Beta Complex

Chapter 71: The Beta That Belongs to Him

"Don’t move." Beau mutters, his eyebrows narrowed. His head aches at the building scent in the room, his breath shallow as he tries not to breathe too much of it into his lungs. Chris had said that Zander took steroids. Just what are they thinking trying to give this to beta?

"W-whats going on?" Ethan whispers, his voice hoarse and shaky. With his limited movements there’s only so much he can see and understand.

Beau clenches his jaw when Zander’s head tilts towards the beta, his gaze shifting to look at Ethan. The dominant alpha’s body is tense, his muscles tight as if he’s ready to pounce at any moment. The purple ring around his irises have grown thicker, more prominent than they have ever been before. This is too dangerous. There are too many people in the room with him. An omega and two alphas in the same space as his imprinted mate. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.

"Screw this." Chris shrieks, and he turns around to run.

"No, don’t!" Zalia shouts, but it’s too late. Zander’s purple and green gaze shifts to the omega and he lunges, a growl emitting from his throat. He bares his teeth, and tackles the omega to the floor.

Chris screams and Zalia and Beau jump onto Zander to pull him off. Beau manages to get Zander’s hands behind his back, his forearms straining with all of his strength as he slowly drags him up.

"Get him out!" Beau bites out through gritted teeth. Zander rumbles from deep within his chest, the sound deep and animalistic. God damn it. "I can’t hold him for long. Call security."

All Ethan can do is lay where he is and listen, his heart pounding in his chest.

Zalia grabs Chris’ hand but the omega dodges her. He flashes her a mean smile, and without looking back at them, he runs to Ethan’s side.

"Damn-" Zalia clenches her jaw, her gaze on Zander as she cautiously backs away from him. If she turns around and runs to stop Chris, Zander will surely struggle harder and get free. If he sees an alpha - whether it’s his sister or not - he will see her as a threat for being near his imprinted mate.

"What are you-" Ethan doesn’t finish his sentence when Chris pulls out a second syringe.

"Good thing I brought another, huh?" He grins, and then plunges it into the crook of Ethan’s arm.

"Are you kidding me?!" Zalia screeches, her voice high pitched.

Ethan tries to twist away, but with his injuries, it’s impossible to do. Not to mention it’s too late.

"It’s for your own good." Chris breathes, his eyes glittering. Cold liquid flows into Ethan’s veins and the beta grows weary. He blinks up at him, his heart picking up pace and the beating of the monitor becomes more prominent.

"Fuck," Beau let’s go of Zander’s arms and the dominant alpha launches forward, towards the omega that looms over his beta.

"Why-" Zalia gets cut off when Beau grabs her arm and drags her out of the room.

"It’s his own fault." He mutters as they flee. "He could’ve left it and saved himself but he did what he did, so that’s on him." They disappear out into the hall.

Ethan blinks up, his vision growing blurry before the cool liquid in his veins turns burning hot. Thick veiny arms wrap around Chris’ chest and he’s dragged back. A loud growl sends shivers down his spine, the air thick with a dominating pressure. Normally the omega would be withering with pleasure rather than pain, but the scent emitting from the dominant alpha is not meant for him.

It’s meant for the beta that belongs to Zander.

"You were supposed to be holding him!" Chris cries out though there is no one there to hear him. Then the alpha’s hands wrap tightly around his neck. "N-no!" Chris chokes out as his breath gets trapped in his lungs. He claws at Zander’s wrists, his eyes growing wide. "L-let," He groans out, his words ending on a soundless breath. "Go!"

Ethan blinks up at the ceiling, his eyes growing blurry as he struggles to stay awake. His veins feel like they’re on fire, his skin itchy like they don’t belong on his body.

"Z-zander," He croaks out, his voice barely audible in the rest of the chaos of the room. Where is he? "Zander," he croaks out louder. Goose bumps rise on his skin despite the sweat that drips down the side of his temple. His body shivers, his throat burning like he just swallowed acid.

The alpha straddling the omega on the floor pauses. Chris is purple in the face, his movements growing weak at the lack of oxygen to his brain.

"Zander," Ethan murmurs weakly, his good arm reaching up only to grab at air. Why isn’t Zander there with him? "Zander, please." His words grow weaker in volume, fear claws at his insides, and he feels like he’s going to die.

Zander releases the omega’s neck, ignoring the way he hacks as Chris gasps for breath, and lifts his head to the bed beside him. Strands of black hair stick to his forehead, his pupils large. He comes to stand beside the bed, and leans over the beta, his eyes unfocused as he blinks down at him. The smell of his sweat damp skin eases the uncomfortable rage inside him. He notices the needle still in his arm and pulls it out.

When the crook of his arm starts to bleed, Zander frowns. He leans down, the tip of his nose brushing against his skin, and licks the blood away.

Ethan blinks, trying to clear his vision, but it doesn’t work. "Zander?" He whispers. "It hurts."

Zander turns back to Ethan and nuzzles his face into the betas neck, taking a deep breath that calms his racing heart. He licks a long line against the length of his cheek and sighs. He climbs into bed with the beta, avoiding the casts on him and wraps his arms around his waist.

It feels a lot less chaotic now, with only them in the room. Out in the hall, Zalia and Beau peek inside, relieved to see that Zander doesn’t seem so violent.

"What about Chris?" Zalia murmurs, her gaze shifting to the omega who lays limp on the floor.

"Let’s just hope he’s not dead." Beau mutters.