"Good. Good. Then I'll speak to the staff," she said, transforming once more under my gaze, shoulders drawn back and hands smoothing at her skirt.
"The staff?" I asked.
"There'll be a nest to build, order to establish. My cottage..." She trailed off, scanning the room, then darting around the desk.
I stood, watching her take control of the space, sliding easily into my father's seat.
I had allies with other alphas in other regions, but any I might've established here in the Hills would've looked like a preemptive move against my father. I would need an advisor, or at least men who trusted me, who could speak with other betas.
"I'll need some of my things," she continued, wetting a quill and marking her full bottom lip with a line of ink in the process.
"I ought to send someone to keep an eye on it, make sure Barr doesn't retaliate," I said. Her eyes widened, and she nodded.
"And someone to let the patients who come to see me know where I am now."
"Patients?" I echoed, studying her, perversely pleased with the way her attention refused to turn back to me.
"I'm…something of a healer," she muttered, scratching words over a loose sheet of paper. How had a woman who claimed to keep a perfect house for one of the Hill's most prominent betas become 'something of a healer'?
I would need others on my side, it was true. But at least I found myself with an assertive omega. It was a start.
Chapter Five
BRIGID
What have I done?
I chewed on the corner of my thumbnail, counting the bricks in the wall in front of me, until a steaming roll appeared in front of my face. Queasy as I was, I snatched it from the gnarled hand that held it and took a rough bite, chewing frantically.
What have I done?I wondered once more.Nothing,a stronger voice reminded me. This washisdecision, his bold declaration in front of a half dozen betas from Grave Hills. His madcap plan that I couldn't really believe he'd considered thoroughly, in spite of his claim.
And then I'd encouraged him, promising himchildren, demanding years at his side!
What have I done?
"What a stroke of luck this is, lovey," Maggie declared, patting my hand as I tore the roll to little pieces, stuffing them into my mouth one by one until my cheeks were swollen. "That you should be Grave Hills' omega. And a fine one you'll be for the lad."
Lad. As if the enormous man, devastatingly attractive, brooding one moment and smirking gently the next, could be called alad.
Alpha Feargus.Torion, I corrected myself, because "Alpha Feargus" brought to mind his father, and aside from their size, they bore little resemblance.
I had told that man I would bed him. Not so directly, but it'd been implied when I'd demanded several children, of course. And he'd…agreed.
'Then you're mine.'
Fang's fire, what have I done?
I'd come to the keep yesterday wanting to plead for the alpha's intervention,not his bed. But I'd arrived too early, left sitting in the great hall with barely a word from any of the servants who passed me. I'd had to beg for water and a bite to eat from Maggie, and still, I'd waited hours longer. Long enough to grow tired and forget my entire speech I'd prepared.
Instead, I'd found myself startled by the new alpha, handsome and young and warm with that cheerfully loose way of men who'd been drinking. I'd stammered out a request and been tucked into what must've been a fine guest room at one point, but was now dusty. And then when I'd tried to leave this morning, too embarrassed by the turn of events, I'd run into Malcolm, who'd known immediately what my presence in the keep meant.
"It's likely too soon to say so, but his old lordship had a little too much mind for his wife and not enough for the keep, let alone the Hills," Maggie continued in her ramble, the speech rousing me from my panic.
"Mags," I chided, glancing around the room. We weren't exactly alone in the kitchens, but the other staff were certainly keeping their distance.
From me.
Because I was their alpha's omega now. And I washidingin the kitchens like a servant who'd been scolded.
