Primal Possession: A dark Omegaverse Romance (Alphas of Sandor Book 1) Read online

  “No, I haven’t. We royals have to do things by the book. The ceremony is set for this Saturday. I’d be honored if you could attend.”

  Her father opened his mouth but her mother cut in before he could speak. “We would love to come, thank you for the invitation.”

  “Good. The ceremony will be at three. I’ll have the car come and collect you at two.”

  Saskia barely heard his words through the sudden roaring in her ears. On some level, she’d known it was coming, always been aware that it was inevitable, but to hear it from Arius’s own lips—that a date had been set, that she was only just being told—all she could do was stare at him. She wanted to confront him but her father was angry enough already so she chewed her lower lip and forced herself to remain silent. Some discussions were better had in private.

  She seemed to spend all her time lately vacillating between two states of mind: gratitude that Arius was treating her kindly despite her deception, and resentment about her situation overall. And this was made even more confusing—and therefore worse—by the fact that, were she not forced to remain with Arius, had she been given the chance to get to know him under different circumstances, she could imagine herself wanting to spend time with him of her own free will. Yes, he was a contradiction in so many ways, but she somehow found that fascinating, and he had a mischievous streak of humor that enchanted her.

  Unfortunately, her estrus made it essentially impossible for her to ascertain whether her feelings toward him were genuine, or simply hormone-driven.

  Arius had settled into a deceptively casual position on the couch but Saskia was attuned enough to him by now to know he was tense, coiled like a spring. His announcement of their upcoming claiming ceremony seemed to have stunned her entire family into silence. Desperate to break it, she cleared her throat. “Arius?”

  His gaze met hers and she prayed he would understand her request in the way she intended.

  “Do you think you could give us a few moments alone, please?” Asking him in front of her family was manipulative, she was aware of that—he couldn’t say no without looking like a controlling prick—but she needed to talk to her parents without risking another confrontation, and her father was obviously hurting for her.

  To her immense relief, after a brief moment, Arius gave a curt nod and got up. “Of course. Take your time.” Directing his attention to her mother, father and Nat in turn, he added, “It was a pleasure to meet you.” With one last unreadable glance at Saskia, he strode out of the room.

  “Well,” Nat said, “he’s—”

  “Hush,” Saskia said hastily. “I didn’t ask him to leave so we could talk about him. I did it so we could talk about us.” She moved to the sofa opposite her parents so she could see their faces. The fabric was still warm from Arius’s body heat. “I wanted to make sure you were really all right.”

  “You mean, aside from the fact that our eldest daughter was kidnapped, disappeared for days, and we then received a message telling us that she’s now the king’s nephew’s personal prisoner?” her father said bitterly. “Sure, we’re fine.”

  “Dad, I’m so sorry,” Saskia said, her heart squeezing with the renewed realization of what they had gone through. “To be honest, that was all I could think about—how worried you must be.”

  “Water under the bridge,” her mother said briskly, ever the peacemaker. “We can’t change it. And we should be grateful that we’re not facing any further consequences. At least, that’s what we were told.” A worried light entered her eyes. “That is true, isn’t it? We haven’t been lured here into some kind of trap?”

  “Oh no, Mama, you’re perfectly safe. Arius has assured me of that.”

  Her father snorted. “Last I checked, he wasn’t the ruler. That mad king is. His uncle.”

  “That’s true, but Deimos isn’t aware of our deception, and Arius intends to keep it that way.” Biting her lip, Saskia rolled up her left sleeve. The tattoo had scabbed over and itched almost constantly. She held out her forearm.

  “Gods,” her mother breathed.

  “He didn’t waste any time, did he? Nice little slave, better brand her immediately,” her father said.

  “He did it for my own protection. For our protection. My lack of a tattoo is how he realized I had been hiding. We couldn’t risk Deimos coming to the same conclusion.”

  “That makes sense,” Nat slurred, setting her empty glass on the coffee table. “Did it hurt?”

  Saskia flushed at the memory. “No.”

  “Liar.”

  Ignoring her sister’s astute retort, Saskia focused on her dad. “I just wanted to assure you—in private—that I’m fine. As I said, Arius treats me well. The gods have seen fit to make us a match, and we all need to adjust to that reality.”

  “Have you adjusted to it?” he asked. “The Saskia I raised is no meek little slave. I can’t imagine you ever being happy imprisoned like this.”

  Careful to conceal the hurt his words caused, Saskia met his gaze. “I’m still no slave. I’m going to be the mate of the second most powerful man in Sandor, who is currently the only heir. Yes, I need to stay here while the situation is so delicate, but once…” Arius somehow gets rid of Deimos, “Arius becomes ruler, I’ll have much more freedom.”

  “Are you sure about that?” her mother said gently. “You’ll still be an Omega. You’ll still be his mate for life, required to produce heirs.”

  “Yes, but Arius is doing all he can to keep me entertained. He brings me books, art materials, anything I ask him for. I don’t see why I can’t be his mate, a mother, and have a mind of my own.” As she said it, Saskia realized how true it was. She could actually use her situation to help others.

  Nat snorted. “So you think he’s going to start asking for your advice on matters of state?”

