36. Caspian
Caspian
“ I don’t understand why you need to see me now,” I sighed as I entered the sitting room of her main London residence.
The dinner started in three hours and I had work to finish. But Mum had said either she came to my headquarters, or I came to her. And my employees shouldn’t have to put up with whatever shit she was about to lay on me.
“I wanted to talk to you about that omega you insist on dragging around with you.”
I met my mum’s open gaze as I threw myself into a hard chair next to her. I folded my arms, barely glancing at the maid who set a teacup down in front of me. I only ever drank tea when my mates were around because I knew they liked it when I was genteel.
She needed to get to the fucking point or I was out.
I wouldn’t put on a performance with Mum.
The newest bunch of trainees had a month left of SAS drills until their final assessments, and I didn’t want to leave them.
Even though there were five other instructors taking care of them, I was so messed up from Kai fucking Mel non-stop that the only way I could get rid of this energy was by training with them.
Well, that, and fucking Sin. But he’d become so soft and loving since Mel moved in with us that it was annoying how much I enjoyed him holding me. Sin’s aftercare was the best.
“There really isn’t anything to talk about. She’s our mate. We’re biting her at the Selection Ceremony. That’s it.”
Mum paused, a light smile on her lips as she took a sip from her pastel blue teacup.
She definitely looked fresh today. I wondered if she’d had more Botox for the upcoming Ceremony. Even her clothes were brighter than usual. It was rare for her to wear a mustard yellow dress on any occasion. Which just made me think something was up.
“And, obviously,” she said, lowering her cup, “that would have nothing to do with how Camille is still slated to bond with the Hiscox pack after the Selection Ceremony?”
I met her steady gaze, looking for any clue that she might be lying. But her face was completely straight.
Mum had this uncanny ability to lie so convincingly that sometimes she forgot she even made shit up. But from the way she was sitting patiently, waiting for me to answer, I guessed she had no idea Camille was actually leaving.
“We’ve already found our omega. That was the deal,” I said through gritted teeth. I had to keep my shit together long enough to get through the conversation.
What made it worse was that whenever I said Mel was our omega, it became a little more real. There was no way we weren’t getting rid of her, but it was getting easier to stomach the thought that she would become part of our pack.
“It’s adorable you think I’d let that pass in any way,” Mum said. “Do you honestly believe bringing someone like that to events such as mine would automatically mean we would reject the Hiscoxes’ offer?”
I ran a hand through my hair, trying to breathe through it. She had a special way that always got me worked up. My fathers were in the next room instead of right behind her, so she must have thought it wasn’t serious enough that I might explode at her.
Plus, I needed to ask her about the money she’d used to bribe Mel.
“You were never specific about the conditions,” I replied coldly.
“Caspian, darling, you stormed off before I could even go over the conditions. You’ve always been sensitive, but you’ve become so much worse since you met that male omega,” she sighed.
“He has a name. You’ve known his name for five years, and it doesn’t come with a limit. You can use it whenever you want.”
Disdain flooded her face as she lifted her teacup again.
We watched each other carefully as she took a slow sip, and I scowled as she dragged it out.
“I gave Sin a folder, and I was very clear about who was eligible. That woman, that omega , is not eligible.” Her teacup landed on the saucer with a high clink.
Until Camille was gone and we knew the Hiscoxes were definitely off the table, we had to keep up the act with Mel.
It wouldn’t be for more than a week. Sin’s side of the family would have to tell Mum Camille was leaving soon enough.
Though maybe they were holding back because pissing Mum off just wasn’t worth it.
“And what if Mel is our scent match? What if we actually bite her?” I said, instantly shoving away the image of the way her face would erupt with pleasure as soon as I got my teeth in her.
A rush of desire pounded through me as I remembered all those delicious moans and cries she made for me every time I touched her.
How much louder would she get if I sank my teeth into her, along with my cock? She’d fucking lose it. And my alpha instincts knew how perfect it would be.
Thankfully, Mum’s grimace helped pull me out of those seconds of craziness I kept getting lost in more often than not.
“I can’t even stomach the thought. Really, you do enjoy stressing me out, don’t you?
