CHAPTER 5

SONYA'S POV

Reign's estate isn't a house. It's a freaking fortress.

It has stone walls. Iron gates. Security cameras everywhere. 

The main building looks like someone crossed a modern mansion with a medieval castle and threw in a few million dollars for good measure.

"Oh shit," I breathe as the SUV pulls up the circular driveway.

"Like it?" Reign asks, watching my reaction with amusement.

"It's terrifying."

"Good. That's the point." He opens his door and extends a hand to help me out. "Welcome to Steel Kraith territory, little omega."

I ignore his hand and climb out myself, which makes him smirk. Asshole.

The front doors open before we reach them, and a woman in her fifties with kind eyes and graying hair steps out.

"Alpha Reign," she greets warmly with a bow, then turns to me. "And you must be Sonya. I'm Mrs. Wren, head of the household staff."

"Hi," I manage, feeling completely out of my depth.

"Mrs. Wren will show you to your room," Reign states. "Get settled. We'll have dinner at seven."

"My room?" I turn to him. "I thought…"

"You thought you'd be sharing mine?" His smile is wicked. "Not yet, little omega. I like to take my time with things I plan to keep."

My face burns as he walks away, leaving me standing there with Mrs. Wren, who's trying very hard not to smile.

"Don't mind him, dear," she says gently. "His bark is worse than his bite."

Somehow, I doubt that.

~~~

Mrs. Wren leads me through a maze of hallways until we reach a door on the third floor. When she opens it, I nearly fall over.

The room is huge. It has a king-size bed with silk sheets, walk-in closet that's already full of clothes, my clothes, plus a bunch of designer stuff I've never seen before.

It also has a bathroom with a tub big enough to swim in.

"Alpha Reign had your things brought over," Mrs. Wren explains. "And he took the liberty of... supplementing your wardrobe."

"He bought me clothes?"

"He's very particular about appearances." She moves to the windows, drawing back heavy curtains to reveal a view of the forest behind the estate. "Your room connects to his through that door." She points to a door I hadn't noticed. "It's locked from your side, of course. You control who comes in."

Small comfort.

"Dinner is at seven in the main dining room," Mrs. Wren continues. "If you need anything before then, just pick up the house phone. Extension three."

She bows politely and leaves, and I'm alone in this ridiculous room that's bigger than my entire apartment.

I pull out my phone and see three missed calls from Derek. Before I can call him back, a text comes through,

‘Derek:’ Reign paid off my debt. He said you're staying with him for a while for *protection.* What the hell is going on?

I stare at the message. 

What do I say? That I sold myself to save his ass?

‘Me:’ It's complicated. I'll explain later.

‘Derek:’ Sonya, please tell me you didn't do something stupid.

Too late for that.

‘Me:’ I need to go. I'll call you tomorrow.

I silence my phone before he can respond and fall back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.

Oh goddess.

What the hell have I done?

~~~

I spend an hour trying on different outfits before settling on a simple black dress that Reign apparently bought for me. 

It's more fitted than I usually wear, but not obscene. Modest, almost.

Until I look at the back and realize it's completely open, showing every inch of my spine down to the curve of my lower back.

"Pervert," I mutter, but I don't change.

At exactly seven, I make my way downstairs following the sound of voices. 

The dining room is massive, there's a long table that could seat twenty, crystal chandelier, paintings that probably cost more than my student loans.

Reign's already there, sitting at the head of the table. He's changed into dark slacks and a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing those tattoos on his forearms.

He looks up when I enter, and his eyes go dark.

"Well," he says slowly, "don't you clean up nice."

"You bought the dress."

"I did. Though I didn't expect it to look that good." He stands, pulling out the chair to his right. "Sit."

It's not a request.

I sit, hyperaware of how close he is as he pushes my chair in. His hand brushes my bare back, and I shiver.

"Cold?" he murmurs, his breath warm against my ear.

"No."

"Liar."

He takes his seat, and Mrs. Wren appears with two other staff members carrying trays of food. Steak, roasted vegetables, fresh bread. It smells amazing, and my stomach reminds me I haven't eaten since this morning.

"So," Reign says as we're served, "tell me about yourself, Sonya Alba."

"What do you want to know?"

"Everything." He cuts into his steak. "Start with why you became a teacher."

I blink. That's not what I expected him to ask. "I like kids. And I'm good at it."

"What do you teach?"

"Third grade. Reading and writing mostly."

"Do you enjoy it?"

"Most days." I take a bite of my food, trying to figure out his angle. "Why do you care?"

"Because you're mine now. I make it my business to know everything about what belongs to me."

"I don't belong to you."

"The contract says otherwise." He leans back in his chair, watching me with those intense grey eyes. "Six months, Sonya. You agreed to be mine for six months. That means I get to know every little thing about you. Your favorite color. What makes you laugh. What makes you scared." His voice drops. "What makes you wet."

I nearly choke on my wine. "Oh goddess."

"Not quite." He smiles. "But I appreciate the comparison."

"You're insane."

"So you keep saying." He takes a sip of his own wine. "Your turn. Ask me something."

"Why are you doing this?"

"You'll have to be more specific."

"All of this." I gesture around us. "The contract. Paying Derek's debt. Me. What do you get out of it?"

Reign's face darkens, an edge of menace surfacing. "You really want to know?"

"Yes."

He sets down his glass and leans forward, his eyes locked on mine. "I want you, Sonya. I've wanted you since the moment I saw you hiding in those bushes, watching my brother with that pathetic longing in your eyes. I want to erase every thought of Derek from your mind. I want you to forget he exists. And I want to make you mine in every way that matters."

My heart is pounding. "That's not an answer."

"Sure it is." He stands, moving around the table until he's behind my chair. His hands settle on my bare shoulders, sliding slowly closer to my breasts, and I freeze. "You asked what I get out of this. I get you. And trust me, little omega, that's more than enough."

His thumbs trace circles on my skin, and goddess help me, it feels good.

"Why me?" I whisper.

"Because you're different." His lips brush the shell of my ear. "Because you walked into my life and threw everything off balance. And because when I touched you in my office this morning, I felt something I haven't felt in three years."

"What?"

"You'll find out soon."