5. Candy

Itore my door open as soon as they knocked, dragging in their scents as it cracked open, sucking in sweet mango and passion fruit, undercut with Odin's perfect lemon vodka.

I'd spent my life searching for safety, and they fell straight into my lap.

It had been three weeks since I began working the floor at the Club, and no matter how much money they poured into the parties every night, it was exactly the same as Stevie's. I had to perform, only now I wore expensive clothes and shoes, and attended fancy parties wearing a large gem around my neck to signal I was a whore. No, sorry, a host.

And four weeks since I'd met my scent matches, of spending nearly every day with them constantly by my side but not being able to touch them, and saying goodbye to them each night as I went off with another alpha.

I spent the first week bouncing all over the place, excited like a stupid child who thought she could have everything she wanted just because I'd found my matches. I let it go on though, because I hadn't craved anything so badly that I would lie to myself about it.

Even though I kept telling myself not to be romantic, that life didn't work that way for people like me, I couldn't stop my heart from soaring as their shadows fell over me, a giant wall of alphas there to protect me.

And, despite knowing that life was never sunshine and roses, I had a plan.

"You're going to scare people off if you look at them like that," I said, smirking, tilting my head back to admire my alphas.

Apollo stood in front of me, his chin dipped to the floor, his gaze skewed. Odin and Zeus towered above us both, and Odin fixed me with a hard glare while Zeus's brow creased in pain.

Zeus's lips parted, about to speak. His aura expanded, reaching for me with his alpha energy, and my omega instincts lit up as I responded. My body curved without even thinking, basically presenting myself to him. I'd gone for a tennis dress—tight around the top and loose around my thighs, high cut, enough to show my ass cheeks if I swished my hips. All they needed to do was step forward and take me.

"It's time to go," Apollo said, his voice hollow as he moved back to make room for me.

I nodded, still smiling despite the darkness in his expression. It wasn't hard to guess. We were going to discuss my first heat, after all.

Zeus led the way, with Apollo beside me and Odin behind me, the three of them surrounding me with their auras, driving me wild. I was nothing but a ball of mush around them, and it made it easier to perfume for any alpha guest who looked at me.

I was surprised my heat hadn't come during my training. I thought it would, because my body knew I needed them. It was like I'd been waiting to find them before I properly awoke as an omega and now that they were here, I could finally take that step.

According to the other omegas, Geno was usually the one to talk to us about our heats, but Michael had called me to his office instead.

I didn't want to get my hopes up, but it would be the perfect opportunity to ask Michael. Because I wasn't going to be sold to just anyone—my pack was going to buy me for my first heat.

It wasn't like we had talked about it, but I had to have them buried deep inside me or I'd go insane, and I was sure they felt it as well. I was already going crazy having to fuck other alphas while they stood outside the room ‘guarding' me. That wasn't how it was supposed to be; we needed to be together, and my heat was the best time to make it happen.

Whenever I did bring up that we were scent matches, they shut me down instantly, repeatedly stressing about my contract, like it was a big, bad spider hanging over our heads, waiting to reel us into a trap.

But I didn't believe it. I wouldn't let the contract keep us apart.

My body knew I shouldn't have sex with anyone else but them and, each time I fucked a guest, a hum of pain buzzed throughout my body, telling me over and over again it was wrong.

I tried to be subtle when I asked another omega about it. She instantly gasped, holding the bottle of painkillers over my head as she demanded to know who my scent matches were—as if I'd share something like that with someone I'd met a month ago. Though, if it wasn't clear from the fact I couldn't stop slicking around my alphas, then I wasn't sure what else would make it obvious that they were mine.

"Come on." I nudged Apollo, rubbing my bare arm against his suit, marking him in case any other omegas got ideas. "Don't look like that. It's a chance for us to finally talk about it."

"Quiet!" Odin hissed from behind us as a growl rumbled from Zeus.

"Candy," Apollo said calmly, as if he was patiently talking to a child. "We already agreed not to mention it in public. Anyone could be listening."

I pressed my lips together, biting back my complaint. There were cameras all over the Club and, from the way they reacted every time I tried to talk to them, they had microphones, too.

"But it's not a problem anymore," I said. "As soon as we talk to Michael, we can be together, can't we?"

Apollo's jaw clenched as he shook his head. "That's not possible."

"Why not?" I faced him as we turned the corner, heading for a set of stairs. "Even if we haven't known each other for long, I still want my heat to be with you. Don't you want that?" I thought I'd have to go through my first heat with scumbags from Stevie's, that I was always going to be trapped in places like that until I was eventually murdered or I died from an overdose.

