To the Claiming Booth
Stanley
I don’t know what to concentrate on more: My rage at Bear’s foolish, impulsive decision; worry for Yuki’s reaction when she finds out what our packmate did; or my conflicted feelings at bringing a fucking omega home.
I can’t lie—I do want to fuck him. But I don’t want to keep him. I can’t.
An omega is a commitment I simply don't have time for. Someone will have to constantly watch over the damn kid, and I need Bear and Yuki in the office. But it’s not like I can take off from work either. We have too much going on right now. I guess I could assign a staff member to watch over the omega and hope he doesn’t die from neglect, but that would probably upset Bear. Serves him right for being so fucking stupid.
Why couldn’t he just tell me he wanted to rut a damn omega?
I would have gotten him whatever flavor he wanted for the weekend. Tall or slim. Short or fat. Blonde. Brunette. Redhead.
I could have helped him scratch that itch.
A few people give me a friendly nod as Angelica and I walk past the line of alphas. They’re all waiting to pay their bill and collect their purchase. A few others give me a respectful nod, but most ignore us. Alphas come to the Morder to avoid the ridiculous forced conversations of claiming an omega. Here, you can claim whoever you want, without saying a word… assuming you have the money .
“Kent,” Angelica greets the large beta standing guard next to the claiming booth. “Mr. Stanley is here to collect his omega.”
The large beta gives me a respectful nod. “Dr. Plume is preparing him now.”
I fight the urge to walk right past him into the prep tent and grab the omega so I can get the fuck out of here, but I don’t want to risk leaving any trace of my scent on someone else’s purchase. It would piss their new alphas off, and I like repeat business.
“Stanley,” Dr. Plume greets me as he steps out of the tent. He pulls his latex gloves off, tossing them into a nearby trash bin. “I have a few things for you.” He pushes a hand into his pocket, pulling out a small device.
“What’s this?” I ask as he places it in the palm of my hand.
“He has asthma,” Dr. Plume says, handing over the boy’s one-sheet.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I shove the device into my pocket. I didn’t know it was possible, but I’m even more annoyed with Bear than before. What a waste of money . “He’s not going to die, is he?” But the doctor doesn’t react to my blunt question, which I take as a good sign.
“He’s still young.” Dr. Plume points to the boy's age on the one-sheet. “He might outgrow it.”
I look over the paper in my hand, taking in the omega’s age and basic stats. My eyes pull to his purity level: Certified Pure - VIRGIN. My cock grows thick at the thought of destroying his innocence. I definitely plan on making the most of the shit situation.
“Do you have any questions?” Dr. Plume looks up at me expectantly.
“No,” I say firmly, unable to hide my impatience. I’m ready to get the fuck out of here.
Sensing my agitation, Angelica opens the tent flap, poking her head inside. “Item 4101 is ready to be picked up.”
My ears prickle at the hushed sound of voices. There’s movement within the tent, the shadows shifting about. Then the male omega comes into view.
He’s beautiful. I can’t deny that.
His pale skin and soft, plump lips beg to be touched, and the innocence in his wide eyes calls for my corruption. I take in the rest of his slim form, admiring the way the dress shirt hangs off his shoulders. My gaze drops lower, and excitement bursts in my chest at the faint outline of his limp omega cock.
Maybe this will be fun.
But I’m honestly not sure if I should fuck him yet. He’s clearly underfed, and the dark circles under his eyes are concerning. He needs to be seen by a more qualified doctor. Plume does a decent job here, but he’s a general physician. I need someone who specializes in omegas. Someone who can tell me if this boy is even worth the hassle.
I refuse to waste any time on a chronically ill omega.
“Come here,” I say to the omega. He flinches, but he doesn’t move. He just stands there, shivering under my gaze. “Now.” I push my alpha command into the air, and the omega’s feet move. He shuffles to me with his head down.
Eager to see his face, I place my finger under his chin, then tip his head all the way up. He looks to one side, unable to meet my gaze. Good. He knows his place. I scan his face, taking in his flushed cheeks and blown-out pupils. It’ll probably be a few more hours until all the drugs are out of his system.
“What’s your name?” I ask.
“Um,” he bites his bottom lip, “Stefan.”
I narrow my eyes, watching the vein beneath his ear throb and pulse. Is it excitement? Fear? It might even be lust from being so close to an alpha, but it’s hard to tell with so many conflicting aromas floating in the air.
