Tony walks beside me as we head one of the many stores.

"So," he says, hands in his pocket and subtly looking around to make sure no one was looking our way, "what do you need?"

"First off, a new wolfsbane ring," I hold up my hand to show him the fading one on my middle finger.

He grabs my hand to look at the ring closer.

"No wonder Barnes nearly sent you into an early heat," he says letting go of my hand, "that barely had any life left."

"Yeah," I shove my hands into my pockets, "I use them until they completely die. And with my heats becoming more often, they tend to die out faster."

"More often?"

I turn and notice he's stopped.

"Yeah?"

"Kid," he hesitates, "I don think you're gonna be able to reject your alpha."

"What?" I snap.

He stiffens.

"Calm down," he says softly, "don't give your away."

I take a few deep breaths.

"What do you mean I can't reject him?"

"If your heats are getting closer together, it means your body is preparing itself," he explains.

"Preparing for what?"

"To carry an alpha."

I'm at a loss for word.

"A strong alpha," he continues, "like Barnes. His pup is going to be an alpha."

I clench my fists as a growl erupts from me.

"Ghost! You need to calm down!" He quickly grabs my shoulders.

"He isn't going to have a damn pup," I grit through my teeth, "he's no going to touch me, let alone breed me."

"Ghost," his expression becomes panicked, "please calm down."

I'm breathing hard, my heart pounding in anger.

Woodsmoke and gun powder.

Fuck!

I cover my nose with my sleeve, taking in Beta Clint's scent instead of the alpha's. The covering doesn't last long as the scent seeps though the fabric.

I stumble forward, landing in Tony's chest. He wraps his arms around me to keep me up right as my body goes limp.

I press my nose into his shirt trying to inhale his scent, to keep myself grounded.

"Tony," I whimper, "get- get me inside. Get me to a bathroom."

Tony's POV
I quickly pull her into the nearest shop and look for the bathroom.

"Oh lookie here," someone says blocking our path, "the tough little omega being a whiny little bitch."

Two more come to stand beside him.

They're the betas that were chasing her last night.

"Get out of the way," I growl at them.

"Yeah I don't think so," the first one chuckles, "alpha James is looking for her, and she has something of ours."

"You want your wallets back?" Her voice shakes.

"Yeah and you're gonna give them back."

"Fine," she pulls her bag off her shoulder and unzips it. She searches through it for a second.

Wait.
She left the wallets on the bed a the omega house.
What is she-

She pulls her hand out and aim a gun right at the trio.

"Move."

Her voice no longer shakes and fear flashes on their faces. Even I stand in shock as she leans on me for support.

"She's bluffing," a red haired one says, "bet it's not even loaded."

She shifts her aim a bit and squeezes the trigger, sending a bullet just past his head. People panic and hit the deck all around us.

"Still think I'm bluffing?"

She sends off an aura. One I've never felt come from an omega before.

It's a threat. One that is solidified by the deep growls emitted from her chest.

I catch a scent.

Something smokey.

Barnes.

"Move it," I growl again.

This time they listen and we quickly make our way to the bathroom. I go to stand outside the main door as she goes in and bolts it shut.

Barnes' scent becomes stronger and I can hear the gun drop to the floor.

"Where is she?"

My eyes find Barnes just as his find me and he marches over, boots thudding loudly against the tile floor.

"Get out of the way," he growls right in my face.

"Can't do that, Barnes," I stand in front of the door with my arms crossed.

"Get the fuck away or I'll shoot you through the door," Ghost shout from inside the bathroom.

"She's got a fucking gun?!" Barnes shouts.

"Yeah uh Ghost," I say nervously, "please don't shoot through the door cuz I'm standing right in front of it."

"Then move."

"Alpha, she isn't kidding," the red head beta says quickly.

"I'm not moving kid," I call back to her, "if I do he'll kick the door in."

"Who says I won't kick you in with it?" He snarls.

"Let him," she laughs before she winces, "he'll have a barrel right in his face when he does."

I turn to the door a bit.

"Ghost, please put the gun down," I say calmly, "we can't have you shooting anyone."

"And why the fuck not?"

"Because you can get arrested for that here."

"And? It'd be better than having this dumb ass trying to corner me all the fucking time," she snaps, "besides, I'll be out of there within ten minutes with nothing but a slap on the wrist."

My head snaps back to Barnes and we share a confused look.

"I can clam self defense," I can feel her aura start to change, "and who would they believe? A pissed off alpha?" She changes her aura to fear, "or a p-poor, sweet omega?"

Her aura changes again, this time it feel sadistic.

"Cuz it seems like things work a little different here," she continues, "y'all seem to cater to omegas. Give a pout and a few tears and you're putty in their hands."

If she knows that, why doesn't she want her alpha?

"Now you're gonna walk out that door with your Betas and leave me alone, got it?"

"Like hell, Omega," Barnes snarls, "you're coming with me."

"Barnes," I say softly.

"What?" He snaps at me.

"That's why she won't accept you," I whisper, putting pieces together, "you're acting like every other alpha she's ever met. You're forcing her into something she doesn't want, instead of letting her make a choice."

"If I walk away, she'll leave," he says through his teeth.

"Then you need to let her," I continue to whisper, "let her come to you on her own."

"She won't."

"She will."

"And how do you know that?" He seethes.

"Because her heats are getting worse," I explain, "and with her alpha being so close, I think this upcoming one is gonna be the worst she's ever experienced. She'll need her alpha, wether she wants in or not. Unless she wants to sit in excruciating pain for a week."

"Wait..." his eye soften with realization.

"Yeah, James," I pat his shoulder, "it's gonna be an alpha, but not if you keep pushing her. If you keep at it, you're gonna scare her away."

He looks back at the door before huffing and turning away.

"Let's go," he orders the betas.

"She still has our wallets," the blonde one says.

"Well maybe you shouldn't have been stupid enough to let her pick your pockets," Barnes grabs him by the collar of his shirt, "now I said let's go."

He releases the beta and leaves, the trio quickly following.

"He's gone, kid," I say against the door.

I hear the bolt unlock before she opens the door, gun still in hand.

She looks around, making sure he really is gone before putting the gun at her side and letting out a shaky breath.

I can feel the actual fear in her aura this time and I notice her arms.

Her sleeves are rolled up , like she was getting ready for a fist fight, and all of the exposed skin is covered in scars. Ranging from cigarette burns to bullet wounds to deep cuts, it's like someone was trying to create a fucked up pieces of abstract art on her skin and it makes my stomach lurch.

Who could ever do that to an omega?