Chapter 19
Vincent
The house was empty.
It never bothered me before. I never cared if I would share a space with another; it hadn’t even been on my radar to think about it.
But now, a couple hours after the Omega was taken from this house, and with little force at that, the house was quiet and still. Lonely in a way I never felt it be.
Watching Charles walk out willingly, because I told him to, fractured something in me I hadn’t known could break.
No one should have to leave a place that felt safe, wearing the weight of the world like it was stitched into their skin.
I didn’t need to be in his shoes to understand. It was etched into every line of his face. Carved into the silence between his steps. And in his eyes, those hollow, haunted eyes, I saw something I’d never forget.
Not grief.
Not fear.
Just the quiet resignation of someone who’d stopped hoping to be saved.
I wished now as much as I did in that moment, that there was something I could do. But I knew, the Betas who wore Lockswells’ logos shirts had his orders as much as the Omega did himself.
There was nothing I physically could do but allow Charles to walk away. He hadn’t looked back at me, and that was for the best. Because it took every bit of strength I had to keep my feet rooted to the floor where I stood.
I hadn’t moved until the van was out of distance, dirt kicking up behind the wheels. When I turned, my lawyer, and another friend, Silas Cane, stood there. He leaned against the back of the couch, eyes hard in concentration, arms crossed over his torso.
“So, what’s the plan, Vincent?”
He himself didn’t have an Omega, but he viewed them similar as myself. Omegas were something to be treasured and treated with the respect they deserved. He was lucky to be raised with a family who loved all social roles, and treated everyone the same. Or at least tried the best he could.
“I should just let him go.” I finally shut the door, eyes taking in how empty the place was all of a sudden.
“The first time I see you with an Omega in your home, and you're going to just let him go?” he raised an eyebrow, uncrossing his arms to slide his hands into his pockets.
“You told me to let him go, Silas.” Which I wasn’t thrilled about. A piece of paper wouldn’t have stopped me from fighting to keep the boy.
“Yes.” It was my turn to raise a brow, but then a second later, I shook my head and walked towards the kitchen. “It shows good faith on your behalf for when, and if, you want to try to fight for all rights for that Omega.”
“I….” I clamped my mouth shut and turned my back to my friend. I almost gave my normal response, that I didn’t need or want an Omega. That I was perfectly fine and content without one. But after having one in my care for less than three days, my view had changed.
There was something about Charles that I couldn’t put a name on. Something that showed me what I was missing.
“What do I need to do?” I glanced over my shoulder, almost hating the way my friend smiled like he won the lottery.
“Leave that all to me, dear friend.” Why was he so thrilled about that? “Get whatever you need for him to be here. Give me twenty-four hours and he’ll be back in your care shortly after that.”
With that, Silas turned and walked away, like it was just an easy task ahead of him. And maybe, for him, it was. Being a lawyer had its perks, and I wasn’t going to ask how he’d get past some of the loopholes that Lockswell had in place to make it harder for Alphas to get rights to Omegas.
“And get some sleep!” Silas yelled before shutting the door on his way out.
I just shook my head, unsurprised by his antics. Silas had a reputation, quiet, calculated, always watching more than he spoke.
To most, he was reserved. To me, he was unnervingly brilliant. The kind of smart that didn’t need to show off.
Every word he used was intentional, every silence louder than most conversations. He was a damn good lawyer. But somehow, an even better friend. He listened to all sides of any argument, never putting someone’s wellbeing above another for the sake of choosing sides.
Next to Moore, Silas was one friend I never wanted to lose. If it hadn’t been for him, I would have never became an accountant.
Knowing, and trying, to let Silas do what needed done, I took a quick shower, made a quick breakfast, and tidied up the already spotless house. I kept my mind focused on what needed to be done so I didn’t become a stressed out lunatic.
When my phone rang, bringing me out of my cleaning zone on the already cleaned kitchen, I was more than happy to answer, even though I didn’t want to talk to anyone.
“Moore,” I greeted, my tone dull.
“Uh oh. What’s wrong?”
