Chapter 2
Tane
The first thing I noticed was his hair. It was like the sun had come down from the sky and through the wolf king’s palace windows to set it aflame.
All around me, dragons were bidding on the beautiful omega. Numbers filled the air faster than I could keep up.
I wanted him. Not for me, of course. Hell no.
He was only twenty-three. I was forty-three.
Kirion was too young for me. No, I was here for my son, Malin, who had just turned twenty-one.
He had been in a bit of trouble. This was my last resort to tame and settle him. And maybe one day have grandchildren.
I raised my hand through the crowd. What had the last bid been? One point eight mil?
“Two million,” I said loudly.
People turned to stare. They didn’t know me.
I wasn’t a society guy. I didn’t appear in the pages of wealthy lifestyle magazines despite my ten figure bank accounts.
Malin, however,… high society might have heard of him.
He was flamboyant and let everyone know he was wealthy.
My money had kept him out of prison more times than I could count for petty but loud things, like public drunkenness, disorderly conduct, fights.
He was part of a dragon brat pack that jet-setted all over the world.
He wouldn’t have had the money for it all but I had been generous and set up a trust for him when he was a baby.
My soft heart allowed him access when he was eighteen and far too young and immature for it.
Too late to fix that mistake, I tried to control things by letting him live at home where I could keep an eye on him.
But he did as he pleased. He never listened to me.
Friends said I should kick him out. But a part of me still loved him, still thought we could come to terms and have a real father/son relationship. He wasn’t a truly bad man, just a bit wild.
With this set omega I was truly grasping at straws. I thought maybe, just maybe, if Malin fell in love, he’d change. He’d grow up.
I hoped.
My bid stood for about five seconds before someone countered. I took a firm step forward. Money was no object.
I held up my hand. “Two point five.”
Grunts and a few whispers followed. I heard someone hiss, “Who is that guy?”
The wolf in king’s clothing turned to stare at me. A hush fell over the room.
For a moment, I thought I had it. The omega, Kirion, refused to look up but his body tensed.
“Two point seven five,” someone shouted.
Keeping my voice low and calm, I said, “Three.”
Now I had everyone’s attention. Even Kirion’s chin lifted, eyebrows narrowing.
Another counter.
“Four,” I said quietly.
Another pause. Quick breaths all around me.
Alpha Rohan stood. “Anyone prepared to top that?”
“Four point five.” The voice came from behind me.
I’d known the guy from my investment firm years ago. I’d sold that firm for five hundred and fifty million when I was still young. That was before my bondmate shifted, flew out over the sea for normal exercise, and never returned.
Four and a half was a lot. But not to me. I could find that much in the cushions of my couch. And not to some of the others I recognized by reputation. But for that money, they could buy several set omegas of the finest quality from auction houses, not just one.
I didn’t hesitate. “Five.”
Silence.
“Any other bidders?” Rohan asked.
Nothing.
“Five more seconds and the sale is final,” Rohan said.
I waited. I knew I had won.
Kirion turned his head and whispered something to his father.
“Not too old for five million,” Rohan replied. “The matter is settled.”
I was a little miffed that Kirion thought I was old. Forty-three wasn’t old. Not in dragon years. I had sparks of silver in my sideburns, but otherwise my hair remained thick, dark as midnight.
It didn’t matter anyway. I wasn’t in the market for omegas or any more heirs. Kirion wasn’t for me.
“Name?” Rohan called out.
“Tane Summit.” Slowly, I approached the wolf, my cell in hand. It was already live with my main accountant. He had the funds set to transfer as soon as I gave him the receiver account.
Kirion stood to the right of his father, staring openly at me now.
I couldn’t help but scent him as I got closer.
Something sweet I couldn’t define. It took me back to a scene out of my childhood.
A cold day. A fire in a hearth and my two brothers and me kneeling before a flashing gameboard.
We all wore the same pajamas. We were a real family. Happy. Comfortable. Safe.
Why had that flashed through my mind now as I stood in a cold room with a guy by a makeshift throne and his son?
This wasn’t about comfort or safety. I was trying to buy my son’s cooperation and obedience with soulless cash.
Kirion certainly wasn’t in a situation of safety.
This was a fucked-up scene. I desperately put that thought from my mind.
But that scent… it tugged hard. A pulse of longing went through me.
Rohan made a waving motion with his hand. A man in a plain black suit came forward, tablet in hand.
“This is Dillon, my accountant. He will make sure the money is legitimately in my account before you take Kirion.”
Take Kirion. He said those words without an ounce of emotion, though his eyes glowed. For the money, of course.
I tried to focus on my phone and the tablet.
On the numbers I was repeating to my accountant and the transaction at hand.
But out the corner of my eye it was Kirion who had my heart racing.
He stared at me, now. I flicked my gaze toward him.
Up close, his pretty makeup showed, pink lips, slightly open, and dark blue eyeliner.
He had beautiful blue eyes, graceful brows, and flawless skin.
Everyone in this room had been looking at his physical attributes. Thinking about the pedigree omega they’d lost and I’d won. That had to feel awful for Kirion. And I was playing my own part in that.
When the transaction was over, Rohan said, “All bidders today were carefully vetted. I expect my son to be cared for in the luxury he was born to. You will oversee his well-being and send monthly reports.”
I had signed an earlier contract just to be allowed in here. I remembered that part of it.
“No one will abuse him. You know what I’m worth and how I live.”
Rohan lifted an eyebrow. “Yes.”
He knew I was richer than he was. By a thousand times.
“He will live the lifestyle to which he’s accustomed.” I left out the part about Malin who had no clue I was bring Kirion home. For him.
I resisted the urge to rub my forehead. Had I done the right thing? I couldn’t answer that right now. This was my decision and I was sticking to it.
Rohan stood aside, waving at his princeling son. “He’s yours. Do you need him chained?”
“What?”
“He won’t run but I have a pretty gold chain fitted and ready for him.”
Another man brought out a fancy black box, opened it, and took out a thin, glittery chain. At a loss for words, I watched as he grabbed Kirion’s right arm and fitted it to his wrist, then handed me the end of the leash. I realized then it was meant to be decorative, not practical.
Kirion’s hand was shaking. He made a tight fist.
“My staff have already brought his things to your limo,” Rohan said.
Kirion still hadn’t uttered a sound. Before I could blink, Rohan was gone. We were being escorted out.
Rohan had never said goodbye to his son. Or me.