Chapter 33 CHAPTER 033
Castel hates parties like this. Everything about them makes his skin crawl.
The music is too boring, the lights are too bright, and the room is filled with people pretending to like each other while silently judging everything from clothes to bank accounts. It’s not because he doesn’t belong here; he absolutely does—he grew up in this world—but because every single person in this room feels fake, including himself.
Castel stands near the bar, a glass of champagne resting loosely in his hand as he watches the crowd with a bored expression. He would give anything to get out of here, but everywhere he turns, he can see his father’s men watching him like gawks. He swallows the bitter clot in his throat. And as if fate has decided to make his life even more miserable, he hears the sound of his name before his gaze lands on the alpha approaching with a smile that’s too big for his face.
Castel’s eyes darken as he recognizes the bastard. Vikar Stone, 67 year old alpha and Castel’s so-called fiancé. Immediately, Castel downs his glass of wine, slams it on the counter, and turns to leave, but a guard shows up from nowhere, blocking his path.
“Get out of my way,” he barks, eyes throwing daggers, but the alpha guard stands firmly.
“Your father has instructed us to make sure you meet Mr. Vikar.”
Castel exhales sharply through his nose, and he turns around just in time to see the alpha reaching him, and Vikar Stone looks exactly like Castel remembers: old, wrinkled, and smiling like he just found a rare piece of art he wants to buy. Disgusting piece of shit.
“Castel, come, darling, I want to introduce you to my business partner,” the man speaks and instantly, he’s wrapping his arm around Castel’s slender waist and pulling him to himself possessively. “Be an obedient pup and smile, will you, darling? Your father promised you would behave tonight, and I will take his word for it.”
Castel throws him the deadliest glare known to mankind, but Vikar laughs as he pulls the omega along with him to the center of the room, where his so-called business partners wait.
“Gentlemen, I would love you to meet Castel McLaren, my fiancée.”
The words sound like poison in Castel’s ears, yet he forces a tight smile while every muscle in his body screams to break Vikar’s arm off his waist.
“Well,” one of the alphas starts, roaming his eyes shamelessly over Castel’s body like he’s some piece of meat, and then he licks his lips. “Stone, you weren’t exaggerating. The McLaren Omegas are as beautiful as claimed. I think I have one for myself."
Vikar chuckles, and then his hand falls slowly and rests on Castel’s ass. The omega’s entire body stiffens, and the flat smile he has managed falls dramatically from his face as he forces everything inside of him not to throw a punch across the man’s face.
“Well, if we work together, I wouldn’t mind bringing him to our playground. I’m sure we could find plenty of ways to keep ourselves entertained with him.”
The alpha’s eyes instantly glimmer at Vikar’s offer, while Castel’s insides feel like they are about to explode from rage.
“Aren’t all McLaren Omegas virgins until they’re properly claimed?” Another alpha states, his eyes gleaming as they roam over Castel like a predator sizing up fresh prey. He tilts his head with a mocking smile. “Tell me, Mr. Stone… do you really think a delicate little virgin like him could survive one of our knots?”
Castel feels his stomach twist and his nails dig into his palms hard enough to hurt, while Vikar chuckles and his fingers squeeze Castel’s ass. Castel’s entire body locks in sheer disgust.
“Trust me, he can take more than two knots at a time. Aren’t all omegas born for thi-”
Vikar never gets to finish his words as Castel's palm strikes his cheek in a hard slap that echoes in every corner of the room, earning gasps and looks. Vikar’s head snaps to the side, the red mark of Castel’s hand blooming across his wrinkled cheek while everyone freezes.
Castel wears a smile. “If you will excuse me, gentlemen. Enjoy the rest of the evening.”
Vikar whips his head to look at him with bloodshot eyes. “You little—”
Castel doesn’t stand there listening as he walks away, heel railing against the floor as he heads towards the exit, but the moment he reaches the door, a guard blocks his path. Castel frowns deeply, and he doesn't hesitate as he knees the guard in the groin, and once he’s bent over in pain, Castel walks out the door.
The moment Castel steps out of the suffocating hall, he feels like he can breathe again. It’s like escaping a gaze.
The cold night air hits his face, sharp and refreshing after the heavy scent of mixed pheromones and expensive perfume inside. For a second, he just stands there on the wide steps, chest rising and falling as he sucks in the air like someone who has been drowning.
“Fucking animals,” he mutters under his breath. He should have hit the bastard harder and hoped he died from it.
Castel needs to get out of here. Swiftly, he shoves his hand into his pocket to fish out his phone, but suddenly, his gaze lands on a familiar back: a leather jacket and a motorcycle. He looks at the person closely as he squints his eyes, but before he can be sure—
“Mr. McLaren!”
The shout of his name from inside the mansion makes his stomach drop. If he stays here any longer, they are going to drag him back inside and make him apologize to that pig. Castel grimaces. That’s not going to happen on his watch.
Without another thought, Castel walks down the steps and strides towards the man on the bike, and the closer he gets, the more familiar the man gets till he turns his head towards him. Castel’s heart leaps in joy at the sight of Theo. He walks faster, reaching him quickly.
“Start the bike,” Castel says quickly, slightly out of breath. He doesn’t have the patience to ask the alpha what he’s doing there. He sees an opportunity to get the fuck out of here, and he’s taking it. He doesn’t give a fuck whether the alpha likes him or not. He will deal with that later.
Theo blinks at the sight of him, shocked as he chokes out a, “What?””
Castel glances over his shoulder toward the doors, where the guards are already spilling outside. He looks back at Theo, eyes bright with urgency. “Start the damn bike.”
Theo looks past him, noticing the approaching guards, and he lifts a questioning brow. “…What did you do?”
Castel doesn’t waste a moment standing there as he swings his leg over the back of the motorcycle and sits behind him. “Assaulted my future husband. I know you don’t want my body or my money, but I’ll give you my fucking soul if you ask for it as long as you get me out of here,” he says with urgency while the guards get closer.
Theo rolls his eyes, and the bike roars to life. “Don’t have to be dramatic, Mr. McLaren.”
The moment the bike zips off from the premises, Castel immediately wraps his arms around the alpha’s middle and rests his head on his back, basking in the warmth of his body rather than the coldness of the wind.