Chapter 2
2
B lowing out the candles on his birthday cake, Kael Whitlock tried hard to summon up the energy to pretend to be happy.
God, he wanted this day to be over—but at the same time, not.
Once the day was over, he was one day closer to mating the alpha from the Renford pack, Nigel.
He’d heard repeatedly how it would be a good mating for their pack, Silver Tree.
Their pack had severe financial difficulties, and the Renford pack had plenty of money, so the Silver Tree alpha, Sylvester, had agreed for Kael to mate Nigel.
Nigel had taken one look at him, and that was it.
Kael’s life and future had been bargained away.
Kael had met Nigel, who looked him up and down, licked his lips, and said Kael would do.
Whenever Kael tried to talk to Nigel, he’d been dismissive.
At one point, he’d patted Kael’s head and told him to be a good boy and let the men do the talking.
Kael had heard Nigel requested a test run.
A test run as in Kael sucking Nigel’s dick.
Even the thought of performing such an act on Nigel made Kael gag, but it was something he would be doing soon.
Kael was an omega and had now been sold for the good of the pack.
Not that Kael wanted it, but he had no choice.
Sylvester had told him he would be mated to Nigel, and now, preparations for the mating ceremony were underway.
Because they wanted Nigel and his pack’s money, Sylvester made sure Kael understood how important this mating was.
When Kael had objected, Sylvester had slapped him, then told him he had no choice.
As an omega, Kael’s life belonged to Sylvester, and he’d decided Kael would mate Nigel.
“We didn’t know what to get you,” Sherry told him as she handed Kael a present.
Smiling, Kael hugged her.
“I know, Mom. I’ll be leaving soon. I still don’t know what I’ll be able to take with me.”
Todd, Kael’s father ran a hand over his face.
“I wish it didn’t have to be this way.”
“We could run away,” Aled, Kael’s brother, suggested.
“Me and you, Kael. We could pack up and leave tonight. We’d be miles from here before they knew anything about it.”
“Then Mom and Dad would suffer because of it.” Kael shook his head.
“Sylvester would take it out on them.”
“It doesn’t matter about us,” Todd told him.
“This is about you and your future.”
“I know, but I couldn’t leave knowing what he would do to you two. He’d hurt you, Dad. We know what he’s like.” Kael closed his eyes, sighing softly.
“Dad—” A knock on the door had Kael opening his eyes as he fell silent.
Todd stood, straightened his shoulders, and walked over to the front door, opening it.
“Sylvester wants to see Kael now.” Matlin, Sylvester’s beta, stood at the door, his hard black eyes fixed on Kael.
“I’ll get my coat.” Kael stood, gave a subtle shake of his head to Aled when he went to stand, and walked over to the front door.
He paused to put his sneakers on, then grabbed his coat.
“Don’t eat all my cake while I’m gone.” He smiled, or tried to, and followed Matlin outside.
He didn’t look back.
He didn’t want to see his family watch him leave.
One day he’d walk out of the door and never return, but he had a few more days before that happened.
“Get in,” Matlin demanded.
Kael walked around the sleek silver Audi A6, seeing how new it looked and glanced at Matlin, who watched him.
If the pack was broke and Kael had to mate Nigel for the money that would bring, then how could Matlin afford a car like this?
Kael didn’t ask the question.
Instead, he got into the passenger side and waited for Matlin to take him to Sylvester.
The silent drive had Kael biting his lip, the heaviness inside the car pressing down on him.
Matlin said nothing as he drove, and Kael watched the scenery pass by instead of attempting to talk.
He had nothing to say to Matlin.
The beta had a reputation for shutting things down.
Painfully.
Kael had seen more than one pack member face Matlin’s wrath, and he didn’t want to be one of them.
When they reached the alpha’s house, Kael got out and walked to the front door, pausing for Matlin to let them in.
Matlin growled at Kael as he stormed past.
“You wait for me, omega.”
Kael nodded.
“My apologies. I won’t do that again.”
“You won’t be here to do it again. You’ll be on your back as Nigel fucks you.” Matlin smirked.
“Don’t expect to do anything for a few days. I’ve heard what Nigel has in store for you. You’ll be walking with a limp for a long time to come, and he’ll make sure you give him plenty of pups too.” Matlin stroked his cheek and leaned closer.
“Shame. I always wanted a piece of your ass. Maybe I should have a go before you’re mated.”
“Nigel wants me untouched,” Kael murmured, his eyes low.
“I’m sure for your family’s sake, you’ll say nothing, won’t you?” Matlin kissed Kael’s lips.
“Hmm, yes. You and I are going to spend a few hours together before you’re mated.” Matlin grabbed Kael’s black hair and yanked his head back.
“These eyes of yours,” he whispered.
“I’ll be looking into them as I fuck you.” Kael said nothing as Matlin released him.
“Can’t do it tonight. Too much going on, but tomorrow, I’ll come for you, and you will do what I want.”
Kael swallowed hard but stayed silent until Matlin chuckled and opened the front door, pushing Kael inside.
