Izan’s Office

Izan

T onia silently points to the line on the purchase order where I need to sign while Stanley’s voice booms over the speakerphone. He goes over our proposed business plan for the hundredth time. I understand his concern and appreciate his attention to detail. Laundering money is a tricky thing, and he’s putting a lot of trust in me and my casinos to “clean” his cash, and I’ll be getting a lovely payday and a valuable business connection.

“And there,” Tonia says the words so they’re barely audible. I scribble my name one last time, then wave her off.

“Alright, Stan.” I take advantage of the lull in conversation. “We can talk about this all damn year, but I think it’s time to commit. Did you get a chance to look over the contract?”

“Yeah,” he groans. This is a legitimate business deal, mixed with some under-the-table dealings, but the aboveboard stuff requires a lot of legal paperwork and negotiating. “I think everything is fine, but my guys are doing one more pass on it.”

“Okay,” I say simply. “We will need to file with the governing board before the end of the quarter to meet the requirements for gambling licenses.” I steeple my hands together, resting them under my chin as I talk into the phone. “We are talking about a fuck ton of money just waiting to be made,” I remind him. “I don’t want to rush you, but we’re losing money with each day that passes.”

Stan sighs into the phone. I know he agrees with me. He does business with all the biggest players in every devious world you can think of. But most of the packs he works with are money hungry and stupid, eager to rush past the details to get cash in their hands fast. But I’m not stupid. I want this to be beneficial to both of us.

“Print it off,” Stanley finally says. “Sign it and send it over. I’ll send you my signed copy by the end of the week.”

A breath of relief whooshes from me as I lean back in my chair, very pleased. With this deal behind me, I can spend more than fifteen fucking minutes with our omega.

“Izan?” Stan’s voice cuts a little deeper. “A quick warning.”

And I’m tense again. “Yes?” I sit up, ready for whatever he’s about to throw at me.

“It’s about Donovan Tenus.”

And now I’m fucking enraged. My voice drops to an angry growl as I lean over the phone, “What about him?”

“We’ve had a falling out,” Stan says, and it takes everything in me not to scream ‘ I told you so ’ at the top of my lungs. “He’s hemorrhaging friends and is desperate. Hell, I’m convinced his own pack is about to push him out. Anyway, don’t be surprised if he calls trying to get on your good side.”

A bitter laugh erupts from my chest. “He’d be a fool to call me after what he did to Dassy.”

“Dassy made his choices,” Stan says simply, and I curl my fists into tight balls.

“And so did Donovan,” I snarl. “Dassy is lucky to be alive.”

“You know the rules, Izan,” he says. “Once you join a pack, you don’t leave. And that’s what Dassy did in the end. He didn’t have the balls to formally reject Don. No fight. No confrontation. He just disappeared.”

“He was in rehab ,” I yell into the phone.

“It doesn't matter,” Stanley’s voice grows, my anger feeding into him. “It makes Dassy and Don look bad. It makes them both look weak.”

I want to roar into the phone that Stan is a motherfucker if he believes that Dassy is weak, but I know it’s not his fault. This is the way of things. When you leave a pack, you face them. You fight if you have to, but you go through with the rejection. Dassy didn’t get a chance to do that because Don left him for dead.

“You know I like Dassy,” Stan says, his voice a little calmer. “He’s a good alpha that got a raw deal. Just watch your ass when it comes to Donovan. That’s all I’m saying.”

I clench my jaw, trying like hell to relax. “Thanks, Stan.” I press my palms to my eyes, not stopping until I see tiny stars. “I appreciate the warning.”

“No problem,” he says like he expected my reaction all along. “But before I go, I should offer my congratulations on your new omega. I wasn’t sure you’d get another one after your loss.”

“Thanks,” I say, eager to change the subject. “Mari has settled in quite nicely.” Even saying her name makes me feel better. The knot in my chest loosens and my shoulders relax.

“While the Morder does provide the most lovely omegas, we can’t always guarantee they’ll be in good health.” Stan speaks like he’s giving a fucking sales pitch. “My own mate came from there and he’s as healthy and strong as they come. But what happened to Brea was a real shame, and I’m sorry.”

I can hear the regret in his voice. Stanley was the first to call when Brea died, and he sent so many flowers. I think a part of him felt responsible since we got her from his market. “It was a gamble,” I say. “Everly just wanted an omega she could help. But Havenfield was a wonderful alternative.”

“Good for you,” Stan’s voice turns a little condescending. “I could never subject myself to their bullshit paperwork and invasive interviews, but I'm glad it worked out.”

“Me too. Mari is a good omega. A bit stubborn but I kind of like the fight.” I smile, looking forward to “ fighting ” with her tonight.

Stanley lets out a booming laugh. “My own omega started out submissive as hell. Now he’s got nothing but fight. That boy will be the death of me.”

“Perhaps in a month or two we should get our mates together,” I say, wanting to expose Mari to other omegas. It’s the one thing the doctors recommended with Brea that we couldn’t do: Another omega’s presence could have been very healing for her, but no one wants their omega around a sickly one.

“You should definitely bring your new omega over. Maybe we’ll both get lucky and they’ll fight with each other and leave us alone.” Stanley laughs again.

I let out a polite laugh, eager to get off the phone. Stanley’s one of those guys that will talk forever if you let him. “Alright then, I’ll get the contracts signed and over to your office today.”

“Good,” Stan says. Then he abruptly hangs up. I swear the man doesn’t know how to end a phone call.

I turn my attention to my laptop, bringing up the latest version of the contract. I hit print then rub the back of my neck hard. But instead of printing, the fucking machine across the room makes a sad clicking sound, then beeps loudly.

