Chapter 58
LIZA
Ijolted into alertness, heart beating like a drum and body covered in a fine sheen of sweat. I was breathing hard.
In the dim light, I took in my surroundings, trying to figure out where the hell I was.
Everything felt strange, and I couldn’t shake off the disorientation clouding my mind. I stretched my limbs, shaking off the remnants of sleep. Taking a deep breath, I tried to ground myself in the present moment.
The refreshing scent of cedar and pine brought with it familiarity and comfort. As my senses sharpened, I realized I was snugly tucked in Ty’s bed, a safe haven of warmth and comfort.
The last thing I remembered was being in the small study, crying into Mom’s arms as she rubbed my back and murmured soothing words. There was nothing she could say to calm me, though, and the tears just wouldn’t stop.
My heart raced as I reached over to his side, longing for Ty’s warmth only to find the bed empty and cold to the touch. Had he even slept here at all last night? Or had he stayed up, pacing the floors, trying to find solutions for the seemingly unsolvable problems that plagued us?
The weight of our current situation settled on me like an oppressive fog, making it difficult to breathe.
As son to the alpha, Ty bore the responsibility of protecting the pack.
And now that my secret was out—my fucking omega status revealed—he faced the challenge of navigating the political and social upheaval that would inevitably follow.
I could only imagine the turmoil brewing inside him.
Despite his strong, confident exterior, beneath the surface was a man who struggled to reconcile the needs of his people with the love blossoming between us.
Ty was caught in a battle of duty and desire, and it pained me to know that my very existence was the cause of his distress.
Yet, even in the midst of all this chaos, Ty never failed to show how much he cared for me.
His absence from the bed spoke volumes about his dedication to finding a way through the darkness.
And though I felt guilty for the burden I’d placed on him, I couldn’t deny the warmth that spread through my chest.
“Ty?” I whispered into the empty room, hoping against hope that he might appear and wrap his strong arms around me. But there was no response, only the distant sound of muffled footsteps as the staff moved through the mansion.
My fingers grazed the cool surface of the bedside table, searching for my phone. A sticky note was attached to it, Ty’s familiar handwriting scrawled across the paper.
I carried you to my bed in hopes that you could get a full night’s rest. Call down to the kitchen once you wake up. They’ll make you anything you want for breakfast.
A smile tugged at the corner of my lips. Yet more evidence to prove how much he cared for me. Even in the midst of the shitstorm around us, he’d thought of my wellbeing.
I thought of my parents and wondered in which room they were staying. Dominic had insisted they remain at the estate where it was safe, and I was glad for it because now I wouldn’t have to worry about psychos swarming their house to find me.
We’d known Castro would retaliate. It had been inevitable. Knowing what had happened to my birth parents was one thing, but actually having it played out in front of me… It felt like I was spiraling. Any control I had was slipping from me.
If I looked at the situation as a whole, it seemed insurmountable. I needed to take charge of the situation one step at a time. First step, I sat on the bed and quickly used the phone in the bedroom to call the kitchen and place an order for breakfast.
Standing up, I grabbed my phone from the bedside table, unplugging it from the charger.
My finger hesitated above the power button, knowing full well what would come next.
As soon as the phone powered on, notifications flooded the screen—missed calls and texts from clients.
But as I’d expected, most were from Sabrina, desperate to know what was going on.
I scrolled to Sabrina’s number and dialed quickly before I changed my mind. It rang once before she answered. “Liza. Liza, is that you?”
“Hey, Sabrina,” I said softly, pressing the phone against my ear.
“Liza! Are you okay? Where are you? Do you know what’s happening?” She sounded frantic, genuine concern lacing every syllable. Another layer of guilt slithered through. I should have let her know as soon as the news report went out that I was safe.
“I’m safe,” I reassured her, though I knew that wouldn’t appease her.
“Everyone’s been talking, Liza. A reporter cornered me earlier, asking if I knew my best friend and boss was an omega.” She paused for a moment before continuing. “People are running their mouths, spreading rumors like wildfire.”
I clenched my free hand into a fist, anger bubbling in my blood. They had no right to invade my personal life, but there was little I could do about it now.
The truth was out there, Castro had seen to it that I was exposed for all to see, and there was no hiding it.
