The streetlights of Wesnot Country blurred into golden streaks as the car sped past. Nineteen-year-old Noah Walker leaned his head against the cold glass of the passenger window, finding a meager distraction in the passing buildings.
Each flash of light momentarily illuminated the taut anxiety etched across his face.
He was trapped in this rattling, run-down vehicle with the one person who had made his life a waking nightmare: his older brother, Nick Walker.
Nick was five years older and a lifetime's worth of resentment lay between them.
From the moment Noah could walk, Nick had been his tormentor, a fact Noah attributed almost entirely to his own biological designation. Noah was an Omega. Nick, a Beta.
In the history of their society, Omegas had been systematically abused, often regarded as little more than breeding stock. Their fate was miserable, their marriages transactional, and their lives controlled.
While the twenty-first century had brought hard-won reforms—a revolution spearheaded by activists fighting for Omega rights—the change wasn't universal. Many deeply conservative families, like the Walkers, still clung to the old prejudices.
Noah's home life was a constant reminder of this lingering discrimination. His father was a Beta, his mother an Omega, and yet, their attention and affection were reserved solely for Nick.
Noah often felt like a shameful mistake. The only logical explanation he could find for his family's profound coldness was the fact that he is an Omega.
He genuinely wanted to be anywhere but here, riding shotgun with his brother. Nick, spoiled rotten since childhood, had long since abandoned any pretense of a respectable life, choosing instead the swagger and aggression of a petty thug. Yet, Noah had no recourse. The bastard had stolen his money.
Noah's hard-earned, precious money, stolen by Nick.
He had just received an acceptance letter from Covenant University, that has the most prestigious law program in the country, a place reserved for the certified academic elite of Wesnot.
It had been an absurd, almost foolish dream. He had foolishly imagined that this incredible achievement, this undeniable proof of his worth, might finally earn him a nod, a moment of pride, or even just equal attention from his parents.
The reality, however, had been a crushing disappointment.
"Law school at Covenant?" his father had sneered. "What's wrong with the local community college? Stay in your lane, Noah. We won't pay a penny for that kind of extravagance."
As if they had ever paid for anything for him.
The sting of their dismissiveness had quickly turned to stubborn resolve. He wouldn't let their petty hatred destroy his future.
He worked two full-time jobs, running himself ragged, and in an astonishing two months, he had saved the full amount of his first tuition payment. The relief and pride he felt were immense. School started next week. He was going to pay the fee today.
He walked into his room, reached for the hidden compartment where he kept his savings, and felt a cold, stomach-dropping void. The money was gone.
He nearly lost his mind.
There was only one person capable of such a cruel theft. He charged into Nick's room, his chest heaving with a desperate, furious energy.
"Give me my money back!" he had yelled, demanding justice.
Nick had initially played dumb, then, with a smug tilt of his head, he'd admitted it. "Yeah, I took it. So what?"
Noah had begged, pleaded, and reasoned, his dignity crumbling before the monumental importance of the tuition. Nick had finally relented, but only with a condition: Noah had to go somewhere with him first.
Which was why Noah was currently sitting in the oppressive silence of this dilapidated car, the scent of old cigarettes and cheap cologne thickening the air.
Finally, the silence became unbearable. Noah turned toward Nick, his voice tight.
"Where exactly are we going?"
Nick glanced over, his eyes narrowing into a glare. "Will you shut up and let me drive in peace?"
The insult ignited a spark of defiance in Noah. He yelled back, frustrated and exhausted. "If you give me back my money right away, I will get down from your car so you can drive in peace! So give me my money!"
"Aren't we going to get it now?" Nick shot back, his tone turning menacing. "I'm telling you, if another word comes out of your mouth, I'm going to hit you so hard that you'll feel the pain for weeks."
The threat was not an idle one. Noah knew better than to push him further, because that won't be the first time Nick will lay his hands on him. He swallowed his anger, shutting his mouth firmly.
A few minutes later, Nick abruptly steered the car onto a side street. Noah knew this area. His stomach lurched. His concern immediately outweighed his fear of Nick's fists.
"Nick, what exactly are we doing at a hotel?" His voice was laced with worry. "And this hotel? It's for the rich. We can't even get inside. How will I get my money if we can't even enter?"
Nick's face hardened. "I know some people. We can get inside, and the person I want to collect your money from is inside. You can choose if you want to come in with me or not."
Noah lapsed back into silence, knowing he had no other option.
Nick parked the car in the underground garage. As Noah climbed out, he couldn't help but stare around him. The garage was a museum of luxury. Sleek, gleaming, expensive cars filled every space. Nick's beat-up, rusty vehicle looked utterly ridiculous, a misplaced piece of junk in a showroom.
Before Noah could dwell on the absurdity, Nick yanked his arm. "Let's go. What are you dilly-dallying for?"
Noah instantly snatched his hand away. "Don't touch me. I can walk."
Nick snickered, a sound that grated on Noah's nerves. "Who wants to touch you in the first place? Follow after me."
Noah followed, his mind racing. He was terrified of being publicly humiliated, expecting the guards at the entrance to block them, to shame them for their mismatched appearance. But to his profound surprise, when they reached the ornate doors, Nick produced an invitation, and they were ushered inside without question.
Nick strode through the plush, quiet lobby, leading Noah toward another door. He opened it, revealing a staircase descending into the floor. A fresh wave of apprehension washed over Noah.
"What's this place? What are we doing here, Nick?"
Nick didn't offer an explanation, only the chillingly brief command: "Follow me."
Noah was trapped. His tuition money was with Nick. He had no choice but to follow.
The stairs led them into a hallway. Already, Noah could hear the muffled, booming rhythm of music. With every step they took, the sound grew louder and the bass throbbed more intensely. The hallway ended at another solid door.
Nick opened it.
The sound exploded around Noah. They were in a club.
He couldn't fathom how he was supposed to retrieve his tuition money in a place like this, but he pushed the question down and continued to follow Nick through the strobe-lit, crowded dance floor.
Nick guided him to a private room tucked away in the back. As he entered, a smile stretched across his face, and he addressed the men inside.
"Boss Ryan, I'm here."
Noah peered into the room. The man Nick called Boss Ryan was middle-aged, radiating an air of overt, almost gaudy wealth. Every finger was adorned with a gold ring, and his neck was laden with chunky diamond necklaces. The man looked less like a person and more like a poorly organized jewelry display.
Two other men were present: another middle-aged man, and a much younger man who looked to be Noah's age and bore a striking resemblance to the second middle-aged man.
Nick's smile faltered slightly when he saw them. "You didn't tell me there would be other people too," he said to Boss Ryan, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
Boss Ryan waved a dismissive hand. "That's my friend, and I also want him to have good things too. Don't worry, I will pay you thrice the amount promised before."
Nick's eyes immediately lit up with avarice. Satisfied with the massive increase in pay, he dropped his protest and said nothing more. Noah watched the exchange, his chest tightening with a dread that had nothing to do with the stolen money and everything to do with where Nick had brought him.