Page 7 of Nothing is Free

With another woeful sigh I recommence my pacing, heavy chain dragging behind my tired legs and sleep deprivedbody. “I will keep you safe, little bean, that I can do,” I say out loud, determined to put one foot in front of the other.

I can’t fight Damyn. I can’t lose this baby doing something idiotic like trying to run. I have to give Dez a chance to find me. He will find me. I have no doubts.

They. Will. Find. Me.

The sound of the door opening has me hastily retreating to the bed, putting distance between Damyn and me.

He smiles. I guess he realized the pathetic puppy dog eyes aren’t working on me. So, he’s resorted to that manic toothy grin of his.Great.

He pushes another cart into the room followed by a tall woman in a white doctor’s coat. Her face gives nothing away as she looks me over with a clinical gaze. If it bothers her that I am chained to this bed at the ankle, she doesn’t show an ounce of concern or care. Her salt and pepper hair is pulled into a bun so tight, she’s giving herself a face lift. Light brown skin, long slender body, her face has a severe quality to it, like she’s spent most of her life frowning. Her brown eyes are sharp and bright, taking in everything around her until she comes to a stop beside Damyn at the foot of the bed. I recognize her immediately.

“Butterfly, this is Dr. Neeson. She is here to check on you and the baby.” He gestures to the doctor, the corner of her lips lifting slightly in acknowledgement. Yes, bitch, I remember all the times you tortured me. The needles, poking and prodding, blood tests and painful pelvic exams. My family’s personal doctor.

This can’t be happening. I don’t want this woman, this horrible excuse of a doctor anywhere near me. My eyes widen and I tilt my head at Damyn, giving him the “are you fucking for real face.” He is acting as if this is normal. I have been kidnapped, taken against my will, and he comes in hereafter three days with a doctor like it’s a goodwill gesture. Not just any doctor. He brings the woman who’s danced around in my nightmares for years. Why is she here? Why would he bring her when he knew what my parents did to me? What they let her do to me.

I cross my arms over my chest and stare them both down. “No.”

“No?” he replied with a harsh bark.

I let the force of his words hit me, but it doesn’t affect me. Noticing my lack of response, the eyebrow with the scar lifts slightly before the smile slides from his face. The change in his demeanor is so drastic it makes me flinch away. His eyes narrow, as if he’s warning me not to challenge him. The little voice in my head is screaming at me to shut my mouth, to not fight him, but this is my body.

“You heard me,” I say, attempting to stand my ground. I know I shouldn’t be defiant; I can’t afford to be. But letting Dr. Neeson touch me?—

Damyn moves so fast I don’t get a chance to scramble away. He yanks me across the bed, grabbing my arm and drags me over the mattress, making me cry out in pain. “Let me go, Damyn!” I shout, punching and kicking to no avail. It does nothing, he doesn’t even grunt from the impact. When I get out of this, because I will get out of this, Dez is teaching me how to kick ass.

He sits on the bed, placing me on his lap, the scent of rain and pine washes over me and I want to recoil away from him. To think I once thought Damyn’s scent was enticing, now, I want to vomit. This close proximity has a dizzying effect, my body is physically rejecting his. Damyn’s arms band around my waist so tightly I’m finding it hard to breathe.

“Damyn, pleas?—”

“Now,” he croons into my ear before burying his nose inmy hair and taking a long deep breath. “You think I don’t remember you telling me about the good doctor here.” He lets his nose travel down my neck, a sickening shudder wracks my body. “Oh, don’t think for a second I would let her harm you, Butterfly. But we have a problem you and I.” One of Damyn’s hands inch downward until it rests over my belly, giving me a sense of unease. What does he mean problem?

“We don’t have a problem, Damyn,” I whisper, keeping my head down so only he can hear me. Although, I am sure Dr. Neeson can hear me regardless. “I. . .I don’t want her near me. How did you get my family’s doctor here?” I ask, then it hits me, and I try to squirm out of his grip. “Do my parents know I’m here? What is going on? I thought you were protecting me?—”

“Shhh. . .Butterfly, Shhh.” Damyn pulls my body flush with his. My ass presses down against his hard cock, he releases a groan of pleasure, then sighs. One of his arms holds me under my breast, while the other stays firmly around my waist. Damyn’s lips brush my cheek, giving me a hint of a kiss before he continues. “Remember what I told you, ’you would hate me”. Well, this is another one of those times. Dr. Neeson is here to give you an ultrasound and check on the baby. She will come and go until you give birth, then she will take the baby away.”

