AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I shifted closer to him, mind spiralling.
Wrong, wrong, wrong.
Rogue’s gonna hate us.
And besides, is he really so stupid he hasn’t figured out the truth?
I wasn’t an Omega that an Alpha like him could ever truly claim.
FIFTEEN
KNOX
I hated these events.
They weren’t as bad as some—ones designed for the presentation of merchandise and for sick pleasure to be played out before the eyes of the guests. This sort of event, at least, was still a front, a pleasant mask put upon the face of a monster. It wasn’t nearly corrupt enough to require attendees to hide their faces. It was simply… networking. Accountability. The true benefactors were the more well-known faces, and there were a few high-ranking politicians here tonight.
They wanted to know that those of us involved in the business, who didn’t have so much at risk, were also willing to show ourselves now and then. Anyone who vanished entirely was shunned—or worse, targeted and branded traitors. These circles weren’t the type to accept resignation letters. Once you dabbled in their games, you were locked in for life.
When I’d claimed this title, the ties to these circles were baked in by nature. I’d decided, instead of running, I would turnup and use this position to destroy them one small piece at a time.
But to prove myself, I had to buy in—even if it was just once or twice a year to keep curious eyes at bay.
It’s why my staff wore masks: so no one discovered they were all once bought from the very ring we all gathered to support.
And who would remember? I selected nobodies. Dejected, broken creatures no one would miss. I might take them to an event or two if I had to, but then they would vanish.
It was why the petite Omega currently warming my lap posed such a problem, because no one in this room would forget her face—or that I was the one who had bought her.
“Can I bring you a drink?” Callum’s gentle voice drew me from my thoughts, and I glanced up at the slender masked man who’d stopped beside us.
There was the briefest moment in which I caught his gaze wandering to the thin chain and how Thistle was seated on my lap, but then he glanced back to me. If he was surprised at our closeness, he hid it well.
“I’ll have my usual. Thistle?” I glanced at her, then did a double take.
She was staring at Callum with wide eyes, her jaw clenched, and boy did she look vicious.
I bit back a chuckle, waiting a second longer before answering for her. “I believe that’s a no.”
Callum nodded and left.
“What is getting you so upset?” I asked, watching her curiously.
“He’s an Omega, isn’t he?” she asked.
I felt a half smile tug at my lips. “He is.”
“And he lives with you?”
“He lives in the east wing. I live in the north wing.”
She narrowed her eyes but said no more as the party went on around us.
Callum was a major asset to me: a twenty-eight-year-old male Omega and the only other I’d ever entered a bidding war for. Despite the fact I spaced out my purchases, I had, on an urge, bought him two weeks after I’d bought Christina—a Beta who had left the second she could and now lived in LA working at a coffee shop, trying to start a singing career.
I kept tabs on the ones that left, making sure they had enough to get by and access to help. And I think I just needed to know a normal life was possible after it all.
But Callum had chosen not to leave. Like some of the others, he’d decided his chance of survival wasn’t great alone. He’d taken on his role with ease—taking each newcomer from me, doing all the talking, and making up for what I hadn’t been able to offer him.
