Thick skull

The delicious smell of food brought her back to life. Molly had fell back to sleep in a very vulnerable state and that left an emotional exhaustion she was having problems to shake away but when her senses detected the sweet aroma of bittersweet chicken and noodle soup, the first thing that came to mind was "Lori must be cooking..." her stomach churned with anticipation and the previous heaviness flow out of her body as a discarded nightmare.

She patiently waited with a smile on her lips for her naughty niece to jump over her and wake her up like every weekend but when the little extra weight never came she worried and opened her eyes, disappointingly discovering she wasn't in her home and it wasn't the weekend, two devastating news for a growing headache.

And, another devastating surprise landed on her when her eyes found two blue orbs staring down at her, bashfully realizing her head rested in Pierce's lap while he scouted her with amusement.

"Where you having sweet dreams?" he mirthful asked, screwing a vise on his mechanical arm.

Their eyes meet and Molly was too stubborn to look away. There was a brief duel and she felt as if he could see inside her head which forced her to withdraw and accept defeat, eventually he diverted his eyes away to fully concentrate on his task but still waited for her to answer.

Molly's lack of speech urge him to continue a one sided conversation.

"Maybe you were dreaming about me..." a smug smile twisted his mouth up and he peeked down to gauge her reactions. Her deep frown told him everything he needed to know.

They were going to have to go through the steps of breaking to overcome the denial stage, it was a simple procedure he used and effectively engaged with the patients of the facility. Maybe a little less torture and a bit more threatening will do the trick.

"No need to feel embarrass for dreaming with your mate," he bit his lower lip and release it with a bark laugh when her cheeks turned pink. Not sure if it was embarrassment or anger.

"You are NOT my mate." She spatted with so much hatred her voice shook and quick as a whip she abandoned his warmth, backing away from his grasp.

Anger, definitely, anger he thought amused.

His sky-blue eyes showed how unconcern he was by her 'mean' words and promptly ignored her to continue with his task in spite of the daggers she eagerly shoot from her big hazel eyes. His apparent disinterest fueled her with enough confidence to stand up and search for her discarded clothes on the floor, she was ready to get out of there, getting mad by the second while feeling violated and reduced to a piece of meat. The more she thought about it, the more she resented him.

"Eat."

Pierce's deep voice boomed inside the office and he motioned his chin to where she could find the plate with food. The request was more an authoritative and indisputable order than an invitation and dread froze her for a short moment before she decided to ignore him and continue without paying attention to the subtle warning.

The food was strategically placed in the table right in front of him but it was untouched and still steaming, probably he sent for it especially for her. But her previous experience told her she shouldn't accept anything he offered even when her stomach churned pleading her to think twice about his food offer of peace.

Having her uniform between her arms made her feel a little less exposed but she still could feel his hot stare carving a hole on her skin and quickly tried to cover her naked form by extending the uniform in front of her, in her mind it seemed more effective than putting on the clothes granting him a longer view of her bare body.

The only missing piece of her attire was her underwear which she used as an excuse to set her gaze firmly on the floor to help her drift her mind to something else than him watching her like a hawk. Moving around the room she searched under the couch and over the shelfs until she bumped against a solid object which drew her attention.

She could almost swear he materialized in front of her out of thin air since she didn't hear him approach –not that she was paying attention– even so, he moved like a ghost. You felt his presence only when he wanted you to feel it. It was immensely disturbing.

Lifting her gaze from the floor and trying to seem anger more than frightened, noticed he was sporting only pants and his chest was bare. Every lean muscle screamed for her touch making the heat go straight to her face. It was like if a Greek statue had caught live and she wondered how a single man could personify the definition of masculine so well.

And, it's yours Molly...quickly she scolded her stupid unconscious reactions towards him.

The blush painting her cheeks gave her away but Molly refused to shift her gaze first this time, they engaged in another duel and tense silence fill the space between them.

