Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Ramon

I found them there, as they were seated on the kitchen table rather than the dining room. Ollie was eating hurriedly what happened to be his second grilled cheese sandwich, while Lake merely picked at a bowl of soup, sitting tensed and alert.

Both had been given new clothes to wear which was evident—Ollie was dressed in what looked like pajamas from our guest supplies, Lake in what must have been borrowed from one of my smaller staff members, even those hung loosely on his body. His face, now clean of dirt and seawater, showed the full extent of the beating that he had received, -a black eye, split lip, and what looked like finger marks on his jaw from where someone had held him too hard.

The sight alone sent a new wave of anger through me. Those alphas would pay for this. They would suffer more than Lake had, when I am done with them. That they would be wishing for death.

"I hope the food is to your liking," I said, announcing my presence to them.

Ollie turned toward me with a grin, his cheeks bulging with sandwich. 

"It's the best! We never get fancy bread like this."

Lake shot his brother a warning look as he replied, glancing briefly at me. "It's fine. Thank you."

"When you've finished, I'd like to speak with you privately," I told Lake, keeping my tone neutral as I noted that Ollie was paying attention and I didn't want to frighten him.

His shoulders tensed further hearing this but he nodded his head as he asked "What about Ollie?"

"Mrs. Winters can show him to his room. I'm sure he's tired after such an eventful evening."

"I want to stay with Lake," Ollie protested immediately, sensing something was wrong somewhere as he kept looking between me and his brother.

Lake smoothed a hand over his brother's hair, trying to calm him down as he said. "It's okay, buddy. I'll come up right after I talk with Mr. Ramon. You need sleep."

"But—"

"Please, Ollie. For me."

The child's resistance fell at his brother's pleading tone. 

He nodded reluctantly, finishing his milk in one long gulp.

"Can I take another sandwich with me?" he asked Mrs. Winters, who had shown up again in the doorway, led him to his room.

"Of course you can, dear," she responded with a warm smile on her face. "And there's warm milk and cookies waiting in your room."

This made Ollie very happy, and after giving Lake a tight hug, he allowed Mrs. Winters to lead him away. I watched their interaction, noting the affection between the brothers. It was clear Lake had been more than just the child brother; he was the only parent Ollie had known.

Once they were gone, I turned my full attention to Lake, as I said to him.

"My study would be more comfortable for our discussion."

He stood, still keeping the kitchen island between us. "I'd rather know what's going to happen to us right now."

He was heading straight to the point, that was fine by me.

"Very well." I leaned against the counter, deliberately making him more tensed up as I spoke. 

"Your father owes me just over two million dollars. Money he borrowed for various... Businesses, none of which succeeded. When it was clear, he wouldn't be able to repay, he offered you to me."

Lake's face paled hearing this as he echoed.

"Two million?"

"Plus interest. The agreement was that if he didn't pay back, you would become mine—to work off the debt in whatever way I chose."

"That's slavery," Lake whispered, his hands clenching the countertop as he looked at me with despair in his eyes. "It's illegal."

"Among humans, perhaps. But among our kind, it's perfectly acceptable. Especially for an Alpha King." I studied his reaction carefully. "But I'm not unreasonable. There are several ways you could satisfy the debt."

A shiver ran through him, though he tried to hide it. "I'm listening."

I moved around the island slowly, noting how he tensed up with every step that I took toward him. When I was close enough that he had to tilt his head back to maintain eye contact, I let my scent out, to show who was in charge here as I continued speaking 

"First option: you work for me directly, as my personal assistant. The job pays well. You earn well to look after you and your brother and pay me back."

His eyes narrowed suspiciously as he asked. "What would that entail, exactly?"

" Normal assistant duties. Managing my schedule, handling correspondence, attending meetings. Your education level is enough, I assume?"

"I graduated high school," he said defensively. "I was accepted to college before..."

"That option would take years to clear the debt, however," I continued. "Decades, potentially."

"And the other options?" 

I reached out, brushing a finger lightly over the bruise on his cheekbone. He flinched but held his ground. "You could become my mate."

The word hung between us for a moment. His eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed in disbelief.

"Your mate," he repeated flatly, sounding amused as he looked at me. "You can't be serious."

"I don't joke about things like this," I replied. "As my mate, the debt would be considered settled. You and Ollie would live here, under my protection."

"And all I have to do is what? Let you breed me? Bear your pups?" 

I smiled at him hearing the anger in his voice. "That would be the end result. Yes."

"So I'd be an incubator with benefits," he spat. "A ready kept omega to warm your bed and carry your legacy."

I leaned closer, letting my alpha scent envelop him. "You would be the mate of the most powerful alpha in the territory. Most omegas would consider this a privilege.""

"Many omegas haven't been sold like property by their own father."

Fair point. I stepped back, giving him room to breathe. 

"There is a third option. I can arrange for a series of... People who would pay for your company. The debt would be cleared much faster that way."

The color drained from his face. "You'd sell me to other alphas."

"Temporarily. And only to those I trusted to treat you well." I shrugged. "This is business, Lake. I'm simply listing your options."

"And if I refuse all three?"

"Then you leave this house immediately, without the boy, and I'll collect what I am owed by claiming everything Samuel has in his name including his minor son."

His eyes were filled with genuine panic for the first time this night. "You wouldn't."