Conan Moss

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

I was late to breakfast.

The thick smell of eggs, meat, and some kind of expensive herbal tea hit my nose the second I reached the dining room doors. As I stepped in, I saw Levi's mom and dad seated at a long polished mahogany table, already halfway through their meal. Another lady, someone I didn't recognize, sat with them, completely engrossed in her plate like she lived here.

Perfect.

"Sorry I'm late. Good morning," I said quickly, keeping my voice neutral. Surely they'd let it slide—it was my first day here, and it wasn't like anyone gave me a clock or a servant to wake me up.

Levi's mom chuckled, "It's lunchtime."

Shit.

Double the punishment.

Still, to my surprise, she patted the seat next to her and gestured for me to sit. Food was placed in front of me—a full plate, just for me. Not scraps. Not leftovers. My own meal.

I was... starting to get used to it.

"Where's Levi?" Frank asked, casually stabbing into his eggs.

Great. Just what I wanted. "He's still sleeping," I said, keeping my face unreadable.

Across the table, the woman I didn't know giggled like she'd been waiting for a cue. "Really? Because I saw Levi running away last night. I asked Charlie this morning and he said he spent the entire night with Rebecca Flannigan. You two didn't have a fight, did you?" Her smirk burned across the table like a challenge.

Oh. So we were doing this.

Fine. If I had any status now, I might as well use it.

"Wait until that little bastard comes in the door!" Frank suddenly slammed his hand on the table. "I'll break his legs."

Whoa. Damn. That escalated.

"Oh, Conan, it's so unfair to you to be mated to such an idiot," Levi's mom said, shaking her head.

Right. Another pity party. Just what I didn't ask for.

"I'm just fine," I said smoothly. "It can't be helped if he was called to help at the border. Who am I to try and stop him from protecting the pack?"

Frank raised a brow, skeptical. "He got called to the border? It was your mating ceremony!"

"The ceremony was done, and the pack needed protecting," I said, shrugging like it didn't bother me. "Isn't that more important than a few minutes in bed?"

Honestly? That bed had been massive. Empty. Quiet. It was the best sleep I'd had in years. No snoring. No heavy alpha breathing. Just space.

I never wanted to share it again.

"Hmph, I bet you were just devastated," the lady across from me sneered.

I shot her a flat look. "Levi and I don't know each other yet and just got mated. Of course we're both still adjusting to each other. If things go well enough in the future, there's no need to worry. He's very dedicated to the Dunham pack."

That line should've gotten me some credit. What parent didn't like hearing their son praised?

Levi's mom and dad exchanged a glance, doubt creeping into their expressions. Great.

"Not only is he kind-hearted, and also considerate and rational, how can he not want to be mated to you," Levi's mom said, trying to sound comforting.

Lady, I don't want your son.

I didn't get to say that though, because Levi's mom reached into her bag and handed me a shiny debit card with my name printed on it.

"Here, take this card," she said. "This is all the money from your parents. And I've put a little extra in there. Just think of it as compensation on behalf of my stupid son and his grandfather."

I blinked at the card, then pocketed it quickly before she could change her mind. All the money from my parents? That didn't make sense, but I wasn't going to question it now.

Once I checked the balance, I'd know whether I had to steal more to be free.

"It's really nothing at all," I said politely, just as we were interrupted.

"Afternoon—"

Levi strolled into the room like nothing had happened.

"Where have you been?!" his mom snapped. "You could've sent someone else to cover for you at the border instead of leaving him alone on his mating day!"

"What?"

"Conan just told us you left him and ran to the border last night! Was that a lie?!" Frank barked. I turned my head and gave Levi a sharp look.

Just fucking play along already, dumbass.

"It wasn't," Levi finally said. "But I had to go."

"You should've sent someone else!" his mom hissed.

"Ma'am, I really don't mind," I cut in before the fire got worse. "This position will have many nights like this one. Defending the pack isn't a crime and neither is his love for the pack. If anything, he just needs time to find a balance."

Frank huffed. "I guess that's pretty reasonable. Still, what Levi did was despicable. I don't know anyone who's ever done something like that to their mate. We have to uphold a standard here!"

Shit. This guy never quits.

Fucking moral police ass bitch.

"The standard is that the pack comes first regardless of personal feelings," I said calmly. "The reason this pack survived so long is because of that standard. Don't blame Levi for not breaking it for a stranger."

Frank's eyes lingered on me, and slowly, the pressure in the room eased.

"You do have a point there," he muttered. "Levi, come to the table already."

"Y-yes sir," Levi said, sliding into the seat beside me and tearing into his food like it was going to vanish.

I sat back, my own appetite dulled. I wondered what he was doing last night. Was it fun? More fun than sitting alone in a suite all night? Was there a party? Was there cake?

I cut that thought off.

Didn't matter. I could do all that after I escaped. I didn't need to hear it from him.

⸻

Outside, the air was cooler. Less formal. But Levi's voice was sharp with accusation the moment we stepped away from the house.

"Why'd you speak up for me in front of my parents? I haven't exactly been nice to you whatsoever," he hissed.

Not even a thanks.

"Fuck, we aren't a real mated pair but we agreed to present like one in front of your parents, didn't we?" I snapped, turning to face him. "Or are all alphas just this ungrateful when receiving help?"

