There is only one problem. Even though I’m now free to go after alphas, I still hopenoalpha will approach my booth and want to buy my contract.
Yeah.
Am I a walking contradiction? Wanting them, but hating them at the same time? Guess that’s a fucked up me.
So. Here I am. Sitting at my booth, wrestling with my own private little hell, riding waves of stress and revulsion every time someone wanders anywhere near my booth.
An omega? No!
A beta? No!
An alpha? No!
All of them, damn them all.
What the fuck am I doing?
Remember! This isn’t real hubby-picking, Salt.
I have to find someone.
Anyone!
That is my only shot at getting out of this place. I just need to pull myself together. Stop fighting that wall of resistance inside me. Stop panicking at the terrifying thought that whoever buys my contract will want to fuck with me. I have to accept it. Grit my teeth and deal with it.
For Senu.
Brace yourself, Salt.
The only question left is whether this second day of the fair will bring about any change. What are the chances?
ELIANO
Storm rubs his chin lightly as he studies me with focused attention. He looks hesitant, as if whatever he wants to say carries a solid weight.
Finally, he continues,
"You see, I have a contractee under my care, and he’s here on special terms. A very peculiar person. Maybe not the easiest to deal with at first glance, but… if someone is another person’s True Mate, then clearly that wouldn’t be a problem, right?"
I stay silent, finishing my salad. All that’s left is the soup. I plan to eat it quickly and get out of here. This guy feels a little strange. Everyone knows you can’t recognize someone’s True Mate just by looking. That only happens through smell or sex. Other than that, there’s nothing obvious that gives it away. Still, as long as he’s talking, I can keep eating.
"My talent," he says, "is that I can see a specific aura color shared by True Mates. I had the chance to observe my client’s aura all day Saturday, and I’m honestly shocked, because I see the exact same shade in your aura. Down to the smallest nuance of hue. It’s striking!"
I start on the soup, ignoring him. It’s properly hot, but I blow on it and take spoonful after spoonful. Storm watches me with raised eyebrows.
"You don’t have to rush. I can buy you another meal."
"Sorry, but I can’t stay. I’m looking for work. If your company needs someone to hand out flyers, I’d be happy to help, but…" Well, it has to be said. I owe him honesty. "If your client is here to find himself a rich husband, then sorry, I’m not a good candidate. I’m homeless. And that’s without even getting into whether I believe in that whole True Mate thing at all," I mutter.
If he tells me to leave now, I’m already full. Worst case, I can skip the rest of the soup.
He watches me in silence, almost scrutinizing me. I keep my face calm.
"I’d like you to simply see him. Maybe you’ll feel something. There’s just this thing… He’s a beta. It’s one of the rare cases where a beta is paired with an alpha as a True Mate, so it surprised me too, but… there’s no doubt this is one of those instances."
I snort. "What? A beta and an alpha as fated mates? I’ve never even heard of that."
Storm straightens in his chair.
