Chapter Seven

Her mother reminds me of my own. Such a hardass and no filter between her brain and her mouth. She will certainly keep things interesting.

"Is there anything you want to take with you?" I ask Bella, looking around the apartment. "Everything you leave behind can be replaced."

"Not everything," Bella says before heading to one of the rooms.

She comes back out with a bag slung over her shoulder and a shoebox in her hands. I raise a questioning brow, but she is already speaking to her mother in hushed tones. I don't catch the conversation as my cell phone rings, and I answer it.

"Owen," I answer. "Are you on your way?"

"I think you sent the wrong address, my friend," he replies with a Scottish lilt to his voice. "This place is a dump."

"It's the right place. Don't worry, we won't be here long."

Ending the call, I open the door that leads to the landing on the second floor, waiting for one of the few men I count as a friend. Owen assesses me with a sharp gaze when he sees me standing in the doorway.

"I know you can be a little excentric at times, but this is a little much even for you."

I roll my eyes at his words before gesturing for him to enter the apartment. Owen does exactly what I did when I first walked in and I know what he is seeing. Everything is run-down and old but clean. It's easy to see they are fighting to keep their heads above water but they haven't given up just yet.

"Look, Bella," Mrs. Connors says with a smirk. "Another handsome Alpha in our home."

A low growl claws its way up my throat causing Owen to laugh. "You must be Dehlia," he says, shaking her hand lightly before kissing her knuckles. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Oh, my," She fans at her face while Bella giggles.

Owen grabs a wooden chair from the small table that stands off to one side. Taking a seat, he puts his finger to the woman's pulse point before speaking.

"Aiden sent me your medical records, but I only had the chance to skim over them," he explains. "I know the medication you are taking is insufficient and we need to do a new battery of tests before we can form a treatment plan."

"Are you going to be my mother's doctor?" Bella asks, stepping closer.

Owen smiles at her as I grab her around the waist and pull her against my chest, keeping her away from the other Alpha.

"He has made sure of it," Owen replies with a nod in my direction.

Bella nods and her mother smiles softly, staring at me. "So, what's the plan?"

"We are going to City Hall where my claim with Bella will be made official, and then home. Owen has portable devices for all the tests he wants to run so it will all be done from the comfort of your bed, while you rest," I reply.

"I can't go to City Hall like this!" Bella protests causing Owen to chuckle.

"I've made arrangements."

****

Bella

Three hours later I am standing in City Hall beside Aiden, waiting for one of the government officials. In those three hours I have grabbed a shower, had my hair and makeup done, and been dressed in a stunning powder-pink sundress with heels I can't stop salivating over. I feel like a fucking princess even though I know this isn't a fairy tale.

Aiden has already made it clear that he isn't my savior.

My mother has been put through a similar treatment, although she is dressed in a pristine cream pantsuit where she now sits in a wheelchair. I know Owen had to battle to get her in the device, but it seems he came out of the argument relatively unscathed.

"Mr. Black," a man in a gray pinstripe suit says as he enters the room. "I must say I am surprised to see you here."

"Mr. Anderson," he says with a nod, pulling me closer to his side.

"Let's get this done before someone changes their mind."

His gaze skims over my bare legs and a chill runs down my spine. Even pressed against Aiden, I try to get closer. I haven't worn my omega scent suppressant for more than twenty-four hours and I have been getting lustful looks from Alphas all day.

"If you want to keep your eyes, I suggest you take them off my omega," Aiden threatens lowly.

The man's gaze snaps to Aiden's with a glare. "Are you threatening me, criminal?"

Aiden shifts me behind his back before leaning forward. "It's not a threat, it's a promise. And I know more about you than you think. I'm not the only criminal here."

The official pales before clearing his throat. "Step forward."

We stand in front of the podium as he speaks, drawling on about the relevance of the government and everything they do for us. How the control of omegas is an important part of our lives, and that all omegas should be cherished.

"Do you agree to cherish this omega? To keep her safe from harm, to ensure she is cared for in all ways?" he asks Aiden.

"I do."

"Do you agree to submit to this Alpha?" he asks me. "To always put him before yourself and any other? To trust him with your life and your body?"

This is the only opportunity I will get to walk away from Aiden. I can have him locked up for marking me without either my or the government's permission. But is that really what I want? Yes, I dreamed of finding love one day but that's part of the fairy tale. This is reality.

I can bind myself to Aiden, know both my mother and I are well taken care of, and that our lives will change drastically. I don't know if I need love as much as I need to be safe. The sex is great once I allow myself to enjoy it and he is clearly not a bad person, or that bad. Aiden is the only way out of the life I am currently living.

"I do."

‘That settles it," Mr. Anderson says clapping his hands twice. "You are a bonded pair. Once you return to your home, please be sure to complete the bonding. And remember, should you choose to breed, young will need to be registered."

He walks past us and out of the room. I feel underwhelmed. I don't know what I expected but it wasn't this formal bullshit.

"Kiss her, idiot," my mother pipes up from behind Aiden. "This may only be an arrangement, but you can't be bound to a woman and not kiss her. That's just rude."

I want to tell her to butt out, but Aiden tangles his fingers in my curls, tugging my head back with enough pressure to have a gasp falling from me. His lips crush mine in a bruising kiss. Our fist kiss. I don't think he knows how to do anything gently, but I don't want soft. In the last few hours, I have come to realize I like pain with my pleasure. I enjoy the hard Alpha before me.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I run my fingers through the soft strands of his hair as I kiss him back, pressing my body against the hard planes of his.

Aiden draws back, hunger burning in his gaze. "Let's get out of here."