Page 121 of The Packaged Deal

I close my eyes. This is worse than I could have feared.

“Because of the damage he did, because of the injuries he inflicted, he was classed a danger to the community. It would appear an old alpha saw him and took pity on him, subverting his prison sentence and pulling him into service.” Seb slides several photos in our direction. Kandi and Adrian pick them up, but I don’t bother.

“What are you going to do?” Missy asks softly.

I clear my throat. “I’m going to bond my alpha and give him the happy ending he deserves.”

Missy’s smile is slow but wide. She glances at Kandi, who snickers.

“Sounds like some other omega I know, doesn’t she?” Kandi says dryly

Missy barks a laugh. “All right, I like her.”

I blink at her. “Thanks?”

She laughs softly, but her expression turns somber. “Ah, poor Sven. No wonder he’s always been a loner.”

“He hasn’t. Sven has always been with Adrian and Kandi. And he will have me,” I say defensively. “He’s just selective. He likes your pack. Sven formed a friendship with all of you. He considers you family.”

Missy opens her mouth to argue, and then stops. “You’re right. He’s been finding his pack this whole time.”

“And now he’s found it. His fear is making him run,” I finish. “We need to convince him he’s safe.”

“How?” Seb asks. “This is some deep-rooted trauma. Even Darion took years to get through his, and you know he’s only just accepting counseling.”

I swipe a finger across my lip and glance back at the photo of a very young, traumatized Sven. No, that would be wrong. Would it? Would it really?

I chew on my lip and consider the options. But I don’t want to take his choice from him. I want him to choose me. I sigh heavily.

“What happened to the guy Sven almost killed?”

“Uh, he was a teenager, a seventeen-year-old, just got his license. Sven beat him severely, and after that, he just disappeared.”

I sit forward. “He disappeared? That’s odd, isn’t it?”

“Yes. The records are sealed, but his name was George O'Reilly.”

Missy slides his picture towards me. I don’t know the kid in the photos. He’s got happy brown eyes, messy blond-streaked hair, chubby cheeks, and braces. There is something familiar about him, around the eyes.

“He’s responsible for killing five people?”

“Yes. He was. Because he wasn’t an adult, he wasn’t charged. He was drunk. A seventeen-year-old drunk kid who played a prank, and it went horribly wrong.”

“He’s seventeen?” Adrian asks. “He doesn’t look seventeen.”

“I know, but I checked. He was showing signs of being a beta. The reports said he was a pack chaser. Wanted and deluded into believing he’s an alpha.” Seb hisses out in frustration. “He told people he was meant to be in this pack. He was convinced. People thought he was an oddball, harmless but weird.”

I close my eyes. “Poor Sven.”

Adrian is quiet but suddenly clears his throat and shifts underneath me. “He’s coming back.”

“Oh?” Missy says in confusion.

I clear my throat. “Sven bites his alpha and beta in sexual hazes and bonds them. And uh, doesn't remember doing it.”

Missy’s eyebrows reach her hairline. “But not his omega?”

“No,” I grumble. “He’s extra careful with me because biting an omega makes the pack official,” I snarl.

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