Callum placed his hands on her shoulders, ducking his head so that she was forced to meet his gaze. “You don’t owe me anything, sugar. I just needed to get you out of there. I know I come on a little strong and maybe I pushed you too fast. It’s okay if you aren’t ready to be besties just yet. Daniel can drop me off and we can plan another hangout when you’re feeling up to it.”
“No!” Bianca exclaimed, grabbing his hand in a way that made warmth spread across his skin. “I want you to stay. Please.”
Callum felt like he could’ve bench pressed the Rolls Royce. Bianca Bonnycastle wanted him to stay. He would guess she’d rarely said such a thing to another human being. He settled back against the seat, not letting go of her hand.
“Idowant to explain what that was back there. It’s honestly a pretty good explanation for why I’ve been avoiding you.” Bianca laughed humorlessly, her gaze on their joined hands. “If you want to go home after you hear my sob story, I’ll understand. I don’t want you to feel obligated–”
“Hush,” Callum interrupted, squeezing her hand. “Tell me whatever you like. I’m honored to be your confidante.”
He was pleased to elicit an eye roll and a sarcastic snort that was more characteristic of the fierce omega he’d fallen for so quickly. “You’re a weird man, Callum Clifton-Merriwether.”
“Honey, you have no idea. Now dish,” he commanded.
He was grateful that she held his hand while she told her story, because if she hadn’t, he might’ve been tempted to dive from the car and go back in search of that piece of shit alpha. Apparently, the shifty-eyed bastard at the shopping village was Bianca’s ex-mate…if you could even call him that. In actuality, the dude was a fucking groomer who’d taken advantage of a lonely girl and then cut and run at the first opportunity. Callum gritted his teeth against a growl.
“I don’t know how I expected my parents to react, but it was worse than whatever I imagined. They called me and my so-called alpha into their office and told me that I was about to learn a valuable life lesson. And they were absolutely right.” Bianca gave a wry smile that was so full of heartache that it turned Callum’s stomach. He almost didn’t want to hear anymore, but he’d meant what he’d said about being her confidante. He squeezed her hand encouragingly and she continued. “My fathers proceeded to explain to Robert that he was welcome to have me, but that my family would disown and cut me off completely. He and his soon-to-be packmate would get me and only me, without so much as a sliver of the Bonnycastle empire. Our children wouldn’t be recognized as heirs, and our line would never receive a single dime. Robert and Frank would be free to pursue their big dreams with me as their omega, but I would be a nobody with nothing to offer them but my love.”
Bianca’s love sounded like a fine prize to Callum. Holding her hand, wrapped in her spicy apple scent, it was hard to imagine needing anything more. But he could tell that this story didn’t have a happy ending. Somehow, this beautiful creature had ended up unbonded, which meantshe had endured the kind of pain that most omegas only heard about in academy lessons or their worst nightmares.
Bianca smiled that heartbreaking smile again, her voice as dry and hard as her titanium eyes when she continued. “Then my fathers presented an alternative. Robert could relinquish his claim, he and Frank would sign non-disclosure agreements, and never speak to me again. In exchange, they’d receive fifty thousand dollars in startup funds for their tech company. Of course, they’d never be allowed to tell anyone what had happened between us, could never ask for more money, and could never pursue me again.”
Callum’s free hand balled into a fist. “That son of a bitch.”
Bianca nodded. “Robert didn’t even hesitate. He didn’t bother to discuss it with Frank. I suppose he already knew what he’d say. They took the money and never looked back. I haven’t seen or heard from either of them in ten years. Until today.”
Callum wasn’t sure which emotion to express first. He was absolutely devastated, completely furious, and somewhat relieved. He wasn’t proud of that last one, but it was hard not to be glad things hadn’t worked out between Bianca and Fuckboi Supreme. She deserved so much better, and Callum wasn’t going to let that prick ruin another moment of her life.
He pressed the intercom button. “Daniel, we have a code fuchsia. I’m declaring a state of emergency. We’re having a movie day.”
