Alpha Inmate, page 1
Liliana Carlisle
Alpha Inmate
Copyright © 2021 by Liliana Carlisle
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
First edition
This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy
Find out more at reedsy.com
Contents
PROLOGUE—ELLIE
ELLIE
ELLIE
ELLIE
ERIK
ELLIE
ERIK
ELLIE
ERIK
ELLIE
ERIK
ELLIE
ERIK
ELLIE
ERIK
ELLIE
ELLIE
ERIK
ELLIE
ERIK
ELLIE
ERIK
ELLIE
ERIK
ELLIE
ERIK
ELLIE
ERIK
ELLIE
ERIK
ELLIE
ERIK
ELLIE
ERIK
ELLIE
ERIK
EPILOGUE—ELLIE
About the Author
Also by Liliana Carlisle
PROLOGUE—ELLIE
As soon as she hears the helicopters, Ellie knows she fucked up.
They fly over her head, the sound of their blades piercing the night sky. Their lights shine down over the woods, searching for any sign of the escapee.
But they’ll never find him, just like they’ll never find her.
Her legs burn from running frantically in the dark. The tiny light that usually illuminates the cabin is suddenly missing, most likely from the tricks he pulled.
But the search lights aid her in finding refuge. The dark outline of her temporary residence shines in the dark and she follows it, narrowly avoiding tripping over her own feet. Her shoes clack against the wooden steps of the porch and sweat drips down her neck as she tries not once, but twice, to shove the key into the lock.
On the second try, she drops them.
Fighting back tears, the key finally fits into the lock and she bursts through the door, maniacally flipping on every light switch in the front room.
None of them work, and she screams in frustration. Of course, he cut the power.
Slowly, the sounds of the helicopters fade away, and their searchlights dim.
Rescue isn’t coming.
She can barely see through her tears, her body shaking as she fumbles around in the darkness, feeling her way towards the small kitchen. She pulls a drawer open and finds a knife, gripping the handle like a lifeline. Pushing the end of the dining table, she drags it across the wooden floor, barricading the front door. She pushes every chair against it for good measure.
He’s still coming in either way, but she doesn’t have to make it easy for him.
Closing the curtains, blocking out any remaining source of light, she races down to the basement, flinging the door open. She shuts it behind her, breathing heavily into the darkness. Now that the adrenaline is wearing off, every part of her aches.
Including her heart.
Her heart hurts the most and she grits her teeth, refusing to let out the anguish that gathers in her throat.
She replays every stupid mistake she made in her mind, reliving every moment she had the chance to leave.
She had ample opportunity to escape him.
But instead, she played right into his hands.
She can’t see an inch in front of her. The darkness suffocates her, draining her of all her strength. She presses herself against the basement wall, sliding down to the floor, her head in her hands.
Her phone is dead; he made sure of it.
Just like he killed her car battery.
They should have known he wouldn’t stay confined in that prison for long.
He was only there because he wanted to be there.
And now, he has a reason to leave.
She shivers in the dark, knife in hand, waiting for the inevitable.
ELLIE
2 WEEKS EARLIER
“No. Absolutely not.”
She caught Lita in a foul mood. Her boss looks at her with disdain, as if the very idea of Ellie’s proposition is disgusting.
Regardless, Ellie presses on. “They’ve needed someone for a year,” she insists, meeting Lita’s scornful eyes. “They have the funding, and I’m more than qualified to do it.”
She’s proud of herself for not stumbling over more than qualified.
“No, you’re not,” Lita snaps, her dark eyes exasperated. “You’ve worked with children and students, Ellie. This is an entirely different scenario. I cannot, I will not sign off on this.”
Her attitude only frustrates Ellie. Her temper flares, but she forces her voice to stay even. “They will only have me working with Betas, Lita. And I’m not a psychologist—I won’t be doing any type of trauma work. I’m only going there to take notes, to listen—”
“It’s. Not. Safe.” Lita’s eyes narrow, and Ellie knows the woman won’t budge. Still, she takes in a deep breath and appeals one last time.
“I can do this,” she says quietly. “I know I can.”
The older woman shakes her head. “So can I. It doesn’t mean I have to,” Lita insists, sitting down at her desk. She sighs, her dark brown eyes weary. “They already called me, and I told them I won’t sign off on the hours. It would be pointless for you to go.”
Ellie remains silent, stunned at the betrayal.
“No one is ever ready for Green Woods,” she says softly, a hint of pity on her face. “The chip on your shoulder isn’t big enough for this project. Going there won’t resolve anything.”
Lita’s words catch her off guard and pull at something ugly in her chest.
The absolute nerve.
She’s not sure who she’s angrier at—Lita for calling her out, or herself for being so transparent.
