Chapter 9
DEVIN
Anxiety races through my spine, twisting me about as I look at my computer screen. Though I rub my chest, it doesn’t get any better. I’m not normally prone to my heart racing. Panic is not something I’m used to feeling.
Closing my eyes, I force myself to breathe.
In. Out. In. Out. Just breathe. After a few minutes, everything begins to calm, allowing me to concentrate on my job.
I try not to work on the weekends, but a certain blonde-haired, brown-eyed omega has twisted my thoughts around until she is all I can think about.
It’s not like me to be so obsessed, especially with a perfect stranger.
It’s probably my worry for her that has me so consumed.
Most submissives enjoy aftercare in the dark, secluded room.
But not her. She refused my offer. It stung, to be sure, but I’m not going to force it on her.
If only I knew who she was and how to get a hold of her.
If she were a normal submissive I played with, I’d have no problem checking in on her, making sure she was taking it easy today. Perhaps I should have the club contact Kessily for me? No. That would make me look like some sycophant chasing after a woman who doesn’t want me.
Clearing my throat, I pull up the phone records of the guy I’m supposed to be gathering intel on. Nothing there seems amiss, but I know if I dig deeper, I’ll find a burner phone. The current records are too sporadic and don’t match with the photos sent to me by the private eye who hired me.
It’s like a puzzle, and soon, I find myself immersed in the mystery, all thoughts of a wayward submissive leaving my brain. I’m so caught up in the task that I barely hear the ding of my phone. With a loud groan, I pull myself away from the screen and stretch.
The unknown number makes me sit up as I scroll, my brain whirling a mile a minute, trying to figure out who’s messaging me. And that’s when everything stops. The number is unknown because it’s not the original number.
Government officials don’t work that way. My lips twist as I look down at the screen, studying the text message from the Governing Body. I’ve been matched. I guess it’s about time, but it certainly wasn’t expected.
I should be happy, but I can’t deny the disappointment flitting through my chest. Part of me wanted to see that omega again, maybe learn her name. Perhaps it’s better this way. Now, we can’t hurt each other. I’ll be married to another, and more than likely not be at the club anymore.
Unless the woman at the other end is kinky like me, she probably won't want to engage in the type of stuff I enjoy.
Then again, if the geneticists are to be believed, fetishes are hereditary.
It would make sense that my sequences would be compatible with someone more in line with my way of thinking.
Sigh heavy on my lips, I note the time. Two hours until I have to be at the civic center. I should get there early though to make sure nothing goes amiss. Grabbing my keys, I head out to my car. Two hours is more than enough time to get my head on straight.
I’ve been the friend and witness at enough of these to know I don’t have to do anything beforehand. The Governing Body will provide my tux and any accessories I think I should need. The only thing they don’t provide is a honeymoon.
Since I’ve never planned one before, I should probably seek their advice on what I should do. They know who I’m marrying better than I do. It just stands to reason they’d know what my future intended would want.
Personally, I don’t care. We could go anywhere. This would be something just for her. A gesture to help make all this feel normal. I could take her back to my home, but it wouldn’t be fair to put her so off guard so fast. A honeymoon would be a nice, neutral place to start our lives together.
Determined, I head over to the civic center, hoping someone can help me in this quest. No doubt many of the Alphas just don’t care, but I’m not like those men.
Since I want to ease my bride over into the darker, kinkier side of life, I have to take extreme care not to overwhelm her in the beginning. Baby steps and all that.
My stomach twists as I pull out into traffic, but it’s not nervousness or anxiety causing my heart to pound in my chest. Now, it’s excitement. Pure and simple. I finally have an omega I can call my own, and I can’t wait to meet her.
Do I dare hope it’s the submissive from the club?
Could the fates and government be that kind?
Shaking my head, I dispel those silly thoughts.
As much as I’d love to hope, it’s not something I can allow myself to feel.
I refuse to be shattered like so many other Alphas and omegas going through this process.
Stepping out in front of the civic center, I note the plain exterior.
If this was an occasion I could plan, it would be somewhere far nicer.
Unfortunately, the Governing Body stripped that from us.
In trying to make sure the human race continues, they seem to have forgotten what made us human in the first place.
I slough off these morose feelings threatening to pull me under and step inside, noting the clinical sparseness of the place. How will they get this appropriate for a wedding in just mere hours? Off to the side, a door opens, revealing an obviously married couple.
They look stiff and uncomfortable next to each other as they walk side by side. In fact, they barely look at each other. Misery rolls off of the omega as she follows behind the Alpha she’ll have to live with for the next six months. It shouldn’t be like this.
Hopefully, once they get to know each other, it will be different. Honestly, I just hope whoever comes down the aisle doesn’t automatically hate me outright. I feel like that’s the best thing I can actually hope for.
A sigh slides from my lips as I make my way over to the desk. “Devin Adler.”
The receptionist looks up at me, a frown marring her face. “I’m sorry, sir, but you’re not due for a few more hours. We are not set up to prepare you yet.”
Over on the other side, a titter of laughter rings out into the room. It sounds so familiar, but I can’t seem to place it. “Is that her? Is that my bride?”
The receptionist’s face turns red as she hurries out from behind the desk. “It’s bad luck to see your bride. Don’t you know that?”
“I’m not seeing her. I’m just hearing her. I think. It’s her, isn’t it?”
