He only left the cell to shower. Facing the water, he kept his head down, avoiding any glimpse of Hayce and his new omega from the corner of his vision. He didn’t want to think about him, look at him, or give him even a moment of attention. The asshole deserved nothing. Nothing. Not even a fleeting thought. Ehlian forced the memories and every thought of Hayce deep into a locked corner of his mind, buried under what little control he had left of his telepathic abilities.
Other than the showers, Ehlian went nowhere. Not even the lounge. Aric brought him food every day, but he pushed it aside. He wasn’t hungry, and he hated that dry, tasteless rubbish anyway. There was a constant push-and-pull between them, Aric stubbornly placing the food in front of him again and again. Gods, it felt like a battle between two children. Aric only relented when Ehlian begrudgingly took at least three bites. Damn him. Why did he care if Hayce’s discarded omega ate or not? Ehlian didn’t need his pity.
When the final day arrived, Ehlian was up early. Holding his meagre belongings, he stood by the door, waiting for a guard to finally lead him out of this rotten place.
But then Aric blocked his way. “You need to see Hayce.”
“Yeah, no.” Ehlian let out a dry laugh. “Not a chance.”
“You don’t have a choice,” Aric said sternly. “The pack bond needs to be removed.”
Ehlian had forgotten about the pack bond entirely. It had been dormant since Hayce cast him aside. The last thing he wanted was to remain tied to that heartless dickhead in any way. So, although he had no desire to see Hayce again, he followed Aric with a scowl to the lounge.
Hayce sat with his back to him at the usual table, his new omega clinging to his arm like some invasive plant. It was obvious the newcomer had ignored Ehlian’s earlier warning and fallen for Hayce’s charm far quicker than Ehlian ever had.
“Is this how it usually goes?” Ehlian asked Aric, his eyes straining on the pair.
Aric shrugged. “Most of the time.”
Hayce pried the omega’s stubborn fingers from his arm and stood. As he turned, Ehlian quickly averted his gaze, staring resolutely at the grainy holographic film playing in the corner.
It was almost a relief that they needed no eye contact to sever the bond—here was nothing left to connect, only to break.
Hayce stepped in front of him.
The air between them hung heavy with tension until Ehlian felt a light pressure against his thin mental shield. It was brief, much faster than when Hayce had initially formed the pack bond. And then, like a snapped rubber band, it was gone. The severed connection slammed into Ehlian’s mind like a reopened wound, bleeding raw.
Breaking the bond was always easier than building it. Just like any relationship.
It was done. Nothing tied them together anymore.
Hayce withdrew from his mind, though he didn’t move away.
Ehlian turned to Aric, his voice sharp. “Tell him he’s truly a bigger dick than he looks.” After a pause, he added, “And that I hope I never see him again.”
Aric gave him a funny look. “I think he heard you.”
“Good.” Ehlian gave Aric a curt nod, then turned and walked away, ignoring the stares boring into him from all directions.
After signing his release papers and getting back the clothes he’d arrived in, Ehlian was out of there and back on Arox within an hour.
As the ship landed and the door opened, a familiar smiling face waited for him on the ground.
Ehlian didn’t hesitate. He threw himself into Willian’s arms.
Part II
Chapter 16
Five months later
The tall Orgon trees were in full bloom, their flowers scenting the air with a rich sweetness. Huge, pink petals drifted down like feathers, painting the pavement below in vibrant hues. Ehlian craned his neck to admire the colourful canopies, the trees towering as high as some skyscrapers.
He had always appreciated the beauty of his planet, but after staring into the darkness of space for far too long, he drank in the sights more greedily than ever. He often found himself stopping to gaze at the blooming flowers lining the roads, even the flesh-eating ones most people avoided, though in towns and cities they were smaller and domesticated. In the wild, they could grow as tall as bushes.
An alarm blaring on his holowatch jolted him back to reality. He swiped it away with a sigh, his gaze catching on the curlingCetched into the silver frame.
“If you don’t want to be late, you’d better get ready,” Willian’s voice boomed. “I hear your boss is an asshole who wouldn’t think twice about firing you.”
