Page 88 of The Alpha's Fake Mate

Powers picked up his gavel. “I rule in favor of Alpha Orion Callahan that his claim to the Omega Holland is valid and legal. The claim of Bosk Altimarian is hereby denied.”

Just like that, it was over.

The bailiff asked us to rise as the judge exited. I barely heard him.

Had we won? Yes, we had won. I knew it logically. But emotionally, internally, I had not yet processed it. Judge Powers did not uphold the bond, after his whole speech about sacrosanct mate-bonds. It had come down to the claims. Ori’s illegal claim. Bought and paid for and never questioned.

I stood on shaky legs. Nearby, I heard a hiss. As I reacted, my head turning, I saw Bosk.

He was even larger and taller than I remembered, easily two hundred seventy five pounds, his eyes cold and small, peering at me from beneath two bushy, thick eyebrows.

His face contorted as he looked straight at me. “This isn’t over,” he snarled. “You watch your ass from now until forever, filthy whore Omega!”

“You stay away from him!” Ori yelled.

Bosk’s lawyer grabbed his arm and practically pulled him out of the room.

Saben said, “I’ll file a restraining order first thing in the morning.”

I rocked back. Ori caught me in his arms and pulled me tight, my back to his chest.

“I’m yours?” I asked in a whisper.

Saben chuckled and gave me a wink.

“You’re mine,” Ori said, and lifted me off my feet as he hugged me tighter.

“We did it,” Saben said with a laugh. “And I didn’t even have to speak. I’m still billing you though.”

“Of course,” said Ori. He let me down and turned me around so we were face to face.

“How do you feel?” he asked me.

“I still feel like I’m outside myself. Like this is a dream.”

“It’s no dream, I assure you. I did all the paperwork,” Saben said.

Ori ran a hand down the side of my face. “You’ll be okay now. I’ll make sure. No one will ever hurt you again.”

I felt a warm tear splash onto my cheek. I didn’t feel like I was crying. Not at all. But when Ori took a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe my face, it came away soaked.

Chapter Twenty

Orion

Holland smiled down at me and it was beautiful. Lips pink over white teeth. Cheeks slightly flushed. He had so rarely smiled in the short time we’d been together.

“I still think I’m dreaming,” he said.

“A nightmare.”

“A nightmare that turned good,” he replied.

We had just made love.

We had been waiting that night for the Burn to come over me from the hormone shots. But we couldn’t keep our hands to ourselves.

Now Holland sat at my side and stroked my hair. “Feel anything yet?”