Beta Complex

Chapter 70: Feral

"Mhm." Chris nods his head. He reaches up to rub the back of his neck, "But Zander refused. He didn’t want to give you the drug because the alpha has a fetish?" He scrunches his eyebrows, "I’ll call it a fetish. To keep you trapped in his home. "

Ethan sucks in a breath, "You’re not making any sense." He mutters. Zander wouldn’t do that. Why would he trap Ethan in his room? And is it a trap when Zander is trying to help him get better? Zander said his doctor is better than anyone else at the hospital.

"What else could it be?" Chris scoffs. He leans forward, his knee raising to rest on the matress. There’s a gleam in his eye, one Ethan hasn’t seen in them before. "The longer you’re injured, Ethan, the longer you’ll have to be in his care. The longer you’ll be by his side. He’s fucking crazy, I tell you."

"But, why would he do that? Zander wouldn’t -" Ethan scoffs but Chris cuts him off.

"He would!" Chris slams his hand on the side table and Ethan flinches. The pitcher of water rattles, the glass cup falling to the ground and shatters. Chris chuckles and straightens up. He runs his hand through his hair and flashes what he hopes is a kind smile. Ethan stares at him wearly. "Sorry. I’m sorry. I’m just so upset with Zander right now, you understand right?"

No, Ethan really doesn’t. He’s not quiet sure why they’re on such bad terms, why Chris feels like he has to go so far to slander him. Surely everything he’s said is a lie. Zander wouldn’t do such a thing. Suddenly he remembers something, something he read on the internet about dominant alphas. When they imprint, it drives them crazy.

Ethan remembers waking up in the middle of the night and someone was moving him. Someone said to give him anesthesia so he’ll fall back to sleep. And after that he woke up in Zander’s room.

What if Chris is telling the truth?

Chris waves his hand and the large alpha man steps up to the bed. He looms over Ethan, his expression blank. He looks bored, as if he could care less about what he’s about to do, like he just wants to get this over with and move on.

That isn’t good for Ethan.

The beta’s eyes widen as his heart monitor picks up pace. The steady beeps are now rapid, filling the bedroom and it’s all he can hear. "Wait, wait!" Ethan lifts his hand, his mind racing with so many thoughts.

There’s too much happening all at once. Chris has feelings for him? Zander is keeping him trapped in his room? He sucks in a breath, not that it’s the main focus right now, seeing as the alpha is about to give him a shot of who knows what. Chris said it was medicine. If it’s just going to heal him then it should be okay, right?

Chris rolls his eyes, "Wait for what?" He scoffs. "This is for your own good, how many times do I have to tell you?"

Ethan blinks, this isn’t the Chris that he’s gotten to know. Chris used to be gentle and kind. The one before him now is annoyed and pushy.

The man above him pauses, the needle inches away from Ethan’s skin when the door opens. Oh thank God, Ethan thinks, his breath escaping him in a huff. Standing on the threshold, Zander stands with Beau and a woman Ethan has never met before. He still wears the clothes that he left in, only his collar is disheveled and he looks pissed off.

The woman behind him looks a lot like Zander though, with long black hair and the same emerald green eyes. Are they related? Ethan is reminded once more of how little he knows about him. Maybe when he gets a new phone he’ll look him up.

"I thought you had work?" Ethan asks with furrowed eyebrows. Then he purses his lips, maybe now isn’t the time to talk about that. Not when Chris is about to force him to take a shot he didn’t really sign up for. He has so many questions though. Is Chris right? Did Zander deny the medicine to keep him here? Is the medicine really going to accelerate his healing?

They stay trapped in his throat, unable to be spoken out loud. He’ll ask another time.

Zander doesn’t reply to him as he takes in the scene before him. At Chris who stands with his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes wide because why is Zander here? He’s not supposed to be here!

He hired someone to throw Zander off his trail and keep him occupied enough so he could get this done. A smile creeps on his face, but maybe this is better. Now he can watch as he turns Ethan into an alpha and ruin all chances Zander have of being with him. Yes, this works out much better.

Zander’s gaze shifts to the man, to the shot in his hand and how it hovers over the crook of Ethan’s elbow.

"Oh shit." Zalia says.

"I told you." Beau scoffs as he waves a hand at them. "It was all a distraction so he could come here."

Ethan glances between them, his confusion only growing. Seriously, what is going on? Chris is telling him one thing, but the way he’s acting is off. And Zander, he looks so angry. Is he mad at him? Did Ethan do something to piss him off?

A growl escapes Zander and Ethan gasps when he lunges forward. Things turn chaotic at that moment, and he can do nothing but watch. Well, as much as he can when his movements are limited.

"Give it to him now!" Chris shrieks as he watches the dominant alpha rushing to his companion that is seconds away from giving Ethan the shot.

He can feel the sharp point of the needle digging into his skin.

"Damn it grab him!" Zalia shouts at the same time, her hands frantic as she gestures to her brother. Beau launches forward, his hands reaching out for his friend.

Zander manages to grab the alpha before he can plunge the liquid into Ethan’s arm. The needle is ripped out and Ethan whimpers, his arm flexing at the sudden pain.

The two crash into the floor, knocking over the side table and water spills everywhere. Beau tackles Zander to the ground, barely managing to rip him off of the stranger. "Don’t kill him!"

Chris yells in frustration, his foot stomping on the ground like a petulant child. "Damn it!"

Beau pauses when he sees the needle sticking out of Zander’s thigh. "Fuck, what is in that? It isn’t gonna kill him right?" He glances up, his eyes going to Zalia first before shifting to the male omega. Maybe he should’ve just let Zander have at the big alpha.

"No!" Chris groans, his blue eyes wide as he stares down at Zander. At the purple liquid seeping into his veins. "L-look at what you’ve done!" He doesn’t seem to care that the alpha he brought with him is unconscious on the ground. Zander starts to seize, his mouth begins to foam and Beau grabs his head to keep it from slamming into the ground. Pheromones emit from every pore on his skin, and everyone in the room gags at the strong scent.

Ethan may not be able to smell it, but he can feel the building pressure in the room. At this moment, he hates that he can’t move his head. He hates that he’s stuck where he is, unable to see a thing, unable to help.

Zalia pinches her nose, but it does little to help the blood that drips. "Shit. Fuck! Seriously, what was in that?"

"For a beta it’s medicine!" Chris says, as he backs away towards the bedroom door. He pushes Zalia out of the way, his hands shaking. "F-for an alpha, it’s basically steroids!"

Zalia gasps.

"Steroids?!" Beau shouts. When Zander stops seizing, he gently lays his friends head on the floor and then he backs away. His nose starts to bleed and he reaches up to wipe it away with his sleeve.

Zander’s eyes snap open, the purple ring around his iris seems to pulse, and Beau curses under his breath when a deep growl emits from the dominant alphas chest.

"He’s going feral." Beau whispers, "How the fuck did you get steroids for alphas?!" His head snaps over to the omega by the door.

"It’s basically a pheromone cocktail." Chris whispers. "I-it’s supposed to turn Ethan into an alpha."

"Are you kidding me?" Zalia puts her hands on his shoulders and shakes him. "There’s a reason my father denied that project! You don’t know what kind of shit you got yourself into-"

"Shut up!" Chris pushes her away.

They all freeze when Zander stands up.