I need to take it and get out of this place as fast as possible, wherever he takes me, then escape, and go hunt down the bastard, Daniel Tanner.
My contract husband will be just a means to an end, nothing more, and I refuse to let myself get distracted by his looks or anything else about him.
Besides, I doubt the guy believes Storm’s fairy tale about our supposed fated status. I don’t care how the purple compelled him to come here. For sure, I’m not losing sight of my goal.
Still, I have to admit, the kid’s easy on the eyes, distracting enough that it throws me off while we’re talking. I steal a few subtle glances when he’s not looking, peeking at him from under my lashes. His muscular arms show beneath his T-shirt, veins standing out nicely, crossed by thin scars. No tattoos, surprisingly. A clean slate. Plenty of room for imagination!
Also, he has that Italian look. After one muttered sentence that sounds like Italian, I figure that’s where his roots are. His hair is neatly cut, black with a hint of violet sheen. His facial features are young, handsome, maybe a littletoohandsome(probably a player!), and his eyes are golden, framed by thick, dark lashes. His lips are fuller than mine, soft-looking, sensual. Yeah, he’s definitely eye candy.
But it doesn’t matter. Obviously!
That kind of temptation isn’t for me, not in the long run.
For some reason, while the conversation is going on, my mind drifts back to that vision I had right after I killed Senu’s murderers, when I wanted to end everything.
A young alpha in a cage, his back covered in bleeding wounds, dark curls falling over his face.
I feel a small stab of regret that it isn’t this guy. Who knows, if it had been that one, maybe I would have believed he was my fated mate? Because honestly, only some hidden energetic bond between us could have triggered a vision like that.
Oh well. You don’t get everything you want. This is what it is.
There is a moment when I manage to provoke him. Not much of an achievement. Young alphas are highly reactive hormone-bombs,hotheads, easy to set off. When he steps closer, I even feel a certain hardness stir low in my body, but I brush it aside immediately. It means nothing, right? Everyone knows the bodies of young, fertile alphas emit strong pheromonal signals that can affect even betas to some extent. I should not fixate on it, it’s pointless.
After I give my consent to become his contract husband, I feel strange, almost dazed, and I’m quite happy that I can stay in the booth while they leave.
But what comes next is strange, to say the least.
Half an hour passes, then an hour, and nothing happens!
I catch myself feeling stupidly keyed up, waiting for them to come back for me, for the moment I’ll finally be able to leave this damn place with my new ‘husband’. I keep staring at the distant square of the entrance doors, watching a steady stream of visitors pour in, but… the ones I’m waiting for aren’t there.
What the hell is going on?
Finally, Storm returns, but only with my case handler, the unpleasant dick Gessler. The alpha isn’t with them.
Storm looks grim. The handler looks pleased.
"Don't tell me he backed out," I say the moment they enter.
Storm's face turns almost apologetic as he says,
"Unfortunately, yes." Seeing me gape, he quickly adds, "At least for now. He has… doubts." He says it very carefully, which only makes me more on edge. "In his case, relying solelyon Second Chance wouldn’t be possible due to housing and financial issues. You would both have to be enrolled in the Beta Activation program as well. That would mean additional complications."
I freeze. I didn't expect that.
"I don't get it. Doesn't he have an apartment or something?"
"His life situation is complicated," Storm mutters. "The only option would be for both of you to enter Beta Activation. Unfortunately, the candidate has serious reservations and needs time to think it over."
Damn. I realize I feel a strange mix of disappointment and anger.
What an idiot!
Why did he even come here, then? Was Storm’s charm enough to talk him into taking a look at me… but nothing beyond?
So itwasme, it had to be. I was the fucking problem. To hell with that jerk!
I slump back into my chair.
