***WARNING:  Descriptive way of murder. You have been warned.



Devon swiftly made his way to the backstage of the large scene. His grew more sensitive to hearing and catching certain scents all of a sudden. It was probably because he had caught a whiff of the omega that oozed mint and rain. It was weird but he didn't have time to think about that. His concern was the body behind the stage.

As soon as he reached the swinging body off the railing, his eyes were dark with anger.

 It was another omega. But why was a thick rope dugging into her throat as if she had hanged herself? The stab wounds were visible and her dress was ripped apart, exposing her flat stomach and breasts, she didn't wore any panties even. The sight was horrific.

Never in his life Devon had been a witness to such a horrific sight nor has he been challenged like this. Nobody dared to talk back at him in the entire city which to some point made him feel annoyed and boring. But now? After the murders were happening, there was something to finally do. More than anything, the alpha loved puzzles. And right now he felt as if he was involved in one. He was more than sure that the main reason the killer was doing this was because of him.

Oddly enough there was blood splattered over the walls and the dead girl's eyes were still open and her lips were in a creepy grimace, attempt for a smile.

There was a sudden gasp behind him and Devon turned to look at Emilia who had horror in her eyes. Plush lips parted and she was like a frozen statue a few feet away from the alpha. Soon the detectives that were in the hall earlier rushed in and a few members of the staff. Everyone watched the body with horror.

The muffled screams of the people to the other side of the room were slowly fading away probably because the large Hall was empty already. Devon guessed that everyone were  evacuated by the other members. 

"Where the fuck are the other cops-? " Devon hissed with a groggy voice at the detective and turned back to look at the body, gritting his teeth.

Emilia stood there still but after a few minutes, she pressed her palm against her chest and could feel the heavy beating of her heart. Devon could hear it as well. " Go and help the other omegas, " he knew that she had never been a witness to a such cruel murder before. 

"I want to help you and stay here, " she muttered in a shaky voice, her eyes were watery. She looked like a fragile flower right now.

" Go. " he ordered her and turned his head to her for a spare moment. " Now. " he commanded in a low deep tone.

The female alpha saw the look in his eyes and the way his voice was so low and commanding sent shivers down her spine. Emilia nodded and disappeared behind the curtains. 

Devon was partly curious and partly mad that he could not prevent this. The killer went through his fingers again. It made him feel irritated and he felt the sudden throb in his head. He felt a little dizzy for a moment and he almost fell on the ground if it wasn't for the detectives who held onto him.

"Alpha Ryder, are you alright?" one of them asked. Devon nodded his head and stood up on his feet again. 

Not long after the police arrived. The forensics slowly removed the body off the ceiling and laid the young girl on the ground, covering her body with a white sheet in half, only her face could be seen. Her eyes were now closed, she seemed at peace yet the way she died was definitely not a peaceful way to die.

Soon something caught his eye and the alpha took a few steps toward the sprawled body on the ground. From upclose, he noticed the blue marks on the girl's neck and frowned deeply. A white little card was dug into one of the straps of her white robe that was now covered in red liquid.

Devon knelt down and slowly took out the card careful not to leave fingerprints on it, holding it with a tissue, examining it for a bit before turning it to the other side. With messy letters it said:

" You missed me, Devon. " 

The alpha clenched tightly his jaw andJenkins  who had been talking to one of the forensics glanced at the card Devon was holding.

"What's this, alpha? " the old thin man approached the alpha, eyebrows furrowed.

" A message, " the alpha spoke and slowly rose up back on his feet. "someone's definitely playing with me. " the alpha added in a low deep voice, squeezing the card in his palm.

The Lieutenant of LAPD, Stanley Ramirez saw the commotion between Devon and Jenkins and approached the two men. 

"Seems like someone has an eye on you, alpha." he commented, crossing his arms against his chest.

" You bet. " Devon grunted in response. 

Minutes later the tall red haired woman who was a host on the stage a few minutes prior walked into the room. Her high heels clicked on the wooden floor and everyone in the room turned their heads to look at her. It was obvious how painfully her red nails were dugged into the omega's arm beside her as she led him toward Devon.

"Mr. Ryder, I believe that this is the omega you bought. " she spoke of the omega as if he was trash. That angered the alpha as he turned his brown eyes on the male and scanned his small fragile frame up and down. A soft sigh escaped Devon's lips. Another fucking problem.

Fuck.

