10. Jasmine

Desperate little whimpers wake me, my hindbrain guiding my stumbling feet across the room to Chewie's crate. Dawn light sifts through the drapes as I peer down at the puppy, his wriggling taking on a familiar urgency. He's been with us nearly a week, and he already has a routine – a piddle before bed, but up once or twice in the night to paint the grass on the terrace. He has pee pads in his crate, but Declan said it's better if he learns to do his business outside. And since this is going to be the best companion dog in the world, I plan to do this puppy rearing business right.

Casper joins us sometimes, but I usually try to grab Chewie before he wakes up. Xavier told me that a side-effect of his injury is exhaustion, and in the early morning light there are dark circles under his eyes. It's hard enough navigating the stairwell and terrace when you're sleep-deprived, let alone when you can't see the puppy darting around your feet.

But when I reach the patch of grass on the roof, I find I'm not the only one up early. Xavier is sitting at a round marble table set for breakfast, already dressed in a dark suit and with a folio of papers in front of him. His phone is against his ear, but he finishes his call quickly and rises to his feet. "Good morning, Jasmine. You're up early."

"Pee patrol," I reply, placing the puppy on the perfect strip of lawn to do his business.

"He should sleep through soon," Xavier murmurs, a fond smile on his face as he watches the pup. "I grew up with dogs, but I can't say I remember this part very well. You look tired."

I stifle the yawn that wants to crack my jaw. "I'm fine. And he's paying me back in sloppy kisses, so I can't complain."

A comment that makes his glossy brows arch, his gaze drifting to my mouth. "Well, come and have some coffee." He pulls out the chair next to him and pours me a cup from an elegant pot. As we settle into our seats, the scent of sweet apples wafts between us. "This is Casper's new favorite blend."

I hum around the steaming drink, my mind going to all the delicious desserts I could make with coffee beans this decadent. The crème br?lée I made the other night was a huge hit, and I'm still feeling smug about the look Declan and Erik exchanged as they took their first bite. Xavier was off on a mission somewhere, since the guys don't always attend them together. Xavier, for instance, told me he was attending an invitation-only poker night, where an omega was being offered as a bargaining chip. And last night Erik and Declan went out together, Declan saying something about singing up a storm at a dog fight in Queens.

I know nothing about poker or dog fights, but I've told them the next time they need me on a mission, I'm ready to go. I'm partly motivated by a desire to help other omegas, but mostly I just want to earn their trust. The fastest way to get Violet to safety is if I can prove I'm an asset to their operation.

Which reminds me that this is as good a time as any to lay my cards on the table. "I'm prepared to accept your offer," I tell Xavier. "As pack companion, or whatever you want to call it. But I want to make sure that saving Violet happens sooner rather than later."

"It will," he says quickly. "Erik has an extraction plan in place, and he intends to enact it later today."

I sit up straighter. "Really?"

"He's been working on it since he first heard about your sister." My surprise must be obvious, because he leans towards me, sunlight glinting off his dark hair. "We keep our promises, Jasmine. Even if you decided to move on and leave here, we'd still want to help you and Violet."

"Why?" The word – loud and distrustful - punches out of me before I can stop it. Heat prickles along the back of my neck and I have to clench my hands to stop them from shaking. "I'm sorry, but people rarely do things out of the goodness of their hearts. There has to be some price you expect me to pay, and I need to know what it is."

A look close to pity flashes through his eyes, but then he opens the folio in front of him and takes out a thin stack of papers. "I thought you might want specifics, so I drew up a contract. That copy is for you to keep, but I can summarize it for you if you like."

I take a steadying breath and scan the document. There's a bit of lawyer-speak I should probably try to absorb, but my heart is still thumping in my chest and the words are swimming in front of my eyes.

When I give a terse nod, he says, "In exchange for your companionship, which includes living with us here in the residence, we'll deposit a weekly payment of two thousand dollars into a secure bank account. That doesn't mean you're at our beck and call, though. We'll leave the specifics up to Casper, but we just ask that you keep him company, especially when we're busy with other matters."

I nod, doing some quick calculations in my head. I can realistically expect this to be a six-month gig at best. By the end of that time, Casper will have either recovered, or the Volks will have moved on. Off to reform or dismantle another club.

I squash down a disappointed pang at the thought, focusing back on the contract. What he's offering is more than fair, and when I tell him so, he nods and turns a page in his folio. "Any medical needs will be taken care of by our pack physicians. If you have dietary requirements, please just let Kelly know and she'll accommodate them. And you have the option to complete your studies remotely until things settle down with your former pack. I've spoken to the Dean of your university and even if you decide to defer, the rest of your tuition is covered. That remains the case even if our arrangement ends unexpectedly."

