Chapter 3: A Supposed Gift
Her stomach lurched.
A bullet sat proudly on her desk in its own display beneath the monitor stand. The space which she used to keep in touch with the Alpha. Lara swallowed back an uneasy whine, and surveyed the lab for any strays before approaching with measured steps. Her heart beating a mile a minute, jolting as the door hissed open.
Lara hurried to her desk as an entourage of voices entered the lab. She quickly signed in while the newest set of scientists followed behind Jane. Her mind racing as she fidgeted, fingers splayed across the keyboard. Mind unable to form any coherent thoughts which slowed her work down to a snail's pace.
Not that anyone noticed her lapse in productivity amidst all the arguing. Lara snuck a glance at the bullet which looked like a luxurious lipstick from afar. And couldn't help the heavy feeling of dread that took root in her chest. She mentally shook her head, and continued to work. While unknowingly counting down the minutes until the clock struck noon.
Her shoulders loosened.
The sight of her "gift" having scrunched them up into balls of nerves. Lara twitched as Jane crossed the threshold of her cubicle, and extended an invitation for lunch. Not having expected the invasion into her space, but learning to deal with it. She smiled without teeth, and politely declined knowing the tension between them hadn't settled.
Jane didn't push, which Lara took in stride. She waited a moment before peering out the poor excuse of a wall, and reached for the bullet. Lara bit her lip, it carried weight. She rolled the piece of metal in between her fingers with growing trepidation. Her limited knowledge in ammunition making it so the bullet matched the rifle. A heavy duty one most likely seen in movies.
Lara picked at the bottom, and froze, not expecting it to give way. Her eyes darted around for any witnesses, and found none. Then veered back to the bullet with eyes wide open. She swallowed back a lump, and proceeded to unscrew the bottom with delicate fingers. And furrowed her brows at the chamber full of sand.
Taken aback, she tilted the bullet toward the light. Isn't this where the gunpowder is supposed to go?
Uneasiness curled in her stomach as she probed the opening, and felt the loose grains. The gritty texture giving mind to her initial thought. Lara debated using her connections to investigate this matter, but knew the outcome would take too long. Especially, when she had a direct means available to her.
A cheat sheet if you will.
"Jarvis, can you analyze something for me?"
Her hackles rose as an invisible voice chimed in from the ceiling. "Certainly, Ms. Roman."
She deposited the bullet's content's on the computerized table, and lurched back as a hologram appeared out of thin air. The blue lights having triggered an innate response. Lara bared her teeth in a snarl, and looked around frantically. Then straightened her back out of sheer will in the same second. The reflexive action being swept under the metaphorical rug.
The hologram showed a map of the world which spun to highlight a foreign region of land not within the country. Lara shifted, ill at ease at the implication, and growled. The image widening to a satellite view as she stilled. Ice in her veins at the designated tag—a red zone.
"Thank you, Jarvis," she breathed, heart threatening to give out.
Lara walked back to her desk in a daze with the bullet at hand. Her mind in shambles, and in need of a clear objective. Tremors racked her body as she muffled a cry with an open palm. Unable to keep quiet, though following the compulsion to an instinctive level as the tears came unbidden. She hung her head, muscles beyond tense.
Moon-shaped crescents on her face as Lara struggled for control. Mind unwinding for a split second, long enough to form a coherent thought. Is he okay?
She sucked in a breath as a whimper broke free. Then beat it back with a fierce growl that took over the room. Lara unfurled her shoulders, and held her head high. And gritted her teeth as the urge to hide reached a crescendo before fizzling out. Lara exhaled deeply, the ingrained exhaustion haunting her tiny frame. Despite her burden being lightened by her unquestioned anonymity.
Ding.
The sound snapped Lara out of her funk as voices drifted down the hallway. A prickly sensation settling over her neck—second only to the roar of her baser instincts coming alive—which prompted her to reach for the disinfectant. Lara spritzed the air, walked through the cloud of mist, and shoved the bullet in her bag. Fully intent on maintaining her composure in the presence of strangers.
Tendrils of heat crawled up her insides like a flower about to blossom. Lara cracked her neck as a familiar itch resurfaced. Then grimaced at the sensitivity that followed. She rubbed the delicate area over the patch, and couldn't help but shiver. Her nose idly wrinkling in contempt as the lab burst with smells.
