The days passed. Dr. Milligan had been right; Balthazar could see the difference. Alex was more willing to be around him, less skittish even. She didn't wake up crying out Dean's name anymore either. Alex refused to admit there was a difference, insisting to herself that the dissociation was coming back now that she was no longer with Dean.
Balthazar noticed the slight dissociation, too. One day, he found Alex sitting in the arboretum. She was staring off into space, and didn't notice his entrance. "Alex." The alpha sat down on the ground next to her.
Alex didn't answer, studying her hands.
"Alex. I was calling for you."
The beta let out a noncommittal grunt, blinking slowly.
Balthazar sighed. "Come on back to me, darling." He shifted closer, resting his head against her neck. He kissed up her jawline, and Alex stirred slightly, shifting away.
"Stop," she whispered.
"No." Suddenly, Balthazar tackled her to the ground, rolling her over in the soft grass so she was looking up at him. "I've been giving you some space these past few days," he began, kissing her, "but I think it's time we realize that we need a kid."
At those words, Alex began to struggle.
The alpha looked down at her. "Don't you like that idea?" he whispered, dropping his head closer to hers. "You don't want to carry my pups? Why, you should be honored, my dear. I chose you out of all the omegas. Of course," he added, lowering his voice, "I can put you into a breeding program." He sat up, facing pondering. "I suppose I'd get more money - and more betas - that way."
Alex shook her head desperately, not sure if he was joking or not. But she knew she didn't want to be in a breeding program. "Please don't," she whispered. "I'll, I'll carry your pups. Just, please. D-Don't put me in . . ." She couldn't bring herself to complete the sentence.
Balthazar looked thoughtful. "Tempting offer. I'll think about it." He leaned down. "Then again, maybe I'll just fuck you here. Would you like that?"
Alex gulped nervously. If she refused, she might be put in the breeding mill. If she didn't, she would have to carry this alpha's pups. Either way, she was boned.
Balthazar kissed her, shifting so his knees rested in between hers, spreading her legs apart. Alex just lay there, letting him do as he pleased. After several minutes, Balthazar got fed up. "Dammit, Alex," he growled. "If I wanted to have sex with a mindless idiot, I'd find an omega. For God's sake, do something!"
Just then, the doorbell rang. Alex watched as he got up and stormed away, and a small whimper escaped her throat at the thought that he was disappointed in her. She pushed it away, running her hand through her hair.
"I don't know," she heard Balthazar say. "She doesn't really hate me anymore, but I wish she'd at least react. She just kind of lays there when I . . . you know." He sighed frustratedly.
"I don't know." Alex recognized Dr. Milligan's voice. "Maybe she just needs some time. At least she hadn't tried to run away."
"She can't."
At that, Alex reached up, fingers brushing over the shock collar around her neck. She felt the lock that kept it around her neck with a rush of disgust. Balthazar and Dr. Milligan entered.
"A shock collar?" Dr. Milligan looked over at Balthazar.
The alpha shrugged. "She dug the tracker out of her hand last time. She can't leave the property now without getting shocked. And I've hidden the key."
"Perhaps she'd be more responsive if you removed the collar," the doctor suggested. "A little trust can go a long ways."
"Once she's worthy of my trust, I'll give it." Balthazar walked over to Alex, sitting down next to her. She whimpered slightly, leaning into his touch.
"That's definitely an improvement."
Balthazar grunted. "She won't go any farther than this." He brushed a light kiss on the side of her head. "Isn't that right?"
Anger flashed through her for a second. "You threatened to send me to a breeding mill," she growled, voice cracking slightly.
"I haven't threatened anything. I just said that I could make more money using you as a breeder."
Alex closed her eyes.
"I don't think she likes that idea."
"No shit, Sherlock," Alex growled.
A hand came down on her cheek, and she shied away. "Be nice," Balthazar warned her. Alex adverted her eyes, grumbling an apology. "I don't know." Balthazar let out a sigh, standing up. "Shall we go out to lunch?" he asked, looking down at his watch. "My treat."
