Page 11 of The Beta's Bargain

Her mother died in the fire when the twins were sixteen. Their father spent months in hospital before he succumbed to his wounds. But by then, he’d wracked up significant debt. The insurance wasn’t paid out due to there being some question about whether it was deliberately set. In the end, it was ruled an accident, though. But that may not be the truth. I get chills just thinking about this evil bitch with my omega.

I only find a bit more information after that. The pack that was courting the omega disappeared when the funds dried up, and after that, both sisters disappeared. The beta resurfaces a year later and starts working. Often taking multiple jobs in a single day. The omega never resurfaces.

“I know all about Silver. She had an extensive social media page when she was younger, and she never deactivated it. I know she loves shiny things. She dreams of having a pack. She is the exact kind of omega pack’s dream about. Flirty, gorgeous, feminine.” I mutter.

Nothing like my Dylan.

But we never looked into the beta. I don’t know what food she likes or what colour her eyes are. I know nothing about her other than this information in her file, and it’s not enough.

What I know is that he found her at one of our events. I don’t know when, but it’s the only time they could have crossed paths. There’s a pattern. On the events she works as a temp, he stays the whole night. If she left, he left. He followed her while we spent months searching for him.

For a few short weeks, seven months ago, Dylan was ours. And life was better than I ever dreamed it could be.

Then we blew it. I slump in my chair.

But this. It has to work. The entire event has been planned meticulously with the only goal: to get him here. Every day tailored to bring him back to us. He returned the thirty invites we sent him. So, I set about finding out why. And I find her, them.

I grind my teeth so hard my jaw aches. Just the idea of her touching him. Ugh, I can’t stand it.

Sure, I pulled strings. I bought her, plain and simple. She’s got more than enough money as her salary to keep even her greedy eyes pinned. I’ll reveal to Dylan what she’s like. I’ll show him she only cares about money. She isn’t worthy of him.

I load up the security camera and flick through them until I find them. Of course, they’re together. I seethe as she sways towards him. Seducing my omega. I should just kill her.

No.

I stalk towards them before I register leaving the penthouse. They’re sitting in a dark corner of the restaurant. It’s luxurious and empty. The low lighting really sets the romantic mood. She’s leaning across the table, her plain black hair, dull and lifeless, her smile is just-ugh! Dylan, on the other hand, is fixed on her. He tracks the movement of her hand and wrist as she talks. He smiles, and it brings me to life and destroys me. His dark hair is shorter than I’ve seen on him, and he looks thinner. He’s obviously not eating enough. But he’s Dylan, and he’s beautiful. There’s only one issue. He’s looking at her and not me.

I want to destroy her.

My feet stop without my say so when I see them. She is talking a lot, and he’s just staring at her. But it’s the look he gives her that causes my heart to clench. It’s soft, it’s fond, it’s deep caring and understanding. It’s the look he reserved for us. For his alphas. For me. It’s hard to breathe. My hands are shaking, and I step out of sight just as he looks up and scans the room.

“Listen, Dylan, you don’t mind if I call you Dylan, do you?” My Dylan shakes his head. “I appreciate your help, but I’m used to dealing with alphas. I’m not worried about that one.”

I clench my hands tight. She should be.

“You haven’t said a word.”

Dylan smiles. “I prefer to listen to you.”

His voice. Oh, I’ve missed his voice. I still hear it in my dreams. I’ve yearned to hear him say my name.

She blushes. I can see the change in her cheeks from here. I clench my fingers so hard my knuckles hurt.

“I don’t like to talk much.”

“Oh, that’s fair.” She brushes her black hair behind her ear, and I want to cut it off.

“You’re one of the guests here.” She nods to herself and glances around. “I shouldn’t be sitting here with you.”

My eyes widen as the dawning realisation that she doesn’t even know he likes her rises in my brain like a sunrise of hope. She is at a disadvantage. We have the home field. We have some time.

“I better get home and pack up Silvies’ stuff for her. I mean, if she wants it.”

She stands, and Dylan does, too. He moves close to her, but she dances back away from him. Nervous.

“You can call me Nyx.” She holds out her hand.

It’s nothing, it's professional courtesy.

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