“Piece of shit.” I march across the room, deciding that once I have this printed I’m done for the day. I’m exhausted. Mari is about to start her heat and I’m going to need to rest before then. She’s wild enough when her hormones are under control. I can’t imagine how feral she’ll be once her animalistic urges take over.

I check the paper tray, relieved to find the jam quickly. I fix it, then press the reset button. It always reprints the last file, but I’m too impatient to cancel this and reprint it.

“Hey.” Hutch strolls into my office as the printer begins shooting out crisp sheets of printed paper. “What’s that?”

“The Stanley contract,” I say, watching as the pages slip onto the tray. “It looks like we’re going to wrap it up this week.”

“Yeah?” Hutch’s brows raise, just as happy as I am.

“After we mate Mari, Stanley has invited her over to meet his omega,” I say as the stack of freshly printed pages grows. “I think it’s important for her to have omega friends.”

“What’s Stan’s mate’s name again?” Hutch asks.

“Stefan.”

Hutch nods as if remembering it, then leans against the bookshelf. “That’s assuming Mari even wants to leave the house. She isn’t exactly social.”

“Maybe,” I shrug. “But we can suggest it.” The printer whirls to a stop and I grab the contract off of the tray. I flip it over, but I don’t recognize the first page. For some reason, it’s a map of Cresthill. “Where the fuck did this come from?”

I stare at the map, remembering that I printed the last file, but I don’t recall ever printing this.

Curiosity gets the better of him, and Hutch pushes away from the shelf to look as well. The second his eyes focus on the map, his big body goes tight and I can visibly see his abs flex under his tight shirt.

“What is it?” I ask, very aware of his sudden shift in emotion.

Hutch doesn't say anything, instead he pushes his hand into his back pocket and pulls out a piece of paper. He unfolds it, then shows it to me. It’s the exact same map. “I found this in Mari’s room.”

It takes a moment for my brain to process what he’s said. “You found directions to Cresthill in Mari’s room?”

“It was hidden. Not on the floor like someone dropped it, but hidden.” Hutch’s jaw clenches as he slowly refolds the paper. “I’ve said it before, Izan.” He shoves the map back into his pocket. “Call it instinct or paranoia, but I think she wants to run.”

“ When did you find that map?” I ask, trying like hell to keep my temper under control.

“A few days ago.” He hangs his head, ready for me to yell at him. “I know I should have told you.”

“Yes, you fucking should have,” I grit out, dropping the contract onto the nearby couch. “This is the kind of shit I really need to know.” I take a step back, then suck in a deep breath. I need to focus. Mari wants to run away. We have to fix this, but why? “This is unbelievable, Hutch.” I look up at the alpha, surprised to see so much guilt in his blue eyes. Hutch isn’t a liar. He’s honest and loyal. So the fact that he didn’t come straight to me with this map is more than a little concerning, but we all do weird things for love. Maybe he didn’t want me to think poorly of Mari. Who knows.

“I’ve been watching her very closely,” Hutch finally says. “If I thought she was serious about leaving, I would have told you.”

“Why?” I bark, struggling to keep my anger in check. “What the hell is in Cresthill?”

“Well, I’ve been thinking about something Dassy said back at Havenfield.” Hutch lifts his head, giving me a cautious look. One that’s asking permission if he’s allowed to speak.

“Go on,” I say, more concerned with Mari right now than yelling at him for keeping secrets.

“Dassy brought up the possibility that Mari was living in the woods so she could be with a lover.”

Every muscle in my body pulls tight at the thought of our girl lying with another alpha. I know she technically has—her body is littered with scars that prove it—but a body taken by force is very different from affection willingly given, and it’s Mari’s affection that I want to belong to only us.

“Maybe she’s trying to find her lover?” Hutch says with a half-hearted shrug.

I think that over, quickly dismissing it. “If she ran off with an alpha, he’d have marked her the second he had a chance. And he definitely wouldn't have left her in the woods to fend for herself.”

Hutch pushes out a heavy sigh, nodding. “I thought of that too, but it’s the only reason I could come up with. I mean, why would an omega that’s lived in an academy for two years suddenly want to go to Cresthill?”

I clench my jaw, suddenly feeling very restless. The thought of Mari frolicking with someone else, yearning for them, and then searching them out has me on edge. We can’t lose her. I won’t allow it.

“I’m not waiting for her heat,” I say, coming to a firm decision. “I know it could start soon, but I’m not going to risk her running away and us not being able to find her.”

Hutch lets out the longest breath of his life. “I think that’s a great idea,” he says. “Do you need any help?”

“No.” I scrub my face, hating that this is how it has to be. “I’m sure Mari will see this as a forced mating. Especially since it will be outside of her heat. I don’t want to damage your relationship with her. I’ll do it alone.”

Hutch’s shoulders tense once again, but I can see the relief in his eyes. Any other alpha would be enraged not to get to participate in a mating, but Hutch knows how rough this is going to be. Mating an omega outside of her heat is painful. It can even be violent or dangerous.

“I’ll have Everly prepare your room.” Hutch takes out his phone, texting our beta. “Do you want something that will keep Mari still or restrained?”

“Yes,” I say bitterly. I hate the idea of tying my fiery omega down, but the last thing I want is for her to freak out and for me to accidentally rip her throat out.

This is a fucking nightmare.

I turn away from him and press my palms flat against my desk, hanging my head. Mari’s body isn’t ready for a mating bite, but I don't have a choice. I have to do this so I can protect her, and our pack.

I just hope she doesn't hate me too much.