Page 11 of No Strings Attached (Omega’s Preference #4)

Elias

I glare at myself in the mirror, my fingers fumbling with the tie around my neck.

The black suit feels like a straitjacket, a far cry from the loose flannel I’m used to.

Even before the whole adventure video thing, I was always the ‘freer’ brother.

Disappearing on walks and hikes with my Beta father, Joel, sometimes longer than we’d planned.

The rest of my fathers were never amused but Leo always understood that my heart couldn’t be contained within four walls.

I felt most comfortable out there , where the birds sung and the darkness felt like a warm hug rather than a nightmare.

A heavy sigh falls from my lips as I slick back my hair one more time, trying to tame the orangey-red mess. It’s not perfect but it’ll do, my green eyes dull with exhaustion. One day I’ll grab that flare I used to have but in the current climate with this commercial, I’m not sure when that will be.

My phone buzzes on the counter.

Sending you a car. It better not be empty when it shows up at the gala.

I grumble under my breath at the leash he’s got me on, even after I punched him, even after I walked out.

After today, though, I’m thinking of ways to leave.

If it means I have to sell my house and live in some rundown apartment in the city in order to pay Tristan back, I will. I can’t do this shit anymore.

Finally getting the tie in place, I notice a soft mark on my neck, just beside my scent gland, barely visible under the collar.

Olivia must have left it this afternoon.

My fingers brush across it as a shiver runs through me, my body warming at the memory.

Their scents still linger, a reminder of how they let me take control.

It was perfect, a moment where I wasn’t hiding, wasn’t pretending.

The mark feels like a claim, a reminder of something real, something I’m terrified to want.

I step out into my bedroom to the sound of a soft knock, confused when I see Snow staring into my bedroom.

The little squirrel I’ve all but adopted only ever really comes around for snacks and usually only in the morning.

Frowning, I slide open the window and place a few nuts on the ledge. “Hey girl, what are you doing here?”

Of course, she doesn’t respond but the little chirps and sudden twitches make it seem like she’s listening. She happily grabs one of the nuts and starts chipping away at it. I snort at her one-track mind as the slight breeze runs through her snow white fur.

“I’ll leave you a few extra but don’t eat them all at once, okay? I’ve got this bullshit gala to go to—”

Snow lets out a squeak and glares at me before continuing to chew.

“Yes, I know it’s bullshit but I need money to live and unfortunately, this contract is all I have. I’ll figure a way out of it.”

Snow just grabs another nut and stuffs it completely into her mouth.

My gaze travels out into the darkness of the forest outside my window, the peacefulness of this spot is everything I needed it to be.

However, I’m not entirely sure it’s what I need or even want now.

My shoulders sag as that faint breeze whistles through the trees, lightening bugs blinking on and off as they fly by.

A soft presence has me looking back to Snow, one of her pink feet resting on my finger. She’s looking at me like she understands, like she wishes she could do more. And I know that’s not what this is but it almost feels like Mother Nature herself sent this little squirrel to give me hope.

I’ve been fretting about this gala since I got home from the most perfect afternoon without focusing on the best part—Jamie and Olivia will be there.

And if this afternoon wasn’t a fluke, then this could be the start of something.

After all, Olivia all but told me that they want me, that it would be my choice on whether or not to reach out.

“I’m going to do it, Snow. Fuck, I want this so bad and even if it doesn’t work… at least I had it for a little while.”

Snow squeaks again before grabbing two more of the nuts and scurrying off.

I never know where she goes, just that her white form disappears into the night and reappears at some point the next day begging for nuts.

I’ve held her once or twice but we’re both most comfortable just existing in each other’s space.

A honk blares outside, ruining the moment.

Right, of course, the car . I sigh and grab my phone and wallet before locking the cabin door behind me.

The night air threatens to tussle my hair out of its manicured style and as much as I should flatten it back down, I don’t want to.

I have no idea why I have to put on airs tonight when everyone knows what I do for a living.

A sleek black limo stands a few feet from my house, a type of luxury Tristan would never send. He either wants something from me or came into a big sum of money. Either way, the car is a trap into yet more demands I won’t want to fill.

I throw open the door, ready to slide in and get this over with, but I freeze when I realize who’s inside.

Warren Hart . The man’s dressed in a pitch black suit that has to cost more than my yearly salary, one leg crossed over the other as he throws me a smug smile.

His hair is slicked back, much more professionally than me, every single crease in his suit and tie perfectly ironed out.

Why the hell is he here?

I should have known that my fate would be twisted with this man’s the moment I caught him watching me during the commercial earlier today.

He pats the seat next to him. “Let’s not dilly dally, Mr. Woods.”

My jaw tightens at the smoothness of his voice.

He definitely wants something. I slide in, anyway, telling myself that this is just another business deal and a ride to the gala.

Tristan has done worse things when trying to grab a deal and I’ve had the misfortune of trying to sell the dream of Hallis Films. But I’ve never been in a situation where the client is someone like Warren Hart, someone so out of Tristan’s league that it’s laughable.

Still, I don’t have to be rude.

I press myself as far as possible from Warren and close the door behind me. The car takes off as I stare at the man, wondering what happens next. For several seconds, there’s just silence as he shuffles around in the little fridge beside him, the dimly lit car not providing me much perspective.

And then, Warren holds out a glass of champagne. “Drink?” he asks, his tone a little too casual for whatever this is.

I shake my head, “No, thanks.”

