Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Saint Cage, Haven
“ O G, Omega Ghost, lives through there?” I stare dubiously at the intimidating door.
It’s heavy, large, and iron.
It leads down into the Saint Cage’s basement.
Only half an hour ago, Lincoln drew me down a grand, sweeping staircase. Then he collected a breakfast tray from the kitchen.
Now, we’re standing together in a silent, elegant corridor, which has high ceilings and gold edged wallpaper.
The door is like a rotting tooth in a beautiful man’s smile.
It makes my skin crawl.
I shiver.
My heart is hammering.
OG, the male Omega who we plan to rescue, is on the other side of this door.
He’s a prisoner.
Broken.
Feral.
Yet the way that Thomas spoke about him made me feel that he’d have bonded with Ghost, if it wasn’t forbidden.
He desperately wanted us to be kind to him.
Hell, I expected to rescue Ghost from Thomas’ cruelty.
Yet Thomas appears to need rescuing alongside Ghost.
Alpha and Omega are both prisoners in this cage.
It shows that you can’t judge by appearances.
One of my bestselling creations for the bakery is the Dough Knot: it’s an optical illusion because it looks like a donut, but when you cut into it, it’s actually a cake.
Nothing is what it seems.
How often is what’s inside something…or someone…the same as what’s on the outside?
I run my fingers over the sky blue blanket that I’m clutching.
I’m bringing it as an Omega offering for Ghost.
Omegas love gifts, and since we’re in the same pack now, this is my way of showing that I’m not going to treat Ghost badly or push him around. It’s the softest blanket from Thomas’ bed with beautiful green threading on the sides.
If Ghost’s been kept alone, then he’ll be touch starved. The sensory feel of it will help him.
I hope that he’s allowed to keep it.
Thomas said that I could take it for him because it’s only bedding. Plus, he’ll love it, since it’ll match his eyes.
I study a small plastic section at the base of the iron door. “Is that a cat door?”
Lincoln chuckles. “It’s the most important part. Tom rescued a cat from the shelter he volunteers at chiefly because he knew how much she’d mean to Ghost. The cat’s adopted Ghost like she’s his self-appointed protector. A kitty warrior. She barely leaves his side, apart from to jump on Tom’s head to demand food at 3 a.m. or to chase the peacocks. Tom pretends to be cool toward her, especially when she gets hairs over his posh suits. But when he thinks no one is looking, he picks her up and cuddles her. He slips her treats, especially cheese. He’s totally kitty whipped.”
“What’s she called? I always wanted a pack cat.”
“Sugar.” Lincoln shifts the tray of food that he’s carrying between his hands. “Huh, that’s close to Candy , right? He named her after you. But then, you purr and demand strokes too.”
I narrow my eyes. “I can also scratch and bite.”
Lincoln’s eyes become half-hooded. “Promise?”
I nudge him with my shoulder. “You know it. This male Omega has a big appetite then…?”
I lick over my lips, smelling the delicious scents from the tray, which is crammed with food: bowls of chopped strawberries and raspberries, a white chocolate muffin, buttered rolls and cheese, and a mug of steaming black coffee.
To my surprise, Lincoln’s expression falls.
“The opposite. In fact, I’m trying to tempt him. If I offer him a bit of everything, then he may actually eat. He’s fading into a true ghost.”
A cold ball forms in my stomach. “Why?”
Lincoln’s expression hardens. “You read some of the log. Well, I read the rest of it. I planned to hunt down the asshole who wrote it and put a bullet between his eyes, but Tom told me that he’d mysteriously disappeared after he’d fired him. You should have seen the cold blooded look in Tom’s eyes when he said it. Tom has fucking steel running through him. But if you knew everything that’d been done to that Omega…”
When Lincoln turns his head away for a moment, I lay my hand on his arm.
Lincoln spends his life defending those who need it.
His younger brother, who was his whole world, was sold to the Romeo Ballet Academy. He watched my Omega mom being sold to the Institute.
He was helpless to save them.
He’s made himself strong enough to make sure that he’ll never be helpless to save an Omega or Beta again.
