Flawed: Omega Market, #2

By Leann Ryans

Damaged. Unwanted. Flawed.
An accident left Cassie disabled, ruining her chances at a future. Who would want an omega with scars like hers even if they found a way to bond her?
When she's captured by soldiers, she knows it's only a matter of time before she's thrown out on the street again.
The news that the damage could be corrected is a shock, but of course it costs too much, and it doesn't guarantee she'll finally go into heat.

The flair of hope dies…
Until she's bought.


Terille smothered his emotions long ago. Feelings serve no purpose for a soldier, but the omega with big brown eyes pulls at something inside him. The others think he's crazy choosing the one they see as broken, but he isn't going to let her go.
He'll heal her, then claim her as his own.

***This is the second book in the Omega Market series. It is a sci-fi omegaverse romance. It can be read as a standalone, though is best read after Used, Book 1.***

• Language: English
• Publisher: Leann Ryans
• Release date: Oct 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223161219

Leann Ryans

I'm a wife and mother of four who's been an avid reader since I could pick up a book. It wasn't unusual for me to read a book a day, ignoring the real world as I was sucked into the pages of a great story. I grew up on sci-fi and fantasy books before discovering the world of romance. PNR has always been my go-to, and omegaverse is my addiction of choice. I love writing books featuring heroes who are a bit rough around the edges but aren't overly cruel. My heroines aren't always the take charge type, but neither are all women. They are comfortable in their femininity. If you're looking for a story that has dark themes without leaving you wanting to punch the hero in the face, mine might just be for you.

Book preview

Flawed

Omega Market Book 2

Leann Ryans

Copyright © 2020 Leann Ryans

All rights reserved

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

Cover design by: Dazed Designs

To every woman who looks in the mirror and sees her flaws. You wouldn’t be you without them. They’re what make you unique, and you’re beautiful the way you are.

Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter Thirty-Six

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty-One

Chapter Forty-Two

Chapter Forty-Three

Epilogue

Thanks

Owned

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Damaged.

Unwanted.

Worthless.

That’s all she thought she’d ever be.

Cold.

Uncaring.

Feared.

He’d given up emotions long ago, but the omega with big brown eyes pulled at something inside him. The others thought he was crazy for choosing the one with all the flaws, but he wasn’t going to let her go.

Chapter One

Cassie

Even though they’d expected it to happen, it was still a surprise when it finally did, and there wasn’t enough time to carry out the plans they’d made.

Soldiers! They found us!

Zara slammed the door behind her, panting for breath as she slid the bar into place before racing to the shelves lining the walls. The hair on her arms stood on end, showing her agitation. Everyone stared at her for a moment before the words sank in and they lurched into motion.

One of the girls bolted for the back door, not even attempting to gather supplies before she ran. The others tried to stick to the plan, but trembling hands dropped as much as they struggled to grab. With the sounds of boots crunching through the glass and rock on the steps outside, they broke and followed the first.

Zara was the last to abandon the supplies, eyes cutting to Cassie for the critical moment to realize Cassie was sitting on her pallet.

Shit!

Zara dropped what she held, running to Cassie’s side even though Cassie shook her head and tried to wave her away.

Go! Run! I don’t matter.

Zara bared her pointed teeth at Cassie, her yellow eyes flashing as the hair across her shoulders bristled further.

"You do matter. I’m not leaving you."

They both jumped as they heard the outer door slam open. There were seconds before the soldiers made it to them, and Cassie had to bite back the sting of tears over the thought of being the reason Zara was caught. There was no hope of escape at this point.

At least not for her.

The screams of the other girls reached them as Zara tried to slide her arms under Cassie. Though there were multiple exits they were supposed to use, it sounded like the girls had stuck together and been caught by soldiers at the back.

There’s no time. Hide! The scent of the others should protect you.

Cassie rolled to the side and shoved Zara away as silence fell outside the front door. There were still sounds coming from the others who’d tried to escape, but they both knew what was about to happen.

She could see the tears flood Zara’s eyes as she hesitated a moment longer before diving for the only hiding place that might survive the soldier’s search. Rolling under the bed, she disappeared into the darkness beneath as the door shook with the first blow.

Wood crunched, a sharp crack sounding after the next blow broke the pitiful wooden door. The bar they’d used to protect themselves for the last few months they’d lived in the derelict building wasn’t going to last much longer. On the fringes of the city where even the scum didn’t bother to go, they’d managed to make themselves a home in the abandoned remains. At least for a short while.

Sucking in a deep breath, Cassie clenched her eyes shut and held her arm up to protect her face as the door splintered and flew open. Footsteps echoed through the room as it filled with too many bodies for the small space. They were eerily silent, the massive men dressed in mottled grey and black that flooded inside.  

Holding stunners aimed ahead of them, all but the last two soldiers passed through the room as if they didn’t even see her. The last one turned to guard the door as the other approached her. His size combined with the scent of alpha musk filling the air sent a shiver down Cassie’s spine.

How many omegas live here?

