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Crawling beneath the sheltering branches, he collapsed. At least there, if anyone bellowed his name again, he was near enough to hear it, yet far enough to get away from the suffocating oppression of Elmer’s rule.

Under the concealment of dense foliage, his body relaxed, and his mind briefly shut down.

JEROME WOKE with a start much later. He clawed out of his makeshift den, found his way back to his clothes, then transformed back to human form, dressed, and sneaked back to the pack house under the cover of early dusk. Shadows stretched across the ground.

Again, he found himself forced to serve those whom Elmer regarded as the key figures of the pack: himself, the betas, the one enforcer, and the elders. One particular elder was enjoying this way more than he should have had.

This time, thankfully, Elmer dismissed Jerome as soon as he was done serving, so he headed to the kitchen to eat. He’d just finished when Clyde arrived and gestured for him to come along.

The cook shot Jerome an uneasy glance as he left the kitchen.

He couldn’t ignore the command, even though he’d planned to find Henry, Lakisha, and Marcia. He’d only caught a fleeting glimpse of Henry and hadn’t laid eyes on Lakisha or Marcia at all.

He missed them. And the absence of Lakisha and Marcia scared him, leaving him to wonder about their whereabouts and what might have kept them away.

Once more he found himself in Li Li’s old office, Elmer behind her desk. It hurt him just as much as it did the first time.

“So, from what digging I have done, you are originally from the Courtland Heights pack. That’s your birth pack, correct?” Elmer asked.

Jerome kept his eyes on the ground as he answered. “It is, Alpha.”

“That’s a very well-known pack. Very strong and wealthy.”

Jerome had no idea where Elmer was going with this, but he didn’t like it. “Yes, Alpha.”

“Are you close to your birth pack?”

“Yes, Alpha.” Because he was. His mating might have been nothing more than a business deal, but that didn’t mean his parents—and his old alpha—hadn’t tried to do the absolute best they could for him.

“That’s too bad.”

Surprised, Jerome glanced up. “I beg your pardon?”

“I said that’s too bad. You know, it would’ve been much easier if you had just died during the hunters’ attack or even when I took over.”

Jerome’s mouth dropped.

“I know you’re an omega. And I know people consider your gift important, but I don’t believe in chance. Or fate. I make my own fate, so your ability to see the future doesn’t really mean anything to me because I have the power to change anything you see.”

Jerome didn’t know what to say. He seriously didn’t. It was the first time he had ever heard of an alpha discounting what he could do.

“And the fact that you’re close still with your birth pack and parents is also troubling. I can’t have them asking about you or complaining about your treatment,” Elmer said.

“What does that even mean?” Jerome asked.

“Simply put, I have no interest in taking you as my mate. For one thing, your gift does nothing for me. And secondly, I like my lovers to look much younger. Fresher.”

Jerome’s stomach rolled as he understood what the alpha meant. Jerome looked like a grown man, not a child.

“Here’s what we’re going to do. I know a couple of packs in South America that would love to get their hands on an omega like you. I’m sending the emails out this evening, and you will go to the highest bidder in an auction.”

“You can’t do that!” Jerome yelled.

“No? I think you’ll find I can do anything I want.”

“I will fight you,” Jerome swore. “I’d rather die than be sold again. At least the first time my pack was interested in my well-being. You just want to make money.”

“You’re right. I want to make money. That’s all I care about.” Elmer then waved.

Jerome slowly turned around as Albert and Clyde shoved Henry, Lakisha, and Marcia inside. Even more shocking were the guns Elmer’s betas pointed at them.

Jerking back around, Jerome faced Elmer. “Guns? Seriously?”

“I’ll use whatever I must to ensure I get what I want. If you don’t cooperate, I’ll shoot each of them in front of you. If you still resist, then I’ll start on pack members—the pups, I believe, would get your attention quickest.”

What Jerome ate for dinner threatened to reappear. “You’re disgusting.”

“I’m efficient. And I have no use for you.”

“Sell him? If all you’re interested in is money, sell him back to his birth pack!” Henry exclaimed.

“I’ll make more selling him to a South America pack, plus, his birth pack is going to be told that he ran off, that with the death of Li Li he could finally be free since he never wanted to be mated to her.”

“How did you know I wasn’t—”

“A certain elder has been very talkative, shall we say,” Elmer said.

“Elder Rodgers,” Jerome said quietly. “So, what did you promise him to betray me in such a way?”

“You’re very perceptive, which is another reason you have to go. But yes, he does not like you and feels his omega son should hold the title of alpha mate. And he shall.” Elmer shrugged. “He has the look I like.”

Jerome swallowed heavily. Young, Elmer meant. Young and dumb. And that omega was the very definition of that.

“Now, Clyde will escort you to the room you’ve been staying in,” Elmer said. “You’ll be locked in, and food will be brought to you twice a day.”

“That’s not nearly enough for a shifter, and you know it,” Henry argued. “You can’t do that to Jerome. He’s a sweet wolf. What you’re doing is nothing more than sexual slavery and it’s disgusting!”

“The online auction will take place this Tuesday night, and he’ll be shipped out immediately afterward. He won’t starve to death in that time.”

Henry took a threatening step toward Elmer, and Clyde cocked the gun and pointed it at Henry.

“Henry, stop.”

Wolves fought with fangs and claws, not guns. Still, dead was dead regardless of how it happened, and Jerome had to do something before Henry got himself killed.

And it would be so completely useless. He said nothing—because why give Elmer a heads-up?—but he hadn’t had a vision showing him this outcome.

Last he saw, Wesley challenged Elmer and won. Jerome was there, so he hadn’t been shipped off… and Wednesday was the day the challenge was set. He only had to hold out for a few days.

“It’ll be okay. It won’t kill me to go a few days without enough food. But a gunshot to the head will kill you,” Jerome desperately said. Hopefully, Henry would pick up what he meant.

Henry stopped, his chest rising and falling rapidly, though. A pain-filled look crossed his face.

“Smart move.” Elmer smirked. “Now, Jerome, remember what I said about giving either of my betas any trouble? I’ll start killing your pack members if you do. Are we clear?”

“We’re clear.”

“Good. Albert? Escort Jerome to his room. Clyde? Get those three out of my pack house.”

As they led Jerome away, he caught Henry’s gaze and gave a slight, reassuring nod.