Addicted To Her The Alpha'S Irresistible Contract Mate novel Chapter 17

17 Chapter 17 Back to the Bar and Unwanted Advances

17 Chapter 17 Back to the Bar and Unwanted Advances

I stepped in the bar for my night shift. The air reeked with the stench of stale beer, exhaust fumes, and the unmistakable musk of alpha pheromones. My heart pounded like a trapped bird against my ribs, nerves frayed from the clandestine escape I’d pulled off earlier that afternoon.

Elias’s penthouse security was tight, but I’d slipped out during a delivery window, hailing a cab to the bus stop with the few crumpled bills I’d stashed away. Freedom tasted like ash, bitter and fleeting but I needed this. Needed work, money, a way out from under his thumb. The contract bound me legally, but it didn’t chain my spirit.

Pushing open the scarred wooden door, I was hit by a wall of noise–raucous laughter, clinking glasses, the thump of bass from a jukebox in the corner. The place was packed with alphas, their dominant scents swirling like a storm, making my omega instincts twitch uncomfortably.

Eyes turned to me immediately, hungry and appraising, stripping me bare without a touch.

“Hey, sweet thing,” one burly alpha growled from the bar, his voice rough as gravel, pheromones spiking with intent. He was massive, tattoos snaking up his arms, a gold` chain glinting under the dim lights. “New here? How ‘bout you come sit on my lap? I’ll make it worth your while–fifty bucks for a dance, double if you let me scent you proper.”

My cheeks burned with humiliation, a flush creeping down my neck. Omega biology betrayed me every time; their auras pressed against my senses, demanding submission, stirring an unwanted warmth in my core. I averted my eyes, clutching my worn purse tighter.

“I’m just here to work,” I muttered, pushing past him toward the back office. But another alpha blocked my path, lean and smirking, reeking of cheap cologne and aggression.

“Aw, don’t be shy, omega. You smell like you need a real alpha to handle you. What’s your price for the night? I’ll knot you so good, you’ll forget your name.” His hand grazed my arm, possessive, and I jerked away, bile rising in my throat.

The humiliation stung deeper than any bruise from Elias–here I was, reduced to prey,

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17 Chapter 17 Back to the Bar and Unwanted Advances

my body responding with a traitorous slickness between my thighs despite my revulsion. Every proposition chipped at my resolve, reminding me of my vulnerability, how omegas like me were seen as commodities in this world.

I reminded myself: every tip brings me closer to freedom. A bus ticket out of town, a new identity, away from Elias’s cage. Swallowing hard, I shoved through the crowd, ignoring the catcalls and whistles that followed like shadows.

“Look at that ass sway, bet she’s in pre–heat!” one jeered, laughter erupting around

him.

Gods, it hurt, the degradation seeping into my bones, but I kept moving.

The bar owner, a grizzled beta named Marko, was in his cluttered office, counting cash. He looked up, his beady eyes lighting with recognition. “Naomi? Need shifts?”

“Yes,” I said quickly, my voice steadier than I felt. “Anything tonight?”

He grunted, eyeing me up and down. “VIP room again. Big spenders in there. Serve drinks, smile pretty, and don’t cause trouble.”

My stomach twisted at the memory of my previous close call here with Elias. It still gives me chills to attend any VIP room. But it’s my job, I can’t deny it.

“Got it,” I replied, tying on the apron he tossed me. The uniform was skimpy–a tight black top and short skirt that left little to the imagination, amplifying my humiliation. But tips were better this way, or so Marko claimed.

Tray in hand, loaded with whiskey shots and beers, I headed to the VIP lounge. The door was heavy, muffling the main bar’s chaos as I entered the dimly lit space. Plush red booths lined the walls, low tables scattered with ashtrays and half–empty bottles.

The air was saturated with elite alpha scents, rich, commanding, the kind that made my knees weaken involuntarily. My heart sank like a stone when my eyes adjusted to the gloom and landed on the alpha lounging in the central booth.

Darius. Elias’s cousin, his sworn enemy. His dark hair was slicked back, sharp features twisted in a predatory smirk, eyes like chips of obsidian gleaming under the low–hanging lamps. He was dressed in a tailored suit, exuding power, but I knew the stories: territories stolen, alliances shattered, all in his quest to undermine Elias. What was he doing here? This couldn’t be coincidence.

Our gazes locked, and his smirk widened, sending chills skittering down my spine.

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17 Chapter 17 Back to the Bar and Unwanted Advances

“Well, well,” he drawled, voice smooth as silk but edged with malice. “If it isn’t Elias’s little runaway omega. Fancy meeting you again.”

I set the drinks down with trembling hands, the glasses clinking against the table. My pulse thundered in my ears–danger radiated from him like heat from a fire.

“Your order,” I said curtly, turning to leave, my skin crawling under his stare.

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