Page 171 of Labor of Love

“You can leave now, Matlin.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

Matlin closed the door, but not before giving Kael a look, and then Kael stood alone with the two alphas. “So nice to see you again, Kael. Only a few more days and we’ll be mated.”

“Sir.” Nigel came over and stood in front of him, then placed two fingers under his chin and lifted his head up. Kael let him, but kept his eyes lowered as was customary when with alpha’s.

“Such pretty green eyes. So light they almost shimmer.” Nigel kissed him, and Kael stood still as Nigel’s wet lips slid over his own. “You will kiss me back.”

Kael glanced at Sylvester, who now stood next to them, nodding. “Kiss him.”

Kael held back his shudder of revulsion. He’d be doing more than kissing this alpha soon. Nigel’s dark blue eyes bored into his own, and Kael licked his lips, then returned Nigel’s kiss. God, Nigel’s breath was horrific, but Kael kept kissing him, their tongues touching before Nigel’s was thrust into his mouth. When Nigel stepped back, he smiled and nodded.

“Good, now turn around and drop your jeans and underwear. I want to see what I’m getting.”

“Sir?”

“We didn’t agree to this, Nigel.” Sylvester smiled and moved Kael away. “A kiss is what you asked for, and you got it.”

“I want to make sure he remains untouched. I’m paying a lot of money for him.” Nigel ran a finger over Kael’s lips. “Look at him. That slim body of his, with those eyes and black hair. You’re telling me no one has touched him?”

“No one has touched me,” Kael blurted out. “I’m a virgin.”

“Turn around and let me see your ass,” Nigel ground out. “Unless you don’t want my money.”

Nigel smiled, but it looked sick and slimy to Kael. He turned around and held back his tears as he undid his jeans and pushed them and his underwear down. When nothing happened, he looked over his shoulder to see Sylvester standing between him and Nigel.

“He looks untouched.” Kael’s brow furrowed at Nigel’s words. How did you know if someone had sex by looking at their ass? “Lube, Sylvester. I need to make sure.” Kael whimpered, which made Nigel laugh again. “You’ll be whimpering on our mating night. There will be no part of you I haven’t touched by the time the night is over. Get used to my hands on your body, because I’ll be doing a lot to you.”

“This isn’t what we agreed to. Get dressed, Kael.”

“I’m paying a hell of a lot of money for him, but I’m satisfied. He’ll be nice and loose by the time I’ve finished with him.”

Kael dressed and folded his arms over his waist. “Go home, Kael. You have a few more days with your family. Enjoy them.”

“As soon as we’re mated, you’ll move to my pack, so you won’t see them again.”

Kael nodded and left the room, then walked calmly down the hallway until he reached outside. Matlin stood outside but had his back to him, and Kael stepped back, moving around the side of the house, making as little noise as he could. Once he reached the trees that surrounded Sylvester’s house, he turnedand bolted into them. He didn’t care if he made noise then. He needed time alone. Time to figure out what the fuck he was going to do. He dreaded what his mating night would be. Nigel would take him, do what he wanted, and Kael had a sickening feeling how he felt didn’t matter. Nigel would fuck him all night long regardless of whether he hurt Kael or not.

When the trees in front of Kael became blurry, he slowed and slumped to the ground, his arms around his waist as he cried. He heard his name shouted behind him but far away, so he staggered up and ran on, desperate to have some time alone. If Matlin got hold of him, Kael knew something would happen. No doubt Sylvester would have confided in Matlin about what had occurred in his office, and Matlin would want a piece too.

When had Kael become property to be bought?

Tripping on a root, Kael crashed to the ground and huddled into a ball, crying so much his throat ached. He didn’t want to be mated off, but he had no choice in it. It was for the pack, and his family were pack, so it was for them too. Kael sat up and wiped the tears away, but it was a futile gesture as more replaced them. How could this be his life? Why had he been born an omega? Why couldn’t he get to decide who he mated, who he wanted to spend his life with?

A snap of a twig had him holding his breath, but there were no further sounds, so Kael sighed and let the tears fall. He should cry now and let it all out. Soon, he’d have to endure whatever Nigel wanted to do to him, and tears would mean nothing then. Another sound had him pausing, but again, silence fell. He should expect sound. He was in a forest with plenty of wildlife around him, but when a shadow moved, Kael sniffed and sat up, his eyes widening when someone stepped into sight. Kael sniffed or tried to with his stuffy nose, but he caught it. A scent that teased him. A scent that made his bodywake up, and he kneeled on the ground as the man—no, vampire—stepped closer.

Kael picked up his scent more now and knew who this vampire was to him. Right when he needed a miracle, a way to escape his life, his mate appeared.

3

Anatoly stepped closer, then stopped when he saw the young shifter’s eyes widen. “I’m Anatoly.” The shifter swallowed, nodded, then wiped his face. Something had made Anatoly’s mate cry, and he wanted to find out what. “Who are you?” he asked as he took another step closer.

“Kael.” The word was so low, Anatoly barely heard him.

“Hi, Kael.” Anatoly inhaled, drawing all the scents into his lungs, and filtered through them until he found the one he wanted. His mate was a shifter, an omega shifter. Releasing his breath, Anatoly asked, “Want to tell me why you’re alone in the woods, crying?”

“No,” came the muffled response.

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