The alphas left, and Alex closed her eyes.
...
Half and hour later, her phone rang. She answered it, confused. "Hello?"
"Alex?" Dean's worried voice came through. "Are you okay? I - it's been almost a week."
Alex's voice shook. "I shouldn't be talking to you."
"I, what? It's - he mated you, didn't he?" Dean's voice grew angry. "Son of a bitch. I felt it. Five hours after you left, I felt it, Alex. It - it hurt."
"I know." Alex swallowed. "It, I'm sorry, Dean. I - he handcuffed me, he's stronger than I am. I tried, Dean."
"I know, baby." Dean was silent for several seconds. "I'm working hard. I'll be able to by you back in a year or two. Couple people have donated some money. Maybe others will to. I'm coming for you -"
"No." Alex forced her voice into steadiness. "Please, Dean. I - it's too late for me. By the time you get enough, I . . . I'll have kids."
The line was silent. There was a loud crash, and Alex closed her eyes. "Dean. I'm sorry."
"You damn right better be sorry," Dean snarled. "Since when have you ever given up?!"
"I can't keep fighting. It's not going to matter." Alex lowered her head to her knees. "Either I'm going to have Balthazar's kids, or he'll put me in a breeding mill."
"So? You're gonna lay down and surrender? Is that it? No! You gotta keep fighting. 'Cause I'm sure as hell gonna."
"Dean. I'm so, so sorry. But you're not my mate anymore. I love you, Dean. But to everyone else, it doesn't matter. We're just pawns here. Please. Get the kids back. Get another mate for yourself. Maybe someone pretty this time, and don't-"
"Damn you, Alex! Damn you to hell!"
"Dean? Dean!" Alex hung up disgustedly. She angrily threw her phone across the small arboretum, and it hit the glass window. She buried her head back in her knees, but couldn't find it in her to cry.
...
Balthazar came back an hour later. Seeing Alex, he frowned, sitting down beside her. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." As she spoke, her phone rang. Balthazar got up, confused. "Leave it," Alex growled. She knew it was Dean; he had been calling for almost ten minutes now.
Balthazar didn't. He picked up the phone, frowning when he saw who it was. "Why is Dean calling you?"
"I said 'leave it,' "Alex growled again.
Suddenly she was hauled to her feet and shoved against the glass wall. "Alex . . ." Balthazar growled.
"It doesn't matter," Alex whispered. "I, it's over between us. He's not my mate anymore."
Balthazar looked down into your face. "And who is your mate?" he asked, a small smile playing across his lips.
"You are," Alex whispered obediently, lowering her gaze.
"That's right." The alpha kissed her. "You're my mate." He let her go, noticing how she slinked away. He sighed, running a hand through his short blonde hair.
Alex found Dr. Milligan in the living room, sitting on the couch. Seeing him, she immediately turned and disappeared towards the library.
...
After a few minutes, she stepped out of the library, moving towards the back of the house. ". . . like I'm living with . . . a cat, or something." The sound of Balthazar's voice stopped her. "Like, she's friendly, I guess, but aloof. Stand-offish."
Dr. Milligan replied in a low voice, and Alex moved closer, wanting to hear what they were saying.
"I don't know," Balthazar replied. "I mean, she'll let me handle her, but the moment I let her go, she walks away."
"Maybe you broke her," Dr. Milligan joked dryly. "Not 'broke her in', but broke her. Well, don't collar a beta, as they use to say. Perhaps it do you well to take heed that warning literally."
"If I un-collar her, she'll run off."
"You know where she'll go. Straight to Dean."
Balthazar was silent for a second, and Alex shook her head from her hiding spot. "I don't think so," her alpha finally said. "Alex said Dean wasn't her mate anymore, and that it was over between them."
"Really? That's interesting. Perhaps she'll come around with some more time."
Balthazar let out a breath. "Maybe."