“Do you know that you can break someone in seventy-two hours? I know because I was shown the tricks in Alaska,” Lincoln snarls. “Ghost was with his tormentor for months . He’s the fucking strongest person I know to have survived. But he still was taught learned helplessness. He wasn’t allowed to do anything without permission. That mindfucked him.”
My throat is dry. “What’s this got to do with him not eating? Just give him permission if that’s what he needs.”
“It’s not that simple. The bodyguard would play cruel games like putting down the tray for Ghost and giving him permission to eat. Then punishing him, when in his hunger, he reached for the food. Like I said, this is how you break someone. Now, he’s too scared to eat.”
I feel sick.
Frowning, I bite my lip. “I’ll think of something. Can we get therapy for him?”
Lincoln huffs. “Don’t you understand what’s going on here? This set up has to look real, in case the mayor or Richard comes and inspects the basement.”
Frustrated, I step closer. “That’s it, Link. Tell me right now what’s really happening in this house, or I’m phoning Vito. I’m busting Ghost out of here. He deserves to be loved and treasured.”
My eyes sting with tears.
This happened to Ghost because he’s a Rej like I am.
This is what can happen to an Omega who’s classified as defective .
How dare anyone judge someone as faulty ?
Everyone is simply different.
We all have our strengths.
We all have talents.
We’re all worthy.
“He does deserve those things,” Lincoln says, softly. “Ghost is lucky to have you in his corner. Tom has a bigger plan, however, and Ghost may be broken but he’s smarter than any of us. He’s in on the plan. In his own way, he fiercely loves Tom. We’d have a wild fight on our hands from Ghost, if we tried to drag him out of the basement. He thinks that he’s protecting Tom. Ironic, huh?”
“How long has Ghost been here?”
“He joined the Saint pack in those months that Tom was away. His brother is that knothead Fletcher, who Tom’s sister was force bonded to, before she...” Lincoln’s voice drops to a delighted whisper, “…managed what we’ve dreamed about. She ran away with a bunch of freedom fighters and outlaws.”
I clutch the blanket tighter. “Doesn’t that make Ghost the brother of Tom’s enemy ?”
“We’re also from an enemy pack. Maybe the guy is really into hate fucks.”
I flush, remembering Thomas’ voice in the bar, a seductive drawl that made me melt
If you hate me a little bit, well, a hate fuck can be the best type of sex…Fast, rough, and primal. You can take out your frustrations and stresses on me.
My skin goosebumps, and I shift to hide how turned on I am.
I cough. “Yeah, sounds like him.”
Lincoln’s eyes are twinkling like he can tell the impact that he’s had on me. “The mayor was fucking furious at Fletcher, blaming him for not controlling Mercy. It wrecked both their reputations. Fletcher was sent to the Alpha Center.”
“But why was his Omega brother sent here?”
Lincoln shrugs. “As a peace offering. It was a shit one. The mayor took it as an insult, since Ghost’s a Rej. He decided to use it as an opportunity to make an example of Fletcher’s pack. Fletcher has always been close to Ghost, so it was a real way to punish him to lock up his Omega brother and then condition him.”
“Fletcher sounds like a knothead, but that’s barbaric.”
Lincoln gives a tight nod. “Nobody should punish the Omega for the sins of their Alpha.”
Lincoln balances the tray on his knee, typing in a code on the combination lock.
He makes a show of not hiding the code from me.
“Thomas is keeping Ghost in the basement,” Lincoln explains, “as a show but also to protect him from Richard or any other members who may decide to use an unbonded, enemy Omega as a punching bag or plaything.”
I shudder.
I trust Thomas.
I can feel him through the bond. He’s exhausted and stressed. His pain is constant but so is his love, whose pureness is a shining light.
I touch my hand over my heart and Soul Mark.
Thomas is my fated.
He wants to bond with this male Omega who loves him as well. So, I’m going to help them both.
Ghost is part of our found family. I can feel it in my soul.
The basement door opens with a deep creak. Lincoln pushes it open further with his shoulder.
I stare in shock at the dank stone steps.
