Chapter 5
Thorn groaned as he dragged himself into an upright position, blinking against the harsh sunlight spilling in from the window. His entire body ached, and he was still naked, but he frowned when the thick white covers slipped down to pool in his lap.
Why was he in a bed?
His last memory of the night, he’d been on his back in front of the fireplace, the alpha holding him down, hips thrusting between Thorn’s thighs.
Baal had been oddly gentle toward the end, lapping at Thorn’s tear-streaked cheeks, a comforting alpha purr rumbling from his chest. He may have spoken as well, in soft words, said too quietly for Thorn to recall now that he was no longer in that hazy, blissed-out state.
The room he’d been placed in was mostly bare aside from the large bed and a single end table.
Two doors were left open, one leading into a modest bath, the other to a hallway.
For a moment, Thorn remained perfectly still, listening for sounds of movement.
Technically, the White Hunt ended with sunrise, but…
He clutched the comforter and pulled it back up, covering his chest.
His trepidation was for naught, however.
It became clear he was alone, and though he didn’t allow himself to relax, he forced himself from the bed and into the bathroom.
Walking was difficult at first, but his body adjusted the more he moved, and when he found a tube of suncream on the sink counter, he paused.
Had the alpha tended to him before leaving?
Thorn glanced down at himself, wincing at the marks peppered across his skin. When he dipped his hand between his thighs though, there was no lingering residue.
The alpha had cleaned him, and he must have applied the healing ointment as well, considering the fact Thorn ached but didn’t burn or outright hurt anywhere. After the type of sex they’d had? Especially when he hadn’t slept with anyone in a while? He should be in relative agony right now.
How…weirdly considerate.
That must mean Thorn had pleased him.
Pleasing an alpha during the Winter Hunt meant having your debts cleared.
A breath caught in his throat, and Thorn used the facilities quickly. His multi-slate and clothes hadn’t been brought into the room with him, and he desperately shot down the hall, needing clarification on the matter.
He wasn’t expecting a note or anything, but if his debts had been paid, surely there would be a text or email from the company confirming as much.
Thorn paused just as he entered the living space, eyes latching onto a wicker basket set in the center of the kitchen island. A dozen white roses filled the basket, looking pristine against their dark green foliage.
Last night, the table had been empty, and he found himself walking toward it, approaching the bouquet the same way one might a tiger. There was a card, and Thorn frowned at the words "To New Beginnings," embossed in gold. The note inside was no less perplexing.
A path has been prepared for you. There’s a car outside.
-Baal
“Is the mafia always this thoughtful?” Thorn nibbled on his bottom lip and went to check the window from the kitchen. Sure enough, there was a large black vehicle parked out front, and the snow had been cleared in a distinct winding makeshift road leading away from the cabin.
He spotted the keys when he turned back, placed on the other side of the basket.
Realizing he was still naked, Thorn set the card aside and entered the living room, finding a clean set of clothing folded on the couch. There was a jacket as well, a cream colored peacoat that was velvety to the touch.
A quick search proved his personal clothing had been removed, leaving him no other choice but to accept the offering.
With a defeated huff, he got dressed, curious about how well the white jeans fit when he pulled them on.
The long-sleeved, turtleneck knit sweater, in the same pale shade, was also the perfect size.
“Seriously? Even my shoes?” He searched everywhere, but there was no sign of them, or even a replacement pair. The thick socks he’d been given were warm enough, but without shoes, he wasn’t going to be able to walk far outside.
Could…the alpha have done this on purpose?
Thorn’s gaze turned back to the car key.
Shit.
A ding caught his attention, and he practically ran for his multi-slate, which was back in the kitchen by the sink. He must have missed it due to being so surprised by the flowers and the key.
He almost wept when he read the confirmation text, confirming his debt had been settled.
Thorn slid to the floor, settling against the counter as he clutched the device to his chest and tried to breathe through the mixture of elation and anxiety dueling within him.
They were free. No more threats from the White Frost. He’d have to keep two of his jobs to continue paying the hospital and their house bills, but surely he could quit the delivery job he’d been working.
That one had the night shift, and because of it, Thorn had barely managed more than four hours of sleep for the past month.
A laugh bubbled past his lips, the sound harsh and self-deprecating.
He’d been killing himself to pay off this massive debt, and in the end, all he’d had to do was spread his legs.
The sex hadn’t even been bad, if he were being honest with himself. In fact, quite the opposite. As much as he’d cried and complained, Thorn had enjoyed it every bit as much as the alpha apparently had.
He’d satisfied Baal, and he’d been rewarded for it.
Yes. That was it.
It’d been a transaction. Another job.
When Thorn thought about it that way, most of the horror and disgust he’d associated with the events of the night disappeared. What good would shame bring him anyway? It wouldn’t keep the lights on, that was for certain.
It wasn’t like anyone had to know. He lacked friends, since they’d all abandoned him slowly but surely.
