Prologue
Aiden
“Wow,” the RN receptionist breathed. “Do you know how rare it is for an alpha like you to come in and donate? This will go for top dollar.”
The beta, whose name tag read ‘Toby,’ looked like he was salivating at the dollar signs he was already imagining.
Aiden sighed, then took a deep breath and immediately released it, trying his best to center himself. He had to do this. There was no other choice… at least not for him.
“Once we send a message out that an alpha with your IQ and educational background has donated, there will be a frenzy to get a hold of this sperm.”
Aiden flinched at the word.
The man’s eyes traced his cheekbones, and Aiden was pretty sure that if he could, the nurse would do the same to his body with his tongue. Thankfully, the tall reception desk blocked most of Aiden’s body from view.
“Thank you.” Aiden smiled politely. He wasn’t sure what the appropriate response was supposed to be, and could honestly say he’d never felt more like a piece of meat than he currently did.
“Oh, honey, no, thankyou. Alphas so rarely want to part with their sperm, and the ones that do...” Toby sniffed like he’d smelled something nasty before going on. “Let’s just say they’re not always top shelf.”
Aiden wasn’t sure what to say to that, either, so he just hmmmed, and apparently, that was the receptionist’s cue to carry on speaking.
“We do get some alphas that already have families—you know, the middle-class alphas that do it to get extra money in their pockets to take care of their families and homes. Those ones get good prices too. But honey, you… with those eyes, and those cheekbones, and that education. Let me tell you… you’re the cream of the crop.”
Again, being praised for his sperm was unknown territory for him, so Aiden simply went with a thank you again.
Aiden glanced around the waiting room again, trying to tamp down his embarrassment over the sperm talk, and took in the expensive decor of one of the most prestigious fertility clinics in the country. Fertility assistance was expensive, and only a select few could afford it.
As an alpha raised by a single omega papa, everything in him loathed to do this, but his papa had sacrificed too much to get Aiden where he was today, starting with taking a job at the snooty private school he’d sent Aiden to so that he could get the best education. His papa loved him and had done what was necessary to get Aiden where he was today, so it was now his turn to take care of his papa. That meant making him proud and becoming successful so he could give his papa the life he deserved, the one that was stolen from him when his alpha father had proven himself to be a bastard… Well, he guessed he was the bastard since the man had not only ruined his papa’s reputation and future, but also refused to acknowledge Aiden as his.
His papa had been the asshole alpha’s secretary, and he’d done everything to get his papa in bed—and succeeded. Of course, when the stick had come back positive, the asshole fired him and then got his omega dad blacklisted from any of the companies in the area that he could have gone to work for after.
The alpha had made his omega dad seem like some sort of nympho that had tempted him away from his picture-perfect family, but it couldn’t have been farther from the truth. His omega papa had simply got involved with the wrong alpha.
Aiden would have chosen another path if there had been one, but he needed start-up capital if he was to have any hope of getting his business up and running. He didn’t have the funds, so why not just sell a small piece of himself to get it done? He just tried to ignore the funny feeling it gave him, especially when he was being devoured by the receptionist’s eyes.
“So, I’ll be hearing from you once the payment is authorized?” Aiden asked, backing up from the receptionist desk.
The beta snickered. “You better believe it, honey. I’m putting it in the database as we speak. They’ll run all the usual tests later today, and someone should be contacting you shortly.”
Aiden tried his hand at a smile, but it came up short. “Thank you,” he finally mumbled.
Aiden turned around and walked out of the clinic. He couldn’t have gotten outside fast enough. The moment he stepped into the fresh air, he let out a breath. If he was doing it for all the right reasons, then why did he feel so sick?
It’s nerves, Aiden. Just relax.
It was easier said than done, but Aiden had already set things in motion. He’d done as much as he could to raise the funds for his start-up, and this would push him over the line.
No turning back now.
Quinn
Six Years Later
Quinn walked into the restaurant and breathed in deeply before he looked around. He wasn’t even sure who he was looking for. The dating profile he had to go on showed the man about fifty feet from the camera, but he believed his gut would tell him once he saw him.
“May I help you?” the woman behind the podium asked.
Quinn turned to her, and she arched an eyebrow, her eyes looking him up and down and leaving Quinn feeling like he had been found wanting.