“I’ve agreed to a month with them,” Ellie snaps, gathering her bag and standing up. “When I get back, after you see my notes, maybe you’ll accept the hours.”
Lita shakes her head. “I don’t doubt what you do with the prisoners will be phenomenal. I’m worried about you. It’s easy to become too emotionally involved or attached.”
She scoffs at her words, frustrated that Lita could suggest that she would be less than professional. “I leave in a few days. I’ll see you in a month.”
She hears her boss sigh as she shuts the door behind her.
* * *
Maybe she does have a chip on her shoulder.
Guilt gnaws at her as she replays Lita’s words in her head. She’s opened up to the woman after knowing her for years, and her mentor knows her well.
She shouldn’t have been so rude to Lita. She’ll apologize later.
But on the way to the isolated town of Green Woods, she lets the worries dissipate as she takes in the scenery.
She’s never seen so much greenery in her life. The trees surround her, blocking out most of the light. Her electric car had no problems in Los Angeles, but now she struggles to keep up with the twisting dirt roads and the worn-out signs. Her phone loses signal occasionally, but she navigates the directions without too much trouble.
Miles deep in dark green, she begins to wonder if the place even exists before she finally sees the worn sign, the white lettering barely visible.
Green Woods. Population: 100.
“Wow,” she breathes.
A building is nestled beyond a group of tall trees. Its concrete walls are dreary and industrial, nothing like the sprinkling of cabins nestled in the woods.
Green Woods Correctional Facility is a stark contrast to the surrounding nature.
Following the directions, she takes the lone road towards the cabin they’ve provided for her.
But as she pulls up to the dirt driveway, a chill runs down her spine.
There’s a small voice that tells her maybe she should turn back, and this was a mistake.
But the stronger voice, the voice that dictates her decisions, presses on.
And so, Ellie parks in front of the cabin and makes her plans for the evening.
* * *
The place is nothing like her apartment.
For one, there’s no roommate. She’s completely alone, with time to ruminate on her past.
There’s time to relive the memories of them and drown in a sea of sorrow.
She shuts down the dark thoughts and unpacks instead.
The living space is furnished with a simple dining table and four wooden chairs. A dark brown sofa sits on the opposite wall, its leather frayed and worn. The kitchen is tiny, with a simple stove and fridge and only a touch of cabinet space. Her bedroom is small with a comfortable bed and desk.
The entire structure is barely bigger than her apartment, but it’s charming.
She texts Lita to let her know she’s arrived safely, but the message takes thirty minutes to send, due to the poor reception.
Before bed, she opens her laptop and researches more about the facility. Since its opening one hundred years ago, it’s housed Alphas and Betas in different wards. Green Woods only takes inmates with crimes so heinous they could never be let back into society.
She shivers as she reads about some of the cases in the past, and Lita’s words play in her head.
The chip on your shoulder isn’t big enough for this project.
But she can do this. She knows she can.
It’s only for a month. Nothing can go wrong in that short of time.
ELLIE
She sleeps peacefully, with no ghosts haunting her dreams.
She dresses quickly in the morning, throwing on a pair of fitted black slacks and buttoning up a cream-colored blouse. The smallest amount of eyeliner compliments her hazel eyes, and her chestnut hair is pulled into a high bun. For the final touch, she wraps a black scarf daintily around her neck, careful to cover up her mating gland.
That’s the chip on her shoulder, if she’s being honest with herself.
Most people don’t look at the raised bump of skin, but when they do, she hates the judgmental eyes. She’s grown tired of answering the same questions.
Yes, she’s an Omega. No, she’s not mated.
Not that it’s anyone’s business.
Tying her soul to someone else is not in her best interest at the moment.
As she heads out the front door, she wonders if it will ever be.
* * *
The drive is so quick she could have walked and enjoyed the lush scenery, inhaling the crisp air instead of the air freshener in her car. Her temporary identification card allows her through the parking gate with an electronic beep.
She parks and stays in the car, worry gnawing at her stomach.
“What am I doing here?” She whispers to herself.
She had a plan, but now as she stares at the building, broad and overwhelming, she’s starting to second-guess herself.
What is she trying to prove by coming here? That she can empathize, or somehow help unsavable monsters?
What notes would she even give back to Lita?
“Aw, fuck it,” she hisses, opening the car door.
She already came this far, she might as well follow through.
Her kitten heels clack against the sidewalk as she makes her way to the entrance. She slowly makes her way to the front double doors when…
Damn.
There’s a scent that entices her. It’s not too intense, as she has the best suppressants insurance can buy, but it’s quite delicious. It’s potent enough that it makes her stop in her tracks and deeply inhale the aroma.