“Forgive me, sir, but I’m not allowed to say. Please come back in a few more-”
“Don’t worry about it, Stephanie. I’ll take care of him. You go back to manning the phone.”
She lets out a loud sigh of relief and makes her way back as another woman with curly red hair bounces over. “Hi. I’m Angie. This way please.”
I follow her over to a long hallway with doors all the way down. “You really don’t have to be early,” she laughs. “Just not late.”
“Well, I’m certainly not here for my health. I was hoping to get some information.”
Angie looks over her shoulder for a moment before declaring in a loud voice. “I am unable to help you. Everything you need to know about your bride, you’ll discover at the ceremony.” Holding her finger to her lips, she opens up and door and motions for me to come inside.
“Very cloak and dagger, don’t you think?” Though I try to infuse some humor into my tone, the hairs on the back of my head stand on end.
“You don’t understand. I could lose my job by telling you anything. Hell, I could get jail time. So please, respect me if I tell you I can’t say anything. Now, what is it you need?”
I rub the back of my neck as I sit down, presumably in front of her desk. Messy piles of paper take up most of the surface but leave enough open space so we can talk face to face.
“This is going to sound stupid, but I was hoping to plan a honeymoon. Or, well, at least some facsimile. Somewhere we can go that’s neutral ground for the two of us to hash things out.
I’m sure this omega has no desire to just have an Alpha she doesn’t know inserted into her life.
Hell. Maybe she does. Maybe all of this is a waste of time. ”
“I think it’s sweet. Most Alphas don’t seem to care. They just get matched and go. Granted, it’s not like we follow them. Perhaps they plan a trip together. You are in luck, though. I happen to be at least friendly with your intended.”
My heart pounds in my chest as I sit up. “And?”
“And while I can’t tell you anything about her, I can tell you she has always wanted to go to Greece. Santorini, specifically. Now, they don’t give me any information about the Alphas who get married, so I’m not sure if you can swing this-”
“She’ll have the honeymoon she’s wanted by the time we say I do. Is there anything else you can tell me?”
“I’m sorry, but I’ve already said too much.”
Rising, I give her a nod and head out into the hallway.
Thankfully, I have enough time to book our flights, resort, and tell my work I’m taking off for a bit.
At least I got the data over to the private eye before I left.
That’s one major thing off my plate. Now, I can concentrate on one thing and one thing only—my bride.
I stand there at the end of the aisle, refusing to fiddle with my tie. Every time I looked in the mirror, it was perfect. There’s no way it’s askew now. Even so, my fingers drift up to touch the knot and straighten it one last time.
With a groan, I pull my hand away. Closing my eyes, I once more conjure the little omega who knelt so prettily at my feet last night. God, what I would give for my bride to be her. Even now, I feel my heart wrench at the inevitable heartache.
I have to remain firm in my resolve. It won’t be fair to my future bride to be wishing for someone else. It’s why I try not to entangle myself with omegas to begin with. And yet…
With a frustrated sigh, I clench my hands before I rake my fingers through my hair, messing everything up. But honestly, that’s what I feel like right now. A mess. On the outside, everything looks perfect. On the inside, part of me feels like I’m dying.
I just need this to hurry up so I can get these feelings out. Once I see my new bride, I’m sure everything will click into place. It has to. Even if I have to demand myself to love, honor, and cherish this stranger above the small, vulnerable newbie submissive, I will do that.
Because that’s what Doms do. That’s what good Alphas do. That’s what I will have to do.
Unfortunately, everything still seems to take forever, allowing time for my mind to continue churning. And yet, a quick glance at my watch shows no matter how much time has actually passed, I’m still early.
Dammit. I just want to get this part over with so I can start building a future. Honestly, that’s all I ever wanted. Just an omega, and hopefully a slave, to call my own.
When the music swells, my heart pounds in time. Soon. So soon, I’ll see my omega. Soft voices float out into the room from the side hall. Again, I feel as if I know that voice. I wish to God I could place it.
The first person walks out, a bridesmaid by the look of her. I’ve never seen this woman before in my life. Nor the next. Or the next. Strangers, all of them. However, when the next person steps out, my jaw nearly drops.
Kessily flounces down the aisle, her dark skin nearly glowing in the pale lavender dress. She’s all smiles until her gaze catches mine. When her jaw drops, I can’t help the chuckle that escapes.
Instead of the slow, processional walk, she nearly sprints down the aisle and bypasses her seat. “Devin? Oh my God. Devin? Oh. Oh man. Just you wait. You-”
“Please, miss,” the officiant says. “You must be seated.”
My fingers twitch as I turn around, straining in the silence, waiting as the doors open. The music swells again, and it’s all I can do to keep looking at the wall in front of me. She’s so close. I can hear her footsteps as they move tentatively down the aisle.
What’s worse is I can almost smell her. It’s an odd scent. One that teases my memory. It’s a sugary, floral smell. Like a decadent dessert one enjoys on a picnic. No. No, it can’t be.
“You may turn to greet your bride.”
Though she had a mask on last night, nothing can hide those beautiful brown eyes or lovely blonde hair. It has to be my one-night stand from last night. Could I really be so lucky? Could it really be her?
“Devin Adler, I’d like to introduce you to your bride, Jessica Langley.”
“That’s my bestie!” Kessily cries out, removing all doubt.
“Oh, my dear little Jessica,” I purr, feeling out her name on my tongue. “Such a pleasure to meet you.”