Page 44 of Collateral Omega

“The contract said if my father fails to pay back the credit, I belong to that beast. I’ll find a job and pay him back.”

“That’ll take forever.”

“I don’t care.”

Holi went to his father’s room to fetch his connector. He connected with Sah, his favourite pod operator. The alpha didn’t waste time. He arrived at the house thirty minutes later. Holi gave the alpha the name of the commune house he was assigned to as he got into the pod.

“Take care of yourself,” Saki said.

Holi nodded.

Sah closed the door and drifted away. Holi looked at his house until he couldn’t see it anymore. He never thought he would leave his father’s home like this.

He dreamed of a different reality where he’d be wrapped in his alpha’s arms, his father waving to him with joy and love in his heart. Saki too. But all he saw in her eyes were tears, while he sat alone in the pod. No alpha, no credit…nothing. Holi had never felt so alone in his life.

Chapter 13

Xaine

Xaine drummed his fingers on the desk, eyes focused on the door. He hardly slept last night, his mind and body focused on the omega - obsessively. It took everything in him not to go back there and bring him home. Desires and instincts pulsed alive within him. He’d fought them for too long, and now they were smouldering, making it hard to concentrate.

What did Klane say again?

Yes. He had an interview with Chare Ram – the most popular media personnel on their planet. To think he’d worked hard for this moment. Now that it was here, Xaine couldn’t think of anything except the omega who was on his way to his house. Xaine balled his hands into fists and released them as a pang of desire worked its way through his body.

“You don’t look happy,” Klane said.

“What?” Xaine schooled his features.

“Or do you want me to change the schedule?”

Schedule? Xaine frowned. He hadn’t been listening.

“Sorry, I have a lot on my mind,” Xaine said. “Go on.”

“The interview is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, and it’s going to take place here to avoid external stimulation.”

“Okay,” Xaine said. But he didn’t care about that right now. “When is the omega arriving?”

“Preat left an hour ago. I’m sure he’s on his way back now,” Klane said. As if on cue, Klane’s connector went off. “It’s him.”

Him, who? A shard of excitement went through him at the thought of the omega.

Fuck. For someone who didn’t want to do this, he was overly excited to see the omega. But Xaine’s excitement vanished when he heard Preat’s voice.

“He’s not here,” he said.

“What do you mean he’s not there?” Klane asked.

“He’s gone. There’s no one at the house.”

“Shit,” Klane said under his breath before he turned to him. “Master…”

“I heard everything,” Xaine bit out. The urge to dominate, claim and possess roiled deep inside him. And Xaine didn’t even try to hold it back.

Oh…he shouldn’t have done that. Running was the worst thing he could have done. He could have begged for mercy, did everything to get himself out of the contract but run. Xaine turned away from Klane, his heart beating fast as the thrill of the chase filled him. It festered, taking over everything.

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