Page 16 of Accept Me (Fate’s Choice #4)

"Star turned twenty-two not long ago. He graduated three months back with a degree in public health, and right now he’s working as an online consultant for Malden Pharmaceuticals. He’s left that part of his life behind, and he hasn’t been involved in any kind of sex work for a few years."

I stared at the photo, and it took my breath away.

As I studied his face, I couldn’t think of many omegas I’d met who were more beautiful.

Even so, there was something in his expression that didn’t quite invite warmth, maybe a subtle tension behind his eyes.

But his beauty was undeniable. Delicate, perfectly balanced features, full, softly shaped lips, and large, expressive eyes that looked either black or dark graphite.

It was hard to tell from the image. His long, platinum blond hair framed his face in a way that made him look almost unreal.

There was something else, and it sent a chill down my back. He bore a striking resemblance to… Olaf.

They could’ve been brothers, the similarity was that strong. Objectively, Star might even have been more attractive, but it was that semblance that made my chest tighten. I gripped the photograph a little harder.

"Star contacted us three months before graduating. He’s been waiting for six months now, hoping for offers, but we haven’t been able to find any.

Most are looking for people with no sexual experience, and his history is a major obstacle, no matter how beautiful he is.

The customer pays, the customer demands. It’s brutal," Storm muttered.

Damien cut in, frowning deeply. "Poor Star’s been sitting there for two days.

So many alphas come up, read his info board, and just walk away.

It must be horrible for him. You can tell he’s completely shut down.

His face is stiff and tense, and that might make it even harder for people to approach him.

It might even put them off, make them think he’s some cold bitch.

But he really wants a relationship. He marked on his profile that he wants a family, kids.

He’s looking for a normal life, and he deserves that chance," he added, almost pleading.

I glanced at the photo again. Star’s dark eyes stared back at me from the picture, intense. My hands trembled slightly. I was fighting with my flickering nervous system, but I already felt it.

Deep down, I already knew I was going to buy his contract.

"The wonderful news is Star just made his Eternal contract much cheaper, but there’s something else… He hasn’t had his first heat yet, so that’s something you might want to know. It means his first time could be with you."

"Eternal contract?" I cut him off before he could get weirder.

Everyone had heard of those contracts. They were usually cheaper, but basically a lifetime deal. The buyer had to pay a steep pension and include the omega in their will. It was nearly impossible to get out of one.

Storm must’ve read my mind.

"People demonize that type of contract, but I wouldn’t be so afraid of it. Especially not in this case. If he’s your fated, it won’t matter anyway. The government already considers you legally married once the Bond’s formed."

A moment of silence followed. I looked up from the photo, then at the tablet with the contract.

"Well… what do you say?"

Storm and Damien were both staring at me, clearly tense, hoping I’d say yes.

Well. I was about to give them what they wanted.

"All right. I’ll buy his contract."

Another long silence. I expected more joy, but Storm stared at me like he couldn’t believe I’d just agreed without arguing.

"There’s one more thing—"

I exhaled impatiently. "One more thing? How many things that ‘shouldn’t scare me off’ are you planning to throw at me?"

"Just this one, I promise!"

"No. Don’t tell me anything else. I don’t want to hear it. I’ve already made my decision. If Star wants me to know anything else, he can tell me himself."

I stood up abruptly, but I rolled Star’s photo into a tube and slid it into my pocket. I just couldn’t bring myself to let it go.

Storm grinned and exchanged a look with Damien, whose face lit up like a torch.

"Then there’s no reason to wait. Let’s go introduce you two!" he said, brimming with excitement.

As soon as he said it, a wave of nerves hit my stomach, but so did a strange wave of excitement. Was this the moment my fate was being sealed? Was my life about to veer off in a completely new direction? Or more like a sudden turn and an even sharper acceleration.

My head was buzzing, but I kept my face still, indifferent: my beloved mask.

Storm handed me a few papers. "By the way, these are his medical results. All clean, no STDs. According to him, he always used condoms. He only has asthma—but psychogenic, not allergic. It flares up under stress. Otherwise, he’s healthy.

His doctor thinks his heat will come in about two months, or sooner. "

Suddenly, Storm sniffed the air and said, "I can smell you’re on suppressants. Not good. That means Star won’t be able to pick up your Allure scent."

