Page 15 of Nanny Omega

“Shiva found a specialist at the health center,” Master Quin said. “We have an eight o’clock appointment. Make sure you’re ready.”

Ersa’s shoulders stiffened. “We?” he asked, turning halfway to look at him.

“Yes,” Master Quin replied, as though the answer should have been obvious. “I’m going too.”

Do you have to?The words almost escaped Ersa’s lips, but he bit down hard on his bottom lip. Arguing with the alpha again was the last thing he wanted.

Master Quin seemed to sense his unspoken frustration. “I’m doing it for Benjn,” he said simply.

Ersa felt his cheeks heat. “Of course,” he muttered quickly. He didn’t wait for the alpha to say more. Turning on his heel, he rushed out of the room as though it were on fire.

The moment he reached his own room, Ersa all but collapsed onto his bed. His heart was still pounding, and his skin tingled. He sat there, staring at the wall, his hands gripping the sheets as if to steady himself. The energy buzzing through him was too much—too everything—and he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to sleep at all.

Chapter 4

Ersa

Thenextmorning,Ersacould barely keep his eyes open. Heavy lids drooped over his sore eyes as he stared listlessly out the window, watching the blurred landscape whip by as the pod sped down the airway. The hum of the engines buzzed in his ears, a steady drone that only seemed to make his exhaustion worse.

All night, his thoughts had spiraled endlessly. Master Quin’s sharp words replayed in his head like a broken record, Benjn’s soft whimpers and restless cries tugging at his heart. The sweet cub who giggled and clung to him during the day had turned into an irritable little monster the moment the lights went out. Feedings turned into UA matches that ended with both of them messy and sticky. Ersa had tried everything: rocking him, whispering soothing words, humming lullabies. Nothing worked. Benjn’s wails had cut through the quiet like a siren.

Worse, every cry summoned Master Quin like a ghost. The alpha appeared in the doorway each time, his towering frame outlined against the dim light, his eyes like steel as they fell on Ersa. Ersa’s heart clenched every time the alpha entered, but relief followed close behind—Benjn always quieted as soon as his dad approached. A mystery to Ersa since the cub had seemed to be afraid of the alpha.

Ersa stole a glance at Master Quin and immediately regretted it as something slammed into his gut, leaving him breathless at the sight of him. The alpha was sprawled comfortably on the other end of the wide seat, his posture deceptively relaxed as his sharp focus remained on the sleek e-reader in his lap. The device cast a faint blue light across his face, sharpening the chiseled angles of his jaw and cheekbones. Ersa’s gaze wandered, lingering on the expensive cut of Master Quin’s dark coat, the fine stitching that seemed as immaculate as everything else about him. He hadn’t even looked up when Ersa climbed into the pod, not a word, not a glance, as if his presence barely registered.

Yet somehow, his silence was louder than words.

Ersa turned back to the window, focusing on the blur of buildings. He tried to let the rhythm of the moving shuttle calm him, but Ersa’s throat tightened, his pulse quickening with anxiety. What if the specialist said it was impossible? That it had been too long? The very idea left a sick knot in the pit of his stomach.

Shit.Ersa squeezed his eyes shut, leaning his head back against the seat. For a moment, he let himself imagine disappearing—just fading out of existence and going somewhere he could sleep. Really sleep. The kind of deep, dreamless rest that had eluded him for years.

As if on cue, a yawn crawled up his throat, splitting his jaw wide. He slapped a hand over his mouth, mortified, and chanced another glance at Master Quin. Of course, the alpha had noticed. Those piercing eyes were on him, as unreadable as ever.

“You can take a nap,” Master Quin said. “I’ll wake you when we get there.”

“No. I’m fine,” Ersa muttered quickly, tearing his eyes away.

The truth was, sleep would be impossible with Master Quin sitting mere feet away. His presence was unnerving.

“We’re still a long way from the capital. Take a nap,” Master Quin said, his tone oddly patient. “I won’t think you’re bad at your job if you do.”

Ersa shot him a sidelong glance, a frown tugging at his brow. Why was he suddenly being nice? It felt… off, like walking into a trap. “No. I’m fine,” Ersa replied quickly, his spine straightening as if to physically prove his words. “And I’m not worried about what you think because I know how to do my job. Benjn is in good hands. Don’t worry about that.”

Master Quin’s lips curled into the faintest smirk, his sharp gaze flicking up from the e-reader. “Except you’re not as truthful as you should be,” he said smoothly, his voice laced with an edge that made Ersa’s jaw tighten.

Fuck, he’s so rude.The thought simmered in Ersa’s mind as he turned his head sharply to the window, choosing to ignore the alpha. Instead, he focused on the view outside as the landscape shifted and gave way to the sprawling expanse of the capital.

The closer they got, the louder and busier it became. The once-distant hum of traffic turned into a cacophony of sound: the deep rumble of hover pod engines. The shuttle slowed to a crawl, the steady pace disrupted by the swelling traffic ahead. Ersa glanced up and spotted the health center looming in the distance—a stark, multitiered structure of pale metal and glass. Moments later, they pulled into an underground parking, the pod gliding smoothly into an empty slot before coming to a halt.

Ersa’s heart started to pound as the reality of their destination sank in.We’re here.He turned his gaze to Master Quin, his nerves buzzing with unease.

The alpha moved, rising gracefully from his seat to reach for the door. Ersa’s hand moved on instinct, his arm shooting out before his brain caught up. His fingers brushed against the alpha’s wrist, a fleeting touch against skin that was surprisingly warm and smooth.

The contact sent a jolt through Ersa’s body, and his stomach did an uncomfortable flip.

“What?” Master Quin asked, looking down at him.

“I… nothing,” Ersa mumbled, yanking his hand back as though the brief contact had burned him. His eyes darted to the floor, a deep flush creeping up his neck.Why did I touch him like that?

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