Chapter 5 Cooper Hart #3
“I promise that our products,” she paused, clearing her throat as her eyes took in the various Alpha expressions around her, then restarted. “I guarantee that our valued Omegas are treated with respect and dignity. We offer them the best of everything.”
Wyatt slowly turned to me, and my guts clenched. Damn. He was not happy. Really thought this would be the best thing I’d ever done.
"And you arranged this when, exactly?" Wyatt asked, his voice dangerously soft.
"About two months ago," I admitted. "After that disaster date night with the Omega from Jackson.
Remember how he couldn't stand Boone's scent? And Wade nearly punched that waiter for getting too close? It was all tits up. It’s always like that, Wyatt. We’ve got money to burn now, and this is a better way. "
"You believe that the better way was to secretly invite strangers to take our samples?" Wyatt’s voice grew quieter with each word.
I glanced around desperately at my other pack brothers, hoping one of them would come to my rescue. Levi and Boone averted their eyes. Wade—who I thought would be my lifeline seconds earlier—literally shrugged at me like I was the dumbass, and he couldn’t save me from his twin this time.
"I wanted it to be a surprise!" I spread my hands, pleading. "Look, we've been searching for compatible Omegas for fucking ever, man. Nothing's worked out."
Ms. Matthews cleared her throat. "If I may, gentlemen.
The Eros Institute has a 98.7% success rate with multi-Alpha pack matches.
Our process is discreet, scientific, and highly effective.
We have a database of thousands of Omegas who have specifically indicated interest in pack arrangements.
If none of those work out, we will find fresh, willing, test subjects.
" The word ‘willing’ seemed to catch in her throat for a heartbeat.
"I don't care if your success rate is a hundred and ten percent," Wyatt nearly growled at the poor Beta. "You don't just spring this kind of thing on people.”
“Mister Nelson, if you’re angry about being.
.. caught off guard, I’m afraid you’re directing your fury at the wrong person.
” She straightened her posture, trying to keep her practiced work demeanor intact.
“Our records indicate that the entirety of your pack was informed, and on board. We have signatures to prove it.”
I gave a sheepish smile and looked at my pack brothers, who were all know staring at me for an explanation. “We did digital signatures for the bank stuff. Not like I forged them or anything.”
“Jesus, Coop.” Levi scolded me all the time, only this time I think he meant it.
“Come on, guys. You know we need this. One perfect Omega who fits with all of us. No more awkward dates, no more disappointments, no more... loneliness." The last word slipped out before I could catch it. I exhaled, looking up at the ceiling when I said the next. “I can’t bring another possible home, just to have my hopes dashed. None of us thought it would be this hard. We found each other early in life. We were lucky.” I looked back down, eyes finding Boone’s.
“Boone fell into our lives like kismet. But we can’t change the fact that we’re all Alphas.
Without an Omega, everything we’ve worked for is going to fall apart eventually. ”
Something shifted in the room—a subtle change as four pairs of Alpha eyes focused on me with varying degrees of understanding. We'd all felt it, that emptiness in our pack structure, the missing piece that would make us complete.
"Fine," Levi said finally, reaching up to his ear to grab the pencil, then realizing he’d already broken it. He dropped his hands, expression unsettled. "But next time you decide to solve our problems, maybe give us a heads-up first. Especially when it involves money.”
I grinned, relief flooding through me. "Where's the fun in that?”
“You keep having fun like this, and you’ll go broke before you know it, Coop.” Levi shook his head, weary of my money antics.
“Not with you in my corner, Levi.” I smiled affectionately at him.
We all knew I didn’t have to get their approval to spend my inheritance, but I’d told them when I’d first gotten the windfall, that the ranch was my priority. They were my priority. I would have to tell them I’d spent millions on Eros, but maybe after some of the dust settled.
“Speaking of money…” This from Wade. He let the unfinished question hang in the air.
