His thighs spasmed, and Elias instinctively winced, eyes fluttering closed.He knew what they looked like—seeping and bitten apart for the sheer pleasure of hearing Elias shriek.
He felt removed while recalling Cameron looming over him, blood dripping down his chin, and pupils so dilated his gaze turned black. There was nothing left beyond a raw, primal desire that bordered on madness.
He'd been through this three times now, each relationship ending within a year. And, honestly, they only lasted so long because Elias let arguments go, gave out second chances like they were candy, and trusted without merit. It wasn't about finding the right person.
Love couldn't cure his disease, no matter how much he wanted it to. Thinking of it that way made him sick to his stomach. Did he bring this upon himself?
"Eli."
Elias' eyes sprang open. He was against a warm chest that was moving, carrying him somewhere.
… alpha who hurt me?
Dread filled him like blood coursing through his veins. For a moment, he panicked and thrashed, trying to break free. The arms around him didn't move an inch or tighten. Elias doubled his efforts, only to cry out when kicking his legs irritated the wounds.
The person holding him stopped moving, grabbed the back of Elias' neck, and brought it up to his scent gland. Elias took a deep breath, relaxing when he recognized Ian's woodsy smell.
Alpha who saved me…
"Argh," Elias groaned, coughing as something wet dribbled from his lips.
"Shh," Ian cooed. "Don't speak right now."
Elias had no choice. He needed to promise Ian he wouldn't make him do this anymore. No more blood, panic attacks, or tears. Elias bit his bottom lip, tears leaking from his eyes to draw pink lines through the blood. He didn't understand why he was alive; he wasn't sure he wanted to be, but Elias set a boundary for the first time since he bloomed as an omega…
…and it was to never be intimate with an alpha again.
Chapter One
Present Day
The fiery lights of the stage beat down against Elias' skin, making it glisten with sweat. He was only three slides away from finishing a presentation on omega suppressant drug trial success. He hoped to garner some investors interested in Deaton Medical... As long as he got through questions without incident.
Warmth licked along his neck, mocking him like a ticking clock right next to his ear. Regardless of the number of blockers he took, they were unable to prevent the unavoidable. He had around eight hours left before his heat hit in full force.
"As you can see, there's a clear upward trend in the data," Elias pointed out, waving his fingers toward the large screen behind him.
He explained the complications that arose and several mild side effects, referring to the charts whenever needed. The audience sat rapt before him, some taking notes while others gazed at the screen with interest. Yet, one individual in the front row had an intense fixation on Elias, their shining blue eyes constantly drawing him in.He ran two fingers between his collar and neck, tugging at the leather. The man followed his movements with predatory focus, and Elias shivered.
It was impossible for someone with such a forceful presence to be considered a beta, and a man of that stature was definitely not an omega. No doubt, he was an alpha. The flapping of butterflies in Elias's stomach was so intense that he found it unbearable to stand still. These days, he rarely thought about alphas despite his omega designation.
There were so many reasons, but they all led to one conclusion—every alpha partner he'd had was a mistake. Elias tore his gaze away, reminding himself of the danger by focusing on the burning stiffness in his thighs. He'd been standing non-stop since eight in the morning. Elias clicked to the last slide that read, thank you for listening!
