Chapter Nine – Gideon #2
Eleven years. I’d spent the last eleven years taking care of him, watching him grow up, watching him struggle. I did everything I could for him, and sometimes it still felt like it wasn’t enough.
He wasn’t a kid. He was right.
“Just don’t stay up too late, okay? Promise me you’ll go to bed before the sun comes up.”
The look he gave me told me he could make no such promises, and I sighed as I went to bed, my thoughts churning. My nephew, of course, didn’t know I went to the Omega Garden not to find myself an omega, but to find him one.
I’d made it this long. I didn’t need one, but Colter…
He was struggling. Having a mate might help him.
As I laid in bed that night, my thoughts drifted to the omega from the restroom: Raeka Whittenhall. I knew it was a longshot for me to get any omega to agree to an arrangement as odd as this one, but if there was one omega who might, it may just be her.
“You have to say more,” Raeka tells me. “Because my mind is running a mile a minute here.”
“I told your mother I want to put in an offer for you,” I try to explain this carefully, delicately, in a way that I hope won’t upset her or freak her out too much. “And that’s how it would look to the world, but…”
She blinks up at me, the breeze around us full of fragrance thanks to the roses surrounding us. Still, beneath the scent of rose is her scent, muddled by something. “But?”
“The offer would be from me on behalf of my nephew.”
The look she gives me then makes me wonder if she didn’t quite hear me right.
And then, after a minute passes, she exclaims, “ What ?” I’m about to explain further when she goes on, “If the offer is on behalf of your nephew, why isn’t here?
Why didn’t he go to the Omega Garden instead of you—and, wait a minute.
You said it would look like you and me were a match to the outside world. What does that mean?”
“My nephew, Colter, can’t officially put in an offer for you, or for any omega.” I add quietly, “He’s twenty-one. Your age… but he’s a beta.”
“Oh.” Something in her changes. She doesn’t seem as upset as she did moments ago, and I hope that means she will at least consider it.
“I’m aware it’s unconventional, and needless to say, I would appreciate it if the part about my nephew could remain a secret between us.
As far your mother is aware, I’m here for you, putting in an offer for you, because I—” For some reason, these next two words are the most difficult words I’ve said in a long time. “—want you.”
She folds her arms over her chest, but then must realize how that might look to her mother, who is probably watching from one of the windows, so she drops her arms back to her sides and puckers her lips as she gazes up at me—and I do my very hardest not to stare at that mouth too long.
“So, let me get this straight: you told my mom you’re putting an offer on me, that you want me to be yours—and that’s how the rest of the world will see it, too—but you really want me for your nephew, who’s a beta?”
I nod once. “That’s right.”
“Why can’t your nephew get his own girl, if he wants one? Is he a loser? Got something wrong with him?” Blunt and to the point, much like she was the first time we met. It was what drew me to her, but hearing her say that about Colter…
“There’s nothing wrong with him,” I tell her. “He’s housebound. Not because he can’t go out, but because he doesn’t want to. He’s… mute. He hasn’t spoken a word since his parents died eleven years ago. I’ve been his guardian since my sister died.”
“Shit,” she whispers. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s been a long time. Colter is struggling, though. He’s struggled ever since the accident.”
“Does he know you’re out here trying to play matchmaker for him?”
I reach for the back of my neck and rub it as I shift my stare to the roses beside us. “He doesn’t. He thinks I’m looking for an omega for myself.”
“And you’re fine with it?”
That makes me furrow my brow and ask, “What do you mean?”
“You’re fine with playing matchmaker for your nephew—getting him an omega—while not having one yourself?
You won’t get all jealous and stuff?” Her gaze travels along me, sluggish, in a way I can’t say anyone ever has before.
It’s like she sees right through me, and even though she’s an omega, she’s not afraid to question me. “You won’t decide you want me instead?”
“No.” The word comes out of me a little too quickly, which she notices, and it causes her to raise a single eyebrow. “I won’t, and I’m willing to provide you with a bodyguard, like you had that night at the Omega Garden, if it would make you feel better.”
All she says to that is “Interesting.”
Interesting, but that isn’t an agreement. That isn’t her saying yes. I need a yes. I want a yes. I want to go home, start making the arrangements, and get everything situated for her, and then I want her to move in with us as quickly as possible.
That’s how it is for other packs and their omegas.
Some have an official ceremony, like a wedding, but many forgo that entirely.
Even so, this arrangement would be out of the ordinary.
I am aware that she can easily say no, and I’ll have to accept it.