I'd been given a second chance, and I finally felt like a real person, so I let myself hope for more, and now I was determined to get what I wanted.

Then was Zeus's turn to hiss as Odin grunted from behind me.

"It doesn't work like that," Apollo said quietly.

"But we're scent matches." I pouted. "We should be together."

"Let's just go to the office," he said.

And they didn't say anything else after that.

It wasn't a long walk to Michael's office but, the more I tried to talk to them, the more closed off they grew, until all I could do was look at them in confusion when we reached his door.

By the time we sat in front of Michael's desk, they had totally clammed up, and I couldn't even sense their auras.

Michael had decorated the room to appeal to the richer guests, with a deep copper carpet, hardwood bookcases lined with classics, tall windows to let the light filter through, and a large desk that dominated the space.

Despite its size, and despite being tucked away in the corner, the desk was somehow the main feature of the room, even though a giant tapestry covered the entire wall behind us—fourteenth century, according to Michael—as well as large paintings I assumed were of his family, but you could never tell with him.

"Thank you for coming," Michael said with his familiar smile.

Back straight, elbows on the desk, hands clasped together in front of him, it could have been any normal business meeting if the topic wasn't who would fuck me for three days straight.

"So…" Michael nodded. "I believe Geno has gone over the basics with you, and I'm sure you've had plenty of conversations with the other omegas about the process, but it's necessary to reiterate what will happen."

There was a sheet of paper by his elbow, and he released his hands to push it forward. "This is a basic outline, though I'd like to expand on some of the finer details."

I picked up the paper, scanning the contents. Even though I could feel the weight of Apollo, Zeus, and Odin's auras behind me, sinking further into the floor, I still thought they were being pessimistic.

The list was short, but I expected it. It was just a heat. How hard could it really be?

"We'll put your heat up for bidding first," he continued. "There's an auction in two days, so it lines up nicely. Geno has already done your bloodwork, and it seems you're due within the next month."

There was a sharp inhale from Zeus, and Michael flicked his eyes to him, the corners of his lips twitching before he returned his attention to me.

"There are seven other omegas with heats due, so you'll all show on stage, perform however you wish, and then we'll confirm various details with the highest bidders. We'll send them a packet with a sample of your scent, measurements, experience, and expertise. After that you'll—"

"Wait a second." I held up my hand, cutting him off, and he paused, his open mouth quickly taking on a sly smile as he leaned back in his seat, watching me curiously. "I've thought about it already. I want to have my heat with the Deus pack," I said bluntly, meeting his passive gaze.

"Candy!" Odin snapped as Apollo sighed deeply. I didn't need to turn around, because the sudden shift in the temperature of the room was enough to say how pissed off they were. But I had to take a chance.

Though, weirdly, Michael didn't look surprised. He simply tilted his head before he spoke. "That may be, but you are not in a position to make that kind of decision."

"Why not?" I bit back quickly. "It's my heat." Even though I knew I was pushing it, I wanted to see how much I could get away with. I'd already earned more money in three weeks than I'd ever had in my life, and the more regulars I had, the bigger my payouts would be, even though there were three alphas right there who were worth more than anything in the world.

"You've signed a contract, my dear. So, technically, your heat belongs to me, and I may do with it as I wish."

"Isn't it—"

"Pardon me," he said, his smile dimming. "But I believe I made the conditions within the contract very clear, and one of them was no relationships, whether inside or outside the club."

"Well, can't they buy me for my heat?"

Michael pressed his lips together. He gave a slow breath and, like he was blowing cement onto us, I was plastered to the chair, a whimper falling from my lips, my body shaking as the force of his aura pinned me down. I couldn't tell if it was annoyance, frustration, or anger, but it was like sludge seeping into my veins, clogging them, choking me so I couldn't escape.

I only just gathered my aura and managed to put up the barrier I'd learnt to perfect after years on the streets. It was easy to pretend to be affected, coughing as my fists clenched, crushing the paper. I let out a whine at the pressure, my body squeezed tight against his force.

And, when it felt like I was moments from being crushed to dust, his aura suddenly withdrew.

Gasps echoed out behind me, and I knew my alphas were affected, too. But who wouldn't be by something like that?

Michael watched me closely, and I had a stab of fear that he knew what I'd done. I'd never told anyone how I could use my aura, and I didn't know if there would be consequences if I was discovered.

"It does not work like that," he said, his finger tapping the desk twice, as if the great Michael Farringdon was actually annoyed. "We have a procedure here, and that procedure must be followed to the letter."

