Page 54 of Denied By the Alphas

I paced the dimly lit room, calmly rubbing my belly to ease some of my stress.

The old-fashioned lamp on the nightstand cast eerie shadows on the walls, making me feel trapped in some sort of twisted nightmare. Desperation gnawed at the edges of my mind as I searched for any kind of escape—a window, a loose floorboard, anything. But the window had been bolted shut, and I couldn’t help but think of the worst-case scenarios.

What if there was a fire?I’d be trapped here to die without anyone knowing.

The thought made the air around me feel thick and suffocating. I sank onto the rug, trying to take deep breaths to calm myself.

I need to stay strong, I reminded myself.Logan will be coming to get me.

After a few more deep breaths, I managed to push away the panic, at least for now. I crawled into bed and turned off the lamp, plunging the room into complete darkness. As I lay there, staring up at the ceiling, my thoughts raced about Henry and what he could want from me now that I was pregnant.

I woketo bright sunlight streaming into the room. Hearing shuffling and muttering in the corner, I instantly sat up, my heart pounding.

Two female betas were rummaging through the closet, pulling out several white dresses. I was confused to see them there with the door wide open.

“What’s going on?” I croaked.

“We’re going to dress you today. I’m Sherry,” said the older woman with short gray hair, offering me a smile that seemed bothfriendly and strict.

“I don’t need?—”

“And this is Teagan,” she gestured to the younger beta, who had her blond hair tied in a ponytail. Teagan was focused on a dress, examining it critically.

“No, too tiny,” she muttered, and I rolled my eyes, all too aware of how much larger I’d become during the pregnancy.

I slowly hobbled off the bed, needing to take my chance. I quickly headed toward the door, but Teagan called out in alarm, “Stop!”

I ignored her and rushed out the door; however, two alpha guards appeared at the doorway, their imposing presence daring me to cross them. Realizing I was under tight security, I scowled and reluctantly made my way back into the room.

“Carmen,” Sherry began scoldingly, trying to defuse the tension. “We’re just here to help you get ready. Henry has certain expectations for his omegas, and we need to make sure you meet them.”

“What the hell does Henry want with me?” I said, breathing hard and trying not to scream.

“There’s a rutting ceremony,” said Teagan, as if it were very typical. “So we have to get you ready.”

“Well, that’s not happening,” I said, unwilling to submit to such a humiliating ritual. My mind raced with fear and indignation, wondering how the hell my perfect life had turned into this.

Where the hell was Logan? He should be here by now.

“I’ve prepared a bath for you. It’ll help you relax before the ceremony,” said Sherry.

“An amazing honor, especially for a pregnant omega like you,” Teagan added smugly, casting a sidelong glance at my swollen belly.

“Excuse me?” I snapped, taking offense at her condescending tone. “First of all, don’t ever talk aboutmy pregnancy like it’s something to be ashamed of. And secondly, I am not doing any 'rutting ceremony' with Henry.”

A bath sounded relaxing right about now.

I stomped into the bathroom, stripped down, and slid into the bathtub. The warm water felt lukewarm after spending time arguing with Teagan, but as I sank into the bath, memories of my last bath with Griffin and Talon brought tears to my eyes.

I missed my alphas.

Their comforting hugs and kisses at night, our daily routines and laughter—the conversations we would have about the growing baby inside me.

After the bath, Teagan and Sherry dressed me in a giant white dress, making me feel like a marshmallow bride. Sherry fussed over my hair and makeup, chattering about how pretty I’d be as Henry’s mate. With every second of their excited chatter, my heart sank further.

Of course, they had nothing to worry about. They weren’t omegas.

“My makeup looks horrible,” I said, glancing in the mirror and trying to stay there longer instead of facing Henry. The longer I sat in my simple little room, the better.

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