003

RYKER 

The soothing music playing in the luxury lounge I went to meet up with my crew did nothing for my nerves. If anything, it highlighted the pain and disappointment tearing me apart. 

I don't know who I hated more. Howard… or myself… for being too weak to stop him. In the face of his scheming, my S-class alpha powers became trash. Since my childhood, Howard Rivera has been a very annoying shadow cast over my life. I thought blocking him and taking the hits was acceptable. 

At least, it kept Summer nice and warm, letting her live peacefully. I don't want Summer to become another me, forced to grow up before her time. I want her youth, innocence and purity to last for as long as I can stretch it out. Letting her live worry free. 

Just this one thing. Why is it so hard to achieve? I already made all the sacrifices, why wasn't my sister spared? 

Smoke curled in the room, the smell of whiskey and expensive wine intertwined with pheromones. 

Japheth is partially obscured, thanks to the muted lighting. A male omega kneels between his thighs, his head bobbing up and down as he took in Japheth’s engorged length. 

The poor thing had tears in his eyes like he was being choked to death. 

My nose wrinkled with distaste at the obscenity playing out before me. They might be my friends, but their lifestyle is…something else. Champagne confetti kind of bastards. 

“Yo!” Japheth called, half moaning, a glass of maccallan whiskey in his hands. Burning millions on a bottle of rare alcohol. That was exactly what Japheth could do. 

“You made it?”

Caelum looked up from where he was sitting, cigarette between his fingers, hair slightly messed up, glasses on, with a laptop open before him. Behind him, an omega girl stood, caressing him, her fingers dipping into his shirt. 

I didn't know whether to classify him as a tech genius or a randy. 

“MVP, I thought you would be too busy comforting your treasure to care about us.”

I rolled my eyes and grabbed an unopened bottle of Dalmore 64 Trinitas. It might be expensive but it burns real nice. Perhaps, it might numb the fire inside my chest. 

I popped it open and reached for a glass. 

Japheth moaned, a raw harsh sound that had me wincing. Shameless thing. 

Two seconds later, he pushed away the omega who now had a face marred with streaks of cum. Like he always does. 

He shoved a card into the boy's palm. The omega appeared humiliated and ashamed, but he accepted the card anyway, with gratitude. Life wasn't easy for omegas. 

“Thank you, Alpha. If you need me again, I will be here right away.”

Japheth waved him away like fart, and he scurried out. Watching his haunting beauty twisted something inside me. 

If Summer didn't have a capable alpha brother…me…this could have been her fate. It could still happen if she's pushed into that snake pit. I've heard of privileged families who pass around their omega spouses for their friends or investors to sample. 

I shuddered and downed four glasses in a row.

“You're drinking that like a fish,” Caelum called out with a hint of worry. “Slow down.”

“Ryker, the semi finals is just a week away. You didn't come to the race track last night.” Japheth pointed a lazy finger at me, his other hand still holding his precious whiskey. “If we don't win the trophy this year, I'm holding you responsible. After all the money I invested in our team…”

Malik who was sitting silently in a corner shot him a warning glare, and he instantly shut up. Malik always had that kind of presence. Mostly invisible but when he makes a move, everyone is forced to listen. 

Xander kicked Japheth. “Idiot. Don't you know Ryker’s sister got betrothed yesterday? Will he still be in the mood to drive?”

Caelum smiled awkwardly. “Ryker, just let it go. He's a bit drunk.”

He waved off the omegas and betas hanging over them, and everyone filed out. 

The door closed behind the last person. Finally, it was just me and my five shithead friends. 

“Ryker, what are we going to do now? The breakout attempt failed. And Howard is more vigilant than ever.” Caelum sighed. “Will you let her marry Zarek?”

I shot him a piercing glare and he raised his hands in surrender. 

“The only option now is to switch the bride.” Malik said drily, taking a slow sip of his alcohol. “We got caught tonight because we were ill prepared. Dealing with someone like Howard requires more than just wisdom.”

Japheth lit a cigarette and crossed his legs. “Switch the bride? The reason he's not letting her marry Zarek despite his status is because his previous brides never lived to tell the story. Who are you going to swap her life for? Your sister?”

“I don't have a sister.” Malik drawled, leaning back against the Eames. 

Caelum sighed, his gaze distant. “That's a relief really. In a family like ours, being born a girl, or worse an omega, is a curse. You never know whom you will be sold to for a merger.”

An idea occurred to me, a malicious smile forming on my face. Zarek's previous brides died because they were weak and helpless. What if I send him a wolf who is equally as deadly as he was? 

I turned to Malik. “Malik, the pheromone modifier you asked me to invest in, has your lab made any progress?”

Malik’s eyes narrowed slightly before he answered. “It's passed the first testing phase. But it's not market-ready.”

“That will do.”

“That look in his eyes.” Japheth chuckled and shook his head. “Our MVP is up to something wild again.”

“I have an idea.” I lowered the glass of whiskey and stood up, then slowly placed my left foot on the table before me. 

“And if we execute it well, Zarek will be the one crying.”