chapter 7

Running his hand along the cold wall Aaron pressed on. Left. Right. Another left.

He heard a faint conversation coming from one of the long stairwells.

Ducking behind a column: he waited. Trying to control every breath he took.

He knew this was too good to be true. What were the odds that the entire house staff were summoned to the party?

The foot steps quickly passed and he moved.

By taking one of the servant stairwells Aaron had made it to the second floor.

There was a commotion that seemed to grow louder. The distinct sounds of the Gala happening beneath his feet.

He didn't dare to go any lower. He wasn't a fool.

"Alright. I should be able to access one of these windows at the very least."

"Then I should be able to jump down then make a run for it. I'll be home free for sure."

He turned to the landing. The dimmed lights had made it difficult to see anything. Taking his hands he felt along its edges and the sill.

Nothing.

He wasn't able to find a latch or anything.

"Come on! Where is it?!" He hissed under his breath.

His eye caught a faint glow approaching on the stairs.

Anxiety creeping: Aaron took off in the opposite direction.

He turned down an unfamiliar part of the house. Running up to another row of windows, that lined the hall, he began to search with his hands again.

"What the hell?!" He whispered in frustration. Unable to feel for a latch or handle.

Aaron felt pressed for time now. He was sure that any moment someone would go to the north wing and realize he was missing. Or worse that he would be caught red handed on the spot. What would they do to him? Kick him out? Beat him? Or maybe somthing worse.

"What could possibly be worse?" He bit his thumb nail.

Hearing what sounded like more footsteps Aaron was on the go again.

Any window he came across was the same way. As if the entire floor had been sealed shut. Almost as if the owner was desperately trying to keep somthing out. Their sturdy build ingrained into the house.

Ha had found himself with only two options now.

Either climb the stairs back up to the north wing and act like he had never left; or take a chance going down another floor with the probability of running into a staff member or a guest.

The safest recourse would be returning: there was a slight problem with that.

Aaron happened to take a look around.

He had been busy dodging staff that he couldn't remember the direction he had already come from.

His adrenaline began to run high.

"Hey you." An impaired man swayed slightly, drink in hand, appearing to Aaron's right. The Omega froze. One of the worst case scenarios was to be caught.

"There you are, I found you". The man staggered forward. Slurred speech. Aaron breathed out a sigh of relief.

The man before him was too drunk to see straight.

The gentleman came closer to him.

"Why'd you run off like that? C'mon. Why don't you escort me back to the party, huh?"

Aaron took a step back.

"Katherine? Why are you trying to run from me? I can give you everything you ever want!"

The man was getting more agitated.

He reached his hand out, waving it around, trying to grab at any part Aaron.

His eyes glued to the gentleman. The Omega dodged his swings and grabs.

He readied himself. The man reached out to grab him as Aaron ducked in the last minute and darted past him.

The man, agile, turned and grabbed him by his forearm nearly knocking him backwards.

"You bitch!" His volume increased.

The situation was turning worse. Aaron was sure at any moment someone would hear the rucus being made.

Looking the man over he clenched his hand into a fist. All he needed was one punch. One punch to knock him out flat.

With his anxiety and anger pushing him: Aaron held back his arm. Ready to strike.

Nothing happened. He couldn't move his arm forward to throw the punch. He tugged a moment feeling he was caught on somthing. Or rather someone caught him.

His blood ran cold hearing the voice behind him. He didn't need to turn around to see who it was.

"Mr. Brown, I'm sorry to say that you are mistaken. I must insist you not bother my date".

The hand still held Aaron's wrist while the other placed lightly against his waist.

The drunken husk looked beyond Aaron at the cool and calming voice.

"Oh! Lord Zane!" He chuckled in a drunken nervousness.

"My apologies young Lord, I may have had one too many drinks this evening." The man gave a hearty laugh.

Aaron carefully peeked over his shoulder.

There Zane stood behind him. He wore an emotionless expression on him. His eyes slightly narrowed. He spoke calmly and slowly.

Zane snapped his fingers. A butler appeared from the shadows. As if he had been hiding.

"Take Mr. Brown back down to the party; be sure he is accommodated with a fresh drink and a companion."

"Yes my lord", the butler spoke swiftly.

He gestured the man down the hall. The drunken chatter of Mr. Brown became softer and softer. Ending in with the muffled chatter of the Gala below.

Zane, closely behind Aaron, stood in absolute silence. He removed his hand from Aaron's waist but held a vice grip on his wrist.

The two stood.

He couldn't figure out why Zane hadn't said anything to him. Why he hadn't been taken away now. The silence felt strange. The Alpha's breathing was just as calm as his demeanor.

"Are you going to say anything?" Aaron broke the tension. Turning back around to Zane; The Alpha's eyes were now directly staring into his. Narrowed: cold and angry, he snarled at Aaron.

Aaron held his gaze.

"You have got to be even more stupid than I thought." Zane glared.

Aaron tugged at his arm but Zane held firm.

"You really intended to cause such a commotion that you would risk having a limb cut off?"

Aaron bit his lip.

"You know I really thought you were going to be different: more fun: but yoi are such a disappointment."

