When she came to, she was in a dark room. Alex scented the air drowsily. Unfamiliar scents filled her nose, and she sneezed, trying to clear them out.

The door opened. "You're awake." An alpha stepped in.

Alex didn't recognize this one, and she growled pitifully. Something was wrong. She felt alone; separated. She reached for the Source, but didn't find it. Her head fell back onto her chest.

Hands rested on her shoulder. "Come now, come now. Don't be like that."

Alex rolled her eyes. Her head throbbed. "What do you want?"

The alpha laughed. "I want nothing from you. It's those omega hunters out there." The alpha knelt beside her. "You're the one who's been in our food supply, though, correct?"

I'm in the town. Alex opened her eyes. "I get hungry," she said as breezily as she could. Which was considerably hard. "It's easier than hunting on my own." She tested her hands. Tied.

"And this," the alpha tugged on the jacket she was wearing, "is Mr. Danville's. He must be looking for it."

Alex shook her head. "You guys have enough clothes," she whispered. "I take what I need, nothing more."

The door opened, and the leading alpha stepped through. "Ah. The great omega speaks," he sneered.

"Leave her, Walt." The other alpha stood.

"Just get out of here." Walt walked over to Alex. "I've got a trader that's looking for an omega just like you. He'll pay good money."

Alex just shook her head. The silver collar chafed her neck, reminding her how much trouble she was in. "Let me go."

"Let you go?" The alpha stared at her incredulously. "I've never seen an omega channel like that without extensive training. Who taught you?"

"Taught myself." Alex couldn't untie her hands. She gave up in frustration.

"Taught yourself?" the alpha repeated. "Really?"

"Really."

The alpha cleared his throat. "Well, at least enlighten me with your name."

Alex huffed. "Alex."

"Alex." The alpha repeated her name carefully. "Strong name. Well, come on, Alex. It's time we left." He helped her to her feet, roughly leading her out of the building. Alex flinched at the bright sunlight. She usually slept during the day. A wagon sat across the street, and next to it stood the male omega. An alpha stood next to him, one of the alphas from the hunt. Seeing Alex, he frowned. "You killed Cerberus!" he snapped. "The hell?"

Alex blinked, confused. "What?"

"Cerberus! My dog!" The alpha looked pissed beyond words.

Alex held his gaze. "You mean that mutt I zapped," she growled. "Damn right I killed him."

The alpha looked like he was about to murder her. "That dog was mine!" he hissed. "You're going to pay for that." He reached forward, grabbing her silver leash, and burning heat shot through her limbs. Alex shrieked, almost falling in pain.

Then, the pain was gone. "That's enough, Roy!" Walt snapped. "Don't break her before she's sold!"

Roy growled under his breath. He turned to the other omega. "Get in the cart," he growled, kicking the boy in the shins. The omega did as he was asked.

Walt pushed Alex up into the cart, shackling her down. Then he got up behind the horse. Roy mounted a silver mare, and they took off down the roads.

Alex reached for the Source, but it was in vain. If only she had it, she could escape. She tried one more time, and a volt of electricity shot through her.

"You don't touch it unless I say so," Walt growled back to her. "You understand?"

Alex let out a wordless huff. The omega next to her, whose name was Garth, said nothing, studying his feet. He watched her, the slightest hint of fear in his eyes. Alex only smirked. He was afraid of her. Good.

...

It was near sundown when they reached a large village. Alex looked up, letting out a soft breath. The buildings here were several stories tall, reaching into the heavens. It was completely different than the small town she had been accustomed to.

Walt stopped the cart next to a building on the edge of the village. It wasn't tall, and had a feel similar to that of barn. Alex followed Walt inside. "We're here to see Crowley." Walt stopped at a large desk. Alex looked around, amazed. Unlike the wooden and plaster rooms of the town, these rooms seemed to glow with light. The walls were smooth, and chairs sat off to one side. It looked alien.

"Right through there," a woman replied. Alex blinked; she had hardly noticed her, sitting behind a smooth desk. She was writing something down.

She was led through a set of doors. A man was in deep conversation with another. His clothes were black, and a blue tie was tied around his neck.

"Crowley." Walt spoke quietly.

The man turned. "Ah, Walt. Is that the omega you were talking about?"

