Page 21

Melanie

“M elanie?” Sin’s cold voice wound down the phone as my heart leapt in my chest.

“Sin?” I croaked. Now that I was suddenly hearing him again after what felt like a month, I didn’t know what to say.

“Sin, I…” My bottom lip trembled as I scrambled for the words that had been swimming around in my head for hours.

I needed to do this. If I was going to take care of my mum, I had to surrender and return to the men who’d slashed up my heart.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

My eyes fluttered closed. “Is your offer still there? I mean, the offer to pretend to be your mate? Do you still want me?”

My body was vibrating with pure frustration. Not just at Rosa, or myself for being so powerless, but because I had missed them so much. And I had to use the word ‘pretend’ when the bite and the scent match were the realest things I’d ever felt in my life. Just three words from Sin, and I felt like breaking down and begging them to come to my nest just to help me relieve this ache.

“I’m going to put you on speakerphone,” he replied.

I swear I could hear rustling on the end of the line, and other familiar noises. And he was taking too long to answer.

“Sin?” I asked again.

There was a gasp, and his voice filled the phone again.

“Yes.” He paused and there was more rustling. “Yes, we still require a female omega, if that’s what you’re asking,” he murmured, and I could hear whispering behind him.

His clinical tone hurt more than I could say. It wasn’t me, or even an omega. They just needed ‘a female’, like I could be ordered from a menu.

I pushed away the stab of pain and focused on what I had to say. I wasn’t doing this for myself. I couldn’t afford to have pride anymore when my mum’s life was on the line.

“And you said it was a month, right? That was it?”

“Three events and the Selection Ceremony, to be precise.”

I sucked in a breath. It was every young girl’s dream to attend the Selection Ceremony. Some of my friends in school even started saving for it when they were twelve. Everyone knew if you met your scent matches at the Ceremony, then you found your true loves and would be happy for the rest of your life.

There was a shuddering sigh from Sin, and the silence between us suddenly expanded.

Eyes closed, biting my lip, I felt like he was about to say what I’d been wanting to hear from them since I left. That he had been waiting for me. That he missed me. That he wanted to see me, too.

“How are you?”

“How’s Kai?”

We both spoke at the same time, and both trailed off. The tense hope that was trembling in my heart broke as the questions hung between us. The silence was agonising for the full minute it stretched on, neither of us willing to answer until Sin spoke.

“I imagine you are in the same position as he is,” he said, sending awareness flooding through my body.

“As Kai?” I mumbled.

“Yes, the bite you gave him has been quite difficult and it could be worth—”

“Is that Brandy?” Kai’s voice suddenly burst through, and I let out a whimper that I really hoped they didn’t hear. “Hey, slut. I’ve been thinking about you,” Kai said sharply, even more bitter than the hate he’d poured on me when we were fucking. “And your shitty present,” he snarled.

Sin tutted at him and they both went silent again.

My heart thumped at the sound of his voice, and I tried to control my breathing. My hand was on my thigh, and I could barely resist opening my legs and stroking myself. All from one sentence.

“Me too…I mean, I’ve been thinking about you too, and I…” But I wasn’t calling them for that. If I let myself get taken away too strongly by my feelings, I might not be able to ask them for what I really needed.

Maybe I could find a way to be casual about it, to just slide it into the conversation.

Hey, Kai, I know you tried to choke me to death, but could you actually help me figure out what’s happening with my body? Because even though my heat is over, I feel like I’m going to explode.

“Melanie has agreed to our original offer,” Sin told him.

A harsh laugh snapped from Kai, but it was quickly drowned out by another voice I’d been longing for.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing? We told you to stay away.” Caspian’s deep bass filled my ear, and I sighed. My back curved, pressing my breasts outwards like he was there with me. My newly awakened omega instincts quivering at the idea of all three of them surrounding me, sending desire flowing through me.

“Yet, I did not,” Sin followed up, and my heart clenched at his admission. At least one of them didn’t hate me for everything that had happened.

“How dare you fucking contact us after all the shit you’ve put us through?” Kai growled.

Part of me didn’t want him to be angry, but the other part, the one that came alive while Kai was thrusting into me and Sin was touching me so sweetly? That part wanted his fury.

“Kai,” Sin said softly. “You can’t be angry when you originally suggested it.”

“You did?” I asked, my nails digging into muscle.

“Yeah, but that was before I knew what a fucking shitshow you’d cause by biting me.”

“Are you blaming me for that? Because you’re the one who was crying out and coming as I sank my teeth into you.”