Lara removed all traces of discomfort from her face, and smiled as the door opened. Her mouth twitching at the explosion of voices in clear disagreement before rolling her eyes. Lara dry swallowed a suppressant as she moved to intercept the bickering adults. Her patience at an all time low which lingered long after she left the premises.
A ball of restless energy pumped through her veins as Lara groaned along with the other passengers. She eyed the frozen doors of the train, then the platform beyond, and made a decision. Her body squeezed past the slight opening with a grunt, jacket at hand. The brisk air having no effect on her, and disappeared into the crowd.
The flow of traffic guiding her most of the way until a sixth sense told her to stop. Lara loitered outside a grocery store with her feet pointed in a different direction. Unsure what to make of the pressing sensation. She continued on her way, and managed several steps before doubling back. Her chest rumbling as she lugged everything back to the apartment.
To which she began to give a deep clean while under the authority of an unprecedented occupant. Lara spared a glance at the door, her movements hushed. Eyes inexplicably drawn to the nicks, and dents despite there being no reason for it. Lara unknowingly adjusted so her back faced the wall rather than the door.
Her instincts preventing her from doing anything else with such disregard. She wanted to growl at the quiet, but sat down instead. The bed serving as the perfect backrest while her bottom grew numb with the unyielding storage bench. Lara didn't feel it, too busy being entranced with the door. Her eyes burning with the lack of moisture.
She waited, and nothing, then waited some more. Until the lights had their own shadow, and her body grew stiff. The boundless energy being coiled tight like a wire. Lara hardly moved, breath practically nonexistent. Hackles steadily rising in the quiet while she sensed a change in the air. A glimpse of a shadow on the other side of the door.
Lara bolted, heart thundering for another storm. Hand hesitating at the door knob for which she fought back the anxiety. Nostrils flaring as a familiar scent oozed from the cracks, and crevices. She jerked the door open to reveal the Alpha standing sentinel in the doorway. Idly swaying from side to side with a dull look in his eye. Her heart squeezed painfully as a whine escaped her lips.
The sound so pathetic, and small that she couldn't help but whimper. The Alpha instinctively answering with a groan-like rumble. Lara shook her head at the gesture, and approached him slowly. Her hands in plain view as she reached for his arms. Keenly aware of the weapon still attached to the man's thigh, and the bulletproof vest clearly on display. She inched forward, and entered his personal space.
Nose leading the way in a tentative manner before huffing a breath in his direction. Her scent brushing against his senses as she chuffed. A gentle pur emanating from Lara's throat while she placed the Alpha's hands on her shoulders, and leaned back. Effectively pulling the man through the threshold, and into her apartment. All while being careful not to jostle, or make any loud noise.
The Alpha followed her lead unaware of his surroundings, swaying each time they paused for breath. Chest hardly moving as pheromones seeped out from the man's pores which called to her. Lara tightened her grip, the heat inside sharpening her focus, and hummed. Dubious of when she'd decided to set the foundation of a nest in her bedroom.
She nudged the Alpha toward the bundle of sheets, then took the initiative when he wouldn't budge. Still instinctually conscious enough not to touch an Omega's nest while uninvited. Lara nuzzled his cheek, feeling the man's lips on her neck. Simply breathing in her scent while she continued to purr. Her patches having been long removed.
The ever present itch satiating in intensity with the Alpha's ministrations. A clear indication of her heat if she ever saw one. Lara moved toward the bed, and carefully maneuvered her charge into position. Who seemed to be on the verge of collapse, and only holding on out of sheer will. Lara laid him down, her lower half somehow caged between his arms, and tucked the Alpha in with the heaviest comforter she owned.
Her fingers instinctively finding purchase in the man's hair, undaunted by its foreign texture. Lara leaned back against the wall as the ache in her bones resonated deeply. She breathed out a sigh, and eyed the room. Too tired to fight with the innate urge to stay awake. Lara shifted, pausing as the Alpha tensed. Then moved to lay beside the man with her back to the door.
This way she could keep both the window, and the Alpha within her sight. Lara looked at the man—really looked—and didn't like what she saw. He boasted nicks, and bruises. Along with dried blood around his ears, and eyebrows. The one she could see, anyway. Her eyes honed in on the man's pronounced cheeks.
He'd lost weight.
She knew he lived a life full of risk. How much? She'd never know, but Lara couldn't help but think. What happened to you?
A/N: I had a crystal clear vision, and couldn't get it on the damn paper. So I put it away for a while before coming back to it. Enjoy.