I ignore the comment about my former pack, but the rest of his words have my throat tightening at his generosity. I'd pretty much written off my degree, at least until I got settled somewhere else and could apply to transfer my credits. But now he's telling me I can basically study for free. It's overwhelming. "Can you add a note that I'll pay the tuition back when I get a job? And I'm happy to help Kelly out if that's okay with her."

"I'm sure she'd appreciate it," he says smoothly, making a note in his folio. "And so will we, if your crème br?lée is anything to go by. It was the perfect midnight snack."

I flush at the warmth in his eyes, but he just raises his brows at me. "Is there anything else you'd like to me to add or amend?"

I drop my gaze to my coffee cup, thinking over what he's told me. Room, board, medical, and tuition for more money than I'd probably earn as a fully qualified chef in this city. "I'll probably kick myself later, but it seems like a pretty one-sided deal to me."

Xavier fiddles with his cufflinks, a faraway look in his eye. "I won't say too much, but until you arrived, we were becoming very concerned about Casper's state of mind. You don't have anything to compare him to, but the improvement is noticeable." His dark gaze burns into mine. "We owe you more than you know."

Chewie whines at my feet and I scoop him up, burying my face in his soft fur. "He's been good for me, too," I admit. "That's definitely not one-sided. Whatever I'm doing for Casper, it's because I want to, and you don't need to pay me for that."

"Well, then we should talk about our longer-term plans." He sets the folio aside and pins me with his dark gaze. "Because courting is about more than puppies and contracts, Jasmine."

I pat Chewie's head, giving him a slight nudge when he goes for the plate of French toast. "You mean sex."

"Yes, but bonding is the more important part." Xavier holds out a hand, and it takes me a moment to realize he's reaching for the puppy. I surrender him, feeling a little like I just gave up my emotional support animal. Although, I find myself entranced by the way he cuddles the dog on his lap, scrubbing his long fingers over his head until Chewie is drooling with pleasure. "We hope to bond Casper when he's ready. But to do that, we'll need to get intimate with him. So far, that's only happened with Declan, and with four of us in the mix, we'll need to spend a lot of time together."

I blink at him. "Four of you?"

"Us," he corrects me, still watching me closely despite the wriggling pup in his lap. "Or am I mistaken? Because I was under the impression you and Casper are now sharing a bed."

"We are, but it's only been a couple of days. And it's not like we have a contract or anything…" My voice drifts off as I think of Casper's sex plan, but I have no intention of putting that on the table right now. "It's still new, and we're taking things slowly."

"I think that's wise, especially given what you've both been through." There's an awkward pause and then he says, "But there are your heats to consider as well."

My gaze snaps up and I'm on my feet before I can stop myself. It jolts Chewie out of his daze and he whines, pawing at Xavier's thigh to be put down. The alpha obliges, but his curious gaze never wavers from mine. "Casper said his is about a month away. When was your last heat?"

"I don't…" I fumble for my words, my heart thudding in my chest until I give myself a mental shake. How the hell does he have this effect on me? Most alphas never get close to cracking my calm exterior, but for some reason Xavier is able to rattle me with a simple question. "It doesn't matter. I have a medical condition, and I take suppressants to minimize the effects."

It's not exactly a lie. The medical condition is my overstimulated endocrine system, and my heats have been closely monitored by my father and his scientists since they first changed me into what I am now. An omega, but as fake as that doll I once saw wearing my face in a department store window.

But Xavier sits up straight, his face darkening with alarm. "You have sedated heats? For how long?"

"Always. Like I said, it's medical."

"You're twenty-three, Jasmine!" His scent is thick with disapproval, and I have to stop myself from flinching at the look on his face. "Have you spoken to a doctor about this? Prolonged use of suppressants can have some very dangerous side effects."

I'm not about to tell him that being pumped full of artificially enhanced hormones is a lot worse. I've been on them for so long, I don't really know what a full-blown heat is like. For me, it's always been a bed in one of my dad's clinics, an IV in my arm, and a bunch of scientists monitoring me on their screens and scribbling on their clipboards. Not exactly the hot and heavy sex fests I've read about in my romance books.

"The suppressants are prescribed," I counter, wanting to end this conversation as quickly as possible. "And my heats are mild, anyway."

