“Sometimes single alphas find their way into the showroom,” Charlie whispers. “I need for you to find out which ones don’t have a pack.” He nods, so I nod too. “Can you do that?”
“Yes.” I’m still nodding, and the jerky movement makes Charlie smile for some reason.
“I know you’re a little doped up right now.” He cups my cheek briefly. It’s an almost-touch, not quite resting hisfingers on my skin, and his dark brows pull together with concern. “The drugs will fade in a few hours, but this is very important. Can you do this for me, baby?”
The sudden endearment makes my heart swell and my face burn bright red. “I can do this.” Without thinking, I push up onto my tiptoes and plant a kiss on Charlie’s incredibly soft lips. It’s the lightest press of lips. Soft. Unthinking. Needy.
Charlie instantly pulls back, stunned, then chuckles under his breath. “You shouldn’t do that.” He glances around. “Someone might see.”
I grin, a little dizzy. “Sorry. Couldn’t help it.”
“Just be friendly.” He lifts my wrist, examining the secure plastic bracelet. “Ask for the bidding numbers for the alphas with no packs.” He takes out a pen, then changes the three to an eight. “I’ll do the rest.”
“Yes, sir,” I promise with a little bounce.
One alpha and the beta of my dreams. I can live with that kind of pack.
In The SUV
Rhett
Oli stares out the window,arms crossed, legs spread wide like he owns the damn space. His body is big—impossible to ignore—and his minty scent fills the car like a challenge. I’m thankful he’s kept his mouth shut since we left the house, but the silence doesn’t make him any easier to be around.
He’s not family. He’s not even a friend. He’s just…here.
I exhale through my nose, jaw tight.
Between Brock, his fucking friend, and the stress of selling the company, my nerves are frayed. This may not be the ideal moment to claim an omega, but I’m done waiting. My life has been on hold for too long.
There’s a flash of an orange plastic tie wrapped around a tree. It’s the third one in the last mile—at least I’m still on track. According to the flier, that’s all I’m supposed to go by. Follow the markers. No address. No coordinates. Simply cryptic directions and implied discretion.
I understand the secrecy. After all, claiming an omega ishighly regulated, they’re a protected class, with special needs and medical considerations that alphas and betas don’t have. But the governance board in the north is a joke. They don’t care who you are or what laws are broken as long as they get their cut. It’s one of the many reasons my family never expanded our company up north—the lack of regulations is too risky.
Turning the wheel, I pull off the main road right next to a small orange square tacked to a tree. It’s no bigger than a piece of paper. I’m not sure if it qualifies as a sign, but I hope it is. The ground is wildly uneven, making the car rock and pitch.
Fuck, I hope I’m going the right way.
“Are you sure this is it?” Oli cranes his neck, looking back at the tiny sign behind us.
“Yes.” I don’t look at him. I focus on the trees ahead, on the bent branches and tire-rutted mud. “Something big came through here.”
Oli doesn’t look convinced. “Or it’s from someone as lost as we are.”
I snap my head toward him. “Do you want to get out and walk?”
His mouth curves into a smirk. “Nah, man. I’m good.”
I hate everything about this asshole. His smug face. His overwhelming minty scent. Even his voice grates on me. He’s just a dick.
Or maybe I’m bitter….
I get that it’s not technically this asshole’s fault, but it’s a fucking gut punch that after everything I did for Brock—the support, the sleepless nights, and the repeated failed trips to rehab—my brother turned to some random alpha, instead of family, to get clean.
It’s like my brother couldn’t bother to get his lifetogether when Myrick or I begged, but he was more than willing for some punk with a cocky smile and no roots.
Why didn’t I just leave this fucker at the airport?
“Is that it?” Oli leans forward.