” She pressed a hand to her chest like she had swallowed something gross.
“She said exactly the same thing, you know? But that’s what all those omegas who are after you say.
They claim they’re your matches, but all they want is your surname and your money. ”
From what Mel had told us, I was absolutely fucking sure the last thing she wanted was to be called Melanie Risler.
“How do you know she said that? When did you two get so close that you had that kind of conversation?”
Now that Mel had set herself up in Kai’s nest, I hoped we could protect them both from her to make up for our shitty behaviour in the past.
That was something else Sin and I did between fucking. Even though I seriously didn’t want to, we talked about how we could be better mates. Though Kai hadn’t even trusted us enough to tell us that Mum went for him from time to time. So how the fuck were we supposed to resolve that?
“We had a brief discussion about her involvement in your life, much like we are now,” she said smugly.
“I believed we’d come to an understanding, though it appears she’s as stubborn as your male omega when it comes to you.
I thought they were both equally pathetic, but at least that female has some backbone. ”
A growl beat from me as I tried to keep my aura contained, but it blew out of me like a gale.
“Stop talking about them like they’re fucking objects,” I warned.
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t swear in front of me. You know how I dislike that low-class behaviour.” She smirked as my anger burst in my scent. I was already tense enough. At least she hadn’t thrown around any slurs. Yet.
“So, you’re saying Mel has backbone just because she didn’t do what you wanted after you slapped her and offered her money? Or do you mean because Kai thought you were so worthless that he didn’t even bother fighting back?”
Kai had said that was why, but both Sin and I could sense his lies through the bond. We needed the full story from him, and I didn’t trust Mum to tell me the truth, anyway.
Kai and Mel had exchanged so many bites they’d trapped themselves in a permanent haze, and we couldn’t talk about it until after the dinner.
“Oh?” Mum arched a brow. “I didn’t expect her to tell you. How interesting. But that doesn’t change the fact she is wholly inappropriate for you. Whether you mate with her or not, Camille’s situation won’t change.”
“We told you so many fucking times we don’t want fucking kids. Just accept that you’re not getting anything from us.”
“Language, Caspian,” she tutted. “And this is not about you. My heats are over. I won’t have any more children.
It doesn’t matter what Lily tries, she’s a complete failure.
There’s no hope for her. Which leaves you.
” She placed her teacup in her saucer with another clink.
“You complain about me not listening to you, and I could return that argument tenfold. It seems no matter what I do, you simply won’t hear me.
Our family line must continue, there is no question about it. ”
Her voice was growing shriller and I was one step closer to losing it. If I was going to go for her about how she treated Kai and Mel, now would probably be a good time. But I wished Sin was there to back me up. I couldn’t argue like he could.
And this wasn’t worth it at all.
“If that’s all, I’m leaving. I can’t believe you dragged me out of work for this. You could have just called me or something.”
Mum paused, and the smile that crossed her lips made my heart drop.
“What?” I asked, nerves rolling in my stomach. “What is it?”
“Caspian, do you really think I would ask you here just to warn you? I would hope you thought I was better than that.”
My breath caught as she proudly adjusted herself on her chair. I didn’t like her look. I didn’t like the way she straightened her back and tilted her head as if she was about to start another fucking game.
“What do you mean?” I asked slowly.
“I mean, Sin is currently in a two-hour business meeting, Lily is having yet another charity event, Vivian and her pack are currently at their country estate, and I’ve conveniently removed all the staff from Risler House.”
My heart pitched downwards as her smile deepened, and she carried on.
“That’s all to say, our lovely Camille is entirely alone right now. Everyone she loves is so, so far away.”
She shrugged, like it was fine to isolate someone who was so ill she could barely climb stairs by herself.
But I was missing something. If I was Sin or Kai, I would have gotten it right away. Those fuckers were better at scheming than me.
“Why would you clear out the house? Who’s going to look after her? And why the fuck did you need me to come here?”
We were more than an hour away from Risler House, but I couldn’t think why Mum would spout this shit.
“Because there’s three men there now who plan to help her an awful lot. And they so gratefully offered to go to Risler House to take care of her.”