Ignoring the instinct to cower in front of the more dominant dynamic, she raised her eyes to glare at the helmet hiding his face from view, but she kept her lips pinched shut. Nothing she said would help the others now, but she wouldn’t betray any that may have slipped by.

Two of the soldiers who had already passed through returned, distracting the alpha questioning her. Crossing her arms over her chest to keep from shivering as an icy blast of air whipped through the open door, her heart dropped when they spoke.

Four omegas were caught exiting the building. They’re being taken to the truck, so this one makes the five that were reported.

Cassie clenched her eyes shut so she wouldn’t look under the bed across from her. If they thought she was the fifth omega, that meant Zara would have a chance to escape, and Cassie didn’t want to give her away if anyone was paying attention to her. With their dark helmets hiding their eyes, there was no way to tell where they were looking.

A casual inspection wouldn’t show anything but broken flooring, but if they decided to move the bed, the hidden door would be obvious. The tiny space below it had been made by the other girls as a backup plan for her, if they’d needed to run and couldn’t take her with them, but the thought of being in Zara’s place had her lungs freezing with panic. Zara was the only one that knew Cassie would rather be taken by the alphas than go in there.

Cassie startled when a large hand wrapped around her upper arm, and her eyes popped open to stare up at the alpha that held her. She could see the two soldiers had already left, leaving only him and the one in the doorway.

Let’s go. You can rejoin your friends on the truck.

He pulled on her arm like he wanted her to stand, but Cassie shook her head.

I can’t.

Now don’t be difficult. I thought you were sensible since you didn’t run. Just behave and go get in the truck.

"You don’t understand. I can’t. I need my chair."

She raised her arm to point at the contraption sitting next to the door where the other soldier stood. The helmet moved before turning back down to her. She knew it was rough looking, but she’d done her best when she built it from scraps.

You can’t walk?

Cassie shook her head, finding it hard to breath with the alpha so close to her. She’d avoided them for the last nine years, and each sip of air laced with his pheromones made her head swim.

The man sighed, muttering something under his breath as he let go of her arm and straightened.

Hash, come get her.

The man by the door turned his head and grunted before making his way over. The one that seemed to be the leader moved out of the way as the one he called Hash stopped beside her pallet. She expected him to grab her with no warning or care for her comfort, but he knelt in front of her with his hands on the blankets beside her legs.

Is it anything that can be made worse by movement?

The alpha’s voice was low and rough, sending goosebumps across her skin as she stared at his helmet. Surprised he bothered to ask, she gave a small shake of her head. If her injury was anything that could be made worse, it would have happened long ago.

He stood and lifted her in one motion, tossing her over his shoulder to hang head-down over his back. His care was obviously only that he didn’t cause further damage, not for her comfort.

Letting out an undignified yelp, she winced as he climbed the stairs and strode out of the building she’d called home for the last couple years. While he couldn’t cause more damage than was already done, it didn’t mean he couldn’t cause pain, and the bite of the winter wind had her entire body seizing with shivers.

Fighting to push her mass of curls out of the way so she could see behind them, she smacked a hand against the soldier’s back.

Hey, wait. My chair.

The world spun as she was flipped over his shoulder again, her bottom landing on a cold metal bench. Cassie stared at the others in the truck, horror making her heart pound in her chest.

Seated on the metal bench attached to the side of the vehicle, their hands were cuffed over their heads while their ankles were chained to a metal bar beneath the seat. Each one was gagged, only sniffles and muffled pleas reaching her ears as she turned back to face the blank mask of the alpha standing at the end of the vehicle. He gathered her hands together and cuffed them over her head like the others before she knew what he was doing.

Wait! Please! I need my chair. I—

His hand shot out and gripped her face before she could say more. She tried to wrench herself away but only succeeded in causing herself more pain as he forced a ball between her teeth and buckled the gag behind her head.

Tears streamed down her cheeks unchecked as she watched him slam the doors of the vehicle shut. It didn’t make sense to be more terrified of losing her chair than of being taken by the alphas, but it was everything to her. She remembered the years without it before she’d found enough scraps and bits to build something to get around in.

It was her freedom, and now it was gone.

Chapter Two

Terille

The building was a shit pile. A leftover from generations past, it leaned to the side, at risk of falling down any minute. There was no way it was up to code. The only part semi-inhabitable was where the omegas had created their den, in the basement.

The interior of the building was filled with dirt and debris piled up over years of abandonment. The omegas hadn’t cleaned up, probably hoping it would hide the fact the building was being lived in. The ruins were regularly scanned for lifeforms though, and it didn’t take much to get someone to come check out who was using the broken-down property.

Lacking power, the stairwell down to their door was pitch black. The flimsy piece of particleboard couldn’t withstand the brunt of an alpha’s weight and didn’t take long to break through.

Terille barely glanced inside before turning to guard the door. He didn’t really believe there was anyone else in the building that would sneak up on them, but they always followed SOP.