Alpha.
Without the bustle of the city, Alpha scents don’t blend into a pungent mess. This particular scent sends a thrill throughout her body, causing goosebumps to pebble on her pale flesh.
It’s peppery and rich, with the slightest hint of citrus.
It’s also entirely off-limits.
Get it together. You haven’t even walked inside.
Well, at least she won’t have to work with him. She’s here for Betas only, which gives her enough reassurance to step inside.
The interior of the building is much more sophisticated than she expected. With well-lit walls and cream marble floors, it resembles more of an elite corporate office than of a prison.
It’s also eerily quiet except for the throat-clearing of the guard who sits at the front desk.
Then, it clicks.
This is a private facility.
Only the ones with money go here. Instead of landing in a public prison, their lawyers negotiated a stay here.
Interesting.
The Beta guard behind is anything but impressed as he scowls at her with beady eyes. “Yes?” he barks, his voice raspy and irritated.
Be confident, she reminds herself, standing up straighter. You can do this. “I’m Ellie Winters. I’m here for—”
His grey eyebrows shoot to his forehead. “They sent you?” he asks rudely, dumbfounded. He glances down at a paper in front of him, frowning. “No, no. We have an Elliot Winters.”
She frowns. “No, I accepted the position here. I’m a temporary behavioral—”
“No,” the guard interrupts. “Absolutely not. You can’t be here.”
She scowls and bites back her irritation at his dismissal. “I don’t understand why—”
“Because you’re—” he shakes his head and awkwardly gestures with his hands. “You’re you.”
It’s Lita’s words all over again, this time with the true inflection behind it. They cut into her deeply, her heart pounding inside her chest.
Because you’re an Omega.
She stands up straighter, and the same familiar anger she tampered down before returns.
“So, what’s worse?” she asks him slowly. “You giving me the paperwork for Elliot, or me letting your manager know that you just insinuated I can’t work here because of my status?”
She truly hates playing the Omega card.
The guard wavers for a moment, his chest heaving. Finally, his shoulders droop in defeat. “Suit yourself,” he sighs. “I’ll let Doctor Porter know you’re here. You can take a seat, Miss Winters.”
He picks up the phone and murmurs something into it, scowling.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she sits, trying her best to keep her face neutral.
She wonders if Doctor Porter will be as awful as the guard.
But a distant howl of rage and terror interrupts her thoughts. The sound ricochets off the wall, the unmistakable roar of an Alpha ringing in her ears.
She freezes.
She should have expected it—of course, there’s going to be Alphas here. She already smelled one.
But the sound still chills her to her core, and she bites her lip to keep from shifting uncomfortably.
It’s fine. It’s fine.
The doors to a hallway swing open, and a tall, older Beta man in a white lab coat walks through them. He gives Ellie a gentle smile, and her nerves dissipate. She stands up to shake his hand, and his smile grows wider, his light green eyes crinkling at the corners.
“Ellie,” he says. “I’m Doctor Porter. I hear you’re working with us for the next month? I’m so sorry about the paperwork issue, by the way.”
“It’s fine,” she says, giving him a genuine smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m looking forward to working with your Betas.”
His eyes flick to her scarf, and his smile fades, recognition dawning on his face. “Oh. Maybe it wasn’t clear in our communications. We offered the program for Alpha behavioral studies.”
He thought she was a Beta. Or that Elliot Winters was a Beta.
The silence is uncomfortably long. Ellie tries to find the right words as she stands awkwardly, fighting to keep the horror from her voice.
And unmated Omega working with Alphas is unheard of, not to mention reckless.
“That’s fine,” she insists quickly. “I’ll do it.”
Her voice is two tones higher than it should be, giving away her trepidation.
But Doctor Porter isn’t convinced.
“I’m sorry. I should have been clearer,” he insists. “And you came all this way, too. I’m so sorry about the miscommunication.”
No. No.
She will not turn around and go back home just because she doesn’t want to work with Alphas.
It’s fine. Just as she told Lita, she’s more than capable. There’s no law that saws she can’t, just the unspoken rules and social norms. But she’s too stubborn to change her mind.
She forces a smile and ignores her heart rapidly beating in her chest. “I was actually hoping to work with the Alphas, so this is a pleasant surprise.”
Even the guard looks up from his desk, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.
No Omega in their right mind would do what she’s offering. It’s too dangerous.
It’s taboo.
The silence is too long between them. It becomes a staring match, but Ellie refuses to back down.
“If it becomes too much, I will leave,” she insists. “But I would greatly appreciate this opportunity to do research on behalf of my university.”
She knows that the doctor wants to argue with her. But he won’t, unless he wants to be accused of Omega discrimination.
