Chapter 58 CHAPTER 058
Soren has always been rebellious. If he weren't so fucking insane, he wouldn't have lied to the world about his secondary gender as an omega.
If Reign thinks he can order Soren around, then he has another thing coming.
To spite the man, he’s here, in the same event Sylvester invited him to a few days ago, even if he hates the event.
The gala hall is a sea of people in elegant dresses and suits, almost as if they’re here to showcase their dresses, not for the real purpose of the event, and the sheer number of Alphas in the room is making Soren’s skin crawl.
"You look breathtaking, Soren,” Syvester says as he approaches Soren after giving his speech on stage, a glass of champagne in his hand. “Thank you for honoring my invite."
Sore wears a smile that doesn't reach his lips. "It's wonderful to be here, Sylvester. It’s a nice event and a lovely speech you gave up there."
Syvester nods and smiles. “It’s a pleasure. It's time Omega stops hiding what they are through suppressants. Come, let me introduce you to some important guests,” he says, then reaches out to put his hand at Soren's lower back to escort him, introducing him to important guests.
Soren notes the hand at the small of his back; it brings an uncomfortable itch on his skin, but he doesn't protest as Sylvester takes him around and throughout the night, Sylvester is, for lack of a better word, touchy.
And finally, as the night drags on, Soren finds himself on a balcony with a large view of the city lights, bright and beautiful.
Soren places his hands on the railings, putting his face out to feel the coolness of the night’s breeze and letting it brush through his red hair.
“Beatuifful,”
Soren pauses at the voice beside him. He quickly withdraws and turns his head to see Sylvester there, looking at him with a look that can be read as fondness.
“What?” He asks in confusion even though he heard the man perfectly. He wants to believe he heard wrong.
Sylvester chuckles and shakes his head. “Nothing. I meant the sky is beautiful,”
Soren's lips make an o shape and he looks back at the sky to see the stars and realizes, indeed the sky is beautiful. Soren breaks into a smile. “You're right,”
"I’m glad you came," Sylvester says again, his voice dropping into a dangerously intimate octave.
Soren looks at him, the unease he's been feeling since the event started suddenly starts to get stronger, even noticing that the alpha is releasing soothing pheromones, almost as if to get him drunk.
A normal beta won't feel anything but Soren isn't a beta and Soren doesn't know If Sylvester knows that or not.
Soren hums in response. “I think we should head back inside, where everyone is,” he tells the man and he doesn't wait for a response because he starts leaving but Sylvester suddenly reaches out and grabs his arm.
“Are you trying to avoid me? Perhaps you can tell that I like you more than a friend.”
Soren snaps around on his face, searching Alpha's face, and all he sees is seriousness.
“I meant what I said earlier. Seeing you here... It’s done things to me I didn't expect.” Syvester continues.
Soren’s dead instincts and senses scream flight all at once, and the breeze that once felt cooling now feels like it’s carrying a fucking warning he has missed before. “I think you're drunk. I want to go home now.”
“I'm not drunk,” Sylvester insists, not attempting to let go of Soren's wrist. “I like you, Soren. More than I should. More than a cousin should like his kinsman's fiancé. I think you're wasted on Reign. He doesn't see the fire in you; he doesn't see that you are so much more than just a beta fiancée for the public eye but I see you.”
Soren’s heart hammers against his ribs; he recognizes the feeling as the sickening realization that all the kindness the alpha has shown him has just been bait.
“Stop,” Soren says, his voice coming out as sharp as steel, and he yanks his hand out from Sylvester's grasp, stepping back to put distance between them.
“I’m engaged to Reign. Regardless of what you think of him, I love my fiancé," he replies, and the lie feels like a heavy weight in his chest, but he uses it like a shield.
He shouldn't have come here. Fuck. What has he gotten himself into this time?
Sylvester’s eyes darken. “You don't mean that. You're just playing the dutiful partner because you're intimidated by him. Let me show you what it’s like to be with someone who actually wants you, not someone who treats you like business.”
Soren glares. “I told you, I love my fiancée. You should stop this—”
Soren doesn't get to finish his words, because the next thing, his face is grabbed before a pair of lips forcefully lands on his own.
Soren's eyes are wide, and he doesn't hesitate as he shoves Sylvester back with a brutal force that sends the alpha stumbling against the balcony ledge. Then the sound Soren’s palm connecting with his cheek echoes through the night air, and echoes in the space, causing the alpha’s head to snap to the side.
“Don’t ever fucking touch me again,” Soren hisses, his chest heaving, his eyes wild with a mixture of fury and betrayal.
Sylvester stays silent for a moment, his hand rising to touch his stinging, reddened cheek. He looks shocked, as if he truly believed Soren would just melt into his arms.
How ridiculous, a mere omega could hit him.
He rolls his tongue against his inner cheek to ease the pain.
“Take me home. You were my ride here, and you are going to get me out of this place before I decide to break your nose instead of just slapping you.” Soren command, vexation in each word that comes out.
“Soren, I—” Syvester starts to say.
“I said take me home!” Soren barks, his voice cracking and that’s all he says before he turns sharply and leaves the balcony, wiping his lips roughly with the back of his hand.
Fuck. he didn't think he was going to end this night with regret.