Lincoln stalks down the basement steps, before glancing over his shoulder at me; in the darkness, his eyes gleam silver. “Just remember that Ghost is feral.”
My pulse speeds up. “Is he dangerous?”
“Not to another Omega.” Lincoln gives a wicked grin. “But aren’t we all dangerous? He’ll fit right in.”
True.
I follow Lincoln down the stairs, clutching the blanket in one hand and sliding my other along the damp wall to steady myself.
I grimace.
As we descend, it gradually grows lighter.
Lincoln stops on the wide lower step, waiting for me to join him.
Then I suck in a shocked breath.
The basement is low ceilinged with unfinished walls and a dirt floor. There are no windows, and my nose scrunches in disgust at the stench of mold and mildew.
I’m relieved that my OHS has settled or I know that despite inhibitors, I’d be vomiting right now.
The lighting is harsh from a single bare bulb that hangs in the center of the room.
There’s no furniture. Nothing. The room is bare.
It’s another world from the millionaire, luxury mansion that I’ve just strolled through with silk sheets, soft beds, and antiques.
The only items are a small pile of belongings in the far corner: some pieces of technology and a well-thumbed pack of cards.
Fury washes over me.
The mayor is doing this: the man who’s also trying to destroy Vito and me.
In the far corner, wedged as close to the wall as he can but facing the stairs like he’s trying to protect himself, a man lies sleeping.
He’s wrapped in a thin, gray blanket.
He’s only dressed in a tatty blue t-shirt that’s too large for him with an ace of spades stitched on the chest and sleeves, as well as jeans.
A steel Rej bracelet is clasped around his wrist.
My world tilts.
I can hardly breathe.
Ghost is everything that I’ve dreamed about in a male Omega.
He’s more beautiful than I’ve imagined a man could be.
How could someone hurt him?
He looks like a winter landscape come to life.
Ghost appears to be about my age, maybe a year younger.
His features are sharp and masculine. His pale skin is smooth and porcelain perfection. A platinum tousled mess of curls fall over his face, as he rests his head on his arms in a futile attempt to be comfortable on the dirt floor without a bed or mattress.
Even in his sleep, he’s shivering.
Ghost’s hair has a metallic shine, despite having been locked away from the sun.
He looks washed and looked after at least.
I shoot Lincoln a grateful glance. I knew that he’d be caring well for Ghost.
I swallow as I study the beautiful Omega.
Ghost’s hair is so fair that it reminds me of the doves that would sometimes nest in the Snake gardens when the weather was sunny.
Ghost is curled around himself, but I can tell that he’s small but athletic.
“Can you spot Sugar?” Lincoln whispers.
I take another step forward and then break into a grin.
A cat’s fluffy head is poking out of the blanket. Ghost is sharing the meager protection that he has to make sure that his cat isn’t cold.
I like Ghost already. I can see why Thomas and him get on.
Sugar is a pretty lilac point ragdoll with long silky white hair and warm, pink-toned markings on her head and ears. One bright blue eye opens and watches me warily.
Lincoln follows me, placing the tray close to Ghost, before backing up and leaning against the wall close to the stairs. “It’s good to see him sleeping deeply. He tends to hold on, too anxious and fearful, until his body kind of collapses on him. Remember that if he doesn’t answer, it’s because he’s mute. He has lots of other ways that he communicates. Tom fought with his dad over making sure that Ghost’s voice wasn’t taken from him.”
I narrow my eyes. “Good.”
“He’s highly vocal too. With me, it’s mostly growls but he does these cute little chirps with Tom. Any Omega would go feral, if they had to suffer their heats alone. But my little gambler here is fucking fierce, wild, and brave. He’s badass.”
Surprised, I catch Lincoln’s dreamy expression.
He’s focused on Ghost’s full, pink lips.
They are kissable.
But I know that look on Lincoln. He’s worn it, when he’s spoken about Thomas as well.
He’s falling for this feral Omega.
I don’t blame him.
Simply watching the way that Ghost’s curled on that thin blanket in the corner, trying to protect himself in the only way that he can without a nest, with Sugar both guarding and cuddling him, makes every protective part of me spring alive.