Devon cursed under his breath focusing his eyes on the male omega who looked a little off for some reason. He blinked slower than usual and his face was pale. Perhaps he was on some sort of drugs? He didn't thought what he was doing and why the hell did he bought an omega. One thing was for sure, something definitely pulled him to this irrational descision. 

"Right, " he pulled his wallet out and wrote a quick check as he gave it to the woman with his eyes narrowed. A sly grin appeared on her features, it was obvious that money made her happy. How disguisting, Devon thought. If she was happy to get money in such way, that alone spoke a lot about her.

"Have fun with him alpha." she let go of the omega and soon disappeared from the room, swaying her hips from side to side. Jenkins swallowed thickly and decided to step away from this scene, focusing on what the forensics were talking with the other detectives.

Devon was definitely having this woman fired and vanished from this town sooner or later. 

Soon the place was filled with more people. Mostly cops and detectives. Devon didn't pay much attention to the omega beside him but instead, he had a conversation with Officer Jenkins.

"It's odd that the victim was hanged like this.. " Jenkins spoke in a gruff voice, examining the body on the ground. 

"It is not, but it's the same killer. Here. " the alpha gave the card to the police officer. Devon had been holding it with gloves who were given to him by one of the forensics, he was afraid of putting his fingerprints on it. " Take it to the lab for fingerprint examination. " Jenkins nodded his head and took it into a small plastic bag.

"Alright, since you take it from here, I'll go. Call me if you find anything. " Devon spoke and as Jenkins nodded, the alpha finally headed toward the door but stopped when he realized that he will have a company on his way home.

Turning slowly around, the alpha focused his black eyes on the male omega that has been quiet the entire time. He examined his exposed skin, some bruises left on his soft features. He looked like a mess. Devon noticed the way his smaller body was wobbling as if he was drunk. 

"Why are you standing there? " Devon asked coldly.

"I don't want to come with you. " the alpha finally got to hear his voice. It was strange to have someone talk to him like this. 

"Why not?" 

"I don't belong to you. I belong to myself only." the omega slurred, blinking slowly and trying to keep his eyes open long enough. 

Devon pursed his lips and gritted his teeth, looking around. Now was definitely not the time nor the place of that. He approached the omega and leaned to whisper in his ear. 

"If you don't obey I'll leave you rot in here. I am sure you'd want to be sold again to someone else, perhaps crueler than me?" he hissed in his low alpha voice that made the omega tremble before him. Devon was satisfied how obedient the man had became after the threat. Guessing the omegas really were influenced by the pheromones.

The drive to Devon's home was filled with awkwardness and too much unasked questions. The alpha had no wish to deal with this right now. He couldn't stand omegas and now he had one in his car. The scent of mint of rain almost suffocated him so he had to open the windows in order to keep himself together.

"Do you know who I am?" what shocked the alpha was the man beside him speaking so boldly and asking as if Devon fucking cared.

"I don't care. " Devon cut him off, gripping tightly the steering wheel. 

"You fucking bought me. Release me, I have job and a home... " the omega insisted, wiggling in the front seat. He tried to open the door but it was locked. Thankfully. Devon didn't know what he'd do if the omega opened the door and jumped out of a fast moving car. This omega was insane. 

"Rules are rules. You belong to me now. " Devon gave up on the thought of letting the omega go because what would people say after that? That Devon was incapable alpha? He would hold him in his house and that was it. He wasn't even going to approach him nor talk to him. Giving this omega food and a place to stay should be enough, right?

A wave of relief washed over Devon's body once the front black gates of his large mansion opened with a loud creak and he was able to park his car in front of the big stairs leading to the main door covered in black wood. He climbed out from the car and slammed it shut, almost forgetting that the omega was there. He stopped mid-way on the stairs and glanced at the male trying to keep his composure and not fall on the ground. 

"Fucking omegas~" the alpha cursed and headed with large steps toward the omega who struggled to walk. He grasped his elbow and literally dragged him up on the stairs and inside of the mansion. The maids greeted Devon and their faces switched to ones of horror when they saw the omega.

Suddenly, a whiff of a familiar scent hit Dev's nostrils and he stopped in his tracks letting out a low grow that was so powerful it rumbled into the ground. His first instinct was to grip the omega's elbow and pull him close. Honestly? He had no clue what he was doing. And w h y he was doing it.

From the large door that led to the living room a dark shadow appeared and Devon knew exactly who it was.

"Long time no see, brother. "