What wasn’t wrong?
I didn’t bother holding it in. I needed someone to hear me, so I let the words spill out. Everything that happened this morning. Every detail. Every feeling I hadn’t had time to process.
I kept talking as I moved through the routine, gathering used towels, replacing them with fresh ones in the bathrooms.
It helped. A little.
When I finally ran out of words, the silence felt heavier than before.
Moore’s voice broke it, low and cautious, like he didn’t want the walls to hear.
“Adrian can’t know,” he said. “I’ll keep him distracted for now.
But you did the right thing.” He hesitated, then added, “Vale’s…
possessive. Especially when it comes to certain Omegas and their clients.
He’s not after loyalty. Just profit. I got lucky.
Adrian was never one of Vale’s favorites. ”
I nodded, but the weight in my chest didn’t lift. Because I wasn’t lucky. It felt like my heart was taken away with the Omega.
“Silas is the best. He’ll get Charlie back. And less than the purchase price that Lockswell asks for all that. Just give him time.”
I huffed out a snort. I didn’t want time. I wanted Charles to be right here beside me.
“I’ll send my boy out to get Charlie new bedding and clothes. Let me know when you get him in your care.”
“That’s not needed. I have money.” And I was more than willing to spend it on the Omega, if I got him that is.
“Believe me, Adrian is going to be driving me crazy if he can’t see his friend. Shopping is one way to keep him distracted. So it’s a favor to both of us.”
“Fine. But don’t let him come here until I say so.”
“Of course not,” I could see Moore’s eye roll. Of course he knew better than to let his Omega come stop by without his say so. But I also knew Adrian would do just about anything to see his friend, and if he knew where Charles was….yeah. He’d hate my guts for allowing it to happen.
Moore ended the call shortly after, and I finished changing the bed sheets on the borrowed bed.
Tucked under the pillow was the leather bound book. The one thing of my mother’s I had left. A piece of paper was about a quarter way through, right where I assumed Charles left off. Setting it on the night table, I finished putting on new sheets and making up the bed.
***
Two days.
Forty-eight hours.
It felt longer.
Like time had stretched itself just to punish me.
I checked my phone more times than I could count. I listened for tires on gravel. I paced the length of the house until the floor remembered my footsteps.
I waited.
And hated myself for every second of it. For letting him walk away. For not stopping it.
I doubted my decision. Doubted Silas, too—though I knew better. He’d done this before. Pulled Omegas out of worse places, fought harder battles.
If anyone could bring Charles back, it would be him. But knowing that didn’t make the silence easier.
And it didn’t make the ache in my chest any less real.
I jerked, nearly dropping my phone that was in a loose grip in my hand, as it buzzed.
A text message from Silas.
Meet me at Lockswell in an hour. Don’t talk to Vale
I sent back a thumbs up, already halfway to the door.
It took seconds—hair fixed, clothes smoothed, shoes on. I didn’t care if I beat Silas there. I wasn’t waiting anymore. Charles was mine, and I was done letting anyone else decide when I got to see him.
The road stretched out smoothly beneath the tires, sun casting long shadows across the pavement.
It should’ve been a beautiful day. But my gut wouldn’t shut up. Something was off. And I wasn’t going to ignore that feeling. Not again. Not when it could mean losing him for good.
On a normal drive, I’d have taken exactly an hour to reach Lockswells Boarding House. But today, I pushed my car as fast as I dared. The road was nearly empty, letting me speed.
II pulled into the Lockswell property exactly forty minutes after Silas’s message. I slowed at the entrance, just enough to avoid drawing attention.
The paved paths were mostly empty, save for a few figures moving between buildings. None of them looked up.
Omegas, probably. But I wasn’t here for them.
I was here for one.
I spotted Silas’s car immediately and parked beside it. Of course he’d known I’d show up early.
He stepped out the moment I did, calm as ever, waiting in front of his vehicle like this was just another meeting.
“Let me do the talking,” he demanded, lawyer voice on full force.
I nodded once, then gestured with an open palm toward the direction we needed to go.
