“Come in,” Maya coldly calls.
Icarus pushes open the door and marches inside, deliberately leaving the door wide. He gives the impression of someone who is simply busy and under pressure, as would be natural on Christmas Eve in this grand hotel.
“I have a problem,” Icarus states, as if panicked. “Bird is not with the guest pack like he should be. In fact, I have been informed that he collapsed on them. I have had to provide them with a backup Omega to stop them complaining. It’s my fault, as well as Ellington’s, for not fully appreciating that Bird simply needed a longer rest. Do you know where Bird is? Could Ellington find him for me? I have too much to do today to waste on chasing Omegas.”
It's a good act. If I didn’t know that Icarus is faking right now, then I would believe it.
But then, Icarus has had to perform every day in front of Maya. In front of the cameras. In front of everyone.
Maya is sitting behind a large oak desk, which is empty apart from a laptop, iPad, and computer. Her office is opulent with oil paintings by the great Alpha artists of battles, ice-blue silk wallpaper on the walls, and velvet armchairs with gold tassels.
Outside, a snowstorm is howling and rattling the floor to ceiling windows like winter ghosts.
“Calm down.” Maya slams shut her laptop. “You forgot to address me appropriately as Mrs. Frost. Do that again in this meeting, and I will dock you a week’s pay.”
“Mrs. Frost,” Icarus replies, “where is Bird?”
Instead of replying, Maya cocks her head to study Icarus.
My heart is hammering in my chest.
I don’t want to watch but I promised Icarus that I would. He is my Alpha. He’s doing this for our pack. And I swore to trust him.
I must.
“Why are you so interested in an Omega?” Maya pushes herself out of the chair. Icarus stands to attention, staring at the windows and the storm behind her. “You haven’t grown feelings for the filthy HO have you?”
Filthy?
I clench my hands into fists, feeling my nails bite into my palms.
Don’t say anything…
Icarus huffs a laugh; I’m hoping that I am the only one who can hear the fury beneath it. “Of course not. But he’s the most in demand Omega in this hotel. He brings in a lot of business. It’s in my best interest to make sure that the cash cow is kept in good health, isn’t it?”
Maya finally relaxes, smiling. “I can always rely on you to keep a rational head. Sometimes, I wonder if you’re part machine.”
When Maya prowls around the desk toward Icarus, it is me who flinches. My best friend, lover,everythingonly stands very still.
“I think you’ve done enough to me by now to have tested that I’m not,” Icarus replies.
“Have I?” Maya circles him. “Shall I experiment again?”
Don’t touch him.
I’m expecting her to… I can’t even think it.
Instead, Maya reaches up to grab her manager by the hair, dragging him down to her level like he’s an inflatable doll.
Then she punches him across the face.
I support myself against the wall, staring through the gap at the nightmare unfolding, while remaining hidden. I know now why Icarus didn’t allow me to go in there (one Alpha Command from Maya and I would be paralyzed), but I fucking hate it.
When Icarus doesn’t do more than grunt, she punches him again, this time in the mouth.
She splits his lip with a burst of blood.
Maya’s eyes light up with vicious glee. She runs her finger through the blood, smearing it.