I pace across the freezing basement. “Why do you call him little gambler ?”
“Play him at poker and find out. Fuck that, don’t. Ghost spends his days playing solo games with his pack of cards, which is the only thing that he was allowed to bring with him from his old pack. I think that he hid it in his pocket. I’m sure that the genius can count cards.” Lincoln whistles. “Shit, do you think that we could smuggle him out of here and take him to a casino with us? We’d clean up.”
“You’ve matched into a millionaire pack. You don’t need to worry about money anymore.”
Has that sunk in for Lincoln yet?
“Yeah,” Lincoln grins, “but think about the thrill.”
Lincoln is never going to stop being a rogue. I’d never want him to.
I stare down at the Omega who’s sleeping on the floor at my feet.
Sadness washes over me.
He doesn’t have a nest. It must have been agony, during his heats.
I can just make out that Ghost is clutching something in his fist: a tie.
His nose rests on the tie, where it’s tied around his hand, like he’s desperate to breathe in its comforting scent, even while he sleeps.
The tie is blue and decorated in bright peacocks.
It must be Thomas’.
I smile, softly.
Sugar wriggles free of the blanket and prowls around Ghost on high alert.
She narrows her eyes at me, haughtily. Her fur bristles.
“Good, kitty.” I reach out my hand and stroke Sugar’s head. Her fur is silky. She remains stiff for a moment, before pushing her head up against my hand and beginning to purr. “There you are, Sugar.”
I kneel down next to Ghost, wincing as my knees press against the hard earth.
Slowly, Ghost’s long, butterfly lashes flutter.
He yawns, adorably sleepy.
Then he chirps, clicking his fingers.
Immediately, Sugar pounces onto Ghost’s head like it’s a game that they’ve often played.
Ghost laughs, bright and unrestrained. He sits up, leaning against the back wall. He snuggles Sugar to his chest.
Ghost’s eyes finally open.
They’re as blue as the sky, wide and innocent.
When they meet mine, however, Ghost growls in shock and bangs his head against the wall behind him. He immediately clutches Sugar to his chest, defensively.
“She’s Tom’s new bonded Omega,” Lincoln says, calmer and quieter than I’ve heard him talk.
Ghost still flinches.
Then he turns to look me up and down.
His gaze drops to the Rej bracelet around my wrist in confusion. Then a sudden melancholy flashes across his face, before he hides it.
Thomas can’t bond with Ghost. I’m certain that Ghost thinks it’s because he’s a Reject but now, the man who he loves has bonded with me .
Shit, how can I fix this?
“I was going to die,” I force out. “Tom and I have known each other since school. In fact, Link and I have both loved Tom for years. Tom bonded with me to save me. He’s a good man. I wouldn’t be alive today without him.”
The truth of that hits me like a hurricane.
Suddenly, I can’t breathe.
My chest is too tight.
I gasp, and my expression crumples.
The blue blanket falls into my lap.
I could have died. I could have died. I could have…
All of a sudden, slim arms are encircling me. A deep rumbling purr cocoons me. I can feel the vibrations through my chest.
Ghost is nuzzling at my neck in comfort.
He’s practically in my lap.
Thomas’ tie is still tightly wrapped around his hand and knotted to stop it falling off.
His kindness to comfort me like this, when I’m the new bonded Omega in his pack, makes my heart swell.
I’ve never had another Omega give me this type of contact. Omegas should live together, helping each other with nests, nuzzling and cuddling in what are jokingly called Omega piles.
My breathing instantly steadies.
I melt into his hold. It feels incredible, especially when he starts licking across my bite mark in an exploratory way that bursts pleasure through me in electric sparks.
But then, I’m hit by the scent: sweet, white chocolate truffles.
It makes my mouth water.
My eyes widen in shock.
He’s my scent mate.
My Omega soul mate!
Suddenly, I want to hold him as tightly as he’s holding me. I never believed in fate, but after everything that’s happened in the last few days, I’m a convert.
Ghost stiffens at the same time, sniffing at my neck in a way that’s flattering, especially as I can feel how hard he is in his tight jeans.