“Come on, man. It’s only money. It’s money, and its ability to buy us a little happiness.” I pushed off his question. I’d confess that part later.
“I am happy,” Wyatt cut in, voice gruff.
“You’re happy the ranch is out of hot water. That’s different than really being happy, Wyatt.” I pushed the truth at him, but only he could choose to swallow it.
My attention shifted to Boone, hovering by the backdoor like he might bolt through it at any second. He caught my eye and offered a barely perceptible shrug, as if to say, whatever you've done, I'm along for the ride.
I chuckled softly at that. Boone had been ‘along for the ride’ unexpectedly since we’d met in college.
Two more quick looks showed me Wyatt’s expression had softened slightly, while Wade was just shaking his head.
.. I caught the hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth though. Wade was always the easier twin.
Ms. Matthews stepped forward bringing her tablet to life and navigating to a digital checklist. "Excellent. Now, if you'll all have a seat, we can talk over a few things and knock out final paperwork before moving to the sample collection."
As my packmates grudgingly gathered around our kitchen table, I couldn't help the surge of hope that rose in my chest. Soon, we'd have our missing piece—an Omega to complete our circle. I just hoped whoever was sent our way was ready for what they were getting into with the five of us. We were rough, rowdy, and stuck in our ways. If they could see past our surfaces though, they’d find Alphas who’d do anything to make them happy.
When Wyatt finally scratched his name across the last highlighted line of his set of paperwork, I felt my entire body relax. I’d been really worried he’d be the holdout.
“Wonderful,” the Eros rep crowed, quickly gathering all the documents, stacking them neatly, and slipping them into her briefcase. “When these are back at headquarters, they’ll be digitized and we’ll send you finalized copies.”
“Great,” I clapped my hands, rubbing them together in anticipation. “Samples next?”
“Yes, Mister Hart. My techs should be all ready for you.”
“First to be poked!” I said in a cheery tone.
“Please don’t tell me I just agreed to needles,” Boone’s voice was a low, disgruntled thrum. His scent shifted, anxiety pluming around his body.
“Unfortunately, Mister Atwood, the only way to gather the necessary samples is to use proper phlebotomy equipment.”
“Nope, I’m out,” he held up his hands in defeat, shoving away from the table and half-turning towards the back door.
“You have already committed to the process,” Miss Mathews reminded him. She elevated the briefcase, her fingers curved around the handle, the polish on her thumbnail blinking red as if to taunt Boone with the color of blood.
For a moment, I saw anger rise in Boone. He had a primal way of losing his temper; he'd disappear for a while, living off the land and communing with nature, so he didn’t hurt a living creature. He closed his eyes, fists clenching and unclenching, before responding.
“Take samples from the others. You don’t need me.” Boone controlled his brewing anger. I knew him well enough to know that his instincts were telling him to hit the trail. I didn’t want him vanishing for a few days, always hated when he was gone.
“It’s going to be fine, Boone. Be over before you know it.” My promise was hollow. I didn’t know exactly how bad it was going to be... hell though, couldn’t be worse than getting a tattoo. We all had some of those.
“Be over right now if I want it to be,” Boone shrugged, shoving his large hands into his pockets and standing a little straighter, as if emphasizing how big he was next to the small Eros rep.
She didn’t move a muscle. The woman had nerves of steel.
“I apologize if the process is uncomfortable, Mister Atwood.” She gave him a practiced, sympathetic expression. “But we absolutely cannot give you Eros quality results if we do not have samples from the entire pack.”
“Coop,” Boone shifted his unhappiness in my direction, and I grimaced.
“Yes, Boone, my incredibly handsome pack brother whom I love dearly?” I said slowly, raising my eyebrows and trying like hell to look innocent.
“Payback’s a bitch.” Was all Boone said.
I felt bad for myself, for whatever payback might end up being, but mostly I felt bad for the techs, because they were going to have to strap Boone down to get their samples.