Chapter Nine

"Her mother isn't nearly as sick as the incompetent doctors at the governmental hospital made it sound. She has some malignant cysts on her ovaries," Owen explains a week later as we sit in my office. "I am so tired of the incompetence the government keeps peddling to the lower class."

I know what he means. If Bella's mom had been receiving proper health care, she never would have needed to auction herself off. But then I never would have met her.

"So, what is our course of action?" I ask.

"Dehlia and I have already spoken," he says crossing his arms across his chest. "Since she won't be having any other children, we have elected for full sterilization."

I nod, agreeing that it's better to get it over with than to take any chances. And if Owen says it is the best decision for her health, I trust him. He is trained for these kinds of things after all.

A knock sounds on my office door before Zion walks in. His gaze is trained on his phone, glaring at something before he looks at me.

"We need to talk."

"Thanks for all your help, Owen," I say as my friend rises to leave. "Let me know when the procedure will happen. I want to update Bella."

"Will do," he says with a wave before leaving my office, closing the door behind him.

I wait until Zion takes a seat before I address him. "Have you forgotten your manners?"

"It was just Owen," he replies with an eye roll. "Besides, I don't think you'll want me to hold onto this information for long."

"Well then…"

"Mr. Anderson has been caught taking bribes," Zion says, handing his phone to me with the article already loaded. "I know we have used him in the past, so we may need to consider finding an alternative."

I'm not really listening to him as panic causes my chest to seize up. It's been just over a week since we were in his office, Bella and I becoming an officially bonded pair. Is that still valid? Or will the government be going through all his transactions and voiding them all?

"I need to go."

"Fuck hell, Aiden!" my brother exclaims. "We have problems, and you want to run off to God knows where."

"You can handle anything on the business end, I know you're capable. But right now, I need to make sure that Bella and I are fully bonded before the government decides to rescind any of the transactions Mr. Anderson preformed."

"I thought you were," he says with a frown.

"She never bit me." I sigh. "We've been too busy fucking like rabbits."

"Shit," Zion murmurs, running his hands through his hair. "What if they decide your bonding isn't valid in the eyes of the law?"

"I'll cross that bridge if we ever get to it. Right now, I must do everything I can to make sure she is tied to me in every way possible."

He nods and I walk out, taking the stairs two at a time. I find Bella in the upstairs library, reading a book. I mostly leave her to her own devices, trying to give her some space. I want to constantly be around her, talk to her, and spend time with her, but I need to hold myself back. This is a bonding of convenience and me getting all possessive and needy isn't in the cards.

Bella smiles when she sees me standing in the doorway.

"Aiden, is there something you need?" she asks sitting on a black couch with her legs tucked under her.

I stare at her, no words forming as I take her in. She is wearing a white tank top and dark-grey shorts, just relaxing at home. But I swear I have never seen anything sexier. Instantly, I want to fuck her. I want her to be as addicted to me as I am to her.

Stepping inside, I close the door behind me, flicking the lock behind me.

"We have a problem," I say.

Bella frowns, waiting for me to continue.

"The official I bribed to perform our bonding has been found out."

"I don't understand," she says, confusion coating her words.

"I don't know what is going to happen. But we need to seal our bond so that we can't be separated if they find out I bribed him."

"Tell me the truth," she says softly. "What will happen if the government finds out the truth?"

I don't want to say the words, but I know that she deserves to know the outcome. "I'll end up in prison and you'll be sent to one of the omega relocation camps."

A tear streaks down her cheek and my heart breaks a little. I know she is depending on me to hold up my end of the deal.

"I have a plan, though," I say pulling her onto my lap when I sit down beside her. "I want us to ensure that our bond is fully set in place. But I want you to bond with Zion too."

"What?" she asks, shocked.

"If the government does decide to rescind our bonding, you'll still be bonded to him. It's the only way I know to be sure that you and your mom are safe," I explain. It's the most effort I have put into being gentle with her. But my heart is pounding with fear for her safety, and I need her to agree to this.

