Chapter One
The Game
"Do you think he will be ok?"
"The bruise on his cheek will go away in a few days, there appears to be bruising on his ribs and he will wake up with a rather nasty head ache due to the drug." The doctor sighed as he looked up at the large Alpha who was pacing along the expensively decorated room. He focused back on his patient; this sort of house call wasn't uncommon, an Alpha hurting their mate. It disgusted him. "It's nothing a few painkillers, water and time won't heal"
The Alpha growled not liking the tone that the Beta doctor used, as if he blamed him for the injuries on the Omega.
"Here is my card, I would like to come back and check on the Omega's recovery" the doctor held out a business card to the pacing Alpha after he had packed away his equipment.
That caused the Alpha to stop in his tracks "There is no need for that, the Omega will be fine." he took out his phone and sent a quick text "I have a doctor waiting to check him once we arrive in Russia"
The Beta paled slightly, Russia wasn't the best place in the world for Omega rights. He silently feared for his patients well fare, as if sensing his unease at the situation, the Alpha turned his attention to the doctor. The poor Beta took a step back only to meet the couch where his unconscious patient lay peacefully unaffected by the strong Alpha pheromones.
"Don't worry doctor, he will remain unharmed. I do not favour Omegas, but this one is under my care now and I assure you that he will be safe." he took in a deep breath to calm himself down; the Beta's scent was neutral and had the wanted effect of calming down the Alpha. "Now leave. I have a meeting to attend to and I do not like being late"
With the obvious dismissal, the doctor averted his eyes to the floor and nodded "So-sorry Mr Braginski" Quickly the Beta doctor rushed out of the hotel room.
Ivan exhaled loudly as he looked over to the slumbering Omega, his hand casually running through his pale blond hair, causing it to become dishevelled as his free hand fished out his phone to call his assistant. The meeting could wait, right now he much more pressing issues.
{ ~ : ¤ : ~ }
Everything hurt everywhere. There were of course certain places on the Omega's body that hurt more than others, the main ones being his chest, throat and head. He desperately needed a drink. Slowly Francis opened his eyes his blurred surroundings weren't a good sign, he started to panic, he couldn't get a scent of where he was, but he sure wasn't home. His senses were dulled, he hurt all over, and this could only mean something as had happened. In a slow and sluggish movement he ran his hand down his body checking if he still had clothes on, which was a yes, but he was under a blanket, a very soft warm blanket which he nuzzled into a bit. Relief washed his system and he closed his eyes and tried to recall what had happened.
After a long graveyard shift at the Omega clinicall Francis wanted was normal a cup of chamomile tea and at least ten hours of sleep, though the things he had saw on his shift could easily give him nightmares. A young Omega, who had just had his first heat, came in crying after being raped, he was barely sixteen. There were a few forced heats gone wrong and the obvious Omega abuse. Maybe his friends could take away his hatred of the world with a few drinks, but all the Omega wanted was his soft bed.
As soon as he entered the apartment his nose was hit with the strong scent of alcohol and a familiar Alpha, if he had been more awake he would have smelt the anxiety in the air, but instead he was quite as he made his way through to the small kitchen. Francis was surprised to see his father awake and waiting for his in their tiny kitchen and instantly he was more awake.
"Bonjour papa" he said with a slight hesitant smile. Francis looked at his father as he poured boiled water into two waiting mugs.
"Bonjour" brown eyes met with blue for a brief moment; there was sadness and regret in his father's eyes.
It wasn't an odd sight tosee his father making him tea, just uncommon. So when the cup of camomile tea was pushed along the kitchen counter towards him, Francis smiled politely and took the cup.
"Papa?"Francis could sense his father's unease, something was wrong.
"Drink up François; you have had a long day. The tea will help relax you as always" it wasn't an order, but there was a demanding nature to it.
"Oui" the Omega said was he brought the cup to his lips, he enjoyed times like this. His father was sober, had done something nice for him, it was perfect. "The tea is a little too sweet" he tried not to make it sound like a complaint, but he never put sugar in his tea.
