Prologue

"Let me buy you a drink, beautiful."

I don't even glance at my drunken admirer, since his bleary gaze hasn't ventured higher than my ass in the ten minutes he's been propped at the bar. The only reason I haven't already moved away is because I have a perfect view of the club's rear fire exit from here. And less than ten minutes ago, my best friend Grace Worth used it to make her escape from Parfum, the hottest omega club in the city, and her psychotic stepbrother, Kayden Sawyer.

"Tell me something," the alpha slurs, his attention now glued to my cleavage. "What's a gorgeous thing like you doing all alone in a place like this?"

I sigh, since he clearly hasn't noticed the bright pink bonding sash plastered across my chest. "It's my bonding party. I'm here with my friends to celebrate the joyous occasion."

That's a stretch. The party might be in my name, but it's been organized by my future bondmates, the Sawyer Pack. They're nowhere in sight, because they're less interested in celebrating with me than doing their shady deals in the club's back rooms. And the guests, while all fellow omegas from my college dorm, probably couldn't name three interesting things about me if I put a gun to their heads.

Not that it's really their fault.

Distract, deter, deflect.

Three things that ensure no one ever tries to look beneath my shiny surface. Because getting to know me – the real me – is more trouble than it's worth.

"How about a dance?" The alpha lurches off his stool, but I'm already on the move. Ten minutes, and no sign of the devil dogging her heels. I want to believe Grace got away safely, but all I've really bought her is maybe an hour or two. Once her stepbrother realizes she's missing, he won't stop until he's hunted her down and has her firmly back beneath his thumb.

I shiver as I cross the club to my VIP room. Drunken shrieks and tinkling laughter assault my ears and I stop abruptly. My sorority sisters are playing a bonding game – something involving tiaras, fishing rope, and five-hundred-dollar bottles of Krug. I wrinkle my nose, not that I care about the extravagance. My future packmates are picking up the tab, and the club clearly doesn't have an issue with taking dirty money.

But who does? Alphas like Kayden Sawyer and his packmates rule this city, both through their dirty dealings and the power of their designation. And girls like Grace and me – unprotected and backed into corners - just look for that hour or two where we can pretend they don't exist.

I turn on my heel, heading for the restrooms. But I haven't taken more than a couple of steps when a cold hand lands between my shoulder blades. A scent like spoiled meat swirls around me as Kayden propels me towards a dark corner. I bite back a gasp as he shoves me into the wall, and a couple of passing alphas glance at us with concern. One of them, I realize, is my drunken admirer. But as soon as he recognizes Kayden, he melts away like butter on a hot pan.

"Where is she?" he growls through his teeth.

"Where's who?" I ask with an innocent flutter of my lashes.

Kayden doesn't hit me for my disobedience. He doesn't need to. Just his thumbnail pressed against my scent gland is enough to get me talking. "If you mean Grace, she went home sick. One of the girls said there's a flu going around."

Kayden grabs my chin, his soulless eyes boring into mine. "If you're lying to me…"

"How can I, Alpha?"

Because omegas have to tell alphas the truth. Another little biological handicap to keep the assholes firmly on top.

But Kayden's attention is already shifting, his hand digging out his phone. He studies the screen for a moment, no doubt checking his tracking apps. Grace can't take a step out of their townhouse without triggering an alarm. And if she dares to venture off her pre-approved itinerary…

My stomach churns and I tug on my arm. "I should really get back to the party."

"Yeah," he mutters, and I turn away in relief. But then his hand flies out, his fingers digging into the nape of my neck. He shakes me, not to cause any real damage, but like I'm a naughty dog he's taking to task.

"I'll bond you, put a mut in your belly, and keep the feds out of your dad's way." He gives me the kind of smile that makes my knees turn to water. "But don't think for a second you can get between me and Grace. Not unless you have an army at your back and a death wish, princess."