From Wolfless Omega To The Rival Alpha's Queen novel · Chapter 17 of 24

Chapter 17: The Charter

We found Derrick in the Crane Tower conference room at nine that night, sitting alone with an untouched glass of water.

He stood when I came in, and he did not meet my eyes.

"Broderick said to ask you why you went to Orson two years ago," I said.

"I know what he said. I heard it from the lobby."

"Then answer it."

Derrick sat back down slowly.

The cut over his eye had been stitched, and his tie hung open at his collar.

"I have a sister," he said. "She's twenty-six. When she was nineteen her kidneys failed."

Orson had gone to the window and stood with his back to us.

"Broderick's father paid for the transplant," said Derrick. "Every bill, the surgeon, two years of aftercare. He called it a gift to a loyal young Beta. When he died, Broderick opened the file and read me the total."

"Broderick held it over you."

"Every year. If I ever broke with the pack, her care stopped, and the debt came due." His hands were flat on the table. "I kept working. I kept him from burning down half of Chicago."

"And you kept me out of a cage," I said.

"I tried."

He looked up at last.

"Two years ago, Broderick had me shred a clinic file. I read it first. I read what his father did to you, and I read that the sealing was holding because you were still attached to Broderick." His voice shook. "I stood in that office and understood what I was working for."

← Chapter 16 · All chapters · Chapter 18 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend