11 : The Meeting

The chains were eating his ankles but he had to endure the pain. Over the time, he had realized that if he complained or cried, his punishment would be worsen.

He had been locked in the basement for weeks, without sun or warm clothes. It smelled like piss. It had been over four months since he had been in heat. He knew he was not pregnant. Silas' butler had taken his blood two months ago. If he had been pregnant again, Silas would have forced him to have an abortion.

So he knew he wasn't expecting a child. He found it weird not to have his heat, but a part of him was relieved. Now that he was an Omega in name only, Silas was leaving him alone.

He didn't see anyone for a while now. At first, Esmey visited him three times a day to feed and clean him. She was a Beta and was at least in her sixty. Kind and gentle, she was the only person who treated him like a human in this hellish mansion.

But for some time now, Esmey only came once, sometimes she didn't come for days and when she did, it was very dark. She would urged him to finish his snack before leaving and disappearing again.

He quickly realized that Silas didn't care about him anymore.

He was trying to sleep when suddenly the basement door slammed open. A man appeared in the doorway and Haru began to shake.

" No no no ! " He wanted to scream. The stranger grabbed his hair and forcefully pulled his head back. He felt a needle sink into his neck and ...

Haru gasped violently as he woke up. He was sweating a lot and his body was shaking like a leaf.

He couldn't breathe anymore. A terrifying hiss was buzzing through his head and he panicked.

He couldn't see anything. In fear, he crashed off the couch, feeling the floor with his trembling hands. When he banged against the table, something shattered on the tiled floor. He let out a moan of pain as he felt something sharp brush his cheek. That's it.

He grabbed a piece of glass and planted it in the palm of his hand. He gritted his teeth, containing his cries of pain. Gradually, he recognized Gisele's office. He continued to push the end of the glass into his hand when suddenly the shard was torn from his hold. Haru jumped up and faced the breathless man standing in front of him.

The Raven hair man let out a sigh. He lifted Haru like a princess and settled him on the couch.

Haru was still shaking. Curled up, he was giving the Alpha a threatening look.

The man picked up the pieces of glass to throw away. He then retrieved the first aid kit from the drugstore cabinet and he came to sit on the table to face Haru.

Haru tried to sink deeper into the couch. He was afraid and wanted to run away, but his body was petrified.

Meanwhile, Akihito was studying Haru's frightened face.

The little one was red. Strands of hair stuck to his forehead and his purple eyes showed his hatred and also ... his despair.

Gisele had said that Haru was 22 years old but the little one in front of Akihito looked like a kid barely 17 years old.

It was common for Omegas to look young and be extremely good looking so Haru's appearance shouldn't surprised him. However he was stunned by the omega's young face and small body. Was it normal ? To Akihito, Haru seemed too weak, maybe weaker than others omegas.

Akihito was worried. Haru had sunken cheeks and horrible dark circles. His full lips were dry and, when he had hold the omega in his arms, he could feel that he had a mild fever.

He let out a long sigh. He was already frustrated.

" - My name is Ogata Akihito. " He said, holding out his hand.

Haru looked at his hand but didn't move. Akihito scratched the back of his neck nervously, then continued :

" - I am an Dominant. An Alpha. "

Haru's breathing became more and more irregular. His heart was pounding and he felt nauseous. Akihito noticed it. He wanted to touch him but Haru jumped off the couch and hid in a corner of the room. Akihito hadn't moved. He had followed him with his eyes, not sure what to do next.

He had omit that he was an extreme dominant, seeing Haru's reaction, it might be good to tell him about it when he will trust him more.

Suddenly Akihito heard vomit sounds. Without wasting time, Akihito ran to Haru's side. Haru had just puke on the office carpet. Akihito grabbed his arm to lead him into the bathroom, but Haru shook his head fiercely, his body was convulsing.

Akihito noticed the tears that gathered in Haru's eyes. He let go of his wrist and crouched down in front of him.

" - You might not believe me, but I don't mean you no harm, he said then. I know you're scared of me ... I know you're scared to trust me, but I just want to fix your hands a bit and let you drink some water. Let me help you out first and then we'll talk, okay? "

Haru watched him for a long time. He still didn't move, wary of the stranger in front of him.

It was then that a faint smell of pine cones and summer spread throughout the room. Akihito was letting his pheromones come out.

Haru panicked and braced for another wave of nausea, but oddly, Akihito's pheromones didn't hit him hard. On the contrary, they embraced him and comforted him.

Haru relaxed a bit. Akihito smiled as he noticed Haru calming down. Haru was now eyeing his vomit, he began to play with the hem of his shirt, feeling embarrassed.

Akihito extended his hand to Haru once again and waited patiently for the omega to hold out his own. After several long minutes, Haru slipped his small hand into Akihito's large warm palm. The latter pulled him towards him and led him to the couch.

Haru sat down and wiped his bloody hand on his jeans. He bit his lower lip, ashamed of what had just happened.

Akihito settled down again on the table and began to disinfect the omega's hand.

He wanted to warn him of the pain, but Haru didn't react when Akihito poured the disinfectant liquid on his wound. Haru was searching the room, looking concerned. He was no longer shaking but he was a little bit fidgety.

" - You know, from tonight you won't live at the club anymore, revealed Akihito catching Haru's attention. I don't know what happened earlier, but ... Mr. Park wanted to buy you. "

Haru began to shake, his face scared. So Akihito let out his pheromones, hoping to calm him down again.

" - It's okay, Akihito said as he patted his hand. It's okay, he whispered then. It's not gonna happened."

He handed him a glass of water when Haru regained his composure. " For starter, he didn't shake off my hand, so there's place for improvement." Akihito thought. He took a deep breath, bracing himself for Haru's reaction for the following.

" - I… I bought… I bought you."

Haru froze. He arched his eyebrows, not understanding. Akihito sat down next to him on the couch. He sighed in relief, noticing that the Omega hadn't pushed him away. Even though he remained attentive to his gestures, Haru seemed calmer.

" - To be quite clear, I bought your freedom in your name, Akihito explained. I wrote Gisele a check to give you back ... your life. "

On Haru's confused look, Akihito walked over to the office to retrieve Haru's civil deed and his contract's cancellation at the SS Club.

He returned to sit next to Haru and handed him the two documents.

Haru's lips quivered in shock. He took the papers from his shaking hands and his restless eyes read each line intently.

The check was in his name. Haru was now a free human being. Akihito was simply his legal guardian.

Haru didn't know what to say. He didn't expect this.

His gaze was fixed on the receipt for the check. One billion. He didn't have that much money. His bank account was empty and he suspected Silas or maybe his younger sister to be behind it.

Haru took his notebook out of his pants pocket. He untied the pencil hanging from the springs and wrote on a page. " So he really doesn't talk " Akihito thought.

Haru showed the sheet paper to him, grabbing his attention.

" I don't have all that money. I can not accept. "

Akihito just nodded and Haru continued.

" If I accept this money I should give you something back and I own nothing, just my body and I refuse to ... "

Akihito stopped him in his writing.

" - I don't need anything, Akihito told him. Think of it as a down payment. And when you have a job, you will pay me back little by little. "

Haru nodded, satisfied with this explanation. But a billion was still too much. He will never finish paying him back either in this life nor in the next. He was certain now that this Ogata had hidden intentions.

" - For now you will live with me, Akihito said. Mr. Park could come back and I promised Gisele to take care of you until you feel better. "

" Why are you doing this ? " Haru wrote.

" - At first I just wanted to be a good guy to you, Akihito told him as he was thinking. But now… I kind of want to hear your voice."

Haru blushed and ducked his head to hide his fiery cheeks.

Akihito chuckled, finding the omega cute

" - If you're ready we should go…"

Haru nodded not really sure if it's a good idea to follow this man. But… it's been a long time since someone pheromones made him feel at peace, and only for that, he would like to take the risk.