The Raven’s Alpha (Nature’s Embrace #1)

Chapter Twenty

Darcy Mortlake

The darkness closes in around me like a suffocating shroud as I try to get my bearings. My stomach growls with hunger, echoing through the silence like a beast awakened. I flex my fingers, feeling the familiar tingle of my shifter abilities lurking just beneath the surface.

As I exhale softly, a spark of determination ignites within me, kindling a fire that refuses to be extinguished. My mind whirs into high gear, already spinning with plans for escape, as I steel myself for the long haul. As long as I'm alive, there's always hope – and I'll fight tooth and nail to hold onto it.

I've lost track of time, but I'm relieved that the maddening visions have ceased, and the dark shapes that danced in the shadows no longer taunt me. My mind feels clearer, unclouded by the belladonna's foggy haze. But I'm left wondering if it's because my captors have finally stopped drugging me, or if my mind has simply learned to adapt to the horrors that surround me.

The mere fact that I'm drawing breath fills me with a sense of triumph. It's a small victory, perhaps, but it's mine – and I'll savour it, letting its warmth spread through me like a balm

My wounds are healing, albeit slowly, but with an unusual rapidity that gives me hope. As I run my fingers over the scabs of my wrists, I feel a faint tingling sensation, as if the raven's essence is stirring within me. It's a fleeting feeling, but it's enough to give me the courage to keep going .

The thought of losing my shifter abilities is a crushing blow that makes my heart sink. I would have to face the possibility of living without the one thing that defines me – without the rush of transformation, the thrill of flying on the wind, and the sense of freedom it brings. The very idea is unbearable, and the more I think about it, the more I feel like I'm losing myself.

A shiver runs down my spine as I push the thought away, refusing to let it take hold. My mind reels with the possibility of losing everything – my new love, my new family, my very identity. But I can't bring myself to believe that this could be the end.

My eyes drop to the floor, and with them, my sense of purpose. I've always prided myself on my resilience, but being trapped in this small space has broken me down bit by bit. I'm starting to forget what it means to be me – the things that made me unique, the things that drove me forward.

I grasp at the idea of Eddy's return with every fibre of my being, refusing to let go even when my mind whispers doubts and fears. The crash that knocked us out still echoes in my mind – I can almost smell the acrid scent of smoke and rubber burning. But I won't let myself consider the possibility that Eddy might not have made it. Not when I can still feel his warmth next to me, even if it's just in my imagination. I flex my fingers against harsh rope that binds me, trying to shake off the feeling of helplessness.

I'm jolted awake by an unseen presence nudging my arm. As I blink open my eyes, I'm met with a vision of a petite woman crouched in front of me, her frail frame illuminated only by the faint moonlight filtering through the grimy window. Her long, raven-black hair is tangled and matted, and her eyes - a deep shade of indigo - are sunken and rimmed with dark circles. She's dressed in tattered clothes that hang off her bony frame like a ragdoll's. The air around us is heavy with the stench of mildew and decay .

As I try to sit up, she rushes to cover my mouth with her hand and holds it firmly over my lips. Her pointer finger trembles as she presses it against my mouth, and her eyes dart back and forth between mine with a desperate intensity. The fragility of her frame belies the urgency in her gaze, as if she's trying to convey a message without making a sound.

I nod my head in understanding, and without hesitation, she reaches into her pocket and pulls out a slice of brown bread. Her hand shakes slightly as she brings it to my face, her eyes locked on mine with an air of nervous anticipation.

Despite the treacherous circumstances, I'm drawn to trust this woman, my better judgment screaming at me to be wary. Perhaps it's because she appears equally trapped, a prisoner like me in this bleak, seemingly endless labyrinth with no clear escape route. Or maybe it's the subtle whisper of her omega scent on her skin, a reminder that even in the darkest depths of this place, there might be a glimmer of hope. Whatever the reason, I find myself inexorably drawn to her, and I'm forced to believe that she might be my only lifeline in this desolate environment.

Eddy's warnings still linger in my mind, his words painting vivid pictures of the mistreatment omegas suffer at the hands of those who wield power. Now, as I gaze upon this omega's ravaged body, my eyes sting with tears at the stark evidence of her brutalization. The cuts and bruises covering her skin seem to tell a tale of unrelenting cruelty, and the dried blood staining her dress is a grim reminder of the horrors she's endured.

Before I can process the surreal circumstances, a loud banging noise above startles us, prompting the omega to thrust a stale piece of bread into my mouth and scurry away from me, her small frame disappearing into the corner of the room as she seeks refuge from the impending danger. The darkness seems to swallow her whole, leaving only her tiny silhouette visible against the ominous shadows that coalesce around her like a living entity.

The door bursts open with a loud crash, and the sound of multiple footsteps thunder down the stairs, sending a jolt of terror through me as the air is filled with the acrid scent of anger and hostility.

