Chapter Nine
Leila
I slump on the chair after the guys have disappeared from my sight, fanning myself with my hands. It’s insane how my life has changed in the past few days.
How have I gone from being the disgraced Omega, losing her standing in society, the man she was meant to marry, and being rubbed by a scandal linked to my mother, all of which meant that no one wanted anything to do with us, to now suddenly having two Alphas who wish to be my mate?
I look at the empty space in the sofa Henry had been sitting on and take in a deep breath. A slight hint of his pheromone still lingers even after he left.
I smile as I remember how he had leaned forward in his seat, brown eyes boring into mine, a soft smile on his lips as he announced his intentions to court me.
My face heats up, and I scoff at the ridiculousness of the situation. How am I blushing over the attention of a man? That is so unlike me.
I push myself against the back of the chair. Oh, but he had been so sexy in the way that he asked. Maybe I should have been annoyed by his direct approach, but I cannot bring myself to be anything but impressed.
Up until the day he released his pheromones and showed how powerful he truly was, I had only ever known him to be Ares’ friend and a number two of sorts, constantly behind Ares and usually mentioned alongside him.
Whenever people talked about him, it was because they were talking about his relationship with Ares and not because he had taken the initiative to stand on his own. Perhaps that was why seeing him in this new light as powerful Alpha was so sexy and exciting.
“Well, Leila, I’m glad to see you’re still here. I was hoping to catch you before I leave.”
Henry’s deep voice pulls me out of my thoughts that have been saturated with him. His lips are spread apart in a wide grin, and I can tell from the look on his face that his talk with Dad went well.
“Did you have any more questions that need confirmation?” I tease.
I blink in surprise. Why is my immediate reaction to him flirting? Hopefully, he didn’t notice.
Henry laughs. “I will not apologize for wanting to be certain, Leila.”
“Nor do I expect you to,” I admit. “So, why were you hoping to see me?”
Henry slips a hand into his pants pocket, a move that adds more his appeal. What is wrong with me?
“Well, seeing as you have a decision to make, I was hoping to make it easy for you,” he says. “I would love to take you out on a date if you would have me.”
I smile. “Yes, I would love to go on a date and get to know you more.”
Henry nods, and his smile broadens. “Splendid. I will be in touch, Leila.”
I watch him walk off after that, a strange feeling in my chest. Why does it suddenly seem like I’m interacting with a different person?
The smile falls from my lips as I realize I’m still smiling after him.
While Ryan is a very strong Alpha, clearly stronger than Henry currently is, the latter is more of what I would envision for myself than Ryan is.
But then, I know for a fact Dad would prefer it if I married Ryan.
The thought makes my head throb like it’s on the verge of bursting. But just as the war in my head threatens to overwhelm me, a sense of relief beeps to life. My mind settles on someone else.
Danae.
She’s exactly who I need right now. Calm, level-headed, especially in moments like this. She’s the perfect person to help me sort through this mess.
I ring for Luke, who arrives a minute later.
“You rang?”
“Yes, please prepare the car. I want to visit Danae.”
He nods and walks off to do as I have asked. The car ride to her place is short. There are so many things I want to say, and I’m bursting at the seams to tell her.
I hurry off to her the moment the car stops, and she laughs when she sees me.
“When you called to ask if I was home and that you had things to tell me, I didn’t realize you were this excited to share them.”
I join in her laughter. “I cannot call it excitement, although I really do have a lot to tell you.”
I fill her in on all that has happened in the past few days with Ryan and, now, Henry.
“So, you’re going on a date with him. Did he say when?” she asks, her eyes filled with curiosity.
I shake my head. “No, although I suspect I will be hearing from him soon about his plans.”
“So, what do you plan to do about Ryan? Do you really dislike him, or is it because he is your father’s choice for you, and you’re rebelling against him?”
I think about her question carefully. I cannot say that I dislike him, although I dislike how he released his pheromones and reduced me to a sweaty, slobbering mess. His power, however, fills me with excitement. I’ve never felt anything like that before, not even with Ares.
“No, I don’t dislike him, but while I don’t dislike him, I don’t like the way my father is trying to set me up or how he lorded his power over me,” I say finally.
