Chapter 9

My eyes open as Laken's hands dig into my chest.

She stares down at me with wide eyes. "Ohmigod, we had sex in Will's bed."

I chuckle. "It sure looks like we did."

She groans. "He could be back any time, and I still have to officially break up with him."

"If he walks in and sees you locked on my knot, he'll get the idea."

"Am I a cheater? Did I cheat on him?" Her tits bounce as her chest rises and falls rapidly. "He's going to fire you."

I do laugh at that.

"Why are you laughing?" She rubs her eyes. "This is all very stressful."

"He's out on a date with one of your coworkers. You came here to break up with him." I run my hand down her spine. "Don't tell me you're regretting me already."

"Of course, I'm not." She leans forward, kissing my nose. "But I do need to put my clothes on and prepare for the uncomfortable conversation I know is coming."

I nod.

It would have really fucked with my head if she did have regrets.

Laken heads out to find her clothes while I lounge on Will's bed.

Fuck him and his shady, backstabbing aspirations.

She was worried he would fire me.

Like he has the power.

It's comical.

I finally peel my ass out of bed and aim for the kitchen.

Laken is still nude, standing at the counter with a bottle of wine in one hand and a glass in the other. Her hands shake so violently that I can see it from across the room.

She spots me and frowns before setting down the bottle and taking a chug of her glass.

That's not going to help a damn thing.

My cock sways as I stride around the island and stop at her side. Her purse is open on the counter, and there's a medicine bottle next to it.

"Is it safe to take birth control with liquor?" I snatch the container and frown.

"Probably not. I have no idea. I take a combination birth control and suppressant all-in-one pill, but that's in the morning," she says, refusing to meet my eyes as she brings the glass to her lips.

Well, that's disappointing.

I don't hate the idea of knocking her up.

It would prove to all other alphas that she's mine, at least until I have the opportunity to claim her with a mating bite.

"I have anxiety," she says softly. "I take medication for it when it gets extreme. This is an extremely stressful example of when it's appropriate to take it."

Twirling the bottle to the side, it's easy to see the yellow label that declares it shouldn't be taken with alcohol or when the person needs to operate a moving vehicle.

I'm no saint.

Far fucking from it, in fact.

You don't grow up the way I did without a significant amount of blood on your hands, but Laken is soft.

She's not part of my world.

I've also never seen her have more than a single drink.

"Did you take a full dose?" I ask, grabbing the wine bottle and pouring the rest down the sink.

"I took one before I came here," she admits, grimacing. "Then I took another with my first glass of wine, but only because the first one wasn't working."

I snatch up the nearly empty glass and pour the rest down the sink too. "That was a poor idea."

I don't know what she's thinking, unless she's purposely trying to get shit-faced.

My own family had no problem disowning me.

Will is in the process of trying to fuck me over to take my empire as his own.

I don't think I'd handle it well if she was using me to get back at him. That can be a nice side effect, but I need her to actually want me.

"I'll help you find another job if Will fires you," she says, planting her hands on my chest. "I'm so sorry. Please don't hate me."

I sigh. "Will isn't going to fire me. I'm technically his boss."

"What?" she asks, squinting up at me.

"It's true. Now, come on. Let me help you get some clothes on, and we can head over to my place. You can pop in tomorrow morning to end things with the cheating dick."

She grimaces.

"I think that makes me a cheating dick, too, but I honestly can't bring myself to care." She raises her arms, making me chuckle as I lift her and wrap her around my muscular form. "You made me really happy tonight. It was a nice change of pace to feel like the interest is mutual."

Interest is too mild a word to describe my obsession with making her mine. And yet, that would probably scare her.

I pinch her ass. "The interest is most definitely mutual."

Striding toward Will's bedroom, I grab her dress and as much of my clothing as I come across.

"I lost my shirt and socks somewhere," I admit, setting her down on the edge of Will's bed. "Give me just a minute."

"Okay," she agrees around a yawn.

I yank on my jeans and head back to collect her purse and my shoes.

I'm just tossing her medicine bottle back in her bag when Will's front door opens.

He's got a different chick than the one he left with wrapped under his arm.

The reminder that he tried to make a deal with my fucking family to double-cross me has my fists clenching at my sides.

I drop Laken's purse, striding across the room. Making eye contact with the woman, I growl, "Leave."

She jolts.

"What the fuck, man?" Will asks, eyeing me up and down. "Why does it smell like Laken in here?"

"You mean your girlfriend?" I growl, pointing at the woman. "Leave now."

She gives Will a confused, or maybe betrayed, look. He barely spares her a glance as he glares my way.

She finally nods, ducking under his arm and escaping toward the door.

"I've known you wanted her for a while, but this is low," Will growls, advancing on me.

That ugly part of me that proves I wasn't adopted snaps.

Most of the next two minutes are a blur as I beat the fuck out of him.

Not solely for trying to betray me.

And also not completely for Laken.

I'm just really fucking done with his bullshit.

I drag his ass into his guest room and tie him up with the supplies I use whenever I need to have a conversation with someone who isn't hearing me.

Shit.

I need to check on Laken, I realize.

I glance at the door and back at Will, who lies hog-tied on the guest room mattress.

He's not going anywhere.

By the time I make it back to his bedroom, Laken is passed out, snoring.

Christ.

She basically knocked herself out with anxiety meds and alcohol.

That woman needs a keeper.

I sigh, sliding into the bed at her side. Tugging her back to my chest, I place my hand on her sternum to ensure she's breathing. I'm going to make it very clear to her tomorrow that, if she pulls this shit again, I will spank her ass.

Will is not worthy of getting her that stressed out.

It's fine.

I'll deal with his ass in the morning too.

I wake up to sounds in the penthouse that lead me to believe Will has escaped, but I tied him up with solid knots that haven't failed me yet.

I swagger out, ready to put him in his place for a second time.

Only, I walk into a crew I don't recognize.

After a friendly chat and dragging Will's bound, gagged, and hooded form from the bedroom, I officially realize how deep his betrayals go.

Luckily, I speak Portuguese.

I'm able to inform them who their boss really is while Will snivels, tied to one of his dining room chairs.

I need to go back and check on Laken, but I have to take a piss.

I pop into the hall bathroom, but shit hits the fan in that two-minute time span.

It's a devastating blow to realize she doesn't remember a goddamn thing about the night before.

I'm even more baffled that she doesn't realize she's covered in my scent.

However, I need to address the William issue.

So, I send her on her way.

It's fine.

She was completely clear when she gave me consent that's in place until she revokes it.

That means she's officially mine.

I'll remind her of that all over again, and next time, she won't need to feel an ounce of guilt or shame about it.

Huh.

Maybe I'm growing as a person.

I'm going to court Laken Spencer the right way, like any respectable alpha should.

Present Day

Just when I finally had things in order and was preparing to make my interest known a second time, she disappeared.

I don't care who I have to kill or what it takes. I will get my omega back. Then I'll burn anyone who hurts her alive and bond her next to their charred bodies. That way, if she ever disappears on me again, I'll have a bond to track her down.

The longer she's missing, the more feral I become. The world better pray I find her before I slip into rabid territory, or all bets are off.