Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce!-Chapter 3

Kael’s POV

I hated waiting.

Moonlit Velvet. Blood Crown’s flagship establishment in Meridian Territory. Crystal chandeliers. Leather booths. Imported whiskey that cost more than most wolves made in a month.

I came here before every fight. Routine. Ritual. Whatever you wanted to call it.

Tonight should’ve been no different.

I slouched against the VIP booth’s leather, swirling expensive whiskey in my glass. Rebecca--my girlfriend stood across the room, practically draped over some new-money wolf whose name I didn’t bother learning. Her gold dress caught the light with every movement. Her body pressed against his.

I watched. Felt nothing.

Rebecca’s attempts at jealousy had stopped working years ago. Maybe they never worked. Our relationship was a game. Power moves and calculated risks. Nothing real.

I smirked into my drink.

"You’re not even trying," Rebecca complained, clicking back to me on heels that could double as weapons. Her red lips formed a pout.

I glanced at her over my glass. "What exactly do you want? Should I use my Alpha Voice? Make him grovel?"

Her pout deepened. "You’re so boring!"

I snorted. Turned my attention back to the crowd below. That’s when I saw her.

Shadow Moon trash.

She stood at the bar with another server. Laughing. The smile actually made her plain face almost interesting. Her uniform was that generic navy blue. Conservative. Buttoned to the throat.

Disgust twisted in my gut.

I remembered when the manager hired her. I’d almost had her fired on the spot.

"Why the fuck would you hire an Omega?"

"She looks good."

"She’s still an Omega."

"When that pretty mouth is wrapped around my cock, who cares what she is?"

The memory made me drain my glass.

"I think our spark is dying," Rebecca announced, sliding next to me.

I sighed. Poured another drink. "You say that every week, babe."

"This time I mean it." She leaned closer. "I think we need something... more."

I raised an eyebrow. Set down my glass. "More? Rebecca, we spent all of October having threesomes...or more? How much more do you want?"

She pressed against me. Her lips brushed my ear. "I want something extreme."

I leaned back. "Let’s hear this brilliant idea."

"We split up for a month." Her smile widened. "Each of us dates someone new. You mark them. I mark mine."

I stared. "You’ve completely insane."

"Come on! It’ll be fun." Rebecca grabbed my hands. "We always come back to each other anyway. Besides—if you say no, you’re basically rejecting my birthday present."

I rubbed my temples. Why did I put up with this?

"Fine."

Rebecca shrieked. Climbed onto my lap. Kissed me hard. "Thank you, baby!"

"I’m already regretting this," I muttered against her mouth.

"Okay, okay. Let’s pick targets!" She bounced with excitement.

Her eyes scanned the room like a predator selecting prey. "Not her. Not her. Oh—her!"

I followed her gaze. Nearly choked on my drink.

The Omega. The Shadow Moon server.

"An Omega?" Disbelief sharpened my voice. "Are you fucking serious?"

Rebecca nodded eagerly. "Yeah! I heard she’s different from her sisters. Can you imagine? She might actually give you a challenge."

"No." I shook my head hard. "I don’t touch Omegas, Rebecca."

"But she’s pretty," Rebecca argued. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"No, Rebecca." My voice dropped. Final. "That would contaminate my Alpha bloodline."

Rebecca pouted. Examined her nails like she suddenly didn’t care. "Fine. If you don’t want to play, fine. I guess my birthday is ruined."

Fuck.

I knew this manipulation. I’d seen it a thousand times.

"Fine," I heard myself say.

Rebecca’s face lit up. She threw her arms around my neck. "Yes! Thank you, baby! Okay, now your turn. Pick my target."

I looked back at the girl. At the Omega.

Fenrir stirred in my mind. Deep. Dangerous. A low growl that made my spine straighten.

What the hell was that?

"Well?" Rebecca prompted. "Who am I dating?"

I forced my eyes away from the bar. Scanned the room. Pointed at some ordinary male who looked harmless enough. "Him."

Rebecca wrinkled her nose. "Boring choice. But okay." She kissed my cheek. "This is going to be so fun!"

Fun. Right.

I downed my whiskey. Tried to ignore the way Fenrir kept pushing at my consciousness. Tried to ignore the Silver-grey eyes that had briefly met mine across the crowded room.

Just a month. Just a stupid game.

What could possibly go wrong?

Rebecca chattered beside me about strategy. About how to approach her target. About what she’d wear to their first date.

I wasn’t listening.

My eyes kept finding that Omega. Watching her move between tables. Watching her smile at customers who didn’t deserve it. Watching her tuck hair behind her ear.

"Are you even listening?" Rebecca snapped.

"Sure." I wasn’t.

"What did I just say?"

"Something about your dress."

Rebecca huffed. Grabbed my face. Turned it toward her. "You’re distracted."

"I have a fight in two hours. Ten thousand on the line."

"Bullshit." Her eyes narrowed. "You’re looking at her."

"I’m not—"

"You are." Rebecca’s smile turned calculating. "Oh my god. You’re actually considering it."

"I’m not considering anything."

"You totally are!" She laughed. "Kael Blood Crown, considering an Omega. This is historic."

"Shut up, Rebecca."

"Make me." She kissed me. Hard. Possessive. Her tongue pushed into my mouth.

I let her. Responded. This was familiar. Easy. Uncomplicated.

When she pulled back, her lipstick was smeared. Her eyes gleamed. "One month, baby. Then you’re all mine again."

"Can’t wait," I said dryly.

Rebecca stood. Smoothed her dress. "I’m going to go introduce myself to my target. You should too."

"I’m not—"

"Oh, come on! Where’s your sense of adventure?" She winked. "Besides, what’s the worst that could happen? She’s an Omega. She’ll probably faint when you talk to her."

She sashayed away. Left me alone with my thoughts.

And Fenrir.

My inner wolf had been quiet for years. Content to let me lead. Content to stay dormant unless I needed him for a fight.

Now he wouldn’t shut up.

*Want,* he growled. *Need. Mine.*

"Shut up," I muttered.