"Yes, sir. This is Alex." Walt nudged Alex forward. She let out a faint hiss, standing tall.

"Hm. Is she any good?"

"Show him." Suddenly, Alex could feel the Source. She drew upon it, closing her eyes. The air around her grew light, and she felt supercharged. She could feel everything, from Crowley's breathing to Walt's slight movements. She heard Walt open his mouth. "Create a ball of energy. As large as you can."

Alex inhaled, molding and shaping the Source until it was forced into physical existence. A small ball appeared, the size of her palm. Alex elevated it above her right hand, pushing more and more energy into it. It grew and grew, and she heard Crowley inhale softly. She resisted the urge to throw it at his head, knowing fighting now wasn't smart.

"That's fine. Let it go. Gently."

Alex felt compelled to do as he said, and she let out dissipate, until it disappeared with a faint pop. However, she held onto the Energy, not wanting to lose its comforting warmth. She felt it being pulled away, and she held on tight. It was roughly pulled out of her grasp, and Alex whimpered only slightly, opening her eyes.

Crowley was staring at her. "Who taught her?"

"She claims she taught herself."

"No." Crowley shook his head. "Omegas don't just teach themselves that well." He smiled. "I've seen omegas who could barely touch it. Nothing like that comes about without extensive training."

Walt shook his head. "She lived alone. No one even knew about her. It was just rumors that an omega lived in the woods."

Crowley nodded. "Ruby will pay you," he told them, "I will take her now."

Walt looked like he was going to object, but closed his mouth. "Very well. Take her." He shoved Alex towards Crowley. Alex hissed. "Be careful with her," Walt said. "She likes to try and touch it. Don't let her. She killed our best hound and almost killed Garth."

Crowley nodded. "Don't worry. I won't." He took the silver leash from Alex, and Alex felt it run through her. She could faintly feel Crowley. She didn't like it.

Crowley led her down a hallway and through a door. Now the place looked like a barn. On each side of the wide hallway were stalls, many lined with the same silver material that made up Alex's collar and leash. Alex knew it somehow insulated her from the Source. She didn't like that either.

She stepped inside a near cell, and Crowley closed the door behind her. "Stay put," he joked dryly. "I'll be back in a little while. The alpha's are gonna like you."

...

She wasn't sure how long she sat there. She sat in in the corner, trying to reach khul'Shalkrum. But she couldn't. It had been a constant companion throughout the years, and now, it was gone.

The door opened, and the Crowley stepped through. "Alex. Mind if I ask you some questions?"

Alex looked up, not moving. "If you must," she said, voice laced with poison.

Crowley looked down at her. "I was told you taught yourself to siphon on your own."

"Yeah. So?"

"If this is something Walt told you to say . . ." Crowley warned.

Alex raised her head. "I don't care what that douche wants me to say," she growled.

Crowley just blinked. "Very well. What can you do? I was told you've killed with it."

Alex shrugged. "I've been both the hunter and the hunted. I use what I've been given, and it works. It's either them, or its me."

"Understandable. I'll take this into account when I sell you. You're obviously not for the weak alpha."

"I'm not for any alpha," she hissed. "I'm not something that can be owned!"

She could tell Crowley's patience with her was wearing thin. "Then you're the only one that thinks that, love. I'll sell you for a good price, too. Once you're broken, of course." He reached for the silver leash, taking control. "Show me that energy trick again."

As soon as he spoke, Alex could touch it. She closed her eyes, letting the warmth wash over her. She felt full again. A small jolt shot through her, and she opened her eyes. She hated how once alphas had possession of her and that leash thing, they could hurt her like that. She looked up at the alpha.

Crowley had his arms crossed, but his voice somehow managed to sound patient. "Show me what you can do," he repeated.

Alex easily brought three balls of energy into existence. She twirled them around the room, spinning faster and faster. She lost control of one, and it hit Crowley in the shoulder. He jumped as it softly electrocuted him. Alex immediately brought the remaining two to a slow buzz around her open palm. "Sorry," she apologized breezily. "Lost control."

Crowley frowned angrily, and Alex shrieked as heat flashed through her joints. The two energy balls exploded in her palms. Then the heat died. "Make sure it doesn't happen again," Crowley growled. He cut her off from khul'Shalkrum. Alex whimpered quietly at the loss. Then he left.