Page 18 of Slow Heat
You should have knocked on the front door like a respectable person.
The thought hissed through his mind as he inched toward the windows at the back of the house, edging into the cover of the garden and stepping on rivers of mint that wafted perfume.
He wasn’t here to be a respectable person.
That’s what his parents were being on his behalf at home. They’d have their attorney contact Vale’s attorney, and they’d all meet in some tense, nondescript room, where they’d act like this was business and not so much more.
He was here to find out who Vale was on a primal level before the attorneys and the contracts got in the way.
The back windows were open, too, and he heard a voice as he crept in closer.Thevoice. Gritty with rage. Jason’s hackles went up. What was his omega so angry about? Who did he need to challenge?
“So I have to pay the price?”
Another voice drifted out to Jason, and he had to suppress a growl until he realized it was coming from the newfangled speakerphone on Vale’s very messy desk. Jason blinked, his hands shaking. This was Vale’s office. He was peering into Vale’s house.
Heaps of papers quivered in the breeze, held down by strategically placed books and coffee mugs. A leather sofa was strewn with a knitted blanket and a pillow, as though Vale had slept in the study instead of a bedroom. A wingback chair and bookcases filled the rest of the room, and charred ashes filled the fireplace.
Where was Vale?
“This isn’t a punishment,” the speakerphone rumbled, and Jason recognized Chancellor Rory’s voice. “It’s simply not possible for you to remain on campus as the uncontractedÉrosgápeof an imprinted alpha. One wrong move from one of these young men could end very messily. You have to understand that. You’re old enough to have seen how violent things can get. Until you’ve contracted, consummated, and the bond is set, you can’t continue to work on campus.”
Vale launched up from the wingback chair, having been hidden by it before. He strode over to the desk and leaned against the edge near the speakerphone, both fists clenched. “What would you have me do? Starve?”
“While I have serious doubts you even need your income, due to your inheritance, your alpha is quite wealthy. The Sabels will never allow you to suffer monetarily. They’ll grant you a reasonable allowance, I’m sure.”
Vale’s pale cheeks went even paler, and Jason wanted to punch Chancellor Rory though he had no idea why. It was true that he would never allow Vale to endure any pain he could prevent.
“I am agrown man, used to taking care of myself. I don’t want charity.”
“It’s not charity, Vale. It’s your right as his omega.”
“I like my job, Rory. What do you not understand about that?”
“I understand it all too well. It’s unfortunate, but this is how it must be. Your position will be waiting for you when you’ve contracted and bonded, or he’s graduated, whichever comes first.”
“This is ridiculous! I can’t be shielded from alphas simply because it might upset him. There are thousands of alphas on the streets, Rory. All I have to do is go out of my house and there’ll be one right there in front of me.”
“Those alphas aren’t my charges. No one is going to sue me or have me jailed if Jason Sabel goes barbaric and beats them to a pulp. And most of those alphas on the streets are older, experienced, not so likely to make a misstep if you were to go into an unexpected heat—”
“I’m thirty-five years old! I’ve never had an unexpected heat in my life.”
“You’ve never been exposed to your alpha’s pheromones, either. It changes things.”
Vale’s breathing was ragged with distress, and Jason’s pulse thrummed.
“I’m sorry, Vale. I really am.” There was a pause, and when Vale didn’t fill it, Chancellor Rory went on. “I’ll have Jon Biers contact you for lesson plans and your current marks for the students. Truly, this doesn’t have to be so bad, old friend. Enjoy your vacation.”
“For two years?”
Vale flinched as Chancellor Rory snorted in astonishment. “So you plan to make him wait?”
“I don’tknowthe boy! I was in his presence for less than ten minutes yesterday afternoon. Do you expect me to fall on the ground and present myself to him at our first real meeting?”
“Some do.”
“Boys with other boys. Bright-eyed children with no pasts or planned futures except each other.”
“Oh, Vale.” Chancellor Rory sighed heavily. “Do you like the sound of a sabbatical better?”
