The Fighter Omega

Chapter 1 - Bella

Ding!

My phone chimes in my pocket right as I finish locking the diner after my closing shift. It's probably my best friend or her boyfriend wondering if I'm work yet. One of them would usually give me a ride after the late shift, but they had their own work to handle tonight. I dig my phone out of my pocket as I start the three-mile walk home. Maybe one of them finished their stuff early and will be able to come get me after all.

Unknown:

Saturday, 11pm. I'll send someone to pick you up at your apartment. I'll know if you try to run.

I stop in my tracks and stare down at the message. There is only one person in my life who would send me a message like that. My adopted father. And if he's found me, it means the freedom he granted me two years ago is coming to an end. I turn on my feet and start heading in the opposite direction as I bring up Charlie's number and call her. If she doesn't answer, I can just call Connor if she doesn't answer. Luckily, it only rings a few times before her cheery voice greets me. "Bella! Are you off work?"

"Hey Lee, yeah I'm off. Listen, I know you got that big commission you're working on, but if I go to the gym to wait can you swing by when you or Connor free up to get me?" As I talk, I survey my surroundings. Every car that passes me right now is suspicious and I can feel the hair on the back of my neck standing up.

"Bell, what's wrong? You sound freaked out. Did someone scent you?" Her voice is now edged in anxiety and I curse myself for making her feel that way.

"No, I wasn't scented. It's, um, it's him. He texted me." When I finish, the other line is silent for so long that I have to pull my phone away from my ear to make sure she didn't hang up. When she finally speaks again, her voice sounds strained.

"Go to the gym Bell. Stay on the phone with me til you get in and lock the door, okay?"

"Yes ma'am!" I giggle at myself as I mock solute my bestie. I know she's freaking out right now. Hell, I'm freaking out right now, but I can already see the gym's sign ahead of me and I have a key specifically for situations like this. "I'm coming up to the gym right now, Lee. I'll get in an extra workout while I wait for you guys, so please don't rush your work. This is the biggest painting you've ever been commissioned for, and I don't want you messing it up for little 'ol me."

"Okay Bell. I still want to stay on the phone til you get in there though, okay? I probably have another hour of work before I need to let it dry for a while."

Finally, I get to the door of the gym. Once I unlock the door, I do another quick scan of my surroundings to make sure I'm not being followed before I slip inside and turn the lock back over and hit the switch to turn the lights on. "Sounds good, Lee. Don't rush it. I just got in the gym and I've already locked the door. I'll see you when you get here, 'kay?"

"Okay, I'll see you soon. Love you Bella."

"Love you too, Lee." Once I hear the click of the phone hanging up, I look around. I can probably get in some time with the free weights and the bags before Lee comes to get me. I quickly walk to the locker rooms to grab the spare clothes I keep here in case of a last-minute workout or for emergencies. Once I change into the bright red sports bra and leggings combo I stop by the full body mirrors to fix my ponytail. My blonde hair is a mess and coming loose but that's an easy fix. I hold the red ends in between my fingers and sigh at the fading color. The red tips of my hair were my first act of defiance after I won my freedom two years ago and I'm usually better at refreshing the color, but the diner has been slow so I haven't been making as many tips. I look next at the tattoo on my left shoulder. Belladonna, or nightshade, is a beautifully unassuming flower that's as deadly as it is beautiful. It also was once my stage name. The scar on my left cheek is covered by makeup now, but I can never forget it's there.

I sigh as I head over to the mats for a quick stretch before I really get to work. As I begin to move through my workout, I think back to the last time I saw my adopted father. He had me fighting in his illegal ring since shortly after I perfumed as an omega. My adopted mother was a beta, and we were at the grocery store when it happened. Nearby Alphas scented me, and while I was able to get away, my mother died protecting me from them. Father didn't react to her death or my being an omega well. Within the week, he had me training in his fight ring against even crueler Alphas than the ones from the store. He told me that even though he couldn't beat the omega out of me, he could beat the weakness out. And he did. At 17, I was a champion of the underground fighting circuit, I never met an Alpha that I couldn't beat. I thought it made him proud.

I took scent blockers and heat suppressants so that I could pass as a beta, both in the ring and at school. But Alphas still noticed me. It became a bet in the ring, whoever could best me would have me. No one ever did, but it pissed father off. When I was twenty, he slashed my left cheek in a fit of rage. To this day, I never figured out what set him off, but I knew that if I didn't find a way out, he would kill me someday. We made our deal a week after. If I could win against the worst Alphas he could put me against, I would be free. I fought six Alphas back-to-back for my freedom. Charlie, Connor and I left that night and never looked back. I really try not to dwell on that time of my life though. I now get joy out of working out, I have a job and am in college. I live in the same apartment complex as my two best friends. I'm a normal twenty-two-year-old now. At least I was, until that text tonight.

We always knew he would call me back eventually. The money he would lose out on once he lost me pretty much guaranteed that. But now that it's happening, I can't shake the feeling of panic that is slowly building.I barely survived winning my freedom last time, how bad is it going to be now? Will he be open to another deal? Or is this it this time? If I try to run, will he force me back anyway, or just kill me? Really, I never knew what to expect from father before, so how could I expect to know now?

I'm pulled from my depressing thoughts by a firm knock on the gym door. I turn to the door to see Charlie outside waving at me. I hold up a finger to tell her to give me a second. I wipe down the punching bag I had been working on then gather my things and head to meet her at the door. Once the gym is locked back up and Lee and I are in the backseat of Connor's car I finally feel like I can relax. Meeting Connor's eyes as he looks in the rearview mirror, I nod my thanks to him. Lee grabs my hand, lacing her fingers with mine and I turn my attention to her.

"Okay Bell, what's the plan?"