When his brother had first gotten ill, trips to the hospital had prevented Thorn from attending any parties or gatherings.
Eventually, after one too many blown off invitiations, he’d stopped receiving them.
Then his sudden involvement with the mafia became known, and even the occasional text messages had stopped.
He couldn’t even blame them for that one. He wouldn’t want to be anywhere near the White Frost either, not even by association.
And now he didn’t have to be.
He’d keep things from Aster as long as possible, give his brother time to recover. The new drug they’d switched him to last week seemed to be working, so—
Thorn jumped when his device started ringing, all good feelings draining away when he read the hospital's name flashing across his screen.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Winters?” a dire-sounding female voice greeted him. “This is Wista, one of the nurses assigned to your brother. There’s been a serious complication and we’re going to need you to come in as soon as possible.”
He was on his feet and snatching the key before he even realized he was in motion. “Is Aster okay?!”
“He’s stabilized for now. The doctor will discuss everything with you when you get here.”
“I’m on my way.” The hospital was at least twenty minutes from here, thirty, if the streets hadn’t been plowed properly after the storm.
His socks grew damp as he rushed outside and raced across the frosted ground to the car, but he hardly noticed.
* * *
“There was an unforeseen complication with the new medication,” the doctor explained as Thorn sat across from him, picking at his thumbnail cuticle. “Aster’s body is rejecting it, and unfortunately, that means all of the healed tissue of the scent gland is also at risk.”
“I don’t understand,” Thorn admitted, the panic so overwhelming it was difficult to focus even though he knew he had to. “What do we have to do?”
“The repaired tissue needs to be surgically removed.”
“But…It was helping.” The new drug supported fast-acting nanite technology that somehow mimicked and produced fresh cells. They’d been working on removing dying tissue and replacing it with new material. “Aster has been improving…I don’t understand. How could this happen? He was fine yesterday.”
“I’m sorry I don’t have more answers for you,” the doctor said.
“All I can do right now is tell you what needs to be done to prevent further damage. Your brother’s life is at real risk right now, Mr. Winters.
At this point, if the surgery isn’t performed immediately, the only other course of action will be removing the gland in his neck entirely. ”
“He’d lose the chance at a mate,” Thorn replied dumbly. Because of course the doctor knew how serious his suggestion was.
Syn’s had multiple scent glands in their body, but the ones in their neck were the most important, because that was where a claiming bite was placed. The mark could still be made, of course, but without the gland…No alpha would bother.
The doctor gave him a sympathetic look. “Have you considered relocating, Mr. Winters? Glyph is easier. More accepting. They have betas there, and it’s common for relations between them and alphas and omegas to occur.
My suggestion is we do the surgery, wait for Aster to heal, and then for the two of you to move. ”
They couldn’t. They’d never be able to afford it.
Their neighboring planet, Glyph, would be a better choice all around.
It was also fairly easy to relocate, because Syns shared the same genetic makeup as Glyphians.
All Thorn would need to do is get a job in order for his brother and him to legally be able to stay there, but…
The price for the ship tickets alone was too great.
“I have a colleague who works at the main hospital in the capital,” the doctor continued. “She’ll be able to take over Aster’s treatment. Think about it. Removing societal pressure might do you both some good.”
Aster could live his life like a beta on Glyph. That’s what the doctor was getting at.
“How much will the surgery cost?” He hated himself for even having to ask, but that took precedence. If a damn flight ticket was out of their budget, did he even have a prayer of covering this unforeseen medical expense?
Had he really been considering dropping his third job?
What a fool.
At this rate, he was going to have to take on at least two more. How he’d find the time for it was beyond him, but he’d figure it out.
The doctor slid over a holopad, noting the way Thorn instantly paled. “I know it’s a lot.”
“It’s more than the last one.” It was more than the last three combined. “I don’t have that type of coin. I’ve maxed out my credit with the hospital even.”
“I’m very sorry,” he sounded truthful. “If we don’t operate within two days at the latest however…”
“Is,” Thorn had to stop himself and take a deep breath, “Is his life in danger?”
“It very well could be.”
He squeezed his eyes shut and dropped his head into his hands. Thanks to their father, they’d maxed out all of their credit cards and had terrible credit to boot. The banks had refused them loans smaller than this sum, and their insurance was at its limit.
What was he supposed to do? He couldn’t just let his brother die.
His eyes opened and he stared at the clothing he was wearing. All designer brands. Nicer things than he owned in his entire house.
They’d been gifted to him on a whim. A bonus for being a good lay. How much had the alpha spent on it all? On Thorn, an omega he didn’t know. Money was nothing for people like Baal.
For the White Frost.
Thorn got to his feet. “Thank you, Dr. Price. Please plan the surgery for tomorrow. I’ll get the money.”
He understood why his father had felt cornered into turning to the White Frost, because Thorn was now in the same desperate situation.
He should have known the universe would view sleeping off his debt as too easy.