The omega relocation camps are horrendous. They break the bond using any means necessary. Afterward the government chooses a new Alpha to whom they are bound. Most of the omegas at The Sanctuary are there because they escaped from just such matches. And some of the stories I have heard set my teeth on edge. I can't imagine my beautiful omega being put through something like that. Equal parts of rage and fear course through me at the thought alone.

"I don't know how else to secure your safety and he's the only man I trust with you."

****

Bella

I stare at him in dismay. For the past week, the only times Aiden has sought me out has been for sex. We eat breakfast and dinner together but for the rest of the time he leaves me alone. I long to spend time with him, to get to know him outside of the bedroom, but he doesn't seem interested.

Now he wants me to bond with his brother as well. I've heard of omegas being shared before, but it was never a willing situation and none of the Alphas bonded to them.

There is a dull pain in the center of my chest caused by his words. I don't know if I want to cry or hit him, probably both. I'm bound to him for the rest of my damn life, and he just suggested sharing me. I can't imagine letting another male touch me.

And the thought of him touching another female makes my vision swim with unbridled rage.

"And what happens when you don't go to prison? I'll be stuck with two Alphas!" I stand and pace the length of the library. "I didn't even want to be bound to you!"

The words are out before I can stop them, and I regret them instantly. I may not have wanted him when this started but I do want him now. I have slowly been falling for his stoic personality and the way he holds me at night. He talks in his sleep, murmuring my name and making me smile.

"Be that as it may," he says with a glare. "We need a fallback with this new information coming to light."

I glare at him in return. Zion is attractive—he is Aiden's twin after all—and what happened in the garage was fun, but I don't want another Alpha. I want my Alpha.

"You do realize for him to bond with me he'll have to fuck me, knot me, bite me." I throw the words at him. "I will carry his mark. And you can't seriously expect him to bond with me and then not want access to me. How do you think this will work?"

The words have barely left my lips before I am pushed against the wall harshly. One of Aiden's hands is twisted in my ponytail while the other holds my ass in the air. I was hoping I could talk sense into him, but I will settle for pushing his buttons. I just want him to get this ridiculous thought out of his head.

"Bella," he growls as he forces my head back. "I'm trying to do the right thing, to take care of you. Don't make this any harder on either of us."

I catch him off guard, slapping him across the face. "How dare you make decisions for me?"

He slams my head against the wall, an unfamiliar look crossing his face right before he kisses me. He ravishes my mouth, fucking me with his tongue, and stealing every ounce of sanity I have.

My hands go to his belt the moment he lowers me down his body. His hands are working on my shorts, lowering them down my thighs. I push against his chest, forcing him back to the couch and straddling him the moment he is seated. I take his erection inside me, riding him for all I'm worth. Both of us are still half dressed and our hands claw at each other, trying to get below the clothing to the skin.

"Bella," he moans loudly when I rotate my hips and score my nails down his chest. "Fuck, you're perfect."

"Please," I beg softly. "I don't want Zion. I don't want any other Alpha except you."

"Baby," he murmurs kissing me again and shifting us until I am beneath him. He rocks against me gently. "You're the only woman I want."

Slowly, he makes love to me. There is no pain involved this time and I realize that I like gentle sex as well. I think I may be open to any form of sex as long as it is with Aiden.

"I…" For a moment I think about holding back the words but change my mind. Holding his cheek I stare at him. "I think I love you. Even if you're an overbearing asshole."

"Bella," he gasps before thrusting harder. "I don't think I love you. I know I do."

He fucks me leisurely with hard, even thrusts, driving my pleasure higher and higher until it crashes over me, and his knot locks us together.

"Bite me, Bella. Bind us forever."

He doesn't have to tell me twice. I clamp my teeth to his shoulder and bite down hard. His knot swells larger, pressing against the walls of my pussy and stretching me even more. It takes us long minutes to come down from the pleasure of both of us panting in exhaustion. Aiden shifts us once more, until I am lying on his chest.

"Can we forget I wanted to share you with my brother?" he asks after placing a kiss to the top of my head.

"I am never going to let you forget," I tease with a laugh.