But Xavier is on his feet, his scent a swirl of leather and woodsmoke as he stares down at me. "It doesn't matter if they're mild or extreme. You should never suffer because of your biology, Jasmine."

I gape up at him. Is he forgetting who he is right now? It's almost surreal, an uber alpha giving me designation advice.

But I can't pretend that Xavier's concern doesn't move me, and I drop my gaze to the puppy. He's clearly confused why we're both standing awkwardly instead of patting him, and I crouch down to stroke his silky head. "My next heat is a while away, but if you want me to go off the meds, I'll book myself into a tending clinic."

If you can't deter an alpha, then deflect.

Another bit of wisdom taught at my father's knee.

"A few of the girls in my dorm have worked with a heat facilitator," I tell him with an indifferent shrug. "I can get his number from one of them."

But that just makes Xavier's frown deepen. His scent is all spice now, his voice edged with gravel. "You don't need to bring another alpha into this." I can't resist peering up at him and his face softens slightly. "I know it's still early days, but this doesn't have to be just about Casper, Jasmine. If you want us to, we can look after you, too."

"You mean with the job… Looking after Casper," I say slowly.

"Of course. It's already in writing. But if you need more from us…"

He leaves the offer hanging and something pings in my chest, hard enough to make me rub at it. I've never had a conversation like this with an alpha, and I have to force myself to hold his gaze. He's an intimidating sight, especially while I'm crouched at his feet. He looks like a billboard poster for Alpha Abroad in his expensive suit, the hard lines of his body on perfect display. But he's staring down at me so intensely, I can't stop myself from asking, "Are you offering to protect me, or to tend me through my heat?"

"Can't I do both? It's what I'm built for, Jasmine." He leans down and takes my hand, drawing me to my feet. I know I should be keeping my distance, but I'm helpless to resist him when he's looking at me like that. No eyeshine, but something that might be even more powerful.

He doesn't try to touch me except for the warmth of his palm in mine, but it travels up my body, unfurling through my blood. Can he see it on my face, or smell it in my scent? I'm usually so deep in my disguise, I don't know how to act when I'm this vulnerable and exposed.

But Xavier just rubs his thumb over the back of my hand. "I know my kind has hurt you in the past, but that will never happen here. Even if we hadn't taken an oath to help omegas, we would consider it a privilege to look after you, Jasmine."

My father likes to say that the enhancements his drug gave me means I'm the best of my designation. The ultimate omega, who when unleashed, will bring any alpha to his knees. Doesn't matter to him that it's just something he cooked up in his lab and injected into my unwilling veins. My father believes he has the blueprint to bend biology to his will.

But is this why Xavier wants me? Because he's bought into my father's lie and thinks I'm as perfect as my fa?ade?

Chewie whines at my feet and I scoop him up, pressing him against my thudding heart. "I can't think about that until I know my sister is safe. Make that happen, and then… we can talk about everything else."

He nods, his gaze bright with either the dawn light or the faintest glimmer of eyeshine. "Then let's go talk to Erik and bring Violet home."

Xavier looks ready to storm my father's estate, but I convince him to finish his breakfast while I shower and change. I'm just rinsing the conditioner out of my hair when Casper slides in behind me, a sleepy growl rattling in his chest as he nuzzles my soapy neck. His hands take over, his fingers combing through my wet curls. I close my eyes and enjoy the way he massages my scalp with deep, slow strokes. His body is warm and hard behind me, and I can feel his erection thickening against my hip. I think of all the steamy shower sex I dreamed about in my sterile dorm bathroom, and I'm tempted to turn around and drop to my knees. But I gently pull away and turn towards him. "Xavier said Erik's ready to get Violet today. I'm meeting them to talk over the logistics."

"Holy shit!" Casper ducks under the spray before pulling back and shaking himself like a dog. "Then let's get out of here and go rescue your sister."

I grin, infected by his eagerness, and drop a quick kiss on his lips as we jump out. What I'm not expecting to find is Declan sprawled on the end of our bed, waiting for us. We're wrapped in matching fluffy white towels, and he presses a hand to his heart as he looks us over. "Lord above, you two make my poor loins quiver."

I roll my eyes at what I've learned is a typical Declan declaration. But I'm distracted by the black and gold garment bags draped over every surface. "What's all this?"

"Xavi gave us the good news that you're stayin'." Declan looks at me through his thick lashes. "So I thought it was time to introduce you to your new pack wardrobe."

I reach for the nearest bag, brushing my hand over the House of Omega logo. "This stuff is really expensive. My friend is one of their designers, and there's no way I can afford all this."