Some alphas might not; it appears as though her mother wants her to find a match as soon as possible, thus she could technically try to force a match onto Raeka.
I don’t want to be a part of that. I want her to choose me.
Or, to choose to give Colter a chance, I mean.
“I know this is unusual,” I tell her, hoping to sway her to my side, to see an inkling of what she’s thinking, “but my nephew is a kind soul. You would be safe with us. You would not have to worry about any other alphas sniffing around you. You’d still be able to come and go as you please.
You wouldn’t become property. You would be a companion for him. A housemate. A friend.”
“A friend? So you’re not trying to get your sweet little nephew laid?”
There’s that mouth again. I was sort of expecting something like that to come popping out of her mouth, but hearing her say it so matter-of-factly makes me choke on air a bit. My poise in the face of this particular omega isn’t something I’m proud of.
No, standing there, talking with her… I feel new at life. Like I’ve never done anything worthwhile at all.
“Uh, if that happens, that would be between you and my nephew,” I finally say once I regain my composure. “In this arrangement, there is absolutely no pressure on you at all. Not to be a certain way, not to act—”
“Like the perfect omega?” she offers up. “Because I’m not. I hate being an omega. If you hope I’ll be a homemaker, doing the laundry and cooking, you’ll be pretty disappointed.”
“No. That isn’t what I’m looking for. I’m more than capable of continuing to do all those things myself.”
“Ah, an alpha homemaker? Color me intrigued.”
“I had to become a lot of things to take care of Colter.” When she doesn’t say anything else, when I continue to be unable to read her expression, I say, “You don’t have to decide right now.
Take some time, think it over. My offer to you will remain indefinitely.
I should get out of your hair.” I give her a slight bow of the head. “Thank you… for your time.”
I sound like I’m in a business meeting. What is wrong with me?
I turn away from her, my intent to leave her be, but as I start to walk away, she asks, “That’s it?”
Looking back at her, I give her a single nod. “That’s it.”
“You’re really not going to try to convince me to say yes?”
My reply comes easily: “Of course not. You alone know what you want and need. I told you what I’m looking for, what my needs are, so if you decide they happen to align, I’ll be glad to hear from you again, Ms. Whittenhall.”
“Don’t call me that. You’re not my school principal.
Raeka’s fine.” She strides closer to me and pulls something out of her pocket—which she unlocks with her face then hands to me.
It takes me a moment to realize she gave me her phone.
“I suppose you can give me your number. If I decide our wants align, I’ll call. ”
My lips tug into a smile of their own accord, and I put my number in her phone before handing it back to her. “Well, I hope to hear from you soon.”
“No pressure on me though, right?”
“No pressure at all.” Before I can make a fool of myself even more, I say, “Goodbye again.”
“Bye.” I’m pretty sure she stands there and watches me walk away; I can feel her eyes on my back as I retreat to her house, where her mother is waiting to swoop in on me.
Mrs. Whittenhall pounces on me like a mountain lion lying in wait.
She walks with me as I make a beeline toward the front of the house through the main hall.
“How did it go? Do you need me to try to smooth things over? My daughter can be a little rash sometimes—as much as I hate to say it, she takes after her father like that. Some days I wonder if she’s more alpha than omega. ”
Suddenly I understand why Raeka doesn’t like being an omega. Her mother must put intense pressure upon her to act a certain way, and that probably only makes Raeka act out more. If she was to move into my house, she would receive no such lectures from me.
“Unnecessary,” I tell her with a smile, hoping to set her mother’s mind at ease. “Your daughter has my number, so if she decides to accept my offer, she’ll contact me directly.”
That must not be what she expected, because her expression changes, and she says, “Oh. Well, then. I hope my daughter comes to her senses and says yes before you change your mind and decide you’d like a less fiery omega.”
We reach the front door, and I turn toward her and say, “It’s all part of your daughter’s charm.” Then I nod my head at her and leave the house. Pulling my keys from my pocket, I head to my vehicle.
I get inside, knowing her mother watched me the entire time. Heck, even I’d go insane in a house like that. If Raeka only says yes to get away from her mother, I’ll take it.
Through my peripherals, I see her mother turn away and head inside the house. I start my car, knowing I should leave, but a part of me wants to linger, so that’s what I do. I linger, and then, once I’ve lingered enough, I slowly roll my car down the driveway.
I can only hope and pray I’ll hear from Raeka soon. The strange feeling my life will be missing something huge if I don’t hangs like a storm cloud over my head.