A low chuckle sounded from Caspian, but it stopped instantly, like he’d caught himself and realised what he was doing.

Kai sucked in a harsh breath before he laughed sharply again. “I did, didn’t I? I fucking did, but that didn’t mean I actually wanted a fucking bond.”

“So, it’s my fault you kept talking about how deeply you wanted to bury yourself in my pussy? That you were thrusting into me as hard as you could while shoving your hand over my mouth?”

And the silence came again, but this time a small smile rode my lips, because I felt like I’d got them. Years and years of alphaporn were finally paying off, even though I’d hunched my shoulders up to my ears as I hid the tension in my voice.

I didn’t know how people could speak like that without blushing crazily.

A snarl tore down the phone. “Are you fucking—” But Sin cleared his throat, shutting Kai up instantly.

“Anyway,” Sin continued. “If you really want to accept our offer, then there are things we must organise. We will need a credible backstory, as I know our parents won’t receive the news of your employer quite so well.”

“Previous employer,” I replied coldly.

“Excuse me?”

“Previous employer. Because they found out I’m an omega and I was fired. Why do you think I’m calling you?”

I wasn’t exactly going to admit I’d been dumb enough to tell my manager-slash-friend in the heat of the moment. But there must have been some reason the Spa manager was searching for me, and Lucielle already said I’d been sent there like they thought. I just didn’t know about the full story.

“Because you’re still craving our cocks?” Kai bit back, a low growl rumbling his throat.

I wasn’t going to answer that. If I really told him how desperately I’d been longing for him, I was sure he’d make fun of me. It felt easier to be vulnerable with Sin because he’d been so gentle with me before.

“No. I have other reasons for calling,” I insisted, even though my body lit up with every single word they said.

“Right, whatever. Look, it’s only two days until this stupid party, so I’ll have to send someone over to get you measured.” I could hear his scowl so clearly.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“Are you fucking joking? I could tell just from looking at you that you’re not going to spend more than two hundred on a dress. I’d be surprised if you even had anything appropriate to wear.”

“I have dresses nice enough for a party like yours,” I said. Though, really, the only dresses I had were Mum’s from when she was my age, and I could barely squeeze into them. I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d had money to afford a fancy dress.

“I don’t give a shit about that.” Kai just laughed again. “There isn’t a single chance that you’re turning up to a party as our mate wearing some cheap-ass rag.”

“Kai, enough,” Sin’s tone rang with disapproval.

“No, I’m not stopping. She agreed, so she has to deal with whatever we do. That’s what we’re paying you for, isn’t it, Brandy? You just want our fucking money. So you can shut the fuck up and be our little toy for the next month.”

I sucked in a hard breath as heat flooded in my core. I told myself not to give in, but it was harder to resist when he spoke to me like that.

“You really think that’s going to help?” Caspian asked, followed by more rustling. “Mel, I’ll send you however much you need, just as long as you fuck off and leave us alone.”

It felt messed up that I was more interested in how he said my name than how he was giving me an easy ticket to solve all my problems.

“Come on, Zania is going to lose her absolute shit if she finds out where she’s from,” Kai said.

Sin sighed, followed by even more rustling. I couldn’t tell for sure, but it sounded like they were in bed. Images flashed through me of that day: their faces, their strokes, the need that burned between us. I wanted to share it with them again.

“Listen, if you’re going to be our mate, you need to act like you belong with us.” The way Kai purred down the phone sounded like he was definitely planning something else. “All we’ve seen of you is your pussy, so you should prove to us you’re worth it before we pay you.”

My mouth dropped open as I searched for the right way to reply. But he was shredding through my pride like it was nothing.

Why should I be the one who has to prove myself after the way the three of them treated me during my very first heat? It wasn't like it was a one-way deal. They needed me, too.

“Pardon us for a second,” Sin said, quickly taking me off of speakerphone. I hung onto the phone, my heart in my throat as I waited.

Maybe I should just have accepted Caspian’s offer. But if I did that, I wouldn’t get to see them again. Even if they scowled and snarled and snapped at me, at least I could look at them and have a chance to say everything I needed to before we said goodbye.

Sin’s voice filled the phone again. From the way it echoed, it sounded like he was in a different room.

“I apologise again. He gets more wound up the longer he’s left to stew.”

“He’s been stewing?” I asked, suddenly perking up.

“Melanie,” Sin softened, taking on the same tone he did when he was holding me in his arms and watching me with fascination. “Even if Kai speaks like that, all we’ve been doing is thinking about you.”

My breath caught in the back of my throat as he said what I really wanted to hear since I left.