If he’s unbonded, while nobody has been allowed with him during heats, then is he a virgin?
Reluctantly, Ghost pulls back. He looks confused.
When he tilts his head, his white-blond hair falls over his eyes. He gestures between us in question, looking agonizingly hopeful.
Ghost’s emotions are easy to read. He’s the opposite to Thomas, who’s learned to lock them down hard beneath a cold mask.
Ghost, on the other hand, is so expressive that he communicates better than anyone I know.
It hits me hard.
Words are only one method of communication and can be twisted into lies, weapons, and manipulations.
“We’re scent matches.” I smile, bursting with joy. “Fuck, we’re soul mates.”
Ghost’s beautiful face breaks into an easy grin as well.
He dramatically sniffs my neck, before chirping in delight. Then he gives me a smirk, which is more devilish than saintly, before holding his hand over his heart romantically.
I blush.
Sugar bumps her head against Ghost’s knee, as if determined to be part of the moment. Ghost strokes her, and she arches her back into his touch.
These two are clearly best friends.
I bet Sugar has helped Ghost more than I’ll ever know. Perhaps, these two rejects have helped each other.
Ghost gestures at Sugar. I reach out to stroke her too.
Sugar graciously accepts the stroke like a queen accepting tribute.
Ghost arranges his thin blanket on the floor into a mini nest for Sugar, and she leaps onto the center of it. She circles around a couple of times, kneading it to get comfortable. Then she settles down to sleep again.
“She’s beautiful,” I say. “Seems like a good friend.”
Ghost nods.
Then he gazes deeply into my face, and I get the sudden feeling that he can see into my soul.
“Can I touch you?” I whisper.
Ghost’s been nuzzling and licking me already, but after everything that he’s been through, I want to be careful.
His eyes widen like he doesn’t appear to understand he has a right to say no to a question like that.
My chest tightens, when I remember what was written in the log.
“You can tell me no,” I clarify.
In response, Ghost lowers his head, glancing at me quickly through his lashes, before lightly grabbing my hand and raising it to his curls.
He shivers, as I run my fingers through his hair, which is as soft as it looks.
How long has it been, since he’s been touched without it hurting? Has Thomas stroked and kissed him?
Has Thomas been able to comfort Ghost?
Lincoln coughs. “Sorry to break up this touching Omega on Omega moment, but wow, this is major. Are you two actually soul mates? I’m fate bonded with you, so what does that mean about us?”
To my shock, Ghost’s entire manner changes.
His eyes become stormy. He growls, deep and rumbling.
The hairs rise on the back of my neck.
Ghost bares his teeth. He looks feral.
He pushes me behind him, twisting into a crouch in front of me like he’s ready to fight Lincoln, who looks like a literal giant next to him.
Ready to fight a trained bodyguard with a gun.
I freeze.
“Badass Omega.” Lincoln appears thrilled to be growled at, when in most packs an Omega would be beaten for daring to growl at a Beta. “You’re possessive and protective. There’s no question that you’re our Omega.”
Ghost blinks at him, bewildered.
He doesn’t stop growling.
This Omega is more powerful and volatile than I’d realized.
I can see Ghost’s compact muscles and the fluid way that he moves like he’s at least grown up around good fighters.
“I’m not trying to take her away from you, gambler, and neither of you are in trouble. It’s hot,” Lincoln continues, amused. “Actually, I’m trying to convince you that you’ll want a slice of this ass too.”
He slaps his ass.
I wipe my hand over my face. Typical Lincoln.
Ghost’s growling cuts off abruptly. Now, he’s giving Lincoln a long, assessing stare.
Didn’t Lincoln call Ghost a genius…?
Feral and a genius.
Ghost could be the most dangerous out of all of us.
And I’m only a baker.
I sigh.
The baker, the bodyguard, the bad Alpha and the…
I consider Ghost.
I don’t know quite what he is yet, apart from a man who mesmerizes me both with his beauty and scent.
Ghost turns back to me, arching his brow.
