“Not an android after all.” Maya takes a step back. “But you do look a mess.”
“I apologize, Mrs. Frost.” Icarus licks the blood off his lip, testing his swollen jaw. “This will bruise. I advise keeping the blows beneath my neckline over this busy period. Bruises are hard to explain to guests.”
Maya waves her hand dismissively. “You still have the special cover up makeup that I gave you of Ellington’s…? I’ll get him to share some more with you.”
I am shaking.
“Anyway, you don’t need to worry your pretty head about that Omega. He is being sent to the Institute.” She leans against the desk, crossing her ankles. “Keep your focus on making the Christmas Matching Ball as spectacular as possible. That whore of a rock star had better put on the performance of his slutty life. Ellington backed up your suggestion of Immortal for the entertainment, telling me that he’s one of the most famous Idols. I hope for my Omega’s ass’ sake that Immortal is as popular with the guests.”
Ellington supported Icarus about Zero being hired…?
My stomach feels strange with all the things that I have to be grateful to Ellington suddenly for.
Maya straightens and turns away. “Now, get out. I’m busy too.”
“Bird is the best HO we have,” Icarus blurts, taking a desperate step forward. “I will do whatever you want…endure whatever you want to do to me…if you let me keep him here.”
Slowly, Maya turns to stare at Icarus. Her eyes gleam with a hungry excitement that makes me hug myself in trepidation.
Then she leans closer to my Alpha, deliberately digging her long nail into Icarus’ busted lip until he can’t hold in the hiss of pain. “You know the one thing that I have always wanted from you. The one thing that you have refused to do willingly.”
Icarus pales, balling his hands into fists. “Will you let Bird return to the Omega dorms afterward?”
“Such a possessive Alpha. If you do this, I will. But only for this week. We can negotiate after.”
Icarus appears to be steadying himself. His chest is rising and falling, and his hands are clenching compulsively.
What in the fuck is Maya expecting him to do in exchange for Bird?
I take a step forward.
Should I stop this? Icarus is doing it willingly. But hasn’t he sacrificed enough?
Suddenly, Icarus drops to his knees.
I am shocked to stillness.
Then, slowly, he tips his head to the side, baring his neck.
An Alpha baring their neck to another Alpha should normally only happen between a bonded pack. It’s the ultimate submission of one Alpha to another.
If it’s forced and not willing, then it’s abuse.
Plus, if it happens within a family or in a power imbalance like boss and employee, then it’s enough to allow that Alpha to become emancipated from their pack.
Sometimes, it’s enough to have the Alpha who forced it onto someone else be sentenced to the Alpha Center.
This is definite coercion.
Maya looks like Christmas has come early. She claps her hands in delight.
She stares at Icarus’ bared neck with dilated pupils, before she says mockingly, “I knew that you could be a good Alpha.”
“Is that enough?” Icarus says through gritted teeth.
“Oh, yes.” Maya casually wanders back around the desk, sitting in her chair and tapping on her computer like Icarus isn’t even there. “Now I know that you will do that like a trained puppy, I will enjoy finding ways to make you do it again.”
Icarus can’t hold back the growl, shoving himself to his feet. “Tell me where the Omega is.”