“Just tell me what’s going on!”
“Do you know there’s no cool-off period for an alpha bite? As soon as a bite is exchanged, they become mates. So if a bite was shared, and the omega happened to have a tragic accident a day later, it would be suspicious, sure. But, legally, their families would still be joined.”
That ticking in my brain finally stopped as cold plunged through me.
“You can’t be serious,” I said, fear shredding me as the pieces clicked together.
“I warned you, Caspian. I told both you and Sin you had to choose an omega from the list. But you continued to remain stubborn, and now you’ve forced yourself into this situation. You left me no choice.”
I was rooted to the chair as I stared at the person who was meant to be my mum.
For fuck’s sake. I knew what she was fucking like, but I never thought she’d do this.
“This…Are you saying this is my fault?”
“I’m telling you that when I make a threat, you should all take it seriously.”
She checked her watch, sighing heavily. “Well, they should be there now. The Hiscoxes do work rather efficiently, and I can’t imagine Camille will say no to biting when they can be so very convincing.”
“She’s basically your daughter! How the fuck can you do this!?”
My hand was already in my pocket by the time she finished her sentence. I had to call Sin. I had to send some guards. I had to find out what the fuck was happening with Flint when he was supposed to protect her.
“I’ve told you repeatedly we need grandchildren of good standing and breeding.
It seemed you were unwilling to share that Camille is leaving next week.
Once Michael Farringdon has his hands on her, we probably won’t see her again, so it’s better I take care of this now.
At least if the Hiscoxes take her, she’ll have a child and be put out of her misery soon enough. ”
So she really did know all along.
Terror fired through me as everything in my mind went blank. I wanted to attack her. I wanted to snap her neck now so she couldn’t do anything else to hurt Camille.
“What about Michael Farringdon…What the fuck are you talking about?”
Her face lit with amusement as her fucking hyena smile widened.
“Oh, they didn’t tell you, did you? Well, that’s fun, at least. Caspian, she’s not just going for some kind of treatment.
They’ve sold her off. She’s probably going to spend the rest of her life being carted around by him.
Who knows what kind of things he’ll do to her?
Isn’t it much better that we have the Hiscoxes keep her than someone like Michael?
They do say it’s better with the devil you know. ”
“You’re a fucking monster.” I spat at her as I shot out of my chair.
My throat tight, my aura was already fucked, messing with my brain, my senses flickering like static as the red started taking over.
The room was thinning, and I couldn’t fucking breathe through the shock that was driving me closer to the darkness.
I had to get the fuck away from her.
“Oh, so you don’t care that it’s Michael Farringdon taking her away from us?”
“That’s not the fucking point here!” I roared. “It’s not about someone taking her, it’s about you sending the fucking Hiscoxes after her!”
“You don’t need to be so loud,” she tutted again, leaning back from me with a satisfied look.
“If they’ve hurt her, I’ll spend the rest of my life torturing you.”
“Don’t worry, you and your sister have been doing that since you were born. It won’t take much on your part to make it any worse.”
I turned my back on her as I flew out of the room, instantly dialling Sin’s number. But it went straight to voicemail.
“Don’t run, Caspian,” she called after me like I was still a kid. “You’ll scuff the hardwood.”
But I couldn’t listen to a single fucking thing anymore.
Sin was closer. It wasn’t rush hour. I could make it through London traffic if I kept my foot down and broke a few laws. I needed him to get out of that fucking meeting or whatever the fuck Mum said he was doing.
I fired off a text to Kai. Though my vindictive little shit might not make a giant effort, he could at least get his ass in gear to help. Same with Lily, but I had no idea where she was.
I’d try Sin one more time, then his secretary, then I’d call my offices and tell them to get as many guys to Risler House as they could.
I slammed the dial button again. This time, the phone rang, and Sin picked up just as I was hurling myself out of the front door and racing towards my car.
“Caspian, what is it?” My mate’s voice was cold as ice as he answered. I didn’t care if I pissed him off, he could get at me later.
“Sin? Get the fuck out of that meeting. I need your help.”