Chapter Ten

Benson

 

 

 

I hold onto the anchor and climb just with my arms. The sea spray makes it even more difficult to grip. I slip a little and grit my teeth. Then, I think about Oliver captured on the ship. The thought makes me just angry enough to climb the rest of the way.

 

When I reach the lowest deck, I jump onto the ship and shove into the nearest door. It’s a dark, windowless hallway—the stairs. I move to climb up, but decide that I need to stop the ship before I find Oliver. The last thing I’d want is to be too far away from shore to get back.

 

Heat seems to pile from the floor below me—the engine. I run down, not really knowing where I’m going. The light is soft where I am, and I can hardly see my footing.

 

I push into a set of doors and enter into a pristine, white room. It’s warm, like the heart of the ship. There’s a beta there, taking some notes. I growl at him, and he freezes.

 

“I need you to stop this ship,” I command.

 

“S-stop it?” he trembles.

 

“Yes—and now!”

 

“D-did you a-ask Captain Calius?”

 

“Calius stole something from me… he’s a criminal now.”

 

“Oh shit,” pants the beta.

 

“Yeah, that’s right,” I nod with wide eyes. “Now, turn off the fucking engine.”

 

“It’s not that simple; I can’t just—”

 

“—fine!” I interrupt. “I’ll do it.”

 

My eyes glow red with rage. I don’t really know what I’m doing, but I start bashing things—everything. I bend pipes, throw grates, and disconnect tubes. The beta doesn’t stick around; he bolts from the room and up the stairs.

 

The ship jolts and I fall over, tumbling into a metal wall. I get back up and continue to destroy what I can over the course of several minutes. I keep going until the place looks like a junkyard.

 

There’s another strong jolt, but this time I hold on. That must have done the trick. As I stand back up, I can feel the boat swaying violently. I hold onto what I can to balance myself and then dash outside of the room.

 

The air in the hallway is even warmer now—and steamy. I must have given the ship adequate damage. It jolts again, and I grip onto the handrails of the stairs as tightly as I can.

 

When things settle a bit, I spring past the beta who is frantic now. I tell him to go someplace safe. I doubt he’ll listen, but at least I tried. The only person I care about now is Oliver.

 

That’s when I smell him. His sweet scent is so faint, but I can tell that he’s been here recently. Every hair on my body stands on end. I follow the scent out into the hall where it’s stronger. I can sense it going below the elevator.

 

I run down another set of stairs instead until I can sense the hall that he was in. There’s something down a bit near an open door. I sprint and discover an unconscious beta. Then, I see the can of scent blocker.

 

“Those fuckers,” I mumble. “They’ve tried to keep his scent from me just in case I made it here.”

 

Now I know that all of this is too well calculated. But, for what? I need answers, and I need them fast. So, I change the focus of my senses. Now, I’m looking for Emerald.

 

Her scent is something that hardly registers with me unless she’s in the same room. Her delicate musk is very feminine, like wildflowers. I sort of hate it. I follow the scent up several decks before finding the princess in her room.

 

I’m standing outside of the door with it closed. I can’t remain here any longer or she will know that I’m coming. I snarl and ram into the door, breaking it down. I’d given her one of the largest bedrooms on board. It’s sort of a purple orchid color and has a waterfall on the wall. The shaking ship has spilled most of the water onto the floor.

 

I hear something click and spin my head to see Emerald in the corner of the room by the bath.

 

“Don’t move,” she says, holding a pistol at me.

 

I narrow my eyes. “Did you smell me?”

 

“I didn’t need to,” she says. “As soon as the ship stopped, I knew that it was you.”

 

“Maybe you shouldn’t have taken my omega.”

 

“It’s nothing personal, Benson.”

 

“How is this not personal?” I laugh. “You know how I feel about Oliver. Is this some type of ploy for money? Is your kingdom broke?”

 

“My kingdom isn’t broke,” she says. “But, we are desperate.”

 

“For what?”

 

“We lost all of our alphas some time ago. The world isn’t breeding them anymore because of laws and sickness. Soon, we’ll all just be betas, miserable and lost without direction. I needed to save my country.”

 

“So, it’s not about Oliver or me… It’s about our son.”

 

“Yes,” she replies, breathily. “It’s terrible to say, but yes. I had to, Benson.”

 

I lock onto her eyes. “Do you know what this did to me?”

 

“—don’t.”

 

“I would die without him.”

 

“You could find another. You just want a pretty young thing to stick your cock in.”
 

“Oh, fuck you, Emerald!”

 

“What else am I supposed to think, Benson? You act so aloof and cool all of the time like no one else matters. I thought you’d just move on and find another mate if I took him.”

 

“I’ve marked him, Emerald. He’s more than just my infatuation! I can’t get enough of him. He’s smart, sweet, and he needs me, too.”

 

Genuine pain appears to fill her eyes. “I’m s-sorry.”

 

“Yeah,” I nod. “You should be.”

 

Emerald stares back at me with watery eyes. As the tears streak down her cheeks, I slowly reach for a small end table. Carefully, I slide out the drawer and grip it in my hands. Then, I bow my head, as if to cry. That should have distracted her enough.

 

“I’m—I’m—” she stammers.

 

From the corner of my vision, I see her head drop. As fast as I can, I throw the drawer. It spins through the air and hits her arm. Emerald cries out and fires the gun twice before its thrown from her hands.

 

One of the bullets hits the window, shattering it into a million pieces. I run for her, but something sharp and terrible ignites in my arm. I look and see blood pooling—she’s shot me.

 

“What have you done?” I boom as I run toward her.

 

“Benson!” she cries, but I’ve already picked her up with my good arm.

 

“I’ve had enough of you!” I yell as I pull her out of the window. She’s dangling, coughing and gagging as I grip her by the neck. “Give me one reason not to drop you!”

 

“I’ll give you one,” says a voice behind me.

 

I turn around to see Calius—and his fist is around Oliver’s neck.