28. Alastor

Chapter twenty-eight

Alastor

I 'm all suited up in my tux, whistling a sweet tune as I pull back a couch cushion.

Found one.

Brody has been leaving his shirts around the house for the Rogue to collect, and it fills my twisted black heart with joy to see my Omega so smitten.

It seems he has found himself an obsession, and I look forward to seeing how it pans out.

If we play our cards right, remembering to be good Alphas, then we may just become one of the luckiest packs in the city.

Two fucking Omegas…

We will be spoiled for choice.

Of course, Brody will always come first. He is our Omega on paper, the one the government will pay us a nice stipend to look after.

The Rogue will be the addition. The cute pet we have around when we're bored.

It has come to my attention that she may be a person with feelings, but I have never been good with my own.

This twisted mind of mine only sees the benefits she poses for me and my pack.

How we all benefit her is another question and one I can barely comprehend.

Maybe my amygdala is just too undeveloped.

A cold-hearted sociopath through and through.

And I'm going to have my fun with her while it lasts.

Peering left and right, I shove Brody's shirt aside, placing my own down, and let's see how she likes that.

Now she will be the one spoiled for choice.

"What are you doing?"

I stop whistling, peering up to find Theo fixing his cufflinks by the hallway mirror, and boy, does he scrub up well.

We all do, but I much prefer my ripped skinny jeans and chains.

I know Theo feels the same; he's missing his band shirts and combat boots.

His boss told us to look nice, so we have no fucking choice.

Well, his boss isn't my boss, but I'll do it for Brody.

This will be our first formal outing with him after all, so I want to be handsome for him.

I've even brushed my hair back from my face and Theo has done the same. Although his tattoos on the shaved parts of his head are still visible.

"I'm leaving a present for the Rogue. What does it look like?"

He whirls away from the mirror, fixing me with his onyx stare, and now he tries to suck me into the 'void.'

Theo should know by now that his death glares won't work on me. We're as dominant as each other, and just as batshit insane.

Except I know how to crack a smile every now and then since he's far too serious, and now I show him my shiny fangs as I step away from the couch, leaning against the arch that separates the hall from the living room.

It's just us two for now, and we don't speak.

I don't know how we ever formed a bond. We are always at odds.

Some people change drastically between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five, and Theo and I are prime examples.

Hence why it may not always be wise to make such major, life-changing decisions when you're barely out of school.

Now I'm stuck with the Alpha, a permanent thorn in my side.

I suppose Kellen was the glue keeping us together these last few years, but even that bond alone hangs by a delicate thread.

Kellen is just as unbalanced and his mood swings…

Yet he's stupid, hence why I like having him around.

Theo is almost as terrifyingly calculating as I am.

Kellen bounds down the stairs next, fretting as he searches the house for his comb, and the Alpha is too into his fucking hair, it's ridiculous.

"Where is it?" he growls.

"Where is what?" Theo snaps, brushing a lint roller over the arms of his suit, and it's clear he really doesn't want to go to this thing tonight.

He doesn't want to go out in public with the Rogue, and it's like he's ashamed to be seen with her.

Well, he's not much to look at either. Prick.

"My comb. I know you took it!"

He rounds on me.

I roll my eyes. "No, Kellen, I did not take your comb. It's full of your ginger pubes, anyway…"

Kellen curls his lip for a few seconds, muscles bunched up as he prepares to attack. But then he grins and chuckles loudly.

"That's right! And don't you forget it."

I hike up a brow. "That you have ginger pubes?"

"Exactly."

I have no idea what to say to that. Kellen is just that proud of his red hair.

My gaze lands on Theo briefly, and there's no missing the angry crease between his eyes.

"Yeah, well, you just keep talk of your ginger balls to a minimum when we're at the benefit, Kellen."

I snort at Theo. "Why? You never cared much for what people thought before. Why the sudden change?"

He tosses me a pointed look, done with the lint roller now. "Unlike you, Alastor, some of us like having a normal job. Mercenary work gets tedious after a while."

So, he's hoping to get back in his boss's good graces so he can get his old job at the prison back?

Why?

Where's the freedom in that?

Theo can't be tamed, and he knows it.

This is the life for him.

Gryphon was always a good lap dog; I saw it when he was still under Lily's command.

The Alpha likes to please.

We're all a different breed of Alpha entirely.

But Theo still respects the man, and maybe I will see what he does one day.

"Did I hear Kellen talking about his ginger pubes again?"

We all turn in unison, and a purr sounds from each of us when we get an eyeful of our perfect Omega.

He's wearing a tuxedo with a little bowtie, and he's too much for my Alpha to take.

All I want to do is rip that white bow tie off with my teeth and take him to the nest, but he would only protest.

After all, he was looking forward to this benefit.

Must be an Omega thing, wanting to get all dressed up and stuff.

