Chapter 18 #2
Maya waves her hand dismissively. “You still have the special cover up makeup that I gave you of Ellington’s…? I’ll get him to share some more with you.”
I am shaking.
“Anyway, you don’t need to worry your pretty head about that Omega.
He is being sent to the Institute.” She leans against the desk, crossing her ankles.
“Keep your focus on making the Christmas Matching Ball as spectacular as possible. That whore of a rock star had better put on the performance of his slutty life. Ellington backed up your suggestion of Immortal for the entertainment, telling me that he’s one of the most famous Idols.
I hope for my Omega’s ass’ sake that Immortal is as popular with the guests. ”
Ellington supported Icarus about Zero being hired…?
My stomach feels strange with all the things that I have to be grateful to Ellington suddenly for.
Maya straightens and turns away. “Now, get out. I’m busy too.”
“Bird is the best HO we have,” Icarus blurts, taking a desperate step forward. “I will do whatever you want…endure whatever you want to do to me…if you let me keep him here.”
Slowly, Maya turns to stare at Icarus. Her eyes gleam with a hungry excitement that makes me hug myself in trepidation.
Then she leans closer to my Alpha, deliberately digging her long nail into Icarus’ busted lip until he can’t hold in the hiss of pain. “You know the one thing that I have always wanted from you. The one thing that you have refused to do willingly.”
Icarus pales, balling his hands into fists. “Will you let Bird return to the Omega dorms afterward?”
“Such a possessive Alpha. If you do this, I will. But only for this week. We can negotiate after.”
Icarus appears to be steadying himself. His chest is rising and falling, and his hands are clenching compulsively.
What in the fuck is Maya expecting him to do in exchange for Bird?
I take a step forward.
Should I stop this? Icarus is doing it willingly. But hasn’t he sacrificed enough?
Suddenly, Icarus drops to his knees.
I am shocked to stillness.
Then, slowly, he tips his head to the side, baring his neck.
An Alpha baring their neck to another Alpha should normally only happen between a bonded pack. It’s the ultimate submission of one Alpha to another.
If it’s forced and not willing, then it’s abuse.
Plus, if it happens within a family or in a power imbalance like boss and employee, then it’s enough to allow that Alpha to become emancipated from their pack.
Sometimes, it’s enough to have the Alpha who forced it onto someone else be sentenced to the Alpha Center.
This is definite coercion.
Maya looks like Christmas has come early. She claps her hands in delight.
She stares at Icarus’ bared neck with dilated pupils, before she says mockingly, “I knew that you could be a good Alpha.”
“Is that enough?” Icarus says through gritted teeth.
“Oh, yes.” Maya casually wanders back around the desk, sitting in her chair and tapping on her computer like Icarus isn’t even there. “Now I know that you will do that like a trained puppy, I will enjoy finding ways to make you do it again.”
Icarus can’t hold back the growl, shoving himself to his feet. “Tell me where the Omega is.”
“On his way to the Institute.”
I can’t hold back my gasp, but it is covered by Icarus’ snarl. “But you said—”
“I’m Maya Frost. I can say what I like. Play with you how I like. You are spectacularly stupid if you think that you can play with me. Just be glad that you’re not being punished. Why did you think that I would reward you with an Omega? I won’t ever let you bond your own pack. You’re mine.”
Icarus lets out a roar, storming toward Maya.
For the first time, she shrinks back, frightened.
Fuck, he’s snapped.
I ignore Icarus’ original order and hurl myself into the room.
Maya is stabbing at the alarm button under the desk in terror.
“I’ve called security,” she squeaks.
“And I’m calling you a heartless, lying, money-grubbing, cowardly Alpha who doesn’t deserve to be Head Alpha.
” Icarus grabs the sides of Maya’s desk and lifts it.
It overturns with an earsplitting crash.
“No one fucking sends away members of my Sinner pack. I’ve never been yours, but they are mine. ”
Maya screams.
Her computer and laptop smash.
Icarus is feral, snatching the smaller Alpha by the throat, before slamming her against the wall.
He could kill her.
I throw myself toward Icarus, looping my arms around his waist and soothing him with my pheromones.
Icarus’ electric blue eyes are sparking with a wild fury.
Maya chokes, slapping at Icarus’ hands, as he raises her off the floor. It’s possible to see like this how much taller and stronger he is than her.
How much stronger he is than me or anyone in the Idols.
How gentle he is with all of us, even Lionzio.
How easily he could snap our necks, as he is close to with Maya, but how he never would.
“Bring Bird home,” Icarus growls.
Despite everything, Maya manages to wheeze a laugh. “You’re too late. The documents are signed. He’s lost to the system. I realize that I have given you too much freedom and status; you’ve forgotten your place.”
Suddenly, I hear the sound of heavy boots running down the corridor.
Icarus turns his head but doesn’t let go of Maya. He is too lost to his feral side.
The shouting is loud, but the heavy impact across my back is all I register.
I yell in pain, falling to the floor.
I try to struggle to my feet, but am I kicked back down again.
My eyes blur with pained tears. I can just make out four burly security team members wielding heavy batons.
One has a gun.
They’re hitting Icarus.
“No,” I rasp.
Finally, Icarus lets Maya go, but only because he’s focused on crouching down to shield me.
The security team are still beating him across his back with batons.
They’re not stopping.
“Icarus,” I whisper.
“I love you,” he replies.
Maya snatches the baton from the nearest Beta, testing its weight in her hand. She massages her bruised throat, before narrowing her eyes at Icarus and the way that he is protecting me with his body.
Then she raises the baton and brings it down across the back of his head.
I scream, as Icarus slumps forward. Warm blood trails down his temple to smear across my icy cheek.