"What the hell have you done?"

Alex flinched away from the alpha above her. "I'm sorry-"

Michael reached down, hauling her to her feet. "What," he snarled, "was Gabriel doing on the other end of that phone?"

"I didn't know it was him," the omega pleaded. She flinched away from Michael's glare. "He called you first a-and I just answered to say you weren't here-" She was cut off as Michael threw her back down on the couch.

"Damn you!" Michael leaned down over her. "You know what my brother's going to do, right? He's going to-" With that thought Michael immediately dropped the omega. He crossed the room and picked up the phone, dialing a number.

It rang, and Alex started to slink away. Her legs gave out against her will, and she fell to the ground with a muffled cry. Michael glared over at her before turning his attention back to the phone. "Gabriel? Yes. It's Michael."

Alex pressed her forehead into the cold wood floor, tears welling up as invisible ropes wound around her, keeping her from crawling away. She tried to speak, tried to beg the alpha to listen to her, but she couldn't find her voice. She squeezed her eyes shut tight.

"I didn't-" Michael was cut off, and Alex felt the bonds tighten. She gasped for breath as her lungs were crushed. "Gabriel, just listen. I can expla-" Michael roughly slammed the phone back onto the receiver.

"Alpha . . ." Alex let out a quiet whine, but was it cut off as she was hauled back to her feet.

"Gabriel's going to tell Lucifer." Michael tightened his grip on her shirt. "How could you be so stupid?"

"I didn't mean -" Suddenly Alex was in the air. The next thing she knew her back hit the wall with a dull thud, and she slumped to the ground.

Michael was kneeling over her in a second. "Everything that I've worked for is at risk," he growled, fingers curling in her shirt to pull her closer. "If Lucifer comes here and finds you . . ." He trailed off with a snarl, fire dancing in his eyes.

"I'm sorry." Her words barely came out as a parched whisper. Michael pulled her back to her feet, and Alex lowered her gaze to the floor. "Please listen to me, Michael!"

"It's Alpha!"

A fist connected with her jaw, and Alex fell to the ground with a startled cry. She landed on her side, the wind knocked out of her. Michael lashed out again, kicking her in the stomach. The omega screeched. She curled up, knees pulled into her chest. Instinctively, she reached the Khul'Shalkrum to protect herself. It didn't come. But pain did.

It flooded through her bones, hot and sharp. Alex thrashed helplessly, screaming.

"How many times?" Michael accentuated each word with a kick. "How many times do I have to tell you not to channel?!" He reached down and pulled her back to her feet.

The omega flinched away under his touch. "I'm sorry," she whimpered. "I'm so sorry."

Rage pulsed through the alpha once again, and he shoved her away. "Get your things," he growled. "You're leaving." He stomped back over to the phone. "I'll call Gadreel."

...

Alex stumbled unstably down the hall. Everything hurt. It hurt so bad. Bile rose in her throat, and she turned into the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet before she vomited. Blood came up, mixed with the remains of her last meal, but the omega barely cared. She spat up one last mouthful of blood before stumbling away.

The world spun, and the floor tilted beneath her feet. Alex reached out for the wall to steady herself, but even that did little to help. She tripped, falling to the ground with a soft thump. Alex forced herself to keep going, crawling into her small bedroom and weakly kicking closed the door.

She lay there for several seconds, curled up and eyes closed, trying to catch her breath. She couldn't believe Michael had done that. He had been mean, but he had never been that abusive before. The omega let out a pitiful whine. She had thought he was going to kill her.

After a minute or two she finally managed to muster up enough strength to pull herself to her feet. She took three shaky steps before collapsing on her bed. The irony tang of blood still filled her mouth, and a tear rolled down her already tear-streaked face. Alex reached up to brush it away.

...

Michael stomped into her room a few minutes later. "I told you to pack your things," he growled.

Alex cracked open an eye. Seeing the wrath in the alpha's eyes, she tried to pull herself to her feet. Her muscles screamed, and the omega let out a choked sob.

Michael frowned. He dropped a plastic bag on the bed next to her. "Gadreel's on his way. He'll be here in half an hour. The minute he gets here, be ready to go." With that, he stalked away.

Alex curled back up.

...

She stirred a little while later. She wasn't sure how much time had passed, and she forced herself to sit up. Her entire body cried out, but she forced herself to get up. She took the plastic bag and limped over to the closet. She slowly threw her few possessions into the bag. They all fit easily.

She returned to her bed when Michael threw open the door. "Good. Gadreel's downstairs."

"I don't want to go with him," she whimpered.

"Well that's too fucking bad. Remember that next time you try to escape."

Alex didn't bother arguing. She just lowered her gaze, completely worn and defeated. "Sorry, Alpha."

Michael reached out, grabbing her wrist. "Come on. Gadreel's out in the parking lot."

He led her through the house and into the elevator. They descended in complete silence, but the anger radiating off of the alpha was tangible.

...

The elevator door opened, and Michael took her wrist, leading her through the lobby. He pushed through the front doors and stopped dead.

Police cars barricaded their way. To their left stood Gadreel, leaning over a police car, hands forced behind his back. He glared sullenly over at Michael.

Movement came from her left. A man pushed his way past the cars, stumbling into the clearing. Alex felt the entire world stop. From that moment on, nothing else mattered.

"Alex?"

Lucifer.