He didn't answer.

I rolled my eyes. "Are you seriously mad that I'm holding up my end of the bargain better than you are—that you think it's an attack? You're arrogant as fuck, you know that."

His expression hardened, but I didn't give a shit.

Fuck him and his fragile-ass ego.

"Wait!" Levi stopped in his tracks, face-palming with a groan. "Ugh, thank you. For some reason my dad believes you when you speak up for me, but not anyone else."

I gave him a flat look. "He bought me. Why would I lie?"

Seriously, did he forget I was in a fucked-up situation too? Like we were both pawns in this political mess and somehow I was supposed to help save his reputation?

"You're welcome," I added, turning slightly away from him. "In return, if I want to leave, don't question it. Just let me."

Levi hesitated, his expression tightening with something that almost looked like conflict. Why? Why that look? We didn't like each other. We both felt uncomfortable. Wasn't that enough reason to keep our distance?

I didn't belong here. I wanted to go, to move, to live. I had time to make up for. Time no one was going to give back to me.

"We'll talk about this later," Levi finally said, hands in his pockets. "I was still wrong for putting you in a position to lie like that. I'll buy you a gift to make up for it. Let's go to the store. You can choose what you want."

"No need. I already received a gift from your mom," I said flatly. I didn't want anything from him. I didn't need a gift with strings, especially from an entitled alpha who thought every interaction came with a price tag.

"My mom is my mom and I'm me. And it's a gift so you won't owe me."

Yeah. Somehow I didn't believe that. Not even a little.

I narrowed my eyes, weighing the moment. Then: "Since you're so sincere, get me a bicycle."

Speed was speed, and if I ever made it past the border, I couldn't shift without risking getting caught. A bike was perfect. Silent, fast, and just inconspicuous enough.

"But we have a car and a driver," Levi argued. God, shut up! "What do you want a bike for?" he pressed.

"People talk and I don't want the attention," I said through gritted teeth. "It's a lot more convenient for everyone. I'm sure your driver doesn't want to drive around an omega."

Levi made a face—half offense, half annoyance—but turned without another word. "Wait here."

He jogged off to the side of the house, and within a minute, came back with a black BMX bike. It looked like it had barely been used, maybe rolled around a driveway a few times. Still, it gleamed in the sunlight, like a promise.

I rushed forward, fingers wrapping around the handlebars like they were spun gold. This was it. My beautiful escape vehicle.

Maybe this family was more useful than I'd given them credit for.

I'd just started walking it down the drive when a sharp voice called out.

"Yo!"

Fucking Esme.

I glanced up to see her strutting over with some guy I didn't recognize. Instantly, I shifted into my usual stoic mask, bracing myself for whatever verbal diarrhea she was about to spit out.

"What the hell are you doing outside embarrassing Levi like that? Go hide your damn face somewhere! Or did—"

"Ahem." Levi cleared his throat behind me, his pheromones dropping like a sudden storm. The air turned thick, heavy, hard to breathe.

"You're the one who came and complained to me about him. Telling me what I should be doing with my mate at the ceremony, right?" Levi crossed his arms. "Since when did you feel like you had a voice in what goes on here?"

Huh.

Was he... on my side?

No. He was just holding up his end of the deal. Morality. That's what he ran on. If I wanted his help escaping, I'd just have to lean into that. Moral codes made people predictable. Easy to manipulate.

"I didn't. It was only suggestions on how we were considering dealing with him. I'm sorry," Esme said quickly, practically bowing under Levi's aura.

The pressure in the air lifted, and I exhaled slowly.

"That's a nice bike," she said next, voice tight. "How much was it?"

Bitch.

"Free," I shrugged.

"So you stole it?" she probed, eyes narrowing.

"A gift from Levi," I replied, calm and lethal. That shut her up.

"Are you a theif?"

"Esme," I said with a tight smile, "the family already sold me, didn't they? Last I heard there were no returns. Isn't it weird for you to hover around me? Fuck off already."

"Hey!" she snapped.

"Watch your mouth, you filthy omega!" the guy beside her suddenly barked, raising his hand.

Before it could land, Levi caught it mid-air, grip unshaking.

"You fuck off too, rando," I muttered, rolling my eyes.

Another voice cut through the air like a knife.

"Hey, Levi!"

Esme perked up, smugness flashing across her face.

"Rebecca, why're you here?" Levi asked.

"I was just passing by," the girl—Rebecca—said. Her eyes landed on me, scanning like I was garbage on the sidewalk. "So this is that omega?"

"Yeah, that's the omega," Levi confirmed without a hint of anything.

"About last night," she said, stepping forward, "I got sick and there was no one to take care of me. I had to call Levi away. I never meant to ruin your mating ceremony. But don't worry. I was sick so nothing happened."

Why the hell was she telling me this?

I didn't care.

She could have his time, all of it, forever. Just don't get in my way when I leave. That's all I wanted.

Still... if Esme was right and she and Levi were in love, I could probably use her. A distraction to keep him busy while I made my move. I could play nice, fake it long enough to slip through the cracks.

I'd be sure to set it up again and again.

After all—every good escape needs a little misdirection.