He walked along the hallway until he reached Sylvester’s office, and Matlin knocked, then opened the door.
Kael stepped inside.
There stood Sylvester and Nigel.
Kael quickly glanced at Matlin, who glared at Sylvester.
It appeared the beta didn’t know Nigel would be there.
“You can leave now, Matlin.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
Matlin closed the door, but not before giving Kael a look, and then Kael stood alone with the two alphas.
“So nice to see you again, Kael. Only a few more days and we’ll be mated.”
“Sir.” Nigel came over and stood in front of him, then placed two fingers under his chin and lifted his head up.
Kael let him, but kept his eyes lowered as was customary when with alpha’s.
“Such pretty green eyes. So light they almost shimmer.” Nigel kissed him, and Kael stood still as Nigel’s wet lips slid over his own.
“You will kiss me back.”
Kael glanced at Sylvester, who now stood next to them, nodding.
“Kiss him.”
Kael held back his shudder of revulsion.
He’d be doing more than kissing this alpha soon.
Nigel’s dark blue eyes bored into his own, and Kael licked his lips, then returned Nigel’s kiss.
God, Nigel’s breath was horrific, but Kael kept kissing him, their tongues touching before Nigel’s was thrust into his mouth.
When Nigel stepped back, he smiled and nodded.
“Good, now turn around and drop your jeans and underwear. I want to see what I’m getting.”
“Sir?”
“We didn’t agree to this, Nigel.” Sylvester smiled and moved Kael away.
“A kiss is what you asked for, and you got it.”
“I want to make sure he remains untouched. I’m paying a lot of money for him.” Nigel ran a finger over Kael’s lips.
“Look at him. That slim body of his, with those eyes and black hair. You’re telling me no one has touched him?”
“No one has touched me,” Kael blurted out.
“I’m a virgin.”
“Turn around and let me see your ass,” Nigel ground out.
“Unless you don’t want my money.”
Nigel smiled, but it looked sick and slimy to Kael.
He turned around and held back his tears as he undid his jeans and pushed them and his underwear down.
When nothing happened, he looked over his shoulder to see Sylvester standing between him and Nigel.
“He looks untouched.” Kael’s brow furrowed at Nigel’s words.
How did you know if someone had sex by looking at their ass?
“Lube, Sylvester. I need to make sure.” Kael whimpered, which made Nigel laugh again.
“You’ll be whimpering on our mating night. There will be no part of you I haven’t touched by the time the night is over. Get used to my hands on your body, because I’ll be doing a lot to you.”
“This isn’t what we agreed to. Get dressed, Kael.”
“I’m paying a hell of a lot of money for him, but I’m satisfied. He’ll be nice and loose by the time I’ve finished with him.”
Kael dressed and folded his arms over his waist.
“Go home, Kael. You have a few more days with your family. Enjoy them.”
“As soon as we’re mated, you’ll move to my pack, so you won’t see them again.”
Kael nodded and left the room, then walked calmly down the hallway until he reached outside.
Matlin stood outside but had his back to him, and Kael stepped back, moving around the side of the house, making as little noise as he could.
Once he reached the trees that surrounded Sylvester’s house, he turned and bolted into them.
He didn’t care if he made noise then.
He needed time alone.
Time to figure out what the fuck he was going to do.
He dreaded what his mating night would be.
Nigel would take him, do what he wanted, and Kael had a sickening feeling how he felt didn’t matter.
Nigel would fuck him all night long regardless of whether he hurt Kael or not.
When the trees in front of Kael became blurry, he slowed and slumped to the ground, his arms around his waist as he cried.
He heard his name shouted behind him but far away, so he staggered up and ran on, desperate to have some time alone.
If Matlin got hold of him, Kael knew something would happen.
No doubt Sylvester would have confided in Matlin about what had occurred in his office, and Matlin would want a piece too.
When had Kael become property to be bought?
Tripping on a root, Kael crashed to the ground and huddled into a ball, crying so much his throat ached.
He didn’t want to be mated off, but he had no choice in it.
It was for the pack, and his family were pack, so it was for them too.
Kael sat up and wiped the tears away, but it was a futile gesture as more replaced them.
How could this be his life?
Why had he been born an omega?
Why couldn’t he get to decide who he mated, who he wanted to spend his life with?
A snap of a twig had him holding his breath, but there were no further sounds, so Kael sighed and let the tears fall.
He should cry now and let it all out.
Soon, he’d have to endure whatever Nigel wanted to do to him, and tears would mean nothing then.
Another sound had him pausing, but again, silence fell.
He should expect sound.
He was in a forest with plenty of wildlife around him, but when a shadow moved, Kael sniffed and sat up, his eyes widening when someone stepped into sight.
Kael sniffed or tried to with his stuffy nose, but he caught it.
A scent that teased him.
A scent that made his body wake up, and he kneeled on the ground as the man—no, vampire—stepped closer.
Kael picked up his scent more now and knew who this vampire was to him.
Right when he needed a miracle, a way to escape his life, his mate appeared.