Page 3 of Stolen Omega

I don’t want to lose the only healthy relationship I have.

How he sees me doesn’t matter. He’s good for me, and I think I might be good for him, too.

Right now, that’s more than enough.

Chapter Two

Archer

There’s only one way to transport our precious cargo safely from one location to another, and as much as I hate to admit it, our girl’s insistence on traveling as if she’s a piece of sound equipment really does seem to work to keep her from being mobbed by crazed fans, paparazzi, and worse.

I can’t protect her better than the custom made, bullet and fire-proofed case.

That’s why I let it happen, and it’s also why I hate it.

Zelena is America’s sweetheart, the biggest popstar on the planet, and she also happens to be my fated mate. Not that she’s realized that last part. At least, not yet.

It’s kind of hard to make much of an impact on someone when you’re not permitted to get too close, physically. My Alpha status makes me head of her security team, but it also makes it impossible to be in the same room as our client.

Zelena’s parents made sure she would never be distracted by an Alpha when they added specific stipulations to every contract she was ever asked to sign.

Any Alphas involved in her business are not permitted close contact.

That means I get to watch from a distance as my team of Beta security guards bring the custom-made case to her dressing room and wait outside while she finishes changing out of her stage clothes.

I check my watch. Everything’s running on schedule tonight. In three minutes, give or take a few seconds, Zelena’s personal assistant, Anna, will open the door. Then, Russ will bring the case inside with another guard, while the two other guys keep an eye on the corridor that leads to the back exit.

I wait for Anna to open the door before I call up my guy outside to check on the van that’s sitting out there waiting for our girl.

“Castle, how are we looking out there?”

I wait for the older Beta’s answer, counting under my breath and starting to worry when I get to half a minute. He comes back to me on the thirty-first second.

“Everything’s good out here,” he calls back. “We’re ready when you are.”

Almost like clockwork. “No problems?”

“No, sir. The crowd’s getting big outside the gates, but it’s not too rowdy.”

“Great. Hold steady. We’re on schedule up here.”

I can picture Zelena in that last shimmering purple outfit she was wearing onstage, her skin shining and her eyes sparkling as her voice captivates the audience. When she first moves across the stage, it always takes a second to remind myself I have a job to do. It’s incredibly difficult not to get wrapped up in her performance, but I can’t afford to keep my eyes on her like everyone who’s just here to enjoy themselves.

It’s up to me to make sure she’s kept safe, and that’s why I’ve never tried to break the rules.

I can’t risk losing this job.

She needs my protection.

Maybe, one day, she’ll need more than that.

Right now, she’s happy right where she is, and I’ll do everything I can to protect what she has.

I check my watch and start counting down in my head.

It’s already been three minutes. Four. Five.

What’s taking so damn long?

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