In an almost imperceptible manner Donald lifted his hand to caress her naked arm, letting her win the duel in favor of her soft skin and ended up murmuring.

"You are in distress."

The words came out as an observation and she firmly shook her head knowing well how alphas prefer to deal with omegas in distress. He sniffed the air around them and once again nodded, leaning his –utterly distracting– well toned chest toward her, closing the distance by almost pressed their foreheads together and confident, whispered.

"Lemme aid ya, Molly, lemme play my part."

Molly's eyes opened wide with scandal. Was he insane!? He was not allowed to touch her again. He was not her mate! Not today…not, ever.

Determined to get away, she stepped back and just as if knowing her intentions, he engulfed her forearms in his strong hands and gave a tentative pull to measure her resistance.

Stubborn little thing she was, rebel to the end. He thought amused.

"You know ya have to stop fighting me eventually, right?" he received her stern look with a condescending sneer and pressed the matter at her lack of compliance.

The purring started and like her favorite ballad playing in a boring party her insides melt like marshmallows too close to the blaze and her belly squirmed with scorching need, waking alive every single muscle inside her sex. Fluid dripped down her legs and resentful she twisted her arms to free them from his hold to then back away embarrass by her shameful reactions towards this monster.

It was a combination of shame and bliss what was breaking her deeper than any other thing she had experienced. It was a deafening crack that simmered inside her mind calling her traitor.

Before this day, she could never understand how omegas took their own lives when forced pair-bonded but now death wasn't wearing black but a white coat of freedom, he offered her like a new beginning and a blessed way out.

"Enough." The icy tone that came out of him took her out of her nasty trail of thoughts and meeting his eyes found them blazing with fury. The purr instantly halted and his hulky back tensed.

"I don't approve were yar thoughts are going." he admonished snatching her wrinkled uniform from her arms and brusquely throwing it to the floor. She grew anxious at his aggressive stance not understanding how did he knew where her thoughts were going.

Donald eyed her –once again– exposed and naked. And, she hastily covered hugging herself in a futile attempt to control the dim shake her body made at his slow approach.

Fear…that was what it was and he could see it in her eyes but that didn't make him drifted his gaze away. He openly surveyed her pondering about something he did not share and inadvertently his features twisted –imperceptible to the untrained eye– with annoyance, edging tedium.

His usual self was on and the bond was indeed effectively made, he didn't require being caring or gentle anymore –feelings so out of his rogue nature– but deep inside knew to play it smart; discomfort and fear could wear down a person fast and he planned for her to last. He wasn't willing to go around with a severed bond.

Resigned to have to play nice due to the nuisance she was promising to be. He swallowed, repressing to roll his eyes and calculatedly knelt down, swiftly encircling her slim waist in his big hands, a swift feverish grin threatened to form when he realized his hands almost reached each other –she was truly a goddess, perfection in its finest– he did his best to placate a sharp pang of lust and the strong need to bend her down and mount her against the cold floor.

Such a young and well-formed vessel and downright mine. He wickedly thought.

She staggered far from him but his hold kept her in place; slowly rubbing her uneasiness away by tracing his thumbs in circular motions to then lean his forehead on her belly and sweetly press a soft kiss on her tender skin.

The unexpected actions hit home better than expected. Swelling her heart with hankering hope, made her feel mixed emotions. She didn't know where to place him, she thought she had him figured out, labeled as wicked and vile but these small slips shattered her theories and confused her.

"You will never think like that ever again, are we clear?"

The tone he used made it sound like a request but deep inside she knew it was an order, to which wasn't sure if feel touched or offended.

Instead of letting her mind run free trying to find an answer to his rare and conflicting actions, she focused on the other fact intriguing her…for the first time, she was able to stare down at him from his kneeled position making her feel in control, her eyes squinted and her renewed confidence push her to ask.

"How did you know?"

He glanced up knowing exactly what she was asking.

"You really know very little about your heritage." He replied lifting a cocky eyebrow at her sudden ignorance, Molly let out an indignant puff from her mouth which he found adorable.

