Terms of Staying

the dining room is too quiet. elias sits ramrod-straight, hands folded in his lap like he's stuck at a tea party he never agreed to attend. overhead, the chandelier spills gold over the polished wood, the crystal stemware, and the untouched meal. his mother presses a napkin to her mouth despite not taking a bite. "you'll be looked after," she answers. elias's jaw locks. "that's not even close to being wanted." his father gives a clipped cough. "that family carries a respectable name. their son he's steady, educated, accomplished" "unavailable. emotionally or at all," elias murmurs. "he couldn't even be bothered to come." "he sent a lawyer," his mother says, as if that helps. "it's professional." elias exhales through his nose and eases back in his chair, worn in a way that feels older than his years. he knows exactly what this is. his family is drowning in debt, their name tipping on the edge of ruin. lucian's family is bailing them out. he's the piece stuck in the center of the board. the pretty, pliant omega with a perfect scent match and a passive temper that makes it easy. he's soft. agreeable. presentable. but he's not stupid. "fine," he says at last. "i'll sign it." that same night, his bags were brought to the alpha's home. the apartment felt unnaturally pristine. elias hauls his suitcase through the doorway, its wheels all but silent over sleek hardwood floors. the place carries cedarwood and a trace of cologne so faint it feels unused. the whole place is done in black, white, and glass. even the couch seems like it would rather stay to be touched. he exhales and shuts the door behind him. the bond agreement bit at his fingertips when he signed. he told himself it had to be all in his head, but something in the ink, the vow, the marking clause it left his skin prickling. no real mating. no heat claim. no physical bond, unless both of them agreed. a year minimum. renewal was his choice. it reads like a rental contract. a glorified roommate setup. only worse, because all of it is wrapped in omegaverse tradition and held in place by bloodline games. "you're early."