“Yeah, I don’t…” Adrien lifted his hands helplessly.

“I know. But…damn, friend. How is it that you’re so alone in the world?”

Lance asked, a hint of pity flavoring his words. “Even in that little community, I’d have thought the omegas would take you under their wing.”

“Just bad luck, I guess,” Adrien said, and sighed.

“Tell me more. What was your father like?”

“He was deeply religious.”

“Oh? That’s unusual in this day and age. A throwback?”

“Yeah. It was a very small community. There weren’t a lot of omegas for alphas to choose from, though, so my father had to buy a heat to have me. He saved a long time to afford a good one.”

“Wasn’t that looked down on?”

“Necessity breeds generosity. They understood his predicament.”

“What do you think of all that? Religion and church?”

Adrien sighed and rubbed his hands through his hair. “I guess some of his ideas stuck with me and some didn’t.”

“I suppose that explains why you’re so shy about your body,” Lance teased. “Always wearing that ridiculous robe into the dorm showers, like someone’s gonna ogle your chest if you just wrap a towel around your ass.”

“My father taught me modesty was important.”

“Your father had ideas that aren’t going to serve you well,” Lance said, gently. “Being an omega? It involves a lot of nakedness, and, frankly, giving in to your inner slut.”

“What if I don’t have an inner slut?”

“Oh, you do.” Lance laughed again.

Adrien let his head fall back, and he examined his dorm room ceiling for a few quiet moments, grateful for Lance’s friendship and feeling stupid for avoiding him now. “Will you choose breeding?” Adrien asked.

“Definitely. It’s a done deal. My contract is signed and sealed, you know.

A year and a half from now, I’ll go meet up with my father’s friend John and get stuffed with his dick, and his kid, if all goes to plan.” Somehow, Lance managed to make it sound like he thought that was dreamy.

“Sexy.”

“You know it.” Lance grinned. “C’mon, loosen up. Once you’re in heat, you won’t care what the guy looks like, or how old he is, so long as he knots you and makes you cum. That’s the way it works. My father’s omegas promised me that much.”

Adrien shivered. “I guess I want more than that.”

Lance chuckled. “Go on. Say it.”

“I want someone to love me.”

“Of course you do,” he said, kindly. “We all want that. And with you being without any family at all, you must want that even more. But here’s the thing, Adrien, you can have that someday, but probably not now.

Unfortunately, it’s time for your first season, and you’ve been so introverted

—”

“Dedicated to my studies!”

“Whatever. Fine, dedicated to your studies. What I’m saying is that you’ve never put yourself out there. You’ve never looked for anyone to satisfy that need for you—which makes sense now that I know more about where you came from. In those religious communities, alphas do all the flirting and courting, don’t they?”

“Yes.”

“Right. And so, right now, you’re out in the real world, where omegas are the ones who are supposed to convince alphas they’re worth taking on. So, yeah. At this point, you’re going to have to take whoever wins you for this heat.” He said it as compassionately as possible, but Adrien couldn’t help but hear the echo of his father’s urging throughout his life: Make friends, Adrien, go to church more often, smile at the alphas there! One day you’ll need them to want you, boy, and you’ll want them to love you.

But he’d always been too shy.

Lance kept talking, “But, hey, it’s not the end of the world. See this as an adventure and an opportunity. Besides, you never know, this could actually lead to you finding the one. Mr. H. Battershell could be your dream man.”

“You’re such a romantic.”

“I can’t help it. It’s just the way I’m made.” Lance stood and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Please, Adrien. Come to class tomorrow and get back to our research. You’ve only got a few weeks before the heat auction is over, and then you’ll be absent. I know you’ll want to learn all that you can about that Hontu dye. And, yeah, if people are staring it’s because they’re jealous at what a rich young man you’re about to be.”

Adrien nodded and tried to make his voice sound like Lance’s cheering up had worked. “You’re right.”

Lance winked. “And maybe they’re staring just a little because your asshole is super-duper hot.”

Adrien rolled his eyes. Still, he couldn’t help but smile. “Thanks. I guess.”

“Anytime.”

Chapter Four

ONE WEEK LATER, the auction closed with Adrien’s bids at a near-record high, coming in second only behind a young man twenty-two years prior—the first to ever offer breeding in his auction price.

The winner of Adrien’s heat was, of course, H. Battershell. Adrien had already used the Internet and the university library’s resources to try to find any information about H. Battershell, but there was nothing. Clearly, he was using an alias. Aside from H. Battershell having bid on some young men’s heats over ten years prior, records showed he hadn’t been involved in auctions for quite some time.

When he asked Ron Finch about details on Battershell, he only got a bunch of blather about how the man was wealthy, and private, and that Adrien should be honored that he’d taken an interest in him at all.

“So I don’t even get to know his name in advance?”

“He’s been explicit with his instructions. He will give you all the information you need about him in person.”

Adrien struggled to pull in a breath. It felt like bands had tightened around his torso at Mr. Finch’s words. “Okay,” he managed to say.

Mr. Finch tutted at him, like he was a naughty little boy for asking questions and then he gave Adrien the pills that were supposed to jumpstart his heat. “When the prickling begins, you’ll know it’s working.” He passed on a note with an address and a date stamped on it. “You’ll meet him there in four days. Arrive before noon. He wants the heat to already be kicking in when you get there, so be sure to start the pills immediately.”

“Is that normal?” He’d hoped to have some time with the alpha beforehand.

Mr. Finch shrugged. “Some men like to spend a few days together pre-heat to get to know each other. Others want to leap right into the main event.

He’s a main event kind of guy. You have transportation, don’t you?”

“Yes. I have a car.”

“Excellent. You can drive yourself, unless your heat feels too far gone,

and then we’ll arrange for a driver. That address is up in the mountains. Be sure to map out how to get there in advance. There isn’t a lot of cell service where you’re headed.”

Adrien swallowed hard. He’d be alone in the woods without cell service with a man he knew nothing about, vulnerable, and begging. Everything felt cold and hot at once. “Are there any pictures of him or…?”

“No. He’ll meet you at that address. Remember, the money is held in escrow by the university until the heat and breeding are accomplished. Then, regardless of whether or not a pregnancy takes, they’ll pass it on into your account.”

Adrien nodded. “I see. Thank you.”

“I’m proud of you, kid. Not everyone can bring in numbers like that. I have to admit you surprised me.” Ron smirked and waved Adrien out the door. “Good luck to you.”

Good luck to him? That was all? He was on his own now? Adrien’s gut danced anxiously as he considered the next four days. He shook a pill out of the bottle and tossed it into his mouth as he walked back to his dorm. He knew it was all in his head, but as soon as he swallowed the pill, he started to feel a little warm.

He wiped at his sweaty forehead and hoped he wouldn’t lose his nerve. It wasn’t like he had a choice anyway. There was no chance to back out now.