"When an alpha and an omega fulfil a pair-bond as neatly as we did their minds begin to mingle…" her eyes popped open with alarm and he hurried to correct, "that doesn't mean I can read your thoughts but I can sense when you are in danger and I'm used to recognize red flags due to my profession," he finished his explanation and her face told him she was doubting him. Diving in again, he gave her belly a soundly wet kiss at what she repressed an uninvited gasp but he still detected it though the vibrations of her stomach which brought a triumphal grin to his features.

Without any warning he slid his hands around her bottom and cradled her up with him while he stood up and as a natural reflex –her body now has– she hugged his waist in between her legs.

Once again, she was utterly naked and he was partially clothed.

Was this going to become something regular between them? No!...because there's no 'them'.

"Put. Me. Down." she scolded feeling her moist core glued to his lower abdomen. Thankfully her long hair covered her breast but still she was uncomfortable in this naughty position.

Molly swung among moods, not wanting to deliver herself in a silver platter. Her inner omega was happy and satisfied with the upcoming end of her celibacy but her less hormonal self was ragging against the knot she felt inside her womb.

With the intimate position they now sported, a very old memory invaded her mind…once when she was barely a child, an omega friend of her mother came home to talk about what kind of changes Molly will had to endure being of the same kind and there, she described her deep bond with his alpha husband, she explained it was like an enchanting warm that spread inside her chest and travel along her body making her feel happy and complete, one of the few benefits this bond had was the sublime feeling of belonging.

A feeling, if you were lucky, you could reach in your life with a partner; but being an Alpha and Omega the feeling was almost automatic as their need for each other. It was like finding your other half and never question if it was the right decision cause nature already took care of checking.

So, it was a blessing and a curse in one single twist.

But, right now. Molly didn't feel that way…the woman certainly explained it was different for each person but even so she kept wondering… where was the joy or the yearning, maybe belonging? Or at least plain contentment…but no, nothing of the sort rose to the occasion. She felt vexed and unsettled by her shitty luck, deeply analyzing the sensation inside her, she savored claimed and owned not loved and wanted.

"Aww doll, you are wanted…maybe I can fuck you again to demonstrate?" his crude statement brought her back and her gaze refocus on him but this time it was full of chagrin and disdain.

"Stop doing that!" she glared at him pursing her lips. "Stop raiding my mind!" she yelled.

"I don't want you inside of me in any form…Ever Again!"

Her screamed was so loud it made him squinted his eyes at the commotion; her rage made her tremble. And, yet he seemed almost bored, yawning openly at her burst.

"You haven't notice, have ya?" he replied, a lazy grin already adorning his lips before earnestly jiggled his hands in front of her face to then look down at their magically still joined bodies.

"It's like magic." he openly mocked.

It took her a minute to realize what he meant and when she did, shame washed all over her like a bucket of cold water. He flashed his petulant smirk once more and she flushed deeply, hastily letting go of his waist –apparently, the only thing keeping them close together were her eager thighs pressing against his sides.

Clumsily landing on the floor, she was angry. Her body was doing things she did not wanted…seeing him as a reliable component for her daily life, adopting an undeserving comfort around him, engaging in his little tricks and compliantly falling for his pretentious ways.

This had to stop! She had to get out of there.

"You can lie to yourself all ya want but your body speaks-, No…screams a different story." He pointedly affirmed glancing down at her to then add viciously. "You should listen" and with that final advice he went to finish dressing. Molly muted not wanting to engage in his mind games again and covered her body with her hands before grabbed her wrinkled uniform from the floor and put it on, not caring anymore about the whereabouts of her underwear.

She was going to disappear even if she had to leave the planet she will get away from him; she could easily get another waitress job anywhere far away and take Lori and the kids with her, it would be difficult but possible.

The severed bond they would share was a different story but she will deal with that later on the road.

