Chapter 1: War and Chaos
Noah’s POV
"Careful with this one" one of the hefty betas holding me sneers.
"Ah" I gasp as I’m tossed around like a rag doll, my arms are aching from being held too tight.
"He’s their governor’s son" he laughs as he shakes me harshly and I clamp my teeth down on my bottom lip to hold back the painful groans threatening to slip out
The noise of my blood rushing through my veins is louder than anything else around me. My nose burns from the rancid smell of death, blood, burning buildings and the terror of Winslow’s citizens.
My eyes are hot and blurry with tears that refuse to fall. I can see the people gathered here in this room but nothing is clear.
"On his knees, let me see him better" a voice says and immediately, I am forced to my knees by the rough hands on my head and shoulders.
I bite down too hard on my lip and I taste the copper of blood filling my mouth.
Someone is recording this on a smartphone. I can’t see his face, but I can see the bright flash of the camera.
No one is coming to save us, not the government, not the police...
"Hmm....he’s quite pretty isn’t he? How would he feel after he’s been wiped clean" the same calm but taunting voice says, and my breathing starts to grow rapid.
No.
No. No. No.
Men like him are not supposed to touch me.
"Don’t touch me!" I say through my clenched teeth, trying my best to fight against the rough hands pinning me down.
"Ah...he fights" the voice says and laughter erupts on different sides of the room.
Dad? Mom? Everyone?
"Show me his neck" he says and my neck is forced into a bared position. The image of a surrendering omega.
It’s humiliating in the worst way possible.
I’m still wearing my new white suit that got flown in from overseas.
It’s a fine cloth made by Mountain Atelier, it was specifically made for me to celebrate the new upgrade of our city.
My family is starting to change a lot of things. My father said he was bringing light and status to Winslow.
But here...here I am being forced to my knees like a nobody by a nobody.
"What’s your name, boy?" the cruel voice asks.
"He’s not a boy, you fucker, let him go!" my best friend, Zane, shouts from somewhere in the room and my head snaps up.
’Zane’ my omega whimpers for him. I sniff the air for his scent, but I can’t smell anything beyond the blood and violence.
I hate this.
"Touch him and I’ll kill you! He’s governor Goldsmith’s son!" Zane keeps fighting for me and my heaving increases.
’Goddess, please make it stop’ I pray in my head.
I want to beg Zane to shut up and run for his life.
These men are animals, they are monsters. They bare the title ’Gods’ but they are worse than the devil.
There are three of them and there’s only one here. Damien Deus, the oldest, the supposed leader of the three.
"Get rid of that one" Damien says and I panic.
"Noah!" I yell with a cracked voice.
If I can’t protect the city from these machinegun holding men, I should at least protect Zane.
"My name- my name is Noah, I’m Noah Goldsmith!" I give the answer to Damien Deus’s question, lifting my head and straightening my back so that they won’t touch Zane.
"Oh...so that’s your button, little Gold" Damien says, leaning forward on my father’s chair.
The tears are too much and I can’t hold them back.
"I want- no, I need to see you bend and break, Goldsmith" he says in a low tone and I can taste my hatred for him on my tongue.
"What more do you want? You’ve wasted half of my city’s population" I say.
The words are supposed to come out as strong and commanding, but they come out weakly...like I’m begging. And yes, I am begging.
"What more do I want? I don’t know yet" Damien says, pulling a lighter out of his pocket and flicking it on.
"You’re insane" Zane spits, and with annoyance, Damien Deus turns his head in my best friend’s direction.
"Didn’t I ask for that one to be gotten rid of?" he asks and I force my body forward, only to be brought to my knees again.
’Omegas are meant to submit, but you as a Goldsmith must do it with class’
’Omegas are meant to appeal to their alphas, accept their decisions with grace’
’Omegas are only made for breeding; you don’t fight, you don’t argue, you don’t talk back’
"I beg you! I beg you, don’t hurt him please" I shout despite my training on how to be a perfect omega of high status.
Some of the people who live in this city are here too. They’re oppressed and still they’re looking at me with...disgust? I know it’s disgust, but I don’t want to acknowledge it.
A life is more important than status.
"What a good friend you are! Fuck, I’m going to have so much fun with you" Damien tips his head back, laughing like a mad man.
"Please..." I hear myself whisper.
Maybe I’m just trying to cling on to the only life I have left, but I’ll beg to keep it.
I don’t know where my dad is, I don’t know where my mom is, the only person I have left is Zane and I can’t lose him.
The grande door of my family’s dining opens and a man runs to Damien, whispering in his ear.
And my heart pounds harder in my chest as his chaos hungry eyes sharpen.
"Ah...the real game just started, my younger brother is here" he says and immediately, the door opens.
Hush.
I don’t know what exactly changed, but the air doesn’t feel safe to breathe anymore as the middle child of the Deus family walks in.
My eyes find his face, hoping and praying he’ll have mercy on me.
The man looks at me briefly, taking slow and calculated steps towards us. The clicks of his shoes against our marble floor are somehow in sync with the thumping of my heart
Finally, he stops in front of me and looks me in the eyes.
I can smell him; he smells like clean soap, like order and control...like the true form of death, not the chaotic aftermath of it.
He lifts one hand and I flinch, heart going into overdrive as I expect a hit...but nothing comes.
"I want this one...give me, brother" Elias Deus says and I pass out immediately.