“I thought I’d be able to talk to her before a bond—and it wasn’t just about the underwear. Dominic would block any protection deals we would try to make?—”
“Wehaveallies?—”
“Enough to protect her?” Sin demanded.
I took a breath but didn’t answer since Dominic Redgrave was in earshot.
He straightened, a grin lighting on his face as we reached him. Behind him the door to his cell remained open, and I could see a few of his packmates watching curiously.
“Congratulations,” Dominic said. “That’s a pretty bite, and I think you have to be the first pack in Anarchy to claim two omegas. I can’t wait for the show.”
Sin stiffened at my side. “We didn’t plan for that,” he said cautiously.
“Is that… my problem?” he asked.
“We need to renegotiate,” I said.
The situation was way worse than I’d initially thought. Not only was Crescent far more fragile than I’d believed, but she’d never even been intimate with anyone at all.
But Sin was right, we needed the Redgrave protection. We wouldn’t survive without it, and we wouldn’t survive until tomorrow if this pack thought we’d slighted them.
Dominic took the cigarette from his mouth, holding it between two fingers as he levelled me with an intense stare. He was a big alpha, even if he was a little older. And even if he wasn’t, he held the power of half a dozen of the most powerful dweller pack alliances in the weight of his words.
I glanced at Sin. He looked stiff.
“Look. The situation has changed. What else can we give you for protection?”
“Whatelse?” he asked. “You want to change the terms?”
“I can’t do that to her,” Sin said.
Dominic cocked his head, glancing between us. Then I saw his gaze drift to the table in the square where the rest of my pack sat.
“Let us trade something else,” Sin pushed.
Dominic snorted. “I was looking forward to the show.”
“It’s not happening,” I put in. Sin was one thing, but Crescent… I forced myself not to look back at her.
“Cages,” Dominic said. “Tomorrow night.”
Tomorrow?“No.” There was no way. She wasn’t ready. “We need more time.”
“Time?” Dominic asked, saying the word slowly. “Time’s money, Phantom. What do I get for being patient? Especially with your pack leaving so soon.”
There was a long silence.
Fuck.
What were we going to do? Sin was right. There would be no better protection than the Redgraves—and no greater enemy.
But I caught Sin’s expression and faltered. He looked like he was deliberating. Finally, he rolled his shoulders, jaw clenched. “Last key to the contraband room,” he said to Dominic. “Did you ever find it?”
I paused, side-eyeing him and caught completely off guard.
What?
The contraband room was where the Redgrave pack picked up their ‘goods’. We were supposed to be provided only what we needed—meds, drugs, clothes, and other supplies, but they had a way of getting a little more out of it. Occasional books, and other things. No one knew how, but it was the most priceless territory in Anarchy.
