Lincoln couldn’t take a hint, pounding the door, begging to be let back in.“I’ll take care of him!”
Lucky scoffed, leaning heavily on Ford’s shoulder.He’d rather cut his stomach open and fall into the lava than let Lincoln within fifty feet.He didn’t regret cursing him, but he wished he’d asked for his death instead of pain.“Please, Omha.Make him pay.”He nearly toppled off the sofa as a spike of pain lanced through his stomach, until strong hands caught his shoulders and eased him against the cushions.
Scout stood behind Ford, so frantic with worry that Lucky decided not to add his own to the mix.He’d worry later.
“Where did he get OX?What the fuck do we do?”
Ford stared into Lucky’s eyes, looking so sad that part of him wanted to smooth the frown between his eyebrows.A deeper part of him knew that this wasn’t a man to let close, that he was the enemy, probably pissed that Lincoln had tainted his merchandise.“There’s nothing we can do, unless we can find his fated mate in the next hour.”He cursed and removed his cap to rake a hand through his hair.“The chain reaction of OX on an unclaimed, unmated omega is instant.Within an hour, he’ll go into heat.”
Lucky looked at Ford, the sobering words fighting back the threat of oblivion trying to wash over him.He couldn’t even explain how fucked up this was.He wasn’t due his first heat for another three months.“No.”
Dropping the cap onto his head, Ford held Lucky’s gaze.“How the fuck do we find his true mate in one hour?”
Scout clasped his hands on top of his head, clearly at the end of his rope.“We should lock him in.We can’t let those bastards near this room or he’s a goner.”
Ford unfurled the lighter and pack of cigarettes from his sleeve, put one between his lips, and took his first puff before replacing them.As the smoke clouded his face, long fingers removing the cigarette from between his lips, Ford cleared his throat.“If we can’t find his mate by the hour, I’ll do it.You shouldn’t be involved.”
Scout swore and dropped his hands, walking away as though he couldn’t bear to be here.
The threat was real now.It had only been a possibility until he came into this room; something that had lingered at the back of his mind as a potential punishment if he pissed off the wrong person or pushed his limits.Now that Lincoln had drugged him, Lucky was on borrowed time.
Unless Ford and Scout could find his Gods-given mate in the next hour, he would lose his first heat?his first intimate experience, his virginity, his innocence, maybe even his life?to a complete stranger.
Lucky wished he could see Lincoln’s face when Omha made him burn for this.
Chapter One
Four days earlier: Monday
Lucky
Lucky was nervous, though he couldn’t say why.He didn’t understand why Lincoln had asked him to wait outside the shop, rather than going in with him.He was a lone omega and the entire point of being with Lincoln was so that the alpha could be his chaperone and protector.The laws existed for a reason, because underage omegas were at risk of being kidnapped by the illegal Omega Market, and were susceptible to alpha flare.
Why the fuck was Lincoln leaving him out there, at risk of those threats, just for a packet of cigarettes?
A hand on his waist made him flinch, and he scowled at the burst of laughter as Lincoln crept up beside him.
“What’s gotten into you?”Lincoln grinned at Lucky as though he hadn’t just frightened him on purpose.
“Don’t do that!”Lucky hated that he always had to be a brat.How did he expect Lucky to ever want him as an alpha mate when he pulled childish shit like this?“Can we go now?”
Lincoln tucked something into his pocket that looked nothing like a packet of cigarettes.He didn’t bother asking, because Lincoln had been acting odd for the last three weeks and Lucky didn’t want to be involved in whatever shit show he was tangled up in.
Two steps away, Lincoln leaned in close.“Is your Heatwave still working?”
Lucky rolled his eyes, amazed that someone so smart could be such a brainless, self-centred asshole.“It’s fine.”It would have been Lincoln’s fault if it wasn’t.Heatwave acted as a barrier between Lucky’s free will and the influence of alpha flare.Assholes like Lincoln were happy to use flare on any omega they wanted to fuck with, and Lucky dreaded the day Lincoln was no longer contained by Override.
Lincoln lit a joint, which was illegal and could tamper with his Override, which meant that whether Lucky liked it or not, he was already at risk from Lincoln’s reckless choices.“Hang back.I need to meet some friends.”
Lucky kept his mouth shut against his better nature.If he pissed off Lincoln and he walked off, it wouldn’t take long for a lone omega to raise eyebrows.He’d be recognised and reported to his father, then he’d send a squad car to collect him.He’d spent his life tryingnotto be the detective’s son, and wouldn’t ruin that just because Lincoln was a selfish shit.
He recognised the group of guys Lincoln waved to from college and rolled his eyes at how desperate Lincoln was to fit in, but reluctantly followed when he walked over, remaining on the periphery.At least it was a nice day to hang around outside.Threnul was a naturally warm province, but the heat they'd been having lately was unseasonable for this time of year.
“Jack!”Lincoln did a handshake-hug with Jack that looked ridiculous.
Lucky leaned against the nearby wall between two shops to wait.After close to ten minutes, sick of waiting, he was about to check his phone when someone appeared beside him and dropped to one knee.A blond head blocked his view of any discerning features as the guy tied his shoelace, then he stood, revealing a familiar face Lucky couldn’t put a name to.He was tall, dressed in expensive designer jeans and a brand T-shirt beyond Lucky’s price range.His trainers probably cost more than Lucky’s entire wardrobe.
Removing a packet of cigarettes from his back pocket, the guy flipped the lid and wrapped his lips around a cigarette.He held it there while he tucked the packet away, removing a lighter with his other hand to spark the tip.He spotted Lucky, eyes narrowing before darting away to the crowd of bodies nearby.“You with Lincoln?”He jerked a thumb in Lincoln’s direction while releasing a cloud of smoke.
