Chapter 53
Chapter Fifty-Three
~Harlow~
"Yes, I am sorry about that, Alpha. She forgot to take her suppressants this morning," Thane says, placing his hand on my shoulder and forcing his face away from my neck.
"Sorry, sorry. Where are my manners?" the Alpha says, staring at my unmarked neck as he takes a step back.
"Shall we continue the meeting?" he says. I wait for him to out me, but he never does. Thane leads me into the conference room.
"Such pretty little things, Omegas. I should know, I’ve gone through plenty of them," Alpha Jake states, watching me as Thane leads me to his side of the table.
I’m on autopilot. I can't think, speak, or do anything. I just stare in horror as my instincts tell me to flee or fall at their feet. They go about their business. However, the Alpha's eyes keep darting toward me. I barely pay attention to what they say, until I hear my name mentioned.
"I'm sure she won't mind, would you, Zara? And she is no good to you, Thane," Alpha Jake says, and I blink, wondering what I missed.
"No," Thane growls.
"You didn't even ask her, and I’ll extend the contract's lengths by five years," Jake offers, and my eyes widen.
"Zara isn't for sale. Nor would I allow it, even if she agreed," Thane says.
"Everyone is for sale, Thane, for the right price. You know this," Jake says, staring at me.
Rhen's jaw clenches.
"What do you say, Zara? Want to help your boss out? You’ll be rewarded," Jake says. The way he says my name is almost a taunt. He knows exactly who I am, and he knows that Thane is completely unaware. I gulp and shake my head.
"No, thank you. I already have an Alpha," I tell him, my voice coming out barely above a whisper. I look at Thane, begging him with my eyes to not contradict me.
"Now, don't be rash. I just want to see if you're compatible with my pack. I bet you are, and you don’t bear a mark yet." Jake then turns his gaze to Thane. "How much for her?" he asks.
My heart beats like a drum in my chest, and I clutch Thane's leg under the table. He looks down at my hand on his thigh before looking at the Alpha.
"She's not for sale, Jake. She’s ours," Thane states coldly.
"She bears no mark on her neck to stake your claim on her," Jake retorts.
Thane growls, jerking me out of my seat and onto his lap.
My eyes widen when his hand grips the back of my neck.
Horror washes through me. He wouldn't dare mark me in front of someone, would he? Not that I would mind wearing his mark, but that’s something that’s supposed to be private, not flaunted as an act of dominance.
Yet, instead of his teeth sinking into my neck, his lips cover mine.
His tongue sweeps across my bottom lip, demanding access.
His Calling thrums from his chest, and I immediately submit to it.
My hands grip his shirt as his tongue delves between my lips, tasting every inch of my mouth, and I moan at his taste.
Thane deepens the kiss, and sparks flood everywhere.
My skin tingles as he pulls away, leaving me breathless and biting my bottom lip.
The moment he does, his Calling drops, and reality shatters around me.
I blink, embarrassed. I’m about to climb off his lap when his hand grips my thigh.
His other hand goes to my waist and tugs me closer to his chest.
"Do I need to make myself any clearer? Or do you want to watch me fuck her, Alpha, so you can hear her scream who she belongs to?" Thane challenges.
Alpha Jake presses his lips in a line and glances at the contracts on the table. My face heats at Thane’s words.
"Don't be foolish. You can't even breed with her, Thane, unless you’re willing to make her your equal. I will double the contract price, length, and whatever else you want. Name it, Thane."
I see Rhen suck in a breath when he doesn’t back down. Raidon looks at Thane, but Thane doesn't acknowledge either of them. He just stares at the Alpha across from him. I feel his hand slowly cover mine and give it a gentle squeeze.
"My Omega is not for sale," Thane growls. Alpha Jake opens his mouth to say something, but Thane speaks over him.
"Ask again. I will tell you where you can shove our contracts and our treaty, Jake. Remember whose territory you’re in. And remember who you are talking to," Thane says, his voice ice cold.
I swallow, waiting to see what he will say.
I notice Rhen push his chair out a bit and Raidon shift in his chair before stretching his arm along the table and drumming his fingers beside Alpha Jake.
Jake glances at Rhen and Raidon, when suddenly I feel Leon's hands slip over my shoulders.
He squeezes them, making me glance up at him.
Their auras, and the testosterone in the room, are overwhelming. I feel Thane's thumb rub over the back of my hand, as if he’s trying to soothe the instincts that tell me to bow at their damn feet. Which is becoming an actual possibility, if they don't drop their dangerous auras.
Jake laughs, putting his hands up in surrender. "Fine, fine. I don't mean to offend you, Thane. I didn't realize you were serious about this one," Jake says, though it’s clear he is not happy about it.
"Now, shall we sign the contracts, or do you need me to escort you out?" Thane asks.
"I'll grab a pen, shall I?" Jake says, reaching for one from the cup in the center of the table.
"Leon, take Zara for a drink," Thane says, looking at him. I waste no time getting to my feet off Thane's lap. I take Leon's hand. Thane nods at us, and Jake watches us leave. I don't realize how shallow my breathing is until I step out of the damn room and feel a weight lift from my chest.
"Are you okay? He can be a dick, but he usually knows better than to challenge Thane," Leon says, steering me toward the kitchenette.
My hands shake as I grab a glass from the rack, filling it with water from the tap. I gulp the water down thirstily, needing the cool liquid to soothe the desert that sucked all the moisture from my mouth.
"Hey," Leon purrs, stepping closer and pressing his chest against my back.
"Geez, Zara, you're shaking," Leon murmurs, wrapping his arms around me, and continuing his purr. It isn't as potent as Thane's powerful Calling, but it helps calm my nerves as I lean into him.
Leon waits for me to calm down and feel more under control. The doors to the conference room open up, and Thane, Raidon, and Rhen step out with the Alpha. They seem all buddy-buddy again. As Alpha Jake passes the kitchenette, Leon’s arms tighten around my waist, and I tense.
"I'll catch you later, Leon," Alpha Jake says, nodding to him before turning his eyes to me. I don't miss the odd glint to them that chills me to the bone.
"And I'm sure I'll see you again real soon, Zara," he says, drawing my name out longer than necessary.
"It was lovely to meet you," I tell him, my voice sounding robotic to my own ears. He says nothing, his eyes watching me. Thane claps a hand on his shoulder, steering him toward the elevator.
"Fuck, he is a dick," Leon growls against my neck as he buries his face in my hair. He didn't rat me out, but that does not make me feel at ease. No, it makes me even more worried for some reason.