"Go ahead and keep wearin' Casper's clothes if you want," Declan tells me with an airy wave. "Especially those loose sweatpants. I loved gettin' a peek at your sweet cheeks every time you bent over the oven."

I gape at him, but Casper reaches out and slaps his arm. "You're such a pervert, Dec. Stop making Jasmine uncomfortable."

"Then you should stop smackin' me, ‘cause you know the rough stuff gets my dick hard." Climbing off our bed, he grabs Casper and wraps his arms around him. He's a half foot taller than the omega and he winks over his head as he bites on his neck. "Not that it takes much when you two smell like a pair of honey buns."

Casper tries to push him away, but I can tell he likes the attention. His cheeks are flushed, and he can't stop grinning as Declan groans against his throat. But when he finally wriggles free, Declan gives me a shrug as he starts unzipping the nearest bag. "If you don't like the clothes, don't wear ‘em, but Erik went to a lot of trouble pickin' ‘em out."

"He chose a…?" Words fail me as he parts the garment bag and I catch a glimpse of metallic silk. "Is that a bonding gown?"

"Oh, shit," Declan laughs and scratches his head. "Not exactly subtle, is he? But I'm pretty sure he got you some regular clothes, too." He starts moving around the room, unzipping the other bags. Every reveal makes my head spin even more, because there's no item here under a thousand dollars, and the bedroom is suddenly full of expensive silks, velvets, and the kind of accessories you only see on catwalk models. Declan finally unearths a leather jacket that's as soft as butter and gives a shout of victory. "Praise Jesus. This'll do, right?"

"If I'm planning to hitchhike to Milan for Fashion Week," I mutter, but I can't deny the little tingle in my fingertips as I stroke the burgundy leather. "It's beautiful."

"I think there's some more basic stuff over here," Casper tells me as he sorts through a small travel case. He piles some jeans, tees, and shorts on the bed, along with a few sets of lingerie that draw Declan like a bee to honey. The alpha hooks a lacy bra in champagne silk over his finger and holds it out towards me. "Need a little help tryin' this on, darlin'?"

"I'll manage," I tell him, snatching it off his finger and shooing him towards the door. "I've been dressing myself for a few years now."

"That's a damn shame." He turns at the threshold and runs his green eyes over me, his lips pulled up in a smirk. "But it's the undressin' part I'm interested in anyway."

I roll my eyes at him and shut the door, turning to find Casper grinning at me. "You can't say he's boring."

I snort as I drop the towel and pull on the underwear, quickly following it with dark jeans, a white tee, and the buttery leather jacket. Erik matched every outfit with shoes and I groan as I pull out a pair of black knee-high boots. They're just as soft as the jacket, with H.O.M.E printed in gold on each block heel. Grace told me they have a massive waitlist, and I wonder whose arms Erik had to twist to snag a pair.

Casper has pulled on a pair of jeans and a deep blue sweater that perfectly matches his eyes. It's on the tip of my tongue to compliment him on the color, but I'm not sure how he'll take it. I've been thinking about how he first reacted to Chewie, and how he seems to try to avoid talking about his injury. But I want him to know how good he looks to me, and so I take his hand and bring his knuckles to my lips. "You're the prettiest thing in the room, Casper. I hope you know you're the reason I'm staying and not for anything in that contract."

"I like hearing that," he says softly, wrapping his arm around me until the wool of his sweater is brushing against my cheek. "I'm a vain asshole, you know? And sometimes it feels like I'm fading away to nothing."

"You're not," I tell him, hugging him tighter. "You're so bright, it's hard to see anything else when you're in the room."

He chuckles, tipping my head back with a knuckle and dropping a kiss on my nose. "That's me. Casper Bright."

"Exactly." I smile up at him, thinking how perfectly his name fits him. Because he really is dazzling, and not just because of his striking looks. Casper radiates warmth the way most of the other guys I've ever met ooze menace. I've had a lot of experience with assholes, but Casper is a revelation. "Will you come with me? I don't know what Erik is planning, but I'm going along no matter what. And I'd feel better if you were there too."

"You sure?" He swallows hard, his brow furrowing. "I mean, I don't want to get in the way, given what's at stake."

My heart tugs at the uncertainty in his voice, and I'm glad the boots give me the extra height so I barely have to strain to reach his lips. "You. Are. Needed." I punctuate each word with a kiss, then rest back on my fancy heels to make sure he got the message. And the smile that breaks over his face tells me it's sinking in. "Come on." I tug his hand. "I can't wait for Violet to meet you."