Page 14 of In Control

Maybe that’s half the problem. If I was curled up with our omega right now, that little beta would be the last thing on my mind.

“Does he know about this girl?”

“Why would he? There’s nothing to tell.”

Liam leans forward, elbows resting on his knees. “That’s not how it works, Esra. We have an agreement.”

We do. The sleeping around, the dating people outside the pack, that’s all fine as long as we’re all open and honest about it. Everything hinges on trust. It’s a delicate balance.

“I told him after I slept with her.”

“If you’re lusting after this woman–”

“I’m not intending to do a damn thing about it though, am I, Liam?” I snap, jumping to my feet and slamming my glass on the table.

I’m not risking my career. I’m not going to let what happened before happen again.

“Fuck,” he says, flopping back in the chair and raising his hands. “This one’s gotten under your skin.”

Yes. Yes, she fucking has.

4

Sophia

The eventmy mother insists I attend for her foundation could be worse. It’s located in the Studworth botanical gardens. The old Victorian palm house is laid out with food and drinks, the glass canopy twinkling with lights and in the corner a band plays sultry music, a singer in a long black dress crooning into the microphone. The party has spilled out onto the neatly clipped lawns, under the trees and among the tropical flowers and plants. The night is clear and hangs heavy with heady blossoms.

I don’t know as many people as I’d expected. It’s June and many of my old school and university friends are away on summer holidays. Still, I’ve never had a problem with intermingling. It’s a skill my mother taught me from a young age. Armed with a glass of red, I make my way around talking to the older women and men; some with fortunes from old families, some newly made.

A man my age makes a beeline my way and after a few minutes of small talk about the state of the economy, attempts to place his hand on my hip. I shuffle slightly to the side, sipping my drink, and breaking free of his grasp. He takes the hint and leaves.

I talk to an older woman about modern art, and after fifteen minutes of conversation, she invites me to spend the summer at her villa in Tuscany. I tell her I’ll think about it.

My mother finds me next.

“Having fun, darling?” she asks me, placing her hand on my arm.

I shrug. It’s unusual for me to have stayed this long. Usually I take up an offer like the ones I’ve received. Maybe I’d make one of my own.

But I’m restless.

It’s that alpha.

Professor Cole.

I’ve never been snared before. Never been obsessed.

Sure I’ve had my dalliances, my brief affairs and flings. But none were serious, all consuming. Any flames were snuffed out as quickly as they'd ignited. The problem has never been me becoming too interested, it’s always been the other way around.

Perhaps it is simply the allure of forbidden fruit. A fruit I’ve already taken a bite from.

I should find someone to take me home for the night. Someone who can make me forget. Maybe that younger man wasn’t so bad after all.

I trawl the people all intermingling and from the corner of my eyes I spot the mayor. He’s my mother’s age, with film-star looks. They call him the silver fox in the press. He spots me too and I look away quickly. Too late. He’s heading our way. He’s been sniffing around my mother lately, something I’ve tried to discourage. But my mother lives for her admirers.

I kiss her cheek.

“I’m going to explore the gardens.”

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