Frozen in uncertainty, I squeeze my eyes shut, praying they'll mistake my stillness for sleep, hoping to conceal the omega hiding beside me from the approaching danger.

Before I can even process what's happening, a pair of hands snatch my hair, yanking me off the ground and leaving my feet dangling in mid-air. A pained scream rips from my throat as my hair becomes the only thing holding my weight, the agony making my eyes water.

The same man who delighted in my torment during my awakening now snarls at me, his hot breath washing over me as he demands, "What. Did. You. Do?" His eyes blaze with fury, and his voice is like a crack of thunder, shaking me to my very core.

The stench of his breath is so vile that I gag on the words as I stutter, "I-I don't know what you're talking about." The acrid tang of his mouth clings to my nose, making my stomach churn with revulsion.

“Then tell me why the hell we've just found your precious alpha and his thugs wreaking havoc in our building,” he spits in my face, his hot breath reeking of stale beer and anger, as a glob of saliva lands on my cheek like a slap.

My alpha? Eddy’s here?

I barely have time to scream for help, my mouth frozen in a silent scream as I'm slammed to the ground. My hip bones and ribs shattering against the unforgiving concrete, the pressure suffocating, as a brutal weight crushes me into the cold, hard floor .

"You really thought you'd escape this hellhole without a scratch? That you'd be spared the same brutal treatment as all the other omega bitches?" he sneers, his grip on the back of my neck like a vice as he slams my skull against the unforgiving floor, his hot breath reeking of hatred and superiority.

I scream out in agony, my words torn from my lips as I beg for mercy, yet still I'm forced to apologise for a crime I didn't commit. But the truth is, I'm not sorry – I'm angry. Angry that I was born an omega, forced to live in this abyss with no escape, just like all the others.

“You know what we do to omegas here, don’t you?” he spits down at me. “Don’t worry, after a while, you’ll come to enjoy it. you’ll be begging me to sink my knot inside you.”

My blood runs cold at his disgusting words and as soon as I feel something brush against my naked ass, I scream out for my mate. An omega-cry of distress causes all the men in the room to falter, but not enough to stop unwanted fingers from prodding around my entrance.

Before anything can penetrate, the door crashes open with a deafening screech, and the room is suddenly flooded with chaos. I feel the rush of cold air on my skin as people surge towards us, their voices a cacophony of panic and confusion. Someone tightly grabs hold of my ankle and then I’m dragged across the floor. As I struggle to free myself, I catch glimpses of worried faces around us - my fated mate's eyes locked on mine and I know that everything is going to be ok.

Eddy. My Eddy.

The anguished cry of an omega makes my heart slam in my chest, and I'm drawn away from my mate by the raw anguish in their voice. As I turn towards the source of the sound, Eddy's massive form emerges before me, his grizzly bear form looming over me like a dark shadow. He reaches out with a swipe of his massive paw, snapping the bonds that bind me, and nudges me gently but firmly towards the crying omega. I feel a surge of protectiveness towards my mate as I take in the sight of Eddy's face - his eyes gleaming with a fierce intensity as he gazes at me with a warning to stay back.

I crumple to the ground beside my omega friend, our bodies trembling with fear, we watch in horror as the battle rages on before us. Shifters of different species clash in a frenzy of claws and teeth, their cries and roars filling the air. Eddy's friends are few in number, but their massive strength allows them to hold off their captors with ease - a grizzly bear swipes at a group of armed men with a swipe of his massive paw, sending them flying. We cling to each other, our eyes fixed on the chaos as if mesmerised by the sheer brutality of it all.

I watch two massive grizzlies work together in perfect harmony, their growls and snarls filling the air as they take down their opponents with ease. The scent of damp earth and ozone hangs heavy over us, mingling with the acrid smell of adrenaline and sweat. My gaze is drawn to their leader, a towering bear and as I gaze into his snarling face, a thrill of recognition courses through me, followed by a rush of relief and gratitude. This is Eddy's father, come to rescue us from our captors.

I hold the omega woman tightly against me, her body shaking with fear and distress, I can feel her heart racing against mine. Her sobs are a soft mewling sound, like a wounded animal, and I wrap my arms around her more tightly, trying to comfort her. I hold her close, my voice low and soothing as I repeat words of reassurance, my lips brushing against her ear as I whisper "it's okay, it's okay, we're going to be okay". Her scent fills my nostrils, a sweet and floral aroma that mixes with the adrenaline-fueled scent of the battle raging on around us.

As I wait for the fighting to subside, I'm overwhelmed by the disharmony of sounds: grunts and snarls, crashes and screams, the sickening crunch of bones breaking. The air is heavy with the coppery tang of blood, mingling with the acrid stench of death and decay. I grit my teeth and force myself to focus on the chaos around me, willing the violence to cease. My eyes burn from the smoke and sweat, and my skin crawls with every touch of rough fur or rough stone. I'm trapped in a maelstrom of chaos, with no end in sight.