He’s dead.
“A HO,” Icarus says, even more frostily, “without training should never have been sent up to you. I will return him back to the dorms, sirs.”
“Wait, what’s with the wholesirthing again? I thought that we’d agreed to date each other here?” Zero sits up, hurriedly. He frowns. “And what’s with calling my bonded Omega a HO?”
“Ourbonded Omega,” Lionzio corrects, marching to drag Piper into his arms possessively.
My eyes widen in shock.
“What’s with calling ourboss,” Zero winks, “a HO? Haven’t you ever seen an Omega lead a pack before?”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Room 234, Omega Hotel
An omega boss?
An Omega leader of a pack?
Are Lionzio and Zero pranking me? Because even if they’re liberals, which would mean that Zero is performing at the wrong fucking hotel, then surely even they wouldn’t admit so casually that an Omega is in charge of them.
My hands are sweaty.
I want it to be true so much that my teeth hurt.
“I also haven’t seen a twenty inch knotted cock shaped like a candy cane,” Icarus says, dryly. “But I still know that it doesn’t exist.”
Piper narrows his eyes. “Rude.”
“Well, then you’re clearly not hanging out at the right clubs.” Zero runs his hand suggestively down to his crotch.
It’s Lionzio, to my shock, who snatches the much larger Alpha by the tie and shoves him back against the wall. “MyOmega sister, Harley, led an uprising in the mafia underworld that freed my entire pack. She’s a fierce cage fighter, and despite my adoptive dad using Omegas as nothing but prizes in the fights, she showed me repeatedly the strength within Omegas. I spent my life protecting her, but ultimately,sheprotectedme. And this man here, my Omega, is her Alpha’s younger brother. He took me in when I was alone, friendless, and lost. He gave me a job, even if I didn’t deserve one. He welcomed me into movie nights and showed me how to function as something more than a worthless Alpha with blood on my hands. So, say what you like about me but don’teverdoubt his ability.”
Piper shrugs away from me, resting his hand gently on Lionzio’s back. “I think that he’s got the point. I’m awesome.”
I know that Icarus is allowing himself to be held in place by Lionzio. He could break free any moment that he wants.
Yet I can also see how guilty he feels. He only said out loud what we were both thinking.
Yet Icarus has also become ashen from pain. He’s sweating with the effort of not showing the agony from his injured ribs.
I bite my lip hard not to say anything.
Icarus’ gaze slides over Lionzio’s shoulder to Piper. “I’ve gathered that. I’m sorry.”
Piper assesses him, shrewdly. “Are you?”
“I’ve been trapped in this hotel since my parents abandoned my brother and me,” Icarus explains. “I believed that things worked the same amongst other packs, as they do with the guests who visit here. I’ve seen a lot over the years, and none would ever allow an Omega tolead. Omegas work within this hotel but they have no authority. The Frost Omegas have wealth but no power. Ellington may have power over me because of his social status. But under his Alpha, he’s powerless.”
“Piper was chosen on merit.” Lionzio’s expression shutters. “I will only have equality within my pack.”
He says it as a simple statement.
But it’s revolutionary.
Excitement rushes through me. Could I truly have found the chance at a pack with true equality?
Icarus looks flustered. “What if I’m dominant too?”