Looking down at Aaron, Zane's expression was numb. His almost lifeless eyes, though shimmering with color, felt like a hole that would suck anyone into a dark abyss. Slowly suffocating them.

"You think you're invincible?" Aaron taunted.

Zane lifted his free hand.

His fingers getting into position for another snap of his fingers.

SLAM.

With the full force of his swing: Aaron revolved and knocked Zane in the jaw with his elbow. The force knocked the Alpha back. His grip around Aaron's wrist was released.

The brown haired Omega fell to the floor along with the blonde haired Alpha.

Aaron's recovery was quick. He fled in a full sprint down the hall. He looked back to see Zane on the floor holding his injured jaw.

"I'm so screwed" Aaron muttered as he ran.

He continued on until he found a set of stairs that went up.

He didn't care.

Up to the landing and then a sharp turn around the corner.

He collided at the top of the steps.

A high pitched shriek rang through his ears as a figure fell to the carpet.

Catching his breath Aaron looked down.

"Anna?!"

He couldn't contain his mouth.

Her head snapped up with a shocked expression.

"AARON!" She stood up: smoothing her dress out as she spoke.

"I went to fetch you for Lord Fletch's Gala. Your presence was demanded; but when I came to your room you were gone!" She was frantic, gripping a portion of his shirt.

Aaron's heart nearly stopped.

"Was it because of...Zane..?" His question trailed off a bit realizing the confusion on Anna's face.

"Lord Zane?" She questioned.

"It's nothing! Why am I being summoned?" Aaron tried changing the subject.

It's a customary for the next lords mate to be presented to his future business partners." She grabbed him: pulling him back towards his room.

"Hold on! So does anyone know that I was gone?" Aaron stumbled behind the tiny force.

"No! So please Aaron. Please don't run off again. It wouldn't be just you in danger but all of us".

Aaron felt a slight twinge in his chest. He didn't think about how his actions could have had dire consequences to the staff.

What's more worrying was there were still no guard dogs coming after him. No one.

What he did to Zane was grounds for a quick death in his book.

Or maybe this was a cover for a public execution to the Gala members.

Aaron couldn't focus as his maids had quickly dressed him.

Similar feminine clothing to the ones he had worn to his ceremony with Zane.

Not to mention the small amount of make-up they added to his face.

Despite how beautiful they made him; Aaron was thinking of ways to avoid his imminent death.

He snapped back to reality when he had come to the top of the stairs that lead down to the main hall.

"If I may gentleman and ladies, I would like to introduce the Omega in which my eldest son has finally chosen to bring about the next heir to this family."

The room erupted into a storm of clapping. Anna motioned for Aaron to step down.

He slowly took one step after another. Here he was yet again, being paraded like an animal. The guests had become almost silent. Their eyes all on him. The occasional whispers.

Scanning the room he saw Lord Fletch standing in the middle of the room. To his right was Zeke.

Instead of his usual fun time demeanor: Zeke held a professional and stone hard expression. His eyes were on Aaron but he didn't so much as Crack a smile to him like any other time.

Aaron stood at the bottom of the steps as a murder rushed over the crowd of people.

He didn't realize it before but Zane was nowhere in sight. Slowly turning his head so he wouldn't make himself as obvious: no Alpha.

"I do regret to inform you, my gracious guests, that my eldest son will not be partaking in any end of party events. I have been told he has excused himself to his chambers for the night."

The crowd began to buzz once more.

"I wish I could have obtained an Omega for my son who was at least HALF as gorgeous as this one". A woman fanned herself.

"I know, a shame that it takes more money nowadays to keep a family line beautiful." Another woman agreed.

Aaron's gaze fell to the floor.

"Why didn't he say anything?"

His body shivered.

"I'm supposed to be dead".

He thought back to Zane's body on the floor.

Lord Fletch spent the next couple of minutes with zeke to his right and Aaron, standing further back, on his left. The Omega couldn't concentrate.

A hand was placed on his back. Aaron jumped realizing he was being escorted back up the stairs.

His escorts handed him off to his personal maids and guard dogs.

They made their way back upstairs when Aaron suddenly stopped walking.

"Go on!" One of the guards lightly pushed him.

"Aaron?" Anna whispered.

"I would like to make request...if I may".

The maids and guards looked at one another.

"What is it?" Anna spoke up.

There was a pause.

"I would like a request a meeting with Z- Lord Zane if I may".

The staff looked at one another.

"Also, I need you to bring me somthing Anna."

--

Here Aaron stood at that same double doors once again. He held a small wood box in his hands.

He hadn't expected Zane to agree to see him yet here he was.

Anna knocked on the door.

"Lord Zane? Your Omega is here".

There wasn't an answer.

"Lord-"

"He may enter". Zane's voice came from inside.

His guards opened his door for Aaron to go in.

Shutting the doors behind him; the room was lit with the small flames of the fire place. Looking forward. Zane had sat himself on the edge of his bed. His back was against Aaron. He wasn't wearing a top. His muscles on display.

Zane turned his head to Aaron.

"You're brave".

The light illuminated a bruised cheek: a cut lip and an angry looking Alpha.