He leans closer, his scent sharper than most Alphas I’ve met, like expensive cologne masking something sour. “You don’t need to have your guard up so high,” he muses, a wide smile slipping onto his lips. “This is just a social call.”

I don’t respond because I don’t know what to say.

Social call, my ass. Tristan’s got something planned, and Warren’s part of it.

Hart pushes the glass into my hands, his fingers brushing mine, and I flinch.

It feels like I’ve been burned, my Omega instincts telling me that I’ve let another Alpha touch me, an Alpha who isn’t mine.

“Don’t disrespect me,” he growls. “Your new boss just offered you a drink.”

I reluctantly sip at the champagne before his words register. “I work for Tristan.”

Warren laughs, a deep, grating sound that puts me on edge as he leans back in his seat.

“If you thought I would hire someone else’s employee, like Nander did, you’re wrong.

Tristan now works for me. There might be a few things that still need to change, like the company name but by default, that now means you work for me as well. Did he not tell you?”

No, he fucking didn’t.

I chew on my bottom lip, swallowing my distaste with the situation. If I hadn’t just slathered another helping of scent blocker over my gland after my shower, I would be giving this man a window into exactly what I was feeling. At least, I can keep that much to myself.

Warren hums as he gestures for me to drink up. “You’re not the same guy who was out there on the dirt road. Punching an Alpha has to take some balls.”

I sip a little more, having to bite back a grunt when Warren waves his hand for me to finish the glass.

I do, only because I don’t want an altercation with a man who’s larger than I am.

And as an Alpha, he could pin me in five seconds flat without even putting up a fight because of my fucking Omega biology.

Even if I don’t want it, the weakest of Alphas can still force me to submit.

Realizing I haven’t answered Warren, I set my glass in the cup holder and meet his gaze. “Tristan taped my fucking hand to the bar. I’ll admit my reaction was out of fear, but I’m not sorry. He always pushes the lines.”

Warren laughs again, reaching for the champagne bottle to fill up my glass. “Tristan is a bit out there,” he purrs, his voice dripping with amusement. “I plan on reining him in. I don’t want him hurting the merchandise, if you know what I mean.”

The word merchandise hits like a slap, and I down the second glass of my champagne in one gulp when it’s offered to me, the burn doing nothing to ease the knot in my chest. Warren holds out the bottle, pouring more before I can refuse.

“It’s a shame he’s kept you so locked up on those god-awful trails. We really do need to get you more into modeling. You’re way too beautiful to be out there.”

That’s partly what I have been afraid of.

The moment people figure out I’m an Omega is the moment they want to control me, push me toward their agenda, soften my image and my adventurous spirit.

I’m suddenly too precious to put out on the trails which is bullshit.

I didn’t tell Warren about my designation but if he truly did buy Tristan out, it’s written all over my contract.

He reaches across the seats and squeezes my thigh, his fingers digging into my suit pants.

My entire body tenses before I jerk away, trying not to hiss at the thought of this man’s hands on me.

I press tighter against the door as I harden my expression, hoping that whatever Warren wants out of this ‘social call’ isn’t that.

Warren chuckles as he gestures toward my champagne again. “We’ll get you there,” he says, the man seemingly savoring my discomfort. “Don’t you worry. Just follow the rules, and you’ll do just fine, Mr. Woods.”

The rest of the ride is in silence after downing the last glass and keeping my gaze focused on the diminishing treeline into the city.

A slight buzz joins me from the alcohol—not enough to be drunk but enough to know that I am not completely in control of my body.

If Warren were to try something again and push his Alpha bark into it, I might have a more difficult time trying to resist.

When we reach the gala, I start pulling at the door handle, only to find it locked.

Warren slides out with ease from his side and then offers his hand.

He’s manufactured all of this. Some part of me thought that working for or with Hart Entertainment might be better than with Tristan but I’m beginning to see that I just traded one devil for another.

“Come on, Mr. Woods.”

The respect I should feel with Warren calling me by my last name isn’t there. I slide across the leather seat and step outside, my back immediately pressed against the side of the car, Warren inches away from me.

“ Stay still,” he commands, my entire body locking up as he reaches to adjust my tie.

His pace is deliberately slow, his touch lingering much longer than it needs to.

His fingers graze the edge of my collar, his gaze dipping down to the mark Olivia gave me.

His eyes darken a moment before he just chuckles, patting my chest when he’s done.

“Be a good boy for me in there. Show off your new company and maybe grab a brand deal or two.”

I swallow hard, my throat tight, my hands itching to push him away. My resolve is stronger than his command, not to mention the panic trying to claw its way out of my chest, growing with every second. I don’t get very far, though, Warren slapping my ass when I turn to leave.

“Why the fuck are you—”

He cuts me off and grabs my chin, his fingers digging into my jaw, forcing my gaze to his.

“I know how Tristan runs his ship. He’s an ass at it, but he gets results.

On my ship, though, there’s no room for you to second-guess me.

If it had been me taping you to that bike, you had better ride it or die.

There would be no other option.” His thumb runs along my beard, his tongue darting out to line his lips.

For a full second, I think he might kiss me but then he just releases me like nothing happened.

“Remember that Tristan no longer owns you. I do. And for that reason, it would be best if you behave in there. Tomorrow morning, we’re going to try that commercial again, and you’re going to make it work. ”

“I don’t know how to ride a bike,” I push out.

Warren pats my cheek before stepping in closer, his lips grazing my cheek and then my ear. “That’s when you ask, pretty boy. Now let’s get you in that gala to make some money, hmm?”