The Alpha smiled sadly, something was definitely wrong "I'm sorry François, it slipped my mind." he motioned for Francis to follow him into the sitting room.
"My dear son, look how big you have grown" the way his father had said those words had Francis confused; it was as if he was leaving. "I-I do not know-" he exhaled loudly "Please finish your tea" Francis obliged taking a few more sips of the hot liquid, his mind wondering what his father was trying to say "I will accept if you never forgive me, Mon Cher. I would not have done it if I thought I wouldn't win, they cheated somehow! I'm sure of it" Francis sunk back into the relative safety of his soft couch, his father was angry.
There was a growing fear in him about what it was his father had done to get him like this "What did you do?" he asked after placing the half empty cup onto the coffee table, next to his fathers untouched coffee.
"Please Francis!" his father snapped "finish your tea, I took time to make sure that you will not be in any discomfort while I tell you the news!" the cup was once again in Francis had, he did want to anger the already agitated Alpha.
After a few moments of silence while Francis finished his tea with haste, his father spoke once more "I want you to know that I will always care for you and love you and I will search for you-"
"Ssearchformee?" Francis yawned, dear lord he need to sleep before he fainted on the carpet. "What happened?"
"I went to Vargas, tried to get some money at a game of poker" this wasn't good, Romeo was the worst at poker, he could never keep a straight face "I was already in a lot of debt and I, I-" there was a harsh knocking on the door to the apartment and Francis paled he was pulling together things, but his mind was so fuzzy "Shit! I'm so sorry Francis" his father grabbed his son by his forearms and pulled him close.
"Why?" he heard himself ask even if he had not moved his lips.
"You were the only thing that they wanted" came the answer he had dreaded.
They. The mafia, his father had sold him to the mafia to clear his debts. Suddenly the room was host to two newAlphas, both strongly built; they must have managed to break the door down. Francis weakly pushed his father away his movements sluggish and as he tried to stand for up it was as if someone had put the world of a merry go round, the Omega felt sick. "What did you"do!?He wanted to shout but his voice was soft and slurred together.
"So you wouldn't struggle, they won't hurt you like this" the voice of his father becamewarped as if his head was being held under water.
Francis felt a strong arm wrap around his waist, pulling him away from his father and lift him off the floor, instantly he started to kick the heavy lug that was carrying him. There was a curseas he hit the Alpha in the nuts, he was let go, but he couldn't stand on his own twofeet and came crashing down. There was a coffee table there, but instead of pain there was a numbtingling sensationand then a cloth covered his mouth and nose. Francis gasped in shock, but inhaled the chemical that was on the cloth and suddenly everything went black.
Francis groaned, he had been sold by his own father to the mafia and to top it off his head hurt as if he had been hit by and eighteen wheeler, that must be the double whammy of drugs he was given to sedate him. He pulled the blanket closer to himself.
The door opened "Good you are awake" came a voice that was heavily accented with something like Russian, "Here is some water and painkillers, the doctor said you would need them." Francis looked at the slender male that came into his immediate vision, they were a little blurred around the edges, but they eventually came into focus. He took a cautious sniff of the air. Beta. Mated. They had short blond hair, that was straight and reminded Francis of a bowl cut, it suit him. The Beta wore glasses and behind that was a set of lovely blue eyes, which went well with his powder blue suit and red tie, he dresses well.
Francis relaxed a little, but there was no way he was going to take anything that the stranger was offering. "Here, have the packets, they are just painkillers. It'll numb the pain, and it's safe to take while..." he paused as if he was trying to find the right words "In your situation" in other words 'drugged up'.
Francis' noticed that he was lying on his back in an extremely soft bed -it had to be memory foam- , once again he took a sniff, concentrating on the other scents. There was a strong scent of an Alpha, but it was a bit stale as if the Alpha hadn't been in the room for more than a few days, Francis didn't know whether to relax or be worried. He pushed himself up so that he was resting on his elbows and then sat up with his back resting against the head board, a pang of light headedness hit. Dear God he was going to throw up.