Fully clothed and desperate to flee, pulled a chair to the bookshelf where she saw him put the key and tip toeing to reach, she searched with her fingers but strangely didn't find it. She kept looking until she heard.

"Looking for something…" Donald reached inside his pants pocket and took out the precious key.

She huffed annoyed but kept herself together only allowing her mind to ravel in her get away plan. "I'm already late for my shift, so if you are so kind...open the door and let me do my job in peace." She sputtered in a business manner hoping he would take her seriously.

He was finishing buttoning his black shirt and without acknowledging her statement started chuckling, she was turning out to be very amusing.

"Molly Jones…My sweet sugah bunch! What does it take to get it in that head of yours?" a couple of long strides and he hovered over her, yet again.

"We are a thing now…" he make a meaningful pause and clasped his hands together. "a kit, couple, pair, a fucking unity…call it whatever the fuck you liked but call it us…cause we are in this together to infinity and beyond," his unfaltering and heated gaze, shook her.

"Get off your silly mind those runaway thoughts and escape plans, because baby…" he reached for her face and held her in between his hands, lifting and making her tiptoe to lock stares.

"I´m gonna find ya and I'm gonna own ya, again and again and fucking again, and the times it takes to get it inside this thick skull of yours," his hold tightened and her lower lip trembled. He placed a way too hard kiss on her forehead and forcefully, let go.

Molly stumbled back with shaky legs and fell on the coach heavy breathing and hyperventilating, hazel eyes watering with concern.

What the fuck was she thinking doing plans son close to him, knowing they now shared a connection, plus, he was devastatingly right…he hunted mutants for a living, what would stop him from hunt her –and her family– down like dogs. He was on the opposite side of rightfulness and something very sinister complemented his threat making her believe every single word.

"Please, don't take my good advice for granted, sweet. The last thing I want is for ya to hurt yourself or others…" An easy smile returned to his lips with the promise of pain and Molly wasn't sure if that pain would be inflicted upon her and that scared her to the core disabling her ability to fight back.

Has her existence reduced to this?! To please and obey a sadistic and selfish mercenary…

"Well with that settled, you may go and continue the hard working labor we value so much," he swiftly pushed her towards the door. "Go on, the mutant scum requires your attention" his golden tooth shone as he opened the door of his office holding his hand up for her to take. She reluctantly did so and he led her outside.

"Go on baby, unless ya want to stay for another round?" he half-joked expecting a positive answer but her passiveness told him she was still loading the information she just received, fine by him if that kept her in line.

She felt numb, her mind unable to catch up with the hard reality punch. There for, when he leant down to steal a kiss from her dry lips, Molly could only resign to bear with him. Nor reciprocating nor condescend, just another chaste and hollow totem. Void shade of what was supposed to be love.

"See you later, Molls." and with that he closed the door behind him, not looking twice at her.

After that, she carried out her duties in zombie mode. Not knowing if what just happened was real or a very colorful and vivid nightmare; maybe one of the kids was playing a mind trick on her and she was safe attending to her patients, she didn't need to pinch her arm for the curvature of her shoulder hurt so much it was hard to overlook the fact she was branded.

A lonely tear slid down her cheek and a little hand cleaned it for her.

"Don't cry, Molly, I swear it doesn't hurt anymore." Laura's voice brought Molly back to reality; she stared down and noticed was taking a blood sample from the little girl's arm and sweet thoughtful Laura believed she was upset on her behalf.

Such a nice girl. Suddenly, she felt solemnly close to her patients –not that before didn't– but it was a different kind of close, now they shared the same butcher.

Shaking her head and drying her tears, hugged Laura taking her by surprise –those kind of affective acts were forbidden among patients and medical staff– even so, Laura eagerly hugged her back not missing the opportunity of closeness beyond pain. And for a brief moment all her worries flew away like balloons aiming for the stars.

Then she realized she needed to put herself together before going home, think well about her forthcoming future and weight her options.

Be strong, Molly, for the people you love…be the rock that will cracked the metal.