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Have I ever seen Aurora choose to go walking in the garden? Sure, Father would sometimes tell her that it was on her agenda, that strolling might help to make her a little thinner, but she has never chosen to do it on her own.
Let alone with someone else.
Aurora firmly prefers solitude. It’s mesmerizing to watch her walking in step with Mylah, their arms linked together as they go.
What are they talking about? Are they talking about me? How is it possible that Aurora is getting along with an omega from the outskirts? She refuses to be social with Noemi and any other proper omega—what’s different about Mylah?
But I already know what’s different about her.
Everything.
And that’s precisely the problem.
***
“Good morning, sir,” Kellen says, immediately upon joining the meeting room. It’s our daily morning debriefing, and I would rather be anywhere else.
The other advisers also file into the room, once again insisting on standing against the wall, rather than joining me at the table. I could just compel them to join me at the table, but doing that would remind me too much of my father.
Sitting here while they all look at me is reminding me too much of my father.
I wish the other guys could be here with me for this, but they’re all at home, dealing with their own packs.
“Good morning, Kellen.”
“Sir, I think it’s important that we discuss your plan with the omega captive.”
Oh, great. So, we’re jumping right in. After yet another sleepless night, tossing and turning, fighting my every demon commanding me to get up and go to her room.
Tilting my head at the man, I decide that while I may not compel him, I’m not going to make it easy for him to question me about my decisions. I am the alpha and the king, and I might allow him to continue advising out of respect for his long-standing service to this pack, but he needs to know that his influence isn’t nearly as great as he seems to think.
“What is it that you need to know?”
Kellen stands very still. I can see the gears turning behind his eyes.
Father always said that the most important thing an alpha can do is read people. Everyone has a motivation, and you have to understand what it is to control any room. Make people think ideas are their own, and you have effortless obedience. Ensure people feel good when they do what you ask.
“What is your purpose with her, sir?” Kellen asks, his voice careful. “I’ve already expressed my…opinions about her sacrifice. But there are some pack members starting to question the reason for keeping her here. In our most sacred place, an omega from the outskirts.”
I shift in my seat, sitting up and putting my hands on the armrests, doing my best to keep from curling them into fists around the wood.
The last thing I want is for this to feel like a confrontation, but it already does. My wolf is growling to get out, demanding a chance to show Kellen why it is that I am the alpha king, and he is not.
But I tamp the wolf down. That might have been how my father did things, but not me. I won’t be challenging people to fights just because they show a little backbone.
“I am gathering information about Gavyn’s group.”
“And the Omega has this information?”
“That is yet to be seen.”
Kellen continues studying me, and I keep my face as placid as possible. The last thing I need is for him to see through to the real reason she’s here.
It would be one thing if I was just using her for my own pleasure. It’s not something I would do, but plenty of powerful alphas far below royalty have been known to take omegas for the relief they can provide in a rut. For how fun it is to knot inside someone whose anatomy was specifically designed in tandem with your own.
I start to stiffen at the thought and adjust, clearing my throat and doing my best to remind my body where I am at present moment.
But Mylah isn’t here as a sex object, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to convince anyone that it’s true. I have never taken an omega as mine like that, never been known to sneak off to rooms with random women. I was raised to control my impulses, to be the perfect alpha.
