Page 12 of His Snowbound Omega

Last night, the table had been empty, and he found himself walking toward it, approaching the bouquet the same way one might a tiger. There was a card, and Thorn frowned at the words "To New Beginnings," embossed in gold. The note inside was no less perplexing.

A path has been prepared for you. There’s a car outside.

-Baal

“Is the mafia always this thoughtful?” Thorn nibbled on his bottom lip and went to check the window from the kitchen. Sure enough, there was a large black vehicle parked out front, and the snow had been cleared in a distinct winding makeshift road leading away from the cabin.

He spotted the keys when he turned back, placed on the other side of the basket.

Realizing he was still naked, Thorn set the card aside and entered the living room, finding a clean set of clothing folded on the couch. There was a jacket as well, a cream colored peacoat that was velvety to the touch.

A quick search proved his personal clothing had been removed, leaving him no other choice but to accept the offering. With a defeated huff, he got dressed, curious about how well the white jeans fit when he pulled them on. The long-sleeved, turtleneck knit sweater, in the same pale shade, was also the perfect size.

“Seriously? Even my shoes?” He searched everywhere, but there was no sign of them, or even a replacement pair. Thethick socks he’d been given were warm enough, but without shoes, he wasn’t going to be able to walk far outside.

Could…the alpha have done this on purpose?

Thorn’s gaze turned back to the car key.

Shit.

A ding caught his attention, and he practically ran for his multi-slate, which was back in the kitchen by the sink. He must have missed it due to being so surprised by the flowers and the key.

He almost wept when he read the confirmation text, confirming his debt had been settled.

Thorn slid to the floor, settling against the counter as he clutched the device to his chest and tried to breathe through the mixture of elation and anxiety dueling within him.

They were free. No more threats from the White Frost. He’d have to keep two of his jobs to continue paying the hospital and their house bills, but surely he could quit the delivery job he’d been working. That one had the night shift, and because of it, Thorn had barely managed more than four hours of sleep for the past month.

A laugh bubbled past his lips, the sound harsh and self-deprecating.

He’d been killing himself to pay off this massive debt, and in the end, all he’d had to do was spread his legs.

The sex hadn’t even been bad, if he were being honest with himself. In fact, quite the opposite. As much as he’d cried and complained, Thorn had enjoyed it every bit as much as the alpha apparently had.

He’d satisfied Baal, and he’d been rewarded for it.

Yes. That was it.

It’d been a transaction. Another job.

When Thorn thought about it that way, most of the horror and disgust he’d associated with the events of the nightdisappeared. What good would shame bring him anyway? It wouldn’t keep the lights on, that was for certain.

It wasn’t like anyone had to know. He lacked friends, since they’d all abandoned him slowly but surely. When his brother had first gotten ill, trips to the hospital had prevented Thorn from attending any parties or gatherings. Eventually, after one too many blown off invitiations, he’d stopped receiving them.

Then his sudden involvement with the mafia became known, and even the occasional text messages had stopped.

He couldn’t even blame them for that one. He wouldn’t want to be anywhere near the White Frost either, not even by association.

And now he didn’t have to be.

He’d keep things from Aster as long as possible, give his brother time to recover. The new drug they’d switched him to last week seemed to be working, so—

Thorn jumped when his device started ringing, all good feelings draining away when he read the hospital's name flashing across his screen.

“Hello?”

“Mr. Winters?” a dire-sounding female voice greeted him. “This is Wista, one of the nurses assigned to your brother. There’s been a serious complication and we’re going to need you to come in as soon as possible.”