“Unfortunately, it’s not surprising,” I sighed into the phone. “I knew it wouldn’t be long before people started putting two and two together. We might be able to hide the truth about what happened to my family, but we can’t hide the fact that I’m an omega.”
“Gods, Liza, this whole situation is just so messed up,” Sabrina replied, her frustration evident in her voice. “But you know I’ll always have your back, right?”
“Of course, and I appreciate it more than you’ll ever know.” I sat back on the bed, rubbing my hand back and forth on the cool satin sheets.
“Promise me you’ll stay safe,” Sabrina urged.
“Promise,” I assured her, though the tinge of uncertainty in my own voice didn’t go unnoticed. “I can’t risk going out in public right now, but I’ll keep you updated as much as I can.”
“I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion.
“Nothing’s going to happen to me, Sabrina. I promise.” I ended the call. The desire to check in on my employees burned within me, but venturing out into the world was not an option at the moment. Who knew who Castro’s ‘little friend’ was?
The thought of it being someone I knew or employed didn’t sit well with me. I was almost certain I trusted everyone I knew, but it was the almost that stopped me.
My mind raced with concerns for my employees, my friends, who were caught in the crossfire of my new reality. What did they think about it all?
Had they suspected there was something different about me all along? I could imagine one of them saying, “That bitch always seemed to be up to something.” Another would reply, “Of course, she’s an omega. No one can cook like that without magic being involved.”
Would they talk to the press?
I groaned out loud. I couldn’t even begin to think how the press would spin the story or who would speak to them…
Cecily fucking Banks.
You could be as sure of the phases of the moon that she would have an opinion. “She used her omega powers to steal my man. Ty Keller was mine until she used her powers to take him for herself.” Okay, I was being ridiculous now. Like Ty would ever have looked at that phony bitch.
I almost laughed at my vivid imagination. Needing to get moving, I stood from the bed before padding silently to the window and peering through the heavy drapes. The world outside seemed so distant, as if I were looking at it through a foggy veil.
How could being labeled an omega change everything? I hadn’t changed since yesterday when no one knew I was an omega. And, for that matter, how did I go from cooking in mansions to being a prisoner in one?
Ty had mentioned reporters prowling around like vultures, seeking any opportunity to sneak into town or onto the estate.
Sabrina had confirmed they were in town, but Ty had been adamant that they wouldn’t get to me.
His words provided some comfort, but I couldn’t ignore the gnawing unease in the pit of my stomach.
I closed my eyes, trying to block out the fear, the unknowns, and the danger that seemed to lurk around every corner. Despite it all, I found solace in the knowledge that Ty would do everything in his power to protect me.
That thought steadied me, grounding me enough to get moving just as someone knocked on the door.
“Yes?” I crossed the floor, hoping there was no need to worry about someone within the house.
“Miss Mims? I have your breakfast, ma’am.”
I opened the door and took the tray of bacon and eggs from the staff member. “Thank you so much.”
She smiled and nodded. Was that pity I saw on her face? Did everyone know about my situation?
My phone buzzed with a text from Ty as I shoved a bite of egg into my mouth.
Meeting in five minutes in Dad’s office. Nico has an update.
My hands shook as I quickly replied.
I’ll be right there.
I turned my phone off, not wanting to be disturbed, and if I was honest, hoping to block Castro. I knew that was na?ve thinking, but it made me feel like I was doing something.
My footsteps echoed through the halls adorned with exquisite paintings and ornate chandeliers as I navigated my way to Dominic’s office. It struck me as odd that the staff weren’t bustling about, attending to their morning duties, but I chalked it up to the increased security.
The poor staff must’ve been terrified that the home they worked in was now the center of attention, and not for good reasons.
I knocked softly on the office door. Ty opened it within seconds, his eyes reflecting his concern and exhaustion. He stepped out and kissed me on the cheek. “Did you sleep well?”
“Like a baby,” I replied with a smile. “Thanks for carrying me to your room last night.”
As I took in his appearance, my earlier suspicions were confirmed. He must’ve stayed up all night because he looked rough. His five o’clock shadow cast a rugged air about him, and his usually well-groomed, black hair was wildly disheveled.