Page 2 of Convincing the Heartbroken Beta

Sascha shrank back from a younger guy who had reached down to help him up. “Who are you? What’s happening?”

It wasn’t that Sascha didn’t know, it was that he didn’t dare hope. Maybe all that would happen was he’d be trading one hell for another.

“I’m Cameron, from the Guardian Pack. A shifter who escaped told us about this place. The Alliance is here to put a stop to whatever it is they’ve been doing to you. Come on.” He wiggled his fingers. “You shouldn’t be in here. You don’t need to see all this.”

Sascha knew what Cameron meant. His rescuers had arrived, and he didn’t need to stay within the prison walls for one more minute. He glanced to the side then cried out, his eyes snapping forward the second he’d spied the blood splattered remains of a dead omega.

“Don’t look at anything else. Just take my hand and I’ll get you out of here.”

Sascha gave a shaky nod, tears spilling down his cheeks as he accepted Cameron’s offer. Once he was on his feet, Cameron wrapped an arm around his shoulders and began to guide him from the room. Cameron stopped.

“Wait. There’s glass.”

He scooped Sascha into his arms, and they’d just cleared the threshold of the room when an unholy growl sounded behind them and Sascha buried his face in Cameron’s neck. Even though the Alliance had stormed in, had taken out some of the enemies, there was still danger.

“What do you think you’re doing, beta?”

They’d made it into the hall and Cameron whirled around, still holding Sascha securely, his fingers tightening around Sascha’s body as if reassuring him that he wouldn’t put him down. Never mind the glass. Sascha’s nerves were so jacked up, he wasn’t sure he could stand for very long anyway.

“Making sure this omega is removed from the scene and kept safe, sir.”

Sascha peered up at the mountain of a man who had barked at Cameron. He was an older, ruggedly handsome shifter, undoubtedly an Alpha, but his scowl left Sascha rattled. The way the man stared at him set off an alarm. The damn drugs the scientists had given him had messed up his senses, so he couldn’t put his paw on it. But something about the commanding Alpha was important. Life changing. Meant to be.

Oh no.

Sascha swallowed with no spit and he glanced away. Right when he’d thought he was about to be freed he was instead discovering he’d be going from one prison to the next.

“Then keep him safe, beta. But do it without carrying him.”

Cameron plopped Sascha on his feet, and he wobbled. The older man steadied him but quickly drew his hand away.

Sascha pressed his lips together, determined not to cry or feel sorry for himself. Of course an Alpha wouldn’t want some freak of a mate who was carrying another shifter’s baby, some science experiment that he’d now be stuck with. But at least Sascha could be somewhere warm and safe. The only abusive shifters he’d ever met were deltas. Even the Alphas he knew of were good-hearted.

However, this Alpha hadn’t even bothered to ask his name or, for that matter, acknowledge his existence.

“Are we clear then?”

Cameron saluted the Alpha. “Yes, sir. You can count on me.”

The Alpha grunted as he regarded them both. “Don’t let me down, Guardian. Check in with Sergeant Harris and I’ll catch up with you later. I’ve got work to do.”

And with that, they were treated to the Alpha’s back as he marched back into the lab.

Cameron patted Sascha’s shoulder. He gazed down at him with a friendly smile. “Don’t worry about him. Alpha Brandon is actually pretty cool.” He shrugged. “Maybe a bit too serious, but he’s an okay guy. Come on. Let’s get you in one of the vehicles and I’ll turn on the heater.” His smile widened. “Are you hungry? I bet there’s some elk jerky lying around somewhere.”

Sascha’s belly rumbled. “Yeah, okay.” His voice came out small and scared. He hated it. He cleared his throat and made an effort to speak up. The guard’s wrath was no longer an issue, so he needed to get back to his old self. “Thanks for all your help.”

“I’m just glad you’re okay. Let’s go. No reason to hang out here anymore.”

Fighting the urge to take one last look at the horrific scene behind him, Sascha made himself focus on Cameron instead. “No. No reason.”

All he had to do was follow Cameron and pray to the gods his life would no longer be one of endless misery.