“I meant it when I said I couldn’t wait to see you again,” he murmured. “I’m so glad you called.”

“I, um…Sin, I…” I trailed off, reminding myself not to give in to my feelings, not yet. “I didn’t call because I wanted to see you again.”

“Of course, naturally,” his voice sprang back to his cool tone. “How much do you need? Please don’t be coy. You are doing us a favour by agreeing to this.”

I licked my lips, still not believing I was going to be so bold. I had swallowed my pride again and again over the years because I needed money or a place to stay. But asking people I’d shared my heat with for money, possibly in exchange for sex, made everything bitter.

“Ten thousand,” I demanded quietly, my stomach rolling, shame blooming in my chest.

“Really?” Sin replied.

I squeezed my eyes closed, knowing it was too much. I shouldn’t have done it. I should have just asked for a month’s wages so I could get back on my feet.

“Is that all?” he asked.

Like a strong wind against a bamboo house, my breath was stolen from me as his words sunk in.

“W-What?” I stuttered, not really believing he’d actually said that to me.

“Well, are you sure? We can always double that. I was expecting far more than simply ten thousand.”

He said it so casually it was like we were just talking about the weather and not my life.

It was then that I realised he didn’t have a single clue how much ten thousand pounds really was. That it was enough to help drag us out of debt. That it would give me time to get back on my feet so I could find another job.

Hurt and anger blazed through me as he kept on talking. “Even the dress Kai will make you is likely to be half that. There is no reason for you not to ask us for more.”

“No reason?” I asked numbly.

“Yes, we can discuss a different form of payment, if you’d prefer. Goods rather than money. We’ll also pay you after each event. A quarter of whatever number we settle on.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. He was encouraging me to accept more money, while I’d been trying to not be greedy. Yet, like with Kai’s cruel words, he’d slashed through my heart with his cold offer.

If I was Rosa, I’d start haggling with him. I could guess how far she would go. It was easy to imagine her eyes gleaming as she tested him, giving Sin a bigger and bigger number until he said enough. Fifty thousand, seventy-five thousand, a hundred thousand.

“No, money is fine. It makes it easier.”

“Very well. Please text me your address when we end the call, and Kai can make arrangements,” Sin said. “Now that you don’t have a job, I assume you’ll be available all day?”

My mouth dropped open, swept away by his statement. As if I had nothing else to do except wait around for them.

“I’ll also put you in touch with one of our assistants who will arrange your schedule for the month leading up to the Selection Ceremony.”

“Okay, sure,” I answered casually, like it was no big deal he’d just solved all of my problems instantly. What little fight I had when I’d been talking to Kai was gone. It was the same with Rosa. I was just tired and disappointed. With them, and with myself for even having expectations, as if I had any right to. We’d just fucked, that was it. If I hadn’t bitten Kai, it wouldn’t have meant anything. I probably wouldn’t even be talking to them again.

“And your bank details. We can arrange the payments based on your performance.”

I flinched, nearly yanking the phone away from my head as another bolt of pain hit me.

I stared in shock at the wall as my ears rang with his words.

It really was just business to him…

Another silence bloomed between us as all the things I’d been wanting to say to them fought to reach the surface. I was going to see them again, I had a way to help my mum, and I’d have enough money so I didn’t have to worry when it was all over.

“Melanie? Is there anything else I can do for you?”

I bit my lip to stop myself from asking him to come to my flat, to come to my nest and lie in my bed and hold me. Even if it was just him, or if Kai and Caspian came to pour their hate onto me, I wanted someone to tell me I could do it. That I was strong enough to get through all these road bumps.

It had been years since I’d wanted to rely on someone, to not carry it all by myself. And they were the worst people to lean on.

“No, it’s fine, Sin. Thank you for the offer,” I replied as politely as possible.

I clenched my eyes as my heart pulsed. Those omega instincts were taking me over again, and I had to get off the phone before I gave in to my need.

But even just hearing him breathe felt so comfortable I could have drifted off to sleep with him next to my ear.

“I’m hanging up now,” he said briskly.

“Okay,” I replied to the awkwardness that followed.

“Goodbye, Melanie.”

My voice cracked as I replied. “Goodbye, Sin.” I ended the call as quickly as I could. It wouldn’t be good to linger when it hurt so much.

I lowered my phone onto my lap, staring at it with my eyes wide.

Two days.

In two days, I’d get to see them again. Even with the pain, hope and excitement still curled through me.

All while my omega instincts sent pleasure tingling through my body as my heart beat with one word:

Mates .