I followed a step behind, head held high like I was important enough to be seen, important enough to get exactly what I wanted.
Instead of the last time I was here, where I went to the Vale Client building, we entered the Main Building, the words bold above the doors. A rush of cold air hit me in the face before disappearing as we neared the front desk.
“How can I help you today, gentlemen?” A girl Beta, her name tag proclaiming her as Karen.
“I’d like to see Alpha Vale. Alpha Harris and his lawyer, Alpha Cane.”
“Of course, Sirs. Please have a seat over there, and I’ll track him down. He’s a very busy man, so he may not be on the property today.”
“Thank you, dear.” Silas spoke blandly, not an ounce of unease in his form or tone.
I took a deep breath, trying to quell the need to steamboat this whole meeting.
I wanted my Omega. Right now.
“Calm down,” Silas hissed, taking a seat in a chair as though he was in no hurry whatsoever. “Vale is a smart man, and he’ll see us so we can get this situation taken care of.”
His eyes bounced up towards a camera that was no doubt watching, and possibly listening, to everything we said.
I took a seat stiffly, clasping my hands in my lap.
Taking a moment to calculate the room, I took note of the stack of magazines on a table that were in a perfect pile. Not page out of place. Blurry scenery art decorated the walls.
Everything was clean, so if I wanted to, I could probably see my reflection in the floor.
Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait more than ten minutes before Alpha Vale himself greeted us.
Silas stood first, introducing himself as my lawyer, and then we followed the owner of this place to a private room.
Once the door was closed, Vale behind a desk and Silas and I sitting across from the Alpha, my friend dove right into what needed to be done.
No small talk. No pleasant greetings. Just a simple statement.
“I am working on behalf of Alpha Vincent Harris. I am requesting the rights of Omega Charles to be granted to Alpha Harris today at a discounted cost due to the inconvenience of his early timed return due to a client.”
If Alpha Vale was surprised, he didn’t show it. His dark beady eyes looked over both of us before he leaned back in his chair, hands resting on his stomach like he had no worries in the world. His deep dark eyes held secrets that would die with him.
“Yes. Sorry, again, for the mix up. The client was very determined to see the Omega. But I must apologize. Omega Charles isn’t available for full time purchase. His clients here will thoroughly miss him.”
“I was afraid that’s what you’d say,” Silas said, leaning forward.
“But you see, Alpha Vale, nowhere on your website or filed documents, does it say you will deny a sale or transfer of rights to an Alpha. If an Alpha is interested in an Omega, or Omegas, you must, by law of the overseeing governor, allow the process to take place.”
Alpha Vale’s look turned to a glare, his eyes hardening as he shifted upright.
“Then, to add to the situation, and no refund or replacement has been given to Alpha Harris for the duration of his paid time, I will request, kindly of course, to lower the purchase price by fifteen percent. It’s only fair.”
If one could turn to ash by a look alone, Alpha Vale would have succeeded in putting both Silas and myself into an ash pile.
“No.”
“No?” I echoed, but a hand clamping my knee instantly shut me up.
“If that is the case, then I will have to invoke section nine, article three. I don’t mind taking you to court to get what my client wants, and deserves.”
Alpha Vale huffed, not happy one bit about the outcome.
“Fine. Ten percent, you said?”
“Twenty,” Silas responded quickly, not missing a beat.
“Alright. Fine. I guess the Omega has worn out his usefulness to us anyways. He’s a bit…used up.”
I didn’t like the way he spoke those words, and not the glint in his eyes.
Either way, I handed over my credit card, not caring how much Charles was going to cost me.
Alpha Vale only scanned my card after he had signed over the rights to me, ensuring that I couldn’t return the Omega under any circumstances, unless I was to pay a fee in doing so.
Only after everything was signed, the payment processed, and paperwork filed with the state, did Alpha Vale stand and led us back to the reception desk.
Not happily, and almost dejectedly, did he speak. “Beta Jane will lead you to where Omega Charles is at. Remember, his care will now be in your hands.”