“You’ll get used to his sense of humor, but one thing about Link is that he’s the best man I know,” I say. “He hasn’t hurt you, has he?”
Ghost snorts in a way that clearly means yet .
It’s fair enough.
Ghost needs time to trust any Beta, after what the last Beta put him through.
“How about I sit on the step, and you pretend that I’m not here? That way you can both enjoy breakfast.” Lincoln strolls to the bottom step and sprawls out on it.
Ghost growls again, eying the tray with distrust.
He’s too thin with dark shadows under his eyes.
Determined, I’m going to change that.
But first…
“I’m Candy,” I say. “I run the bakery in town. I know we haven’t met because I’d have remembered you.”
Hell, could I be more corny?
I flush, but Ghost looks pleased.
He looks around himself, before edging to the pile of technology and picking up an adapted iPhone.
“You have a phone?” I ask, surprised. “Why don’t you call for help?”
Ghost gives a bitter laugh, before typing on the text-to-speech on the phone.
As he types, the words are spoken aloud in an educated, American voice. “Who would I phone? I belong to the Saints. They own me. And hi, I’m Ghost. Sorry this isn’t more romantic as a meet-cute. We could pretend that the bulb is moonlight.”
I give a surprised laugh.
Ghost’s fingers hover over the screen, as his sharp gaze focuses on my face.
“I don’t know,” I tease, “dank basements are all the rage in high society this summer. Plus, this still beats my meet-cute with Tom. At least you didn’t make me pass out.”
Ghost’s expression darkens, and he growls, deep and furious.
Whoops.
“Not his fault,” I hurry to explain. “He saved my life the next day. So, I think we can call it even.”
Ghost stops growling. He reaches forward to tentatively draw his fingers down my cheek.
My gaze flicks toward the tray. “Are you hungry?”
Ghost doesn’t answer. Instead, he ducks his head, deliberately looking away.
Casually, I draw the tray toward me. “I’m hungry.”
When I reach for the white chocolate muffin, Ghost flinches violently, as if I’m about to be struck. He tilts his head, watching Lincoln with a piercing stare through his hair in case he suddenly decides to storm toward us.
It makes my heart ache.
I take a bite of the muffin. I don’t have to act the groan because the white chocolate is sweet and gooey.
I split the muffin into two.
“This is too much for me. Can you help me?” I hold out one of the halves to Ghost.
My eyes widen, when instead of taking his half, Ghost takes a bite of it from my hand.
He groans louder than me, before hurriedly taking a second bite, which shows me just how hungry he truly is.
He scoots even closer to me, until our legs are touching.
New kink unlocked.
Handfeeding my Omega is making me as wet as hell or perhaps, it’s to do with providing for his needs.
He eats quickly.
I feel hot all over at the feel of his plush lips on my fingers, before his tongue licks out to clean off the crumbs.
He appears so relaxed and happy that suddenly, I want to make him even happier.
It’s addictive.
I get why Alphas want to cherish us Omegas now.
“I have a gift for you.” I hold up the sky blue blanket that matches Ghost’s eyes in one hand. Did Thomas choose this blanket for his bed because it reminded him of Ghost’s eyes? “Thomas says that you’ll be allowed to keep it.”
With a final kiss to the back of my hand, Ghost lifts his head. He stares at the blanket. He doesn’t appear to be able to understand that it’s for him for a long moment.
Then he gleefully snatches it, running his hands over the soft material, before burying his face in it. He wraps it over his shoulders, before rolling around on the floor, wildly purring.
When he looks up at me, he’s grinning as widely as I am.
Ghost hurriedly types, “It smells of my Alpha.”
There’s that possessiveness again: My Alpha.
Ghost holds up his tie between us, and I know what he’s waiting for. I lower my head to sniff it. The scent is faded but still there: sugar cookie martini.
“Did Tom give this to you?” I ask.
Ghost sits up, clutching his fist with the tie around it close to his chest over my blanket, while he types. “It’s mine.”
“I know. No one’s going to take it away.”
