I would prefer to be the wild boar than the tragic lovers.
Mars wanders across the concrete floor to me, before drawing something out of his pocket with a flourish. “I wrote a poem for Rosa!”
Oh, fuck. He didn’t.
He did.
I stare at the sheet of rose embossed paper that Mars is shaking enthusiastically under my nose. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”
I hate the way that Mars’ expression falls. “My poetry isn’t that bad.”
I straighten his skewed tie. “I’m sure that it’s brilliant. ButRosamay not be able to appreciate good poetry.”
Mars stuffs the paper back into his suit pocket. “What if she rejects me, Ro? I’m not the typical Alpha. She probably expects someone who is…taller…bigger…a fighter…different.”
I growl.
Different.
How many times have I heard that?
I firmly adjust the wilting red rose in Mars’ suit pocket. “Then fuck her. You’re perfect. You’re the heir of a fucking mafia empire. The Adonis pack are assholes, but we command respect. So, you walk in there like you own the world. Because we do own it.”
“Thanks, sis.” Mars catches my hands between his; his gaze holds mine. “I swear, bonding Rosa won’t change things between us. It’s the first of December. Nico made an advent calendar for us like always. It’s up in his bedroom. When we return from our trip, you can open it and enjoy the chocolates. Nothing will change because of the new bonded Omega in my pack, okay?”
I shutter my expression. “Sure.”
It will.
Everything changed when my older sister, Gianna, bonded with her male Omega, Elio.
My sister became a threat.
She began to plot to take over the entire pack.
“It won’t,” Mars rushes to reassure. “As either Alpha or Omega, you’re everything to me. I would never put anyone before you. I promised when I was a kid that you could be part of my pack when we grew up. I meant that.Nothing has changed.I will fight for you to become my personal bodyguard. We made adeal that you would help me to become heir. Then we’d take over and stop…”
“The Chief Alpha,” I supply. “The Omega trafficking. Change how this pack is run.”
Mars nods like the takeover of a mafia pack that is steeped in black market Omega trafficking and corrupt politics will be simple.
It won’t be.
Yet I have been plotting the same thing since I was a kid. In fact, from the moment that I found out how the Adonis pack made their money from the misery of Omegas.
My brother and I, unlikely rebels that we may be, united.
When Mars’ smile dims, however, I crouch to reach underneath the mattress. I pull out the pack of cards that I stole from one of the Beta bodyguards.
“Since we’re about to meet with a pack from a casino,” I drag Mars to sit next to me on the mattress, “I learned a trick with cards. I’ve called it The Rogue Switch.”
Mars laughs. “Clever, Ro. I love your magic.”
I shuffle the cards. I’ve always been fast at sleight of hand, distraction, and illusion.
Deceit,Mom calls it.
Survival, in my opinion.
