Alex was curled up in the backseat, refusing to cry. Both Balthazar and Crowley had tried to talk to her, but she simply refused to answer. "Is this really the best idea?" Crowley finally asked. "Both you and I know how much betas need their mate-"

"I'm her mate," Balthazar snapped. "The minute we get back, I'm going to claim her."

Alex growled, and Balthazar huffed angrily, silencing her.

"She's not going to like it."

"Of course she's not going to like it." The alpha's tone told Alex they had had this conversation before. "But it's got to be done."

Alex shifted, the handcuffs chaffing. She closed her eyes, burying her head in the leather. "Dean." She whimpered her mate's name miserably.

"Alex. Sit up."

Alex slowly did as she was asked.

"Did you have sex with Dean?"

Alex gave no answer, and Crowley leaned over the seat, grabbing her neck to pull her closer. Alex half-heartedly struggled as the alpha pulled the hem of her shirt to the side. "The bond mark's fresh."

Balthazar roughly shoved her back against the seat. "Fucking beta. Is this how you treat me?"

"Of course we re-bonded. Dean. Is. My. Mate." Alex leaned forward angrily. "You. Are. Not." A hand came down on her head, and she collapsed on the backseat. She curled back up, running light fingers over the mark - their mark. Hers and Dean's. "I'd rather throw myself out of this car than mate with you," she growled. "Rather die."

Balthazar chuckled in false amusement. "Adam said she'd act like this until I mated her. She'll come around after I've claimed her."

Alex curled up tighter, holding back tears. "I just want a normal life," she whispered shakily. "I want my mate, and I want my children. Is that too much to ask?"

"You will have a normal life," Balthazar replied, forced patience in his voice. "With me. We'll have kids, and both you and they will be treated like alphas. Perhaps even better."

"I don't want you," Alex spat.

The car fell silent.

"Do you know that mating with her will change her attitude?"

Balthazar's confidence faltered for a second. "Adam said it would. He's the beta expert."

"Betas have been extinct for over two hundred years. Milligan is just speculating."

"Well, I've got to try."

...

Four hours later, Alex was roughly shoved back into Balthazar's house. He dragged her to the bedroom, ignoring how she kicked and screamed. Tears streamed down her face, and Alex fought as hard as she could. But he was strong. She was thrown into the bedroom, and the door was locked behind them. Then Balthazar grabbed her by the neck and forced her towards the bed. Alex lashed out desperately as her back hit the mattress. She struggled to get back up, but her wrists were forced above her head. There was a click, and suddenly one hand was immobile. Another click, and she couldn't move her wrists.

Alex struggled against the handcuffs, breathing growing ragged. Balthazar straddled her hips, keeping her down as he stripped off his shirt. "Sh," he soothed, running a hand down the side of her face. "We'll make this quick, okay? You'll feel better afterwards."

"Dean!" Alex screamed her mate's name desperately. "Dean-" She was cut off as Balthazar pressed his lips against hers. She pursed her lips firmly, refusing to kiss him back. His tongue ran along the seam of her lips, and Alex opened her mouth with false willingness. When the wet organ slid in, she bit down.

Balthazar yanked his head back in pain, eyes smoldering. "You little bitch," he hissed angrily. "I'm trying to make this more enjoyable -"

Alex snarled through the tears, her position remaining clear.

"Fine." Balthazar unbuttoned his jeans, sliding them off. He pulled her shirt above her head, leaving it wrapped up by the handcuffs. Hands ran down her chest, pushing her bra up before skirting over her breasts.

Alex shivered at the touch, her struggling renewed with fervor. Balthazar's hands continued downwards, curling around her hip bones and running over her jean-clad thighs. "Sh." He leaned down, kissing up and down her neck, pressing his bare chest into hers. "This'll be easier if you relax for me."

...

It was painful for both of them. Alex fought, pushing him away with her legs whenever the alpha let down his guard. Her body was physically unwilling to submit beneath the strange alpha, refusing to produce the natural lubricant necessary for sex.

Balthazar finally gave up trying to make this feel good for her. His hands tried to get a purchase on the sheets by the beta's head, slick from the KY he had had to use. Finally, with one last thrust, he came, roughly sinking his teeth into her neck, covering Dean's bond mark.

Alex felt the bond break, and a heart-wrenching scream was pulled from her throat, fading into a low whimper. Balthazar didn't move from on top of her, and Alex felt the unfamiliar pressure building before realizing what it was.

"You beta's don't have knots, do you?" Balthazar drawled, kissing her quickly. "I'm tied to you now. Will be for the next half hour or so." He reached up. "Can I trust you enough to free you?"

Alex nodded defeatedly, jaw trembling. The handcuffs were unlocked, and the alpha gently massaged her sore wrists, bringing them down to kiss the insides of them gently. His lips brushed over the sensitive skin, and Alex suppressed a shiver.

"So," the alpha whispered, rolling them so they were both laying on their side, "do you still think you could never come to love me?"

Alex didn't answer, closing her eyes. Dean wasn't her mate anymore. She would never see him again. She wondered if Dean had felt their breaking, if it had hurt him as much as it did her.

She heard Balthazar sigh. "I guess it'll take a little longer for the bonding to take effect," he murmured. "Alex." The alpha took her head in his hand, lifting it so she could look into his eyes. "Come on, sweetheart. It wasn't that bad. I'm sorry I did that, but I had to." He kissed her forehead gently. "You're better off here."

Alex shook her head, but buried it into the alpha's chest. Balthazar pulled her closer, sighing into her hair.

...

When he was able to slide out of her, Alex was asleep. It was almost time for dinner, so he pulled on a pair of sweatpants, made sure the windows were still locked, and left the room. He crossed the house to the kitchen to make dinner.

Alex stirred groggily. The memories came back, and she choked back a sob. She lay there, thinking it over. For some reason, she wasn't as angry as she knew she should. She slid out of bed, numbly pulling on her clothes.

Balthazar entered the room. "You're up." Alex growled, and the alpha frowned. "I was hoping your behavior would change."

Alex growled again weakly, refusing to cry. Balthazar sat down next to her, and Alex turned into his chest, pushing her head into his shoulder. The alpha hugged her tight, whispering soft words into her hair. "It's okay, sweetheart," he murmured. "I know you're hurting. But it's going to be okay."

Alex just shook her head. She felt the alpha's hands run down her skin, and she didn't flinch at his touch. "I miss him," she whispered, voice shaking.

"I know, I know. But you've got a new life, now. A better life-"

"No! Dean was my everything." Alex's eyes flashed, and she pulled away. "I love him! I, I need him!"

Balthazar sighed, more annoyed than sympathetic. "Just - come on. Dinner is ready." He helped her to her feet, and Alex followed him into the kitchen.