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"Oh! Bowen, Jeffrey, come, let's give the kids some time alone," my mother coos, hopping up in excitement, ushering my fathers away after they all say goodnight for the evening, leaving me alone with the expectant alphas, who are most certainly not kids.
I stare at the box sitting on the table and wonder if he expects me to get up and come to him, or…
Finally, he passes it to Kenneth, seated beside me, who hands it over.
"How did you like the spa?" Kenneth asks me just as I reach out to take the small case. My fingers just barely grasp the box. A sense of uneasiness washes over me as he holds it closer to his chest, almost like he's trying to tease me, to get me to chase after their treat, toying with me, like I'm a puppet, or a dog.
Instead of playing his game, I release the box, not caring if I ever open it. "The gift card was lovely, thank you so much. It was an extremely thoughtful gift." I doubt he can hear the sarcasm in my voice, which is confirmed when he smiles down at me, his bright white veneer teeth looking especially shiny and sharp. My heart races, and I know what he's thinking. I can tell by the sudden change of his scent, the way it shifts and brightens, but it's cloying and all wrong.
He's thinking he'll get to bite me soon, bind me to him. Judging by the mass amount of pheromones he’s releasing, he's thinking of my heat.
What am I doing here? I can barely stomach dinner with him. I can't marry this man.
"I'm so glad you enjoyed it. It would have been nice to receive a thank you sooner, though."
"Well, perhaps I could have said thank you sooner had you given it to me in person." I’m not usually so bold, but I’m finding it especially difficult to keep up the pretense.
His eyes flash with something dark, but he clears it just as quickly, that genial politician sliding back into place. He's almost as good at it as I am. "That's an excellent point. We should keep closer tabs on you. Why don't we exchange numbers, that way, we can stay in touch. I was really hoping we could share a bonding ceremony soon, but I suppose we can wait for your next heat. Your mother tells me it's still a couple of months away, but if we're lucky, we'll get to have it before the wedding."
My stomach churns. We'll get to have it, like it's his, like he has a right to it. But that's what I've let him think, right? That I'm here because my mother, who has obviously shared extremely intimate details about me, told me to be here, and I listened. Why should he expect anything else?
Is he really this sinister, or have I just let myself fall into this situation, allowing him to feel he has a right to treat me like a prop? Or, as Ophelia said, a pawn or a toy. A commodity that he's bought and paid for.
"Certainly, let's exchange numbers," I croak, my voice betraying me. Kenneth's eyes flash once more, but for a different reason. At the mention of my heat, he thinks he's affecting me, that he's turning me on, and I can feel his alpha dominance pushing toward me, trying to subjugate me. I school my expression, "I'll be sure to get it from my mother, as my phone is upstairs. I'll send you a message after dinner."
"Excellent." With that, he shoves the box back into my hands. Jonathan deemed me worthy enough to get up out of his seat, and I cringe when he runs his fingers through my hair, pulling it off my neck, not quite touching my skin, but hinting, hovering.
"I saw these and thought of you. Dripping in diamonds. You really are quite perfect, Imogen," Jonathan says.
I open the box. Diamond earrings, which look nearly identical to the ones I'm already wearing.
"These are lovely, Jonathan. Thank you so much."
"Here, let's try them on," he leans closer as if to take my earrings out and put his in their place. Abruptly, I stand, startling the four of them. This isn't right. They aren't Dante.
I need Iggy and Cass. I need to meet Red properly. I want their scents, Cass's fresh cotton, Iggy's warm mulled wine.
Not these alphas. I can't do this. I don't know how to fix this. They're all staring at me, so I clear my throat. "It's getting quite late. Thank you so much for the earrings. I'll be sure to share my phone number later," I say to Kenneth.
He's not used to being dismissed, and he certainly never expected it from me, but I stand my ground. I can see the war behind his eyes, but ultimately, he agrees it's getting late.
"Why don't you walk us out, darling." His hand on my arm doesn't give me much choice, but I acquiesce. We walk to the foyer, and I dig in my heels since I won't be leaving the building with them.
He lets go, and all four men kiss my cheek and say goodnight, their alpha scents pushing and prodding at me, marking me with their pheromones, laying claim to me before they go.
Choosing to scrub their scents off me immediately or escape this ostentatious prison is a toss-up.
More than anything, I need to get out of here. I'm beyond relieved my mother isn't waiting for me at the top of the stairs. Leaving the velvet box with the diamond earrings on the vanity in the bathroom, with shaky hands, I dig out another piece of luggage from my closet and begin packing more of my things. I don't know why. It's not like I'm moving out.
But my body knows more than my mind because it packs on autopilot. Without saying goodbye, without tracking down Kenneth's phone number, I hurry to my car, and only when I'm crossing the Sixth Street bridge into South Loop do my nerves settle.
Chapter 10
Red
"What up, bro?" My hand slides over Jess's in greeting.
"Hey, haven't seen you in a minute," he lifts his chin, leaning back on the three-legged wooden stool at the corner of the awning beneath the bright neon Queenie's sign, highlighting our little slice of heaven.