I shake my head in disbelief. I don’t move for a moment. I stare up at Dr. Neeson and she wears a satisfied smile as she looks right back at me. “Freeya. I had a feeling you would be the most fertile of all your sisters. You were good for something after all.” Her brow raises as the corners of her lips lift up in a smirk. “Did you really think your mother and father wouldn’t get what they were owed? You should be thanking them, grateful to fulfill your role in your family, finally.” She tsks as I slowly shake my head no. Thisfucking can’t be happening. I must be dreaming. I have to be.

“Oh yes.” She nods her head, mocking me. She turns to the ultrasound machine and begins to set up as she continues. “Damyn may have prevented them from getting to you all these years, but it seems our needs have finally aligned. Haven’t they, Damyn?” Damyn’s hold tightens for a brief second and it’s all the confirmation I need. He took me from my mates and now he’s betrayed me further. Rage bubbles up in my chest, a growl escapes my lips and I bare my teeth at this bitch. She will take my baby over my dead fucking body. If it comes to it, I’ll kill myself rather than give my child over to those monsters.

I begin to struggle in Damyn’s arms as Dr. Neeson starts to roll the machine around to the left side of the bed. “I will monitor you. You will have the baby and it will be handed over to your parents as payment for the deal you broke years ago. Unfortunately, as I told them all those years ago, you had no control over biology. The chances you would become a Beta were small, but science doesn’t always have the ability to accurately predict the true outcome. But your child on the other hand, the potential.” She smiles as if she can’t wait.

My eyes widen in horror as memories of my past hit me all at once. Dr. Neeson is practically giddy as she moves toward us.

“No. Damyn, you can’t just give my baby away!” I scream. “He or she is not yours to give. I am mated, Damyn. Mated!!” I scream.

“I have no choice. The child is not mine. I can’t let you keep it. Would you rather I kill it?” He lifts his brow suggestively, the question leaves me reeling, wanting to recoil in revulsion, but he’s holding me so tight, struggling is futile. “This is for the best and your parents will afford us moreprotection by keeping their mouths shut in regard to where you are. You see, I know your mates will go looking in their direction, the baby is an excellent bargaining chip. I hate them just as much as you do, Butterfly, but I would rather they not send them in my direction out of spite,” he says, and I lose my shit. He had a choice, a choice to leave me alone. To leave me with— I fight against his hold but it’s no use. Helpless tears begin to pour down my face. The thought of my child being subjected to the things I had to endure. I thrash in his hold until I briefly free one of my arms long enough to throw my hand back. The sound of a sickening crunch gives me a brief sense of satisfaction.

Damyn roars in my ears, his grip on me lessens enough for me to spring into action. I scramble across the bed, glancing quickly over my shoulder to see blood running down his nose. I smile to myself, wishing I could have done more. Eyeing the restroom door, I attempt to make a run for it. If I can lock myself in maybe I can buy myself some time.

“There’s nowhere to run, Butterfly,” Damyn says from behind me as I make it halfway across the room, only to be yanked back by the chain around my ankle. With a shriek of surprise, I am air born. My legs are wrenched from underneath me, and I fall hard, turning so my shoulder takes the brunt of the impact. I hear an ominous snap, followed by my screams of pain, as black dots dance around my vision and I fight to remain conscious. I try to pull my body forward on my good arm but it’s no use.

“Be careful, Damyn!” Dr. Neeson shouts as he drags me back to the bed by the chain.

“Don’t do this! Please, Damyn. If you love me. You wouldn’t do this. This will destroy me,” I plead in desperation. I will do anything to stop this from happening and if I need to lean into old feelings, I will do so to save my child’slife. A life that has barely begun to grow inside of me. I will not survive another nine months like this.

Suddenly, I am lifted off the floor. I whimper in pain as I attempt to cradle my arm to my chest. I think it’s broken. “Look at you, Butterfly. I told you not to run, now you’re hurt. I promise you. Once this is over, it will be you and me. Then, I will give you another baby.” Damyn tsks disapprovingly as he gingerly lays me down on the bed. “Now, I have no choice but to restrain you further.”

I don’t fight when he pulls leather straps over my body and buckles me down to the bed. I turn my head away from Dr. Neeson as she begins her examination. The sound of the rapid beating of a heart reaches my ears and I fall apart. I close my eyes and let the tears fall. The realization of my situation hits me like a punch to the gut.

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