  “Hush,” their mother said. Then, to Saskia, “I’m glad. It would be a great benefit to everyone if you could be their voice up here where everyone else is so removed from…” she glanced around, “the real world. I would be delighted if you had even the smallest chance to help enact change.”

  “You could start by making sure they don’t raid people’s homes in the middle of the night,” her dad said, frowning. “The Thompsons were terrified. You know they’re—”

  “That was Deimos’s doing,” Saskia interrupted him, knowing what he was about to say and desperate to stop him just in case Arius could overhear their conversation. The youngest Thompson daughter, Alessia, who was nineteen, was also an Omega in hiding. “Arius actually went into Sandor in the middle of the night to put a stop to it.”

  Her father grunted.

  “Good,” Nat said. “He seems all right, for an Alpha. Very big.”

  But Saskia was watching her mother, overwhelmed with affection, thinking how awful it would be to no longer see her every day. An idea came to her. “Would you consider moving up here, to the Hill? We could see each other more often. You’d be very comfortable—”

  “Gods, no,” her father snapped. “I’d rather eat my own—”

  “Markus!” her mother said. Then, “Saskia, sweetheart, we will miss you every day. But we would be stifled up here. The only Betas these people know are their servants. Down in town, we have our friends, our work, not to mention our home…” She trailed off, the regret and guilt evident in her blue eyes.

  Even though she knew her mama was right, even though she hadn’t even thought the idea through before blurting it out, Saskia had to fight back the tears of disappointment which pricked her eyes. The sadness felt like a physical lump in her throat. “Of course,” she managed. “It was unfair of me to even ask.”

  And that was the crux of everything, wasn’t it? Life was unfair. And the sooner Saskia got used to it, the better.

  Chapter Ten

  Saskia was surprised, after bidding a tearful farewell to her family, to find Arius had left the apartment. Then again, his absence gave her a chance to reflect on the monumental realization her family’s vis
it had sparked in her, so she was grateful for the rare moment of solitude.

  Stretching out on the bed, she folded her arms beneath her head and stared up at the ceiling. Ever since she’d been told of her Omega status, she had rebelled against it. As a twelve-year-old girl, she had found it grossly unfair that her entire future would be mapped out for her in such a narrow and rigid way purely due to her biological make up. She’d watched Nat go to school with envy, knowing that even though her sister faced other restrictions as a Beta in society, she would at least have the chance to further her education, marry for love (as long as her chosen spouse was also a Beta) and work in some kind of profession. Moreover, she would be able to remain in Sandor town, close to their parents.

  Even though Saskia loved Natalia dearly, she was now forced to admit to herself how much she had also secretly resented her.

  And that was unfair. Nat had no more control over being born a Beta than Saskia did an Omega.

  Furthermore, seeing the genuine fear in her mother’s eyes earlier had forced Saskia to confront another horrible reality: by refusing to accept her status in society and follow the rules, she had endangered the lives of those she loved the most. Were it not for Arius, were it not for her capture, she might well have been discovered in another way, and she had no doubt Deimos would have executed them all—Mama, Dad and Nat—without a second thought.

  While that had always been a vague possibility floating around in her mind, it wasn’t until today that the reality of it had actually hit her. Not even when Arius had discovered her deception had she been so acutely and painfully aware of what she’d risked.

  But sitting in the reception room, hearing how her mother had feared this was some kind of trap and seeing her father’s helpless anger had brought it all home: she had endangered her family’s lives in the worst way, all because of her own selfishness.

  Tears filled her eyes and Saskia allowed them to slide unchecked down her temples.

  Thank the gods for Arius. As she replayed the last few days in her mind, she realized just how much she owed him. He had saved her from Deimos. He had saved her family’s very lives. He had ensured her survival by organizing the tattoo illegally. And instead of thanking him, instead of showing anywhere near enough gratitude, she had been demanding, argumentative, and consumed by thoughts of escape—which was ridiculous, as doing that would only put her family in further danger. She had been furious to discover the date for their claiming ceremony had been set without her knowledge, when she should have been thankful he was trying to get it done as soon as possible, as it was the only long-term way to protect her from Deimos. She had asked her family to give up everything and move to the Hill.

  Selfish. She had been so selfish.

  Struggling off the huge bed, she marched into the bathroom to get some tissues and blow her nose. Then she faced herself in the mirror, staring critically at her reflection. Her eyes and nose were red, her skin sallow from lack of sunlight. The tattoo on her forearm itched so ferociously, she was forced to slap it rather than risk scratching off the scab.

  She looked a complete mess, despite the clinging purple dress.

  For the first time, she tried to see herself the way Arius might, but she was currently so filled with self-loathing, it was hard. Besides, she had never spent much time thinking about her appearance before. In her experience, girls only cared about what they looked like when they were trying to attract a partner, and Saskia had spent her entire life trying to do the exact opposite. Not that it had done her much good.

  She gave herself a bitter smile.

  Arius was an extremely attractive man, not just because of his wealth and status but physically. She was fairly sure she could say that objectively, not least because she’d often overheard Beta women discussing how unfair it was that they would never be in the running to win him.

  Like he was some kind of prize.