As if sensing this or reading his mind the still to be named Beta held out a small waste bin, Francis took it with a grateful smile, he didn't want to throw up in the expensive looking room. The nausea left without any need to empty his already empty stomach. The Omega placed the waste bin beside him in bed and reached out to the water bottle, it was still sealed, so he hoped it was safe. After a few gulps of water his throat no longer ached, but felt sticky. Francis caved in and also took the pills, he was a doctor and had used the brand before, plus his chest hurt, there must be some bruising.
Through all of this the Beta stood beside the bed, waiting patiently for something "Sorry, throats a little sore" Francis managed to get out his voice was strained.
"That's fine, it was expected. We were starting to worry that you would not wake up, you have been asleep for over thirty three hours" that long?! It must have been a combination of a sixteen hour shift and sleeping drugs. "I am Mr Eduard Bock, Mr Braginski's personal assistant"
"My owner?" Francis said cautiously after a few more sips of water. It was only common sense that he worked for the Alpha who had own him.
Mr Bock frowned slightly "Yes," he readjusted his glasses "He is in a meeting right now, but he will be home soon" what did the Alpha work as? Wait he was part of the mafia, so he must do some sort of dangerous thing that is against the law, Francis probably didn't even want to find out.
The Omega only nodded; maybe he could escape before the Alpha got home "Where am I?" If he knew where he was then it would be easier to get home, he knew Paris like the back of his hand, he must be in the more expensive upper-class areas. As a doctor he had made a few house calls to the fancier neighbourhoods and the rooms were just like the one he was in currently.
The Beta looked a little hesitant as if he was guarding himself for the reaction that Francis would have "You are currently in Mr Braginski's countryside home" Ok so the countryside was a little bit further than he expected to be and he had no money on him, maybe he could steal a car? The Braginski dude must have more than one car in the garage.
"How far are we from Paris?"
"Roughly three hours," that was a relief- "by private jet" wait what!
Francis' felt as if he couldn't breathe, his chest suddenly too tight and his throat closing. What did the Beta mean by that? They couldn't be out of France! What country were they in? Three hours by a private jet could take you almost anywhere in Europe, so at least he knew that he was still in the same continent.
Braginski. The name was name must be Eastern European, Russian most likely, Belarusian at a push, possibly Ukrainian. "Whe-" he rethought his question "What country am I in?"
Eduard smiled sadly "Russia"
That is what he had thought, but it left him with a lot more questions. What was a member of the Italian mafia doing in Russia? How did he get him through the airport undetected? Surely Omega rights weren't so bad that the government wouldn't bat an eye lid to an unconscious Omega being brought into the country, probably against his will? What about the French authorities? Did they not care about its own citizen being taken out of the country?
"I think I need to rest a little while longer" his voice quiet, broken and sad. Francis lay back down into the soft bed, he felt like crying. Why him?
Even the Beta could sense this sadness; Francis could feel taste the pity in the air around him and it disgusted him. The door was closed without a word. As soon as it was Francis threw the blankets away from his body and got out of the bed, there had to be a way out before Braginski came back home. The first thing that he checked was the large windows and all he saw was snow and trees, the house must have been far from any sort of town or city.
At an almost frantic pace Francis dashed towards the road, he was bare footed, so his steps were soft against the carpeted floor. He pressed his ear flushed to the door in hopes that there would be no one wandering the halls or guards posted at his door. For a few quiet, breathless moments Francis waited and when he was happy that Eduard or anyone else was not present in the hallway, he opened the door. Slowly of course. His head poked out from the room checking that the passage was well and truly clear of anyone, to his relief he found no one. The Frenchman walked out of the room and down the hallway to a set of stairs, there was a bit of chatter downstairs, so he waited until they moved, until the chatter died down.
There was a risk that the grand stairs would creak no matter how softly he tried to walk, but as if the God finally were favouring him, the stairs were well maintained and didn't make a sound as he descended. There were a set of outdoor clothing beside the door, which Francis put on. The snow boots were too big for him and the jacket made him feel like a smaller version of the Marshmallow Man, but it would keep him warm in the cold weather. Who knew how long it would take for him to get to civilisation.