“Alpha told the mayor that it’s to bind me as a punishment. It’s why I’m allowed to keep it. Alpha’s smart. Much smarter than the mayor. He can scheme as well as I can. People underestimate us. Alpha talked the mayor into allowing me these things because I need them to communicate. I hide the cards in my pocket, during inspections. He hates my brother, but I still grew up seeing him at my house.”
What scheming?
The Saints have secrets.
“What was your old pack called?” I cock my head.
Ghost looks like he should only have been in the year below me at school. There’s no way that I wouldn’t have noticed an Omega who’s as stunningly unique looking as him. I know that Lincoln would have been crushing on him.
Was he privately tutored?
Yet I have an uneasy feeling that something else is going on.
Ghost reaches for the cards. He slips them out of the pack, before shuffling them. He handles them like they’re an extension of his hands.
“Shit, you’re talented,” I breathe.
Ghost watches my reaction with a proud gleam in his eye.
When he gives a sly smile, I know that he’s working hard to impress me.
Then he cuts the pack and flicks out a card. It flies through the air, landing directly in my lap.
“Wow.” I clap my hands at his trick. “That was cool. Also, now I know why Link said never to play poker with you, little gambler. If you ever suggest strip poker, I’ll know that I’m being hustled.”
Ghost’s gorgeous laugh makes heat rush through me.
I stare down at the black ace of spades that’s facing me.
Ghost taps it with his pale finger.
“Wait, you were part of the Ace pack…?” My face drains of color. “They’re fucking notorious.”
And coming from an ex member of the Snake pack that says something.
The Ace pack are led by a brutal female Alpha, who must be Ghost’s mom, with their fingers in a lot of pies, some of which are political and some of which are criminal.
Then there are the Ace Casinos.
The casinos are the largest, glitziest, and most dangerous in the state.
Suddenly, everything clicks into place.
I gasp.
I haven’t heard of a young Omega belonging to the Ace pack. I should have done, right? Unless Ghost wasn’t fully accepted as part of his own pack.
Yet I have the vague memory of the triplets talking about the Ghost of Ace Casinos who haunts them.
I didn’t understand what it meant. I still don’t really. But I remember Gia being pissed that she couldn’t cheat in the casinos because of the ghost.
Did the Ace pack use their genius son to watch out for cheats and card counters?
For the first time, Ghost’s expression closes off.
He types, “You don’t want to be my soul mate now. It’s okay. I understand. No one wants to be my friend. You don’t have to visit me down here. It’s too cold for you anyway.”
“I am your soul mate, and it makes me fucking wild with joy,” I rush to reassure Ghost because I know what it’s like to feel rejected based on who raised you. I’ve been treated like trash simply for being a Snake all my life. “I’m going to spend as much time down here with you as I can. You’ll get bored of me. How about we make a deal? We’ll play cards, as long as you let me win at least once a day.”
Ghost’s shoulders relax, but he still shakes his head. “You belong in the sun.”
“So do you.”
He wrinkles his nose, pointing at his hair and skin, as if to say that he’s far too fair to be in the sun without burning.
I chuckle. “Omega vampire.”
Ghost’s eyes take on a dangerous gleam, before he places down his phone and dives for my neck.
I howl with pretend outrage, giggling as he pretends to bite me. We roll about on the hard earth, breathing hard.
His strong body, despite everything that he’s suffered through, pins me down far more easily than I’m expecting.
Then he’s straddling me, and I find myself nose to nose with him.
Ghost’s white chocolate truffle scent washes over me, making my toes curl with delight.
When Ghost’s sky blue eyes meet mine, my stomach flips.
He gives me a long, questioning look.
He’s trembling, pale but courageous in his determination.
My heart is beating fast. My breathing is shallow.
I reach to stroke my fingers through Ghost’s hair, and like he can’t stop himself, his eyes flutter closed at my gentle touch just for a moment.
When they open again, his gaze is even more intense, darting down to my lips.
He looks wrecked, broken, and hopeful at the same time.
“You can kiss me,” I murmur.
He licks across his own full lips, as if he’s testing out that this is real.
Then Ghost is kissing me, and I’m lost in the sweetness of his taste and the salt of his unexpected tears.