Chapter 1

One

VANESSA

Three Years Later

" D amn," I muttered as I drove around the parking lot, trying to find a spot. The little strip club barely had parking, and the customers would park in our employee section. "Ugh, that'll have to do."

I was already late to work, and I knew my boss would freak out on me. He literally timed when I would come in to work next.

Stepping out of the car, I nearly tripped over a pothole, wearing my tall silver heels with straps around my ankles. I wore a sleek silver bodysuit paired with black high-waisted leggings. The bodysuit was backless with a plunging neckline, showing just enough cleavage. My hair was done in long pigtails which swung over my silver hoop earrings.

As I walked down the street, the smell of smog was overwhelming. Its thick, acrid scent burned the back of my throat and stung my eyes. Cars and buses honked their horns and roared past me. When I finally reached the establishment, I groaned, seeing that it was already full of human males inside, considering it was my night to dance. The Red Light Lounge was too small to host many customers, but the manager didn't seem to mind the booming business since I started. A human male was no match for an omega's charms.

I walked around to the back of the building.

"About time," called Bruce.

He was standing outside the doors, waiting eagerly for me. He was the manager of the strip club. A tall, broad-shouldered man. He was in his late 40s, with salt-and-pepper hair, a thick mustache, and impeccably dressed in a tailored suit and tie.

He had found me lost and alone in the streets, taking me in like a lost puppy. When first arriving at the human lands, I was scared to death but soon found my way around it with Bruce's help. He had taken me in until I could move out on my own, but in return, I'd work for him here. I didn't mind the dancing, but I didn't want to do this for the rest of my life.

Living paycheck to paycheck was hard sometimes, and I wanted a better life for my three-year-old son.

"Sorry," I said, flipping my long red hair out of my eyes. "The babysitter was late."

I didn't have a choice but hire the cheapest help I could find. The teen babysitter relied on her parents for a ride to my apartment. My son loved her, so that was all that mattered.

"It's time to fire your babysitter," said Bruce gruffly. "The customers are waiting. I could already see the wads of cash in their hands."

"Alright, alright," I said, trying to move past him.

"Hold on a moment, honey," he said in a low voice, capturing my chin in his hand. I instantly turned away from him.

"We're not a thing anymore, Bruce," I said. "I meant it last week."

I had been sleeping with Bruce since he saved my ass while I lived in his house. Sex with a human wasn't exactly satisfying, but it helped when my omega self felt a little frisky. When I realized that he was starting to develop actual feelings- that was when it was time to pull away.

"We're not done talking about this," said Bruce, scratching his beard in frustration. "Go on in then."

Sighing, I walked into the establishment and was immediately hit by the smell of sweaty bodies and alcohol. Even from the back, I could smell it all. Going into the dressing room, which led directly out to the stage, I lowered my bodysuit down my chest to show more cleavage and adjusted my bra. The bra was black and glittery, which matched my leggings. I fluffed my hair and put on a fresh coat of red lipstick.

Smacking my lips in the mirror, I twirled, satisfied with my appearance.

My heart was beating in anticipation of the loud music in the club. Then, leaving my things in the dressing room, I took a deep breath and waited for the next song to start.

Once on the stage, I gyrated to the beat of the music as the strobe neon lights flashed over our bodies. I danced with three other women, but the males let out a giant cheer when I stepped onto the stage. The other women, dressed in nothing more than lingerie and high heels, seductively moved their bodies to the music while the men watched with hungry eyes. Letting the music take over me, I swung around the pole while staring at the crowd of men with hooded eyes. The door to the Red Light Lounge opened, and from the side of my eye, I noticed three males enter the room. Something about their entrance changed the energy in the room. Something didn't feel right.

My heart beating fast, I twirled around the pole and took a good look.

One of them was as handsome as the devil himself. He had dark eyes, wavy black hair, and clear olive skin. He was broad-shouldered and imposing, his large frame dwarfing all the men. His eyes darted to me, and his mouth pulled up into a mischievous smile.

Heart pounding, I nearly slipped off the pole.

He was a fucking alpha .

Was he here to take me back to the Royal Pack? Did they send him here?