  Was that all they both were? Prizes to be won, to be claimed? Each a prisoner of their own circumstances, thrown together to make the best of things?

  Not willing to dwell on that possibility, she splashed some cold water on her face and took several deep breaths.

  It is what it is. You are where you are. Now you need to work out the best way to move forward.

  She and Arius had not ever discussed their feelings in depth. When they weren’t consumed by their physical lust for one another, their conversations were mostly limited to hobbies, the weather—having been locked inside his apartments for the better part of a week now, she was desperate to feel fresh air on her skin and the sun on her face so she constantly asked him what it was like outside—and general small talk. But even though he had never made any direct declarations, he had shown his affection in other ways. A random, gentle kiss on the top of her head. The enthusiasm with which he brought her books, art materials, clothes…

  For the first time, she found herself wondering what, exactly, this huge, powerful Alpha actually felt for her. Was it just the rut? Was she merely a tool by which to obtain his ultimate goal: heirs? Or did he genuinely care for her as a person?

  After all, he seemed keen to make her happy. And even though he could sometimes be cruel and inflexible, he had occasionally shown her a softer, gentler side.

  Her stomach interrupted her thoughts by growling, so she left the bathroom in search of food.

  Arius was waiting for her in the armchair in the lounge, a glass of wine in his hand, his eyes gleaming almost silver in the light. “There you are.”

  “Here I am.” She eyed the empty table. “I was hoping we could get some food brought up.”

  “It’s on its way.”

  “Thank you.” She perched awkwardly in one of the chairs, trying not to remember being pinned in place while she was being tattooed. “When were you going to tell me about the ceremony on Saturday?” she blurted out, regretting it immediately.

  To her astonishment, instead of angry, he looked contrite.

  “I should have told you beforehand. I’m sorry.”

  “I felt like a fool, finding out the same time as my family did.”

  “I can understand that. But you need to realize that royal claiming ceremonies usually take weeks or even months to organize, whereas we need to do this in a hurry. The next couple of days will be hectic.”

  A sudden wave of fear washed over her. “Arius?”

  “Mmm?”

  “I just realized I have absolutely no idea what to expect. Could you please tell me? Just so I have an idea of what it will be like?”

  He raised a thick, dark eyebrow. “You’ve never attended a claiming ceremony before?”

  She shook her head and gave him a rueful smile. “There’s no need for them down in Sandor.”

  “Of course. How foolish of me.” Getting out of the armchair, he prowled towards her and crouched beside her, the familiar bolt of lust tightening in her belly as his scent reached her nose. “I’ll tell you all about it over dinner, how does that sound?”

  “Thank you.” She watched his nostrils flare and knew that he, too, was reacting to her proximity.

  Moving away, he settled himself in the chair opposite her, on the other side of the table. “Did you enjoy seeing your family?”

  “Very much so. Thank you for making it possible.”

  His expression was frank, open as he watched her intently. “Saskia, I may not be perfect but I need you to understand that this situation is as new to me as it is to you. I may not have been a virgin but,” a sudden, disarming smile curved his lips, “I’ve never had a mate before, either. So while I might make the occasional mistake, I do mean it when I say I want to make you happy.”

  “I believe you.”

  “Good.” There was a rap on the door and a moment later, Cerus entered with a tray piled high with food. “Excellent. Let’s eat.”

  Arius chewed his roast chicken, watching the way the candlelight flickered in Saskia’s turquoise eyes. The way they’d lit up when her family had entered the recepti
on room had caused a bolt of envy to tighten his gut because she’d never once looked at him with such pure loving, trusting delight.

  He’d explained the basic claiming ceremony proceedings as best he could and she’d listened silently, her guarded expression giving away nothing of her thoughts. Only when he’d mentioned the biting part had she spoken.

  “Will it hurt?”

  “From what I’ve heard, yes.” There was no point in lying to her. “But I will make it as pleasurable for you as I can.”

  He’d expected some kind of retort, but instead she’d simply nodded and taken a sip of water. Ever since her visit with her family, she seemed different. Distant. Thoughtful. Subdued.

  “Are you all right?” he asked when the silence became too much to bear.

  “Fine, thank you.”

  She was obviously lying but he didn’t know whether to call her out on it. Seeing her earlier with her family had driven home how much they meant to her. With them, despite the unusual circumstances, she had been relaxed and open. She’d smiled so much more.

  He found himself wanting desperately for her to feel that way around him.

  “You look pale,” he said, setting down his knife and fork.

  A wry smile curved her delectable lips. “Comes from being indoors all the time, I guess.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. It must be stifling.”

  She shrugged but he knew she missed fresh air and being outside. She had told him so several times.

  “It won’t be for much longer. Once I’ve claimed you officially, we can work out a way for you to get out more.”

  “As long as you don’t mind me looking like a ghost at the ceremony,” she murmured.

  Fuck it. “All right, you win,” he said aloud. Then, at her questioning look, “We have some very pretty gardens just a few minutes’ walk away from here. I can arrange for you to spend a little time there tomorrow, if you like.”

  “Oh Arius, really?” The breathy catch of excitement in her voice went straight to his groin.