I barely stopped myself from sighing in frustration. I wanted to go, to see Star. What if someone else had decided to buy his—now much cheaper—contract while I was still standing here?

"It’s recommended for officers. I sometimes travel for consultations."

Storm let out a sigh. "Right, right, I get it, but it doesn’t change the fact that Star won’t know whether you two are compatible, even though you’ll know right away."

I stayed quiet for a moment, taking my time to choose my words carefully.

"Good. That’s exactly what I want. It’s not my intention to tell him right away, even if it turns out to be true."

"It’s not?" Damien asked, his face full of surprise.

"I want us to get to know each other first, in a completely neutral setting, under natural circumstances. I’m not ready for… jumping into something intense just yet," I added vaguely.

Storm tilted his head. "Yeah… you should be aware that the moment you touch, you’ll activate it. The need to be intimate starts kicking in fast, the Pull sets in at full power," he added diplomatically.

"That’s why I’m not even going to shake his hand. I know the First Touch would trigger it instantly. Before we touch, the Pull will advance too, but… more slowly."

"So how long are you planning to wait… before fully consummating the relationship?"

I grimaced. "Until I’m ready. Olaf died almost a year ago, remember?

" I said tersely. I wasn’t about to explain all my reasons to him.

I’d never had a particularly close relationship with Storm, maybe because of his overbearing personality.

This wasn’t the time to start dragging out my emotional history, so I decided to wrap it up.

"Anyway… I think it’s time we went to see him."

But Storm unexpectedly crossed his arms over his chest.

"No! You go alone. If you’ve decided not to tell him you’re his TM, then I don’t think I should be there.

It’d be better if you approached him on your own and asked him whatever you feel like asking.

It will look natural. Just let me know when you’re ready to sign the contract. " He gave me a cheeky chuckle.

Hesitantly, I nodded. "Okay."

"His booth number is on this tag," he said, handing me a small name card.

"Okay. I’ll find him."

My cousin put his hand on my back and gave me a little tap, or more of a push?

"Good luck, Hunter!"

His grin seemed to literally glow.

As I stepped outside the door, I heard Damien squeal with excitement, letting out a loud cheer like they already had it in the bag. One thing was certain, I definitely wasn’t his fated. These kinds of intense, high-energy personalities weren’t a good match for me.

◆◆◆

As I walked down the long hallway lined with glass booths, most of them empty, I felt a strange tension pulling at me, like something inside me was wound too tight, a string ready to snap.

I saw him from a distance.

A lone figure sitting in a chair, staring straight ahead with a blank, unfocused gaze. When I got within about forty yards, he slowly turned his head toward me. I could tell he was watching my every step.

And wow.

He was even more stunning than in the photo, though colder too. Long platinum hair fell nearly to his waist. He wore a thin black mesh shirt and skin-tight black pants. Flawless body, no doubt about it. Long legs, narrow waist, shapely thighs, an elegant curve to his neck. Not skinny. Fit, healthy.

I paused near the info board, pretending to study it, wanting it to look natural.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a flicker of a grimace on his otherwise motionless face.

He probably thought I was just another disappointment.

I kept my focus on the board, acting like I wanted to read something there, even though I already knew everything I needed.

While I stood there, I was sure he was scrutinizing me.

When I finally looked up, the omega hadn’t moved a muscle. His face was a perfect mask, eyes dark and emotionless, like polished pieces of basalt.

He had a breathtaking face, no doubt. But it reminded me of something carved out of ice.

A Fate's Choice employee appeared next to me and I asked for a chance to talk to Star, the guy quickly invited me in.

My heart pounded as I waited for the door to open. This was it.

Time to find out if Storm was full of shit, or if his so-called magical talent of being a human TM radar was worth anything.

The employee swiped a card and unlocked the door.

The second I stepped inside, I was hit with the sweetest scent I’d ever experienced in my life.

Blissful, aromatic, perfect.

It nearly knocked me over. I had to pretend I was just focused on the chair Dylan kindly pulled out for me. I didn’t want Star to see what had just flashed through my eyes.

That scent told me everything I needed to know.

There was no doubt left in me: Star was indeed my True Mate. I owed Storm an apology.