Page 22 of His Snowbound Omega
“You were planning on majoring in finances, weren’t you?” Baal knew he wouldn’t accept a full ride to a fancierschool, but surely he’d be able to convince Thorn to take the offer of community college. “I’ll enroll you in online classes. Just enough to see if it’s something you still want to pursue. If it turns out you don’t, you can drop out any time. If by the end of the semester you want to continue, we can discuss how to proceed.”
“You’re already buying my body,” Thorn reminded. “I don’t have anything else to trade. Especially not anything worth tuition fees.” His gaze pinged around the room. “You can’t take my house.”
He grunted. “This tiny place? What use would I have for this?”
Aside from being able to evict Thorn and force him to move to the manor, of course. That wasn’t currently on the table, however.
“If it comes down to it, we’ll think of something. Don’t worry about that right now,” Baal said, but Thorn wasn’t listening, his mind already running through a list of his possessions.
It made sense that he didn’t trust him.
But it still pissed Baal off.
Suddenly, Thorn’s anger returned tenfold. “You can’t touch Aster.”
“I don’t need more than one omega,” Baal reassured.
“You have alphas who work for you. That one who was here. Espen? I’ll never sell my brother, so—”
Baal released soothing pheromones into the air, shushing him in the process. He waited until some of the tension eased from Thorn’s shoulders and then said in a soft voice, “I will never mess with your family, omega. Your brother is free to do as he pleases, with my protection and my financial backing. That’s part of our arrangement.”
“Don’t ever ask for him.”
“I won’t.”
It was clear Thorn wasn’t sure whether or not to believe him, but there weren’t any other options but to take Baal at his word. He sighed. “Any other rules?”
“You come when I call,” Baal smirked, “and when I tell you to.”
Thorn rolled his eyes.
“Wepracticewhenever I say we do. Is that understood, frosty omega?”
“Yeah, I got it.”
“I’ll give you a day to end things with anyone else you’re seeing.” He wasn’t seeing anyone, but Baal wanted to come off understanding.
“That’s not necessary,” Thorn unsurprisingly said. “I wouldn’t have entered the White Hunt if I was dating someone. That wouldn’t be fair to them.” He held his gaze pointedly. “I’m loyal.”
“Good.” Baal brushed a strand of platinum blond hair off Thorn’s forehead. “For what it’s worth, I have no intentions of sleeping with anyone else either. I return every ounce of respect that’s given me, omega.” He tapped the holopad. “Sign the contract.”
“Make the discussed adjustments first.”
“No need,” he grinned and slipped his hands into his front pockets, lifting a single shoulder when Thorn frowned. “What? It’s not my fault you’re a slow reader. Everything we just discussed was already included in the second contract.”
“Second?” Thorn started flipping through the digital pages.
“I had another version drawn up just in case,” he affirmed. “A backup plan, so to speak. Everything we talked about is already included in it.”
“You…” He found it and skimmed through the first couple of pages. “How could you have possibly predicted everything I’d ask for?”
“Given your situation, it wasn’t difficult.” Perhaps that was a cruel thing to point out, but it was the truth, and Thorn had to realize that. “Your father left you two with nothing but this place. You spend your entire youth working to help keep the lights on, and then later for your brother’s medical expenses. It wasn’t hard to guess what you’d want from me, Thorn.”
Maybe he shouldn’t have referred to him by name so soon, because as soon as he did, something odd flashed within the omega’s eyes. Baal tried to place it, but it was gone almost as quickly as it came, and he was left staring back at that same determined expression he was used to Thorn wearing.
That was who Thorn was. He’d weather any storm to get to the other side.
“It’s admirable,” Baal found himself saying without meaning to. “How you’ve sacrificed for your family. Have they ever thanked you?”