"It’s rare, but possible. After the First Touch, the beta usually undergoes a transformation into a beta with omega characteristics. He develops subtle heats, can become pregnant, and starts producing Allure. Even his hearing improves."
I’m slowly losing patience with his spiel. It sounds ridiculous.
"Look, man, cool story. Really interesting. I’m sure it would fascinate someone. But I’m in a pretty rough spot in my life. You could call it a turning point," I say, baring my teeth in a strained grin. "I can’t afford to get distracted by… you know, fairytale stories like this. Finding a husband is very low on my list of priorities. Finding a job and shelter are my top two priorities."
Storm leans back slightly and crosses his broad arms over his chest.
"You don’t seem to understand what I’m telling you. What’s your name, anyway?"
"I understand what I need to understand. And my name doesn’t matter. I’m about to leave. Thanks for the food. I listened to what you had to say, but I’m finishing this soup, and then off I go."
He lets out a low, restrained rumble, a sound in the AO language that signals impatience.
"You still don’t get it, kid. That man is your True Mate. Should I spell it out?" He leans slightly forward, almost threateningly. "Letting an opportunity like this go is insane. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing. The perfect person for you. A chance at love and happiness, at longevity and health, at everything people dream of."
Intently, I mirror his posture, leaning forward a bit and crossing my arms over my chest.
"Yeah… So you work here, Storm, right? Some kind of handler for those contractees? Let me guess. The company tosses you a bonus for peddling this magical nonsense and patching together matches at any cost. Then what? People sign and end up hating each other? Yeah, no thanks. I’m not buying it."
I push my jaw forward defiantly. Maybe I didn’t grow up on the streets, and most of what I know comes from movies and TV shows, but I’m not stupid enough to swallow fantasy stories about True Mates falling from the skies.
Storm exhales sharply in irritation. He pulls out his wallet, takes out a hundred-dollar bill, and places it on the table.
My eyes lock onto the money.
"Okay, let’s talk specifics. You get a hundred dollars if you come with me, stand in front of him, and shake his hand. That’s it. Easy money. If you decide it’s all nonsense, if he repulsesyou, you just walk away. Deal? Easiest hundred bucks you’ll ever make."
His jaw tightens slightly.
The bill lies between us like an exclamation mark.
What now? I stare at the money. It’s right there, tempting. Damn. That’s several days of solid food, and a real chance to look for proper work. Maybe I could even buy a ticket and finally get out of this damn city.
Looking at some guy costs me nothing.
I reach out and place my hand on the bill. Storm immediately pins my hand down with a quick movement.
"You look at him, shake his hand, stay patient and calm in his presence. He’s a unique person, showcasing his contract under very… specific conditions."
I pull my hand back, but at the same time I take the hundred-dollar bill.
"What kind of specific conditions? Do you have to be so mysterious? Or is that part of the marketing trick to hook me?"
I’m almost proud of my vigilance. After getting played by Bush, there’s no way I’m walking into another shady situation. I’ll question everything, examine every detail, analyze every suspicious aspect. There’s always a catch somewhere.
"Yeah, well. Salt has been convicted of murder."
"The fuck?!"
"Listen. It’s a very gray case, and there are strong arguments that he acted while temporarily insane, under extreme emotional distress. His case drew the attention of the Second Chance program, which offers convicted felons the option to put a marriage contract up for sale. This program is reserved for first-time offenders, giving them a chance at a normal life, of course, with an ankle monitor."
"But… a criminal?" I let out a bitter laugh and lean closer, lowering my voice with dark amusement. "Listen! The precisereason I’m here right now, is that I ran away from a family involved in crime. Heavy, heavy crime! I’m trying to cut myself off from that life. I don’t want to be anywhere near someone who chose that path. And I seriously doubt he’s my True Mate. The way I imagine mine, he’s a law-abiding, sweet person who stays far away from trouble."
Storm’s jaw clenches.
"Fine. Then give me back the hundred dollars," he says flatly. "And leave. But you’ll regret passing up this chance, because that man truly is your True Mate. And the fact that Salt is here doesn’t mean he’s a hardened criminal. He made one serious mistake in his life. It happens. Everyone ends up at a crossroads sometimes, don’t they?"
I narrow my eyes, looking at the piece of paper in my hand. It could really mean escape from this damn, dirty city, far away from my sick family.
