"You've finally used the many advantages we’ve given you wisely," Astrid gushed. "When you first mentioned Pack Willoughby, I was cautiously optimistic about your chances, but you did it! Somehow, yousecured them! They are completely smitten with you and are eager to join the family as soon as possible."
With a jolt of surprise, Bianca finally found her voice. "Surely, it’s far too soon! We don't have time to work out the legalities before my next heat. And the period of courtship has been so brief."
Arthur waved away her concerns. "That’s nothing for you to worry about. We’ll handle all the business; you just need to focus on closing the deal."
“They’re eager to tend your next heat, which is why they’ve moved so quickly.” Astrid was practically vibrating with excitement now. “They realize they’re getting up in age and need to produce heirs, the darling old fools. It’s just like men to think they’re immortal. But it works out in our favor, so I won’t fault them. My grandson will be a lord!”
Bianca could barely hear her mother over the blood rushing in her ears. It grew until it became static, and her heartbeat raced in tandem with its atonal buzzing. She had to remind herself to breathe.
Gregory chimed in again, dollar signs flashing in his eyes. "In fact, they’re so excited to be a part of the family that they’ve made us a very generous gift of one of their London properties. It’s in a prime location, exactly where we want to be. We’re finally going to build Bonnycastle Ascendent."
Bianca’s stomach sank. Her parents would never pass up on the opportunity to open a hotel in London. They'd been scouting properties there for years but hadn't found a good price in the right area. One of the main reasons young Bianca had pushed to study at an academy in London was that there was no Bonnycastle hotel nearby.
"But we can’t plan a proper ceremony before my next heat," Bianca argued, her hands clammy as she clutched the fabric of her armchair. “It’s due anytime.”
“Do you think we don’t track your cycle?” Astrid scoffed. "We’ve already discussed it and I’m confident we can pull together a tasteful, intimate ceremony prior to your heat. Then, when Bonnycastle Ascendant London opens next year, we'll christen it with a grand ceremony to celebrate your anniversary. Lady Willoughby has such a lovely ring to it!"
"How soon?" Bianca asked hollowly.
She could hear the hopelessness in her own voice. It was over. She was out of excuses. She was out of time.
Her stomach was in knots. Bile rose in her throat and she swallowed against the bitter taste. The static in her head was growing unbearable.
"Two weeks from today!" Astrid proclaimed triumphantly. Her smile faltered as she studied Bianca critically. For a moment, Bianca thought her mother had noticed her distress. Then Astrid frowned and sighed. "It may take more work than I expected to get you prepared. What have you done to your hair? No matter, we’ll get it smoothed out and presentable in time."
Bianca thought she might faint. Her heart was beating far too fast. It would surely give out at any moment. That was the only explanation for why it felt like it was being torn to shreds. The ache in her chest and the buzzing in her head was too much. It would tear her to shreds too.
“Eyes on me, Countess.” King’s voice broke through all the noise. It was steady and low. The smell of sweet tobacco and caramel made her inhale deeply, relief flooding into her burning lungs. “That’s a good girl. Take another one. You’re okay. We’re right here.”
Bianca took another deep breath, filling her lungs with chocolate and butterscotch, coconut and cloves, French toast and maple syrup. King was crouched in front of her, big hands covering hers where they gripped the arms of her chair. Dante and Daniel stood on either side of her, andCallum leaned against a nearby wall. Bianca met King’s dark brown gaze, desperately searching for something to cling to.
“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do,” King said, his voice as firm and assured as always. Bianca didn’t understand how he could sound so calm when everything was crumbling around her. “You don’t have to accept Pack Willoughby.”
“Excuse me, young man, but our daughter will do what we say is best for her,” Arthur interrupted angrily, rising to his feet. “You seem to have forgotten your place.”
“I’m not talking to you yet,” King replied coldly, never looking away from Bianca. “I’m talking to you, Countess, and I’m telling you that you don’t have to do a damn thing you don’t want to do. The way we see it, you have at least three options.”
Bianca took another ragged breath, her overwrought brain struggling to keep up with the pace of this conversation. She could barely choke out a response. “What options could I possibly have?”
“You could have the good sense to listen to your parents and thank the gods for such a good match!” Astrid screeched, seemingly unable to hold her tongue even after her alpha had been silenced.
Dante nodded in agreement. “You could mate with those old fucks and miserably wait for them to die while they take you for granted, bore you, waste your talents, and try their best to breed you without satisfying you in the least.”
“Or, you could say fuck that and stay unmated, head out on your own,” Daniel suggested. “Keep working at King’s Guard and making your own money. Figure out what you want your life to look like from there.”
King held her gaze, his eyes so tender Bianca wanted to cry. “Or you could say yes to the question we took you to the beach to ask you.”
Bianca’s heart, which had been slowing from its frantic racing, suddenly stopped completely. She barely registered her mother’s shrill gasp, or her fathers’ exclamations. She felt like she was teetering on the edge of a terrifying vastness.
“What question?” she whispered.
“Will you be ours, Bianca?” King asked simply, and it was utterly profound. “Not just for now but for always. Mate with us. Be our omega. You and Callum are everything we never knew we needed. We want to share our lives with you, not just our business and our bed. Say yes, Countess. Please.”
Bianca opened her mouth, unsure what she was going to say. It didn’t matter, because Pack Bonnycastle had finally had enough.
“We’re done here,” Gregory boomed. “Your services are no longer necessary. I want you off our property right now.”
“Don’t be hasty, Gregory. There’s no need to escalate the situation,” Winston interjected placatingly. “We can’t fault Pack King’s taste nor their enterprising natures. I’m sure we can resolve matters in a civilized manner. You boys have served us well, and we can part amicably. You can clear out and we’ll send you on your way with a nice bonus as compensation for the contract ending a little earlier than expected. Say, fifty thousand dollars?”