The only light in the omega’s makeshift home was what filtered in through narrow windows along the top of the walls, and a single lantern sitting on a table in the middle of the room. If their visors didn’t amplify light in the dark, they wouldn’t have been able to see a thing through the tint on it, but he could make out every detail in the cramped space.

While clean of the dirt that filled the rest of the building, it was still something he wouldn’t let a dog live in. The concrete walls were cracked, some spots patched with what looked like mud. Old pipes ran along the ceiling, black with grime and covered in cobwebs the omegas couldn’t reach. It was damp, and only a few degrees warmer than the temperature outside.

There were two small beds on one side of the room, the blankets and pillows a mismatched, ragged pile that couldn’t possibly make the omegas feel comfortable. The bed on the opposite wall where one woman still sat was even more pitiful, the mattress thinner than the width of his arm with next to no bedding. Shelves lined the walls, holding what was likely all of their meager possessions.

Terille had stopped being surprised at what omegas would do to avoid turning themselves in. They knew they were required to report before their first heat, but they inevitably tried to avoid it. That’s why raids were run to collect them, and this had to be the worst den they’d found yet.

He listened to the others with half his attention, watching the dark stairwell ahead of him. He was surprised to hear the one sitting on her bed say she couldn’t walk, but it explained why she hadn’t tried to escape with the others. It was rare for an omega to give in without a fight when they were found.

Terille studied her closer when his leader ordered him to take her. Slim, with a mass of dark curls going down to her waist, she was gorgeous under the layer of dirt. Large doe eyes stared at his face shield, filled with resignation and a touch of fear.

He made sure he wasn’t going to do more damage before tossing her over his shoulder. He didn’t worry about the chair she seemed so attached to because she’d be going straight to medical. It was rare to have a problem so bad it couldn’t be fixed, but if it was something that happened while she was hiding out, she may not have gotten the proper care. He doubted she would need the thing by morning.

Securing her in the truck like the others, his heart gave a painful lurch when her brown eyes seemed to find his through the visor. The loss he could see in them had guilt clenching his stomach.

Shaking it off, he slammed the doors shut. Omegas got attached to the strangest things sometimes, but she’d get over it once medical fixed her.

He was distracted by a furious screech behind him, head jerking to see his unit leader come through the building’s doorway dragging another female. She was Declouian, the black fur along her shoulders visible with the tank top she wore and bristling in anger. His leader had his hand tangled in the longer hair on her head, forcing her to stumble behind him as she tried to claw at his wrist.

Terille pulled the truck’s doors open again, keeping his eyes on the furious omega being dragged past him. His leader climbed into the truck with her, using his body to squash her against the wall next to the one Terille placed inside, cuffing her in place.

Six omegas was a great catch for one stop, and Terille was hoping they were done for the night. From what he’d seen of the girls in the truck, at least three of them were class four, so both the director and the commander would be happy.

So would the alphas watching the Omega Market over the next few days.

Terille took his place in the front of the truck, stunner still ready. They had to drive to the other side of the city to get to the collection center, and there had been enough attacks on the transports by desperate alphas that they never went unprepared. The omegas sitting in the back were worth enough to make men stupid.

Three of the others climbed into the truck with him while the rest of the unit took their places on the outside. Two rode on the top while two more hung off the back to be sure no one could sneak up on the truck and take them by surprise.

They were always more tense on the trip back, and the drive was spent in silence as they scanned their surroundings. Terille tried to focus, but he kept thinking of the omega he’d carried out and the look on her face when she realized no one was bringing her wheelchair. Guilt kept trying to worm its way into him, but he shoved it away and forced himself to stop thinking about her.

Terille heaved a sigh of relief when they passed through the entrance that took them underground to the medical wing of the collection center. Once the door rolled closed behind the truck, he unbuckled the strap on his helmet and pushed it off, rubbing his neck. Someone might bitch, but it irritated the scar and technically their mission was complete.

Climbing out of the truck once it was parked in the bay, he rolled his shoulders to relieve the tension coiling through them. All they had to do was get the omegas into the medical wing, debrief, and his job would be done. It’d been a long day and he was looking forward to his bed.

Trailing the others to the back of the truck, he stood aside as the door was opened and the others began pulling out the omegas. The first one put up a weak fight as she was uncuffed, but seeing she was already inside a closed building took a lot of the heart out of it. The second and third were a sobbing mess that stumbled along as if they were being led to their death.

The fourth was calm, but the calculation and rage in her eyes showed she wasn’t done yet. Terille raised a brow when she glared at him, baring her teeth as she was pushed ahead of his teammate.

The fifth omega was still a spitting ball of fury, lashing out as soon as her hands were free of the cuffs. She screamed around the gag, clenching her teeth on it hard enough to make his own jaw ache with the pain she’d surely feel later. It took two of his unit to get her under control, one gripping her hands while the other held her feet as they carried her to the corridor where they would receive their exams.

His eyes trailed back to the last omega. Her tears had dried, but her face was still red from crying. He hadn’t bothered to cuff her ankles since he figured there was no point if she couldn’t use her legs, but without the added stability, the turns of the