He paused, giving me space to reply, but I wanted to know what he meant. If there was a way to manipulate the procedure, then I needed all the details. I looked at him expectedly, and he nodded again, pulling back his aura completely.

"As I was saying. Geno will assign an older omega to teach you heat etiquette. He'll do a blood test every two days so we can determine when to send you on to Knottinghill Spa. The guests will purchase you from Monday to Friday, though the winners will be aware that your heat could begin at any time. Most don't work on the weekends, so we leave those free for them to arrive as they wish. First heats are always the hardest, so we will give you a softer room; a larger bed, more space for a temporary nest, padded floors and walls, and closer to the kitchens for supplies. We'll also have betas stationed within the room for your comfort and protection. They will take care of you in your lulls, your down periods where you require more attention, though that also depends on how attentive the pack who buys you is. And the Deus pack, along with other security guards from the Club Heat team, will be outside the room should anything… hmm… extreme happen."

"What? Why can't someone else do it?" I didn't want them listening to me fucking for longer than necessary. They'd already had to put up with three weeks of it. It was bad enough having them stand outside my boudoir every night for hours while I serviced guests in the private room assigned to me. I couldn't imagine what it would be like for days, for them or me.

"Because I know they will be extra attentive, won't they?" Michael said, glancing over my shoulder.

I twisted in my seat to look at them, their bodies tense. Tight lips, scowls, standing tall, even though I was sure their hearts were hurting like mine. Because a slimy feeling was sinking into me as I realised this was really happening, growing like thick, black tar in my stomach.

"Yes, sir." Apollo nodded with a firm look in his eye.

"Very good," Michael said as I turned back to him. "Once your heat has passed, you'll be offered post-heat treatment. Depending on the pack that buys you, you may need extra care once they leave. We will bring in a starter pack, who can assist with physical and emotional aftercare. The starter packs are best for handling more sensitive situations, especially first heats, so it will give you the opportunity to adjust as you transition from your heat."

It was on the tip of my tongue to ask why my alphas couldn't be the ones to help me through it, but I was sure they would hate it even more than guarding me. Even so, I still wanted to fight it. Maybe I'd signed a contract, and maybe I'd have to fuck paying alphas every night, but we could find a way to be together. I was sure of it. It could be outside my working hours, where I didn't have to be Candy of Knottinghill. I could be myself with them, with nothing else to stand in our way.

"Unless the betas call for help, no one else is allowed inside the room," Michael continued. "Bite play is absolutely forbidden during a heat. It's our responsibility to keep you safe, so if there is even a hint they may bite you, we will take action. Any biting outside of a heat will result in severe consequences. I will not go into details, but you may ask Geno or any other hosts for more information."

I'd already heard the stories from the older omegas, though I couldn't tell if they were true. Even though some of the hosts and guards Michael picked up were dangerous enough to be in prison, there was no way he would do anything to hurt us. We were his precious hosts, after all.

"With that in mind, please spend some time thinking about your nest requirements so the warehouse staff can begin organising. Though, obviously your nest is your own, I do advise you take the guests' tastes into consideration. You'll be provided with information on the guest pack before your heat begins."

He paused, watching me, as if he was waiting for me to say it.

I took in a quick breath, the effect of his aura still rattling through me. "I just don't understand why they can't buy me for the heat."

Michael's shoulders stiffened, his mouth a thin line of displeasure. Though he didn't use his aura, my back went up all the same.

"Because there is not a chance the Deus pack will be able to afford you."

On the one hand, I was proud that Michael thought I could earn so much money from my heat. I always thought Stevie was going to make five hundred quid, and I"d get a twenty tip. If someone like Michael thought I could earn a lot, then it must be tens of thousands.

On the other hand, I was sure we could work out some kind of loan or payment plan. I held back my laugh, realising how ridiculous I sounded, trying to find out if there was a payment plan for my pussy. I wondered how many people had those kinds of thoughts.

"I'm a busy man, Candy; I don't have time for any more questions. I merely brought you here to confirm what I was already quite sure of. So, thank you." He pushed his chair back from his desk. "Please take some time to review the information sheet and see Geno for any of your more practical questions."

I looked down at the bullet-pointed list again before I rose, turning to meet my scent matches. All three of them had different levels of despair, and it beat in me, too. Apollo's apologetic face, Odin's hard glare, his scarred eye making his anger appear even more violent, and Zeus, who looked close to exploding at Michael.

There had to be a way out of this. We just needed to think. We had to talk, agree that we wanted this, and then promise to try whatever we could to be together.