“On the other hand, I’m excited by him and by the power that he possesses.
The fact that I had to struggle so hard against his power, I felt excitement in that moment. ”
She stares at me with pity.
“Well, I know you’re uncertain about what to do, but I don’t believe you should be, and you shouldn’t allow your father to make your choice for you either. You are the one with the power, Leila.”
I sigh. “It sure doesn’t feel like it most times.”
“That’s because you still allow your father to feel like he has control over your choices. Look, Leila, you’re the one with the power. You have two men who clearly want to be with you, so all you have to do is sit back and have them show you how much they want you.”
I take in her words. She’s quite right.
As if reading my thoughts, she smiles. “There you go. You finally get it. You shouldn’t have to be dragged around or settle for what your dad wants.
You can make up your mind when you have met with both men and are satisfied that you know enough to make the right decision on whom should be your mate. ”
“But what should I do about my father when he tries to force my hand? He has given so many reasons why he thinks that Ryan is a good match for me. He has the strength, and he belongs to a top family, so people listen to him.”
I stand up, suddenly not comfortable with sitting. I pace in front of her.
“My father is right to want me to marry him. It is for the good of our family to get through the scandal and ruin that Mom put us. I cannot simply overlook that just because I wish to make my own choice. Marrying Ryan will solve the problems that we have now.”
Danae joins, putting her hands on my shoulder to stop my pacing.
“I certainly hope you have not made up your mind to already, Leila. As much as it will help if you marry Ryan, I need you to remember that you are the second most powerful Omega. There’s nothing you’re going through now that you won’t win over after some time.
“You do not have to sacrifice your happiness to save your family name. Besides, Henry is not a bad choice for a mate either. He has a good standing as well and could also help with your family’s business.
You don’t have to allow your dad toss you around and make your choice for you.
And who knows, you could choose to be with them both,” she finishes.
I heave a sigh, allowing her words to sink in.
“You’re right. I will talk to my father about all of this and tell him what I have decided to do,” I say, squeezing her hands in thanks.
Danae and I talk about other light-hearted topics for the rest of my visit before I leave her to head home.
I walk into my dad’s office, rehearsing the words that I need to tell him. I know he means well by setting up my marriage to his friend, but I need this to be my own decision instead of his.
“Dad I…” I pause, my hand on the knob of the slightly opened door as I stare at my dad and Cassie’s mom, who have just jumped away from each other, shifting on their feet and staring at me with wide eyes. They had just been kissing.
“Leila…”
My dad’s voice breaks me away from the shock that keeps me rooted in place, and I look at the two of them before taking a cautious step into the room, leaving the door open.
“Leila, it’s not what you think,” he says, the oldest line in the books.
“Isn’t it, Dad? Because it sure looked like you were kissing Cassie’s mom. So, please tell me it isn’t what I think.”
He sighs and looks at her before looking back at me.
“I’m sorry, Leila. This wasn’t how I planned for you to find out.”
My heart clenches in my chest. Of course, there was no way out of it, but a silly part of me was expecting some sort of explanation that could be explained away.
My lips open and close as I try to form words, but they are hard to voice.
My mother has only just been arrested months ago, and while I understand that their marriage has not always been rosy, couldn’t he have waited a little longer before finding himself in the arms of another woman, even if that woman is Cassie’s mom?
Or should I say, especially if that woman is Cassie’s mom, considering none of this would have happened if she and Dad didn’t have an affair to begin with? No, I cannot think like that.
I stave off the thoughts of betrayal stirring in me and wait for him to explain to me exactly what’s going on while Cassie’s mom stands off to the side as though she would rather have the ground open up and swallow her than to be in this situation.
“What is the meaning of this, Dad?”
“Leila, I certainly hope you will understand why I’m doing this. I need an heir.”
My jaw tightens.
“Now that Cassie is married and you’re about to be, I need to have another child, Leila, an heir that will continue the Kaye legacy so that our family name will not die out.”
For a moment, I simply stare at him, too stunned to form a response. My astonishment must be plain on my face with the way he quickly presses on.