“Despite your continued mocking of our security protocols, I’m going to allow it,” Daniel replied, and Callum could hear the smile in his voice.
“What are you doing?” Bianca lifted a brow, even though she still sounded shaken.
“As co-founder of the Disgraced Devil Delegation, I am declaring an emergency rot session! We’ll go back to your place and watch somethingdumb and comforting, order takeout, and plan our revenge,” Callum said, pulling her back into his arms. She melted against him, though she still radiated sadness, so he decided a bit of teasing would be a good distraction. “I bet I can guess your genre of comfort movie. Based on how you move those hips, I’d say you’re into dance movies where beautiful people stumble through a thin plot that requires lots of sexy movement and not much clothing. And I’m one hundred percent down for that.”
As he expected, Bianca’s cheeks pinkened and she gave him a playful punch in the arm that actually stung quite a bit. She sounded almost like her sassy self when she replied. “Fine, but we’re ordering mozzarella sticks.”
As if he’d read their minds, Daniel was already turning into the garage of Bonnycastle Privé. Soon, the two omegas were curled on a plush sofa in her living room, cuddling beneath a blanket that smelled intoxicatingly like Bianca. Callum had met the massive reptile that Bianca credited with saving her life, and he had to admit Lilith was beautiful, though it was going to take a while for him to not also find her petrifying. Luckily, Bianca was fine with letting Lilith skip the movie day, and so the two omegas were left alone for their marathon. The coffee table was strewn with takeout and wine and an alpha with more abs than brains was body rolling across the huge television screen toward a goody-two-shoes omega who was pretending she wasn’t going to dance with him.
It was basically heaven.
After they’d finished two movies and two bottles of wine, Callum decided it was the perfect time to make the experience more interactive. Movie two happened to include a male and female omega pair who were auditioning for a coveted spot at an elite academy. The characters decided to join forces instead of being rivals, and their dance number was as fun as it was sexy.
“We’re learning this choreography, Queen B!” Callum proclaimed, pulling Bianca to her feet. “No excuses! We can bust it out next time we’re at Nocturneand act like it was totally unplanned. It’ll be epic!”
He ignored her protests as he pushed the coffee table out of the way. They spent the next hour replaying the same scene over and over while they practiced the dance moves and laughed themselves to tears. Bianca had a knack for remembering choreography, but he had to coax and tease her into relaxing into the movements. By the time they collapsed their sweaty, drunk selves back onto the sofa, Callum thought he might’ve never had more fun in his life.
Bianca’s eyes sparkled, and she took his hand. “Callum, I don’t know how you manage to make me do such ridiculous things but thank you. I needed this today.”
Callum grinned, intertwining their fingers, and then kissing her knuckles. “Me too. And I am happy to do it again anytime. But can I make a suggestion?”
He knew it was a risk, and he wasn’t sure how much vulnerability she had left to give for the day, but he needed to say it. Whether he was going to be her friend, or something more, he needed to be honest with her. And she needed to hear some hard truths too.
“I suppose that’s how this whole friendship thing is supposed to work.” Bianca shrugged, eyeing him warily. “Suggest away, but fair warning that I am very stubborn.”
Callum laughed at the understatement. He pulled her close, not caring that they were both clammy from the dancing. She smelled even better like this, and there wasn’t a whiff of fear or distress marring that oleander and apple goodness. This was how she should feel all the time. And he’d do everything he could to help.
“Fuck those shitheads, Queenie. Your parents, Robert and his bitch ass friend, and even the assholes from the country club. You can’t let them control your life.Youdecide what comes next. You are unstoppable, Bianca Bonnycastle. I knew you were a force of nature the moment I laid eyes on you. Own it.” Callum paused and brushed his lips against her forehead, enjoying the way she snuggled closer in response. “I’ll support you in whatever you choose, even if it’s that pack of stuffy old twats you’ve got on the line.”