He stops beside Theo, fixing his glasses in the mirror, and none of us can take our eyes off him.

"Stop looking at me," he grumbles, brushing aside his orange curls.

"But we can't help it. Just look at you… Almost good enough to eat."

Kellen steps toward our Omega, leaning toward his neck to graze his skin with his teeth, but Brody pushes him away, a comb in his hand.

"Not now. And I had your comb, by the way. Mine is lost."

Kellen purrs, "You can borrow my comb anytime you want, Brody. I'd give you the shirt off my back."

"That's good to know. Now hurry. Our limousine will be here soon."

Kellen takes his comb and now he tosses me a vicious glare as he rushes back upstairs to groom in secret.

None of us are allowed to see his hair care regime.

None of us fucking care.

"So, where is our esteemed guest of honor?" Theo asks, and there's no missing the sarcasm in his voice.

Brody smirks. "Oh, you'll soon see her."

I study him at that remark. His dimples are showing, and what has got him in such a good mood?

"You've been in her room for hours," I note.

"Since the crack of dawn," Brody corrects me. "Perfection takes time."

Perfection?

Theo snorts. "I'd like to see that."

Brody glowers at him. "You'll be eating your words in a few moments, Theo."

Yet the Alpha only chuckles some more, as if the very idea of that Rogue looking so lovely simply amuses him.

Brody shakes his head. "You know that nerdy little girl you picked on in the playground at ten?"

Theo stops laughing. "Yeah, what about her?"

"Well, news flash, she's hot now."

Theo and I stare at him confused for a while, and it seems Theo really rubbed him up the wrong way.

Besides, who did Theo bully once upon a time?

I need details.

I'm not surprised he was a bully as a kid; he's an ass even as an adult.

I think I know what Brody is getting at.

While Theo may not have gone to school with the Rogue (since I don't think she had any proper schooling), the point remains.

He takes that Rogue far too much for granted. Sure, when she first arrived, she was disheveled and dirty, but if the smile on Brody's face is any indication, then she cleans up quite well.

My cock stirs at the prospect.

I'd like to see that.

I never had a problem with her before. I would still fuck her regardless, dirt be damned.

A door opens somewhere upstairs and I step away from the wall, coming to the bottom of the stairs.

My heart pounds in excitement.

I did always love a Cinderella story, which is shocking for a twisted bastard like myself.

Theo isn't interested whatsoever as he gazes down irritably at his watch, just wishing this night would hurry up and end.

But it's only just started.

My ears pick up on a swish of material and then a sparkly pump appears at the top of the stairs.

And then she appears at last, a red temptress in a glittering gown and matching scarlet lips that bring out the baby blue of her eyes.

The gown hugs her waist and flares around her hips, bringing out her curves, and she's more than just a princess…

She's a goddess.

Brody smirks, looking up at me satisfied.

But I don't look away from the beauty in red, the blood flushing hot through my veins.

Brody is smart; he knows Alphas react the most to red tones.

We're like bulls, wanting to charge when we see the color red.

Now I'm conflicted. While I had planned to make this night all about Brody, now a part of me wants to spend it with Twenty-two.

I want her hanging off my arm.

The Rogue whose name I don't even know.

That must change soon.

It never mattered before. She was just some thing I could play with when I was bored—my little doll with all its buttons, but things are different now.

And it started from the moment I saw her in that figure-hugging red dress.

Absentmindedly, I turn to Theo.

He's just as spellbound, and now he rubs his eyes, trying to ensure he is looking at the right person.

That can't really be the disheveled little Rogue he dragged back from the capital kicking and screaming, right?

She takes a step down the stairs, and even in flats she is unsteady on her feet.

I'm just about to rush to her aid, but Brody beats me to it, running to her side as he offers her his elbow.

They link arms, and now they're the perfect couple as they step down the stairs.

Like the little figures on top of a three-tier wedding cake.

Brody doesn't even look at me or Theo now as he helps the Rogue toward the front porch, telling her how beautiful she looks.

The precious creature is demure, blushing as red as her dress as he compliments her, and the sight does things to my hindbrain.

The door shuts behind them, and now Theo and I are left in stunned silence.

A creak sounds at the top of the stairs, and we both turn at once, finding Kellen equally speechless. The comb drops from his hand, and I'm pretty sure it chips one of its fine teeth as it clatters down the stairs.

Yet the Alpha doesn't even give his precious comb a second glance.

He's barely even managed to get a hold of his hair, too distracted by the angel in the red dress.

Or would that make her a devil?

Devils wear red.

Fuck.

I really wasn't prepared for her in that dress.

And I know the feeling is mutual.

Theo is too embarrassed to meet anyone's eyes, and it looks like his words have been thoroughly and utterly eaten.

It seems that little girl he picked on at ten did, indeed, grow up to be fine as hell after all.

More than fine. She's radiant.

And more than any of us deserve.