Running a hand through my straight black hair, I fumbled in my pocket for my phone. No missed calls. Trust Soren to send a crazy omega to my house and not even give me a fucking heads up.
He was what you could call… eccentric. Meddling. Annoying as fuck. I was unfortunately stuck with him because of my in-depth knowledge of some of his many crimes. He never let me forget my place as his well-paid and well-connected dog.
“Why did Soren send you here?” I asked.
She shrugged. The midafternoon sun shone through the window around her, beginning to peek around the neighbouring high-rise buildings. It gave her a halo, making her ample curves seem pillowy and innocent.
Kiara wasnotinnocent. I knew that much.
“He said you’d be able to help me. With the dark bond.” She tacked on the clarification.
“I will not be dark bonding anyone.”
Her plush lips parted and she looked like she was about to plead, but I tapped Soren’s contact info and brought my phone to my ear.
He made me wait until the fifth ring before picking up.
“Leigh-Leigh, darling, to what do I owe the pleasure?” he asked.
His voice was silky smooth, a tool he used to con the world into believing he was a songbird and not a snake.
“You know what. Why did you send her here, Soren?”
“Oh, Kiara? She needs an alpha. You’re available. Since you’re not in a pack and not registered as silver status, a dark bond is the only kind you can experience, after all. I thought you would appreciate it.”
As a packless alpha, I couldn’t bond an omega to me with a normal bond. I’d also never find a scent match omega—something I was more than happy with.
If I’d opted in to silver status, I would have been able to experience either, but it was always too much hassle for me. The process was irritating. The Institute tried to talk you out of it, preferring alphas and omegas to be opted into pack dynamics and not the one-on-one bonds of silver status. It was never worth it when I didn’t plan to bond an omega anyway.
Dark bonds were different.
I could bite her right here and now, and the bond would stick. It would be illegal to do it against her will, but if she gave me permission that was a nonissue.
“You’re a nuisance,” I muttered before I could stop myself.
My spine stiffened, and I internally cursed for talking back to Soren. I could almost see his feral grin in front of me right now. He was carefree and smirking right until the second you tried to disobey him.
Then he showed you the reason he was a billionaire who had dirt on everyone in New Oxford.
“At the end of the day, Leigh-Leigh, who you bond isn’t my business,” he said nonchalantly. “However, you’re expected to keep Kiara safe and in your vicinity. She’s useful to me. Is that clear?”
“Crystal,” I grit out.
“I expect to be showered with gifts the next time we see each other, darling. You know how delicate my feelings are. Being called a nuisance is like a stake to the heart.”
Soren wanted for nothing, but if gifts would appease him, I would find something to match the horrendous decor of his Citrine Hills mansion. I would hate every minute of catering to him, but working for him was one of the many things in my life I had no choice but to do.
“Of cour—”
He cut me off with the beep of the line going dead.
My gaze rose to Kiara again. She had watched the interaction with interest, that hand still oddly placed on her sternum while the other hung by her side. With a few taps of my phone, the front door deadbolt was locking with a loud buzz and the alarm system was engaged.
“Looks like you’re staying,” I said.
Her expression brightened, hand finally dropping from her torso. She’d taken one step toward me when I held up a hand.
“Not to get dark bonded. You’re staying because Soren wants you safe, and I’ve been saddled with that responsibility.”