“You can call me Mr. Stanley or just Stanley,” I say. “But I think alpha would be best.”
“Okay, al-alpha,” the omega—Stefan—stutters, looking everywhere but my face. “Um. Are you…” He glances past me, almost as if searching for someone. “Where are we…” His voice trails off. The boy is clearly too overwhelmed to think straight. It’s a bit annoying.
“Are you ready?” I ask, and the omega flinches once again. What the hell is wrong with him? I sniff the air, trying to find any trace of illness in his scent, but there’s nothing there but floral honey. Maybe he’s one of those nervous omegas who jumps at every little sound. “Come.” I grab his wrist, then tug him forward.
Angelica and Dr. Plume offer their congratulations on my purchase as I walk off, but I don’t bother answering. I’m too eager to get the fuck out of here. I don’t want anyone else to try to talk to me or offer their well wishes. I’m a shit liar, and I don’t want someone to think I didn’t ask Bear to claim this fucking omega for me. That would start all kinds of rumors. People would assume my pack was falling apart and my packmate was trying to take over. Some people would take it as a sign I am weak and could be easily overpowered.
A fresh wave of rage pours over me at the mess Bear has made.
Marching past the stage, I pick up my pace, and my omega stumbles, almost falling over.
“Be careful,” I warn, giving him a stern look. “The last thing I need is for you to hurt yourself.”
He curls his shoulders inward, letting out a faint whimper in response. The delicate sound cuts through me, making me tense at how fragile he is. Weak. A goddamn burden.
What the fuck was Bear thinking?
I see the bearded alpha as we make our way through the parked cars. He’s standing next to the SUV, pacing as he looks one way and then the other. I know he’s eager to get his hands on the omega. His desire for the boy must be intense to have purchased him without any thought of me or Yuki. I understand how intense an alpha’s lust can be, but he fucked up, and he has to pay for it.
I have no intention of making this easy on him.
“Alpha,” Bear says respectfully when he finally sees me. Then his attention drifts to the omega at my side, and his eyes go wide with shock. Did he think I’d leave him behind?
Bear takes a single step toward me, and I give him a stern glare, silently telling him not to move a muscle. His big body jerks and his fingers flex, but he stays in place next to the car. I see the way his brown eyes flash with excitement as we near, staring intensely at his new purchase. The omega keeps his head down, refusing to look at anyone.
“Can I sit next to him?” Bear asks as we step up to the car.
I consider it. After all, it would be painful for him to hold the omega the whole way home, then have him ripped away the second we walk through the front door. But I’m not that cruel.
“No,” I bark, cutting a look at the front passenger seat. “Get in the fucking car.”
Bear sucks in a deep breath, making his barrel chest slowly rise and fall. Then he nods. “Yes, sir.”
I watch as he climbs into the SUV, not moving until he shuts the door behind him. “Get in,” I say to the omega as I open the back door. The omega doesn’t move at first. He stares at the soft leather seat beneath him. “Omega,” I command, and his head snaps up to me. “Get in.”
He obeys this time, lifting one unsteady foot, then the other. He slides across the seats, situating himself behind Yuki. The she-alpha turns around the best she can, staring at the omega, then me. When she glances at Bear, he drops his head, refusing to look at the she-alpha.
“What the hell is this?” Yuki asks as I get into the car. I cut a glare at Bear, pissed he didn’t warn her. But the bearded-alpha looks out the window, ignoring both of us.
Coward .
“You’re gonna want to ask Bear,” I snarl, and the omega shivers next to me. He looks so small with his shirt pulled tight around his legs and his hands tucked underneath him. “Buckle up.”
The boy doesn’t move. He sits frozen in place, staring at the back of Yuki’s seat.
“Stanley?” The she-alpha looks from the omega to me and back again. “We aren’t taking him home,” she says in disbelief, “are we?”
It takes everything in me not to growl, but the omega is already scared enough as it is. “Just drive.” I lean over the omega’s slight form, grab the seatbelt, then tug it across his body. A slight whimper pushes from his chest when my hands graze his lap. I ignore the sound, buckling him in.
I have to make some hard decisions over the next few days. It will hurt Bear, but if this omega causes too much tension with my pack, I will have to get rid of him.
It will kill Bear, but I don’t have a choice.
I can’t alienate Yuki, and I don’t want to disrupt our lives all for one pathetic, scavenged omega.