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Part 8

/Reed’s POV/

Staring at the cold omega in front of me, I couldn't help but think back to the first time I met her. My brother and I were pups just like her but a few years older and mature. Or so I thought.

"But I don't want to go!" I whined while crossing my arms together and slumping on the bed. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Rowan tying his shoelaces, a grin on his face. At eight years old, my twin was already enthusiastic about listening to everything our father said.

"Reed..." My father sighed, a furrow in between his brows as he sat on his knees. "I promised my friend that I would bring both of my kids. Besides, don't you want to make a new friend?"

My mouth twisted at that, head tilting to the other side. "No! She's yucky!"

"That's rude, son. You haven't even met her yet and passed a judgment.”

"Valerie is a girl, and she’s yucky. Always crying and taking our toys.” I wrinkled my nose at that, thinking about my cousin who always cried and had a runny nose.

My fathers lips twitched at that, but he bribed me with extra candy if I agreed to play nice. I had no idea what was such a massive deal with going fishing, but I went along for the sake of candy.

“Reed, Rowan, this is Erin. You will be playing with her today. Go say hi.”

“Hello!” My brother hopelessly beamed, waving his hand at her. “I am Rowan.”

I glared at the small girl in pigtails, holding onto her father's leg. She blinked at us, taking a step forward and greeting us with a shy giggle. This pup was younger than us, still staring at the two of us with no fear in her eyes. Erin had the prettiest pair of blue eyes I had ever seen, almost twinkling under the sunlight. The omega was quick to barrel our way and shake our hands before tugging us towards the trees beyond.

Rowan insisted on climbing the tree while I stood below him which I readily agreed. She wanted to do the same, puffing her chest and declaring that nothing could stop her from climbing. I tried to deny it, but the omega started blinking innocently, her tiny fingers wrapping around my wrist and tugging on them.

“Go away!” I groaned, shoving at her perhaps a bit too hard as Erin plunked backwards. Everything happened all too fast, and she was sitting up, cradling her scraped elbow. Tears brimmed in those blue eyes, and they slowly started rolling down her pink dusted cheeks.

Fear squeezed at my insides, eyes widening as Rowan stared at me. What was I supposed to do now that she was bleeding?

“Reed! You hurt her!”

“I had no idea. I swear!”

My brother shook his head, his face paling. “Dad told you to be careful. What should we do now?”

Sitting on my knees, I tried to get a closer look at the scrape, but the omega moved away, whimpering and hiding the blood.

“Stop crying!” I shushed frantically, fanning my hand on her wound. “Please, Erin, don’t cry! It’s just a cut!”

“I-It hurts!” She whimpered.

“Let me see,” I murmured gently, the leaves stuck in my hair slowly falling, which amused her. The omega burst out in giggles, and it prompted me to do it again.

I tilted my head at that, Rowan taken back at the change in her behaviour. Guess that’s what amuses five-year-old pups, I thought while shaking my head. Erin sniffled, her cries quietening down, wiping at her snotty nose with the back of her hand.

At the exact moment, my father and her father emerged to rush down the slope, their lips pressed in thin lines.

“What was all that ruckus?”

I clenched my eyes shut, fully knowing that the omega was going to snitch. No candy for me now, I thought under my breath. But Erin took me by surprise when she mumbled, “Reed had leaves in his hair, uncle. He is very funny.”

“Is he now?”

Erin giggled in response, and that made both the elders happy. I also got extra candy because of her.

“Brother!” A sharp voice followed by the nudge in my side forced me out of my thoughts. Blinking, I noticed that Erin was staring at me, her eyes narrowed. “Back to earth, please!”

“Uh…I apologise. So where were we?”

The omega let out a sharp breath, her legs crossed together and back straightened. Her cheeks were flushed, tear steaks under her eyes and nose red. Was she crying? But why? It was unsettling—the sudden change in her decision.

After the encounter in the meeting room, I was sure that Erin would instead let her business go down than accept our unique proposal. What changed? Something drastic must have happened for Erin to take a three hundred sixty turn.

“We were going to talk terms and conditions before I agree to anything.” Erin swiped her tongue over the plump bottom lip, wetting it.

“Of course, Miss Erin,” Rowan mumbled, an excited glint in his eyes and twitching on his lips. My brother hid it as soon as I glared at him. He should know better than not to invoke those hidden feelings in front of her.

“I believe this conversation demands a private space. Please follow me.” I cleared my throat, turning on my feet which were quiet on the wide wooden staircase, sound absorbed by a lush, green moss growing from in between. The cabin was recluse and unused for years now, away from the chaotic and noisy people of the pack.

I couldn’t see Erin’s expression as the omega followed me diligently up to the living hall and towards the couch, but by now, I was familiar enough to know she must be annoyed. She has always been impatient like that.

The insides of the cabin were much more luxurious than what it looked like from the outside. My father used this property as his getaway while fishing, so he installed essential furniture inside. It was a huge one-room hall, or else Rowan would have moved in already to get away from our packhouse. That’s how much my brother disliked living with our family.

“What do you want to drink? Tea? Coke?”

“No thanks.” She sat up straight. “Let’s just get into it.”

“May I know what changed your mind, Miss Woods?”

She crossed her arms, pinning me with a pointed look. The heaving of her chest distracted me for a second, but I quickly met her eyes. “Is that important now? I am sure this works out in your favour anyway.”

Rowan hummed. “It does.”

I glared at my brother. Only if he had persuaded her along with me, the omega would have revealed everything. Sitting upright on the couch, I pressed my legs together.

“What are your terms?”

“First, I want to know the reason for your absurd request. Why do you want me….” Erin quickly cut herself off, her voice going bleak again. “Why do you want someone like me as your omega?”

What did she mean by someone like her precisely? Suddenly I thought back to the day the pack members whispered behind her back. Before I could start, Rowan opened his mouth and explained to her the dire situation, the urgency of it. No one in the right mind would consider acting as our omega on such short notice. Even if they do, I believe it would be difficult and messy to end things later.

“So how long do I have to be—I mean, how long do I have to pretend?”

“Until the council calms down and we can assume our Pack Alpha position,” I said.

“Oh.”

Silence settled between us as Erin did mental calculations in her mind, her body sagging on the couch. Flickering her eyes between us, the omega made a soft sound in her throat. “I think six months are enough to pull this off. My company will launch the exhibition, and we can start paying off all the investment money.”

Rowan turned to me, and I slowly nodded. “Six months is good.”

“Yeah.”

“Okay, Mr Armani…”

“Reed.” She blinked at that, our eyes clashing as I slowly rolled the name off my lips, “My name is Reed.”

“Yes… I know.” Her tone was quieter, lines marring her face, mouth parted.

“Do you not find it interesting how referring to someone by their first name implies how close another person is to them? So I suggest Erin that you start calling us by our names from now on.”

The omegas cheeks turned red at that, pupils dilating as she shook her head, “We are business associates, and to address you in such a manner would be unfitting.”

I regarded her with a frown, gazing down at her parting lips, watching as a shaky breath escaped them. “You are also going to be our omega now. So I suggest you start calling us by our name, Erin.”


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