Page 22 of Redeeming His Omega Mate

I bit back a sharp retort, unwilling to give her the satisfaction of knowing her words had any effect on me. Instead, I took a bite of my breakfast, but it had lost its appeal. My appetite had vanished completely.

Serena took a seat right beside Damian, her smile sweet and irritating. “We need to get to know each other better and also plan for the engagement ceremony. So, I figured we could do that while you give me a tour of the town.”

Damian’s expression darkened as his gaze shifted to her. “I have servants for that.”

She leaned in slightly, undeterred. “Yeah, but we still need to spend some time together. That’s the main reason I’m here, after all. We’re going to be mates, and as much as an alliance brought us together, I see no reason why we can’t get to know each other better.”

Ugh. My stomach twisted. If I sat here any longer, I was going to throw up the little food I had managed to eat. Pushing back in my chair, I got up. And without a glance at either of them, I left the dining hall.

The air outside was crisp and fresh, a welcome relief from the suffocating tension I’d just left behind. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath to expel the anger and frustration that had been building inside. My day was already set, and even though breakfast with him hadn’t been part of it, I wasn’t going to let it derail my plans.

My feet carried me down the familiar path as I made my way toward the slum. The moment I set foot in the territory, I was greeted by the mingling scents of smoke, sweat, and freshly baked bread. Years had passed since I last walked these roads, but nothing had truly changed. Makeshift stalls lined the dirt roads, their owners shouting out prices for everything from wild herbs to handwoven cloth. Children darted between clusters of people, their laughter and chatter filling the air. Vendors waved skewers of charred meat over open flames. Young pups wheeled barrels across the streets, selling freshly baked bread. If there was one thing the slum did better than the Beta territory, it was in making bread. I remembered how Gina and I used to wheel those loaves when we were younger. There were rarely any leftovers, but whenever there were, the baker always let Gina and I have them. We’d look forward to those days when we’d go home with plenty of bread.

I had taken up residence with Gina’s family after mine had died. Beta soldiers stormed the slums one night, killing mercilessly and without reason. Of course, the Omegas put up a fight, but we were no match for trained, armed soldiers. Many lives were lost that night, my family included.

The memories flooded my mind as I made my way down the uneven, cracked roads. Mud clung to the edges of my boots, but I didn’t mind. I passed through the market square, heading toward theresidential part of the area where faded wooden houses leaned against each other like drunks at the end of a long night. Their walls were patched with whatever materials could be found: planks, scraps of cloth, and rusted sheets of metal.

People turned as I passed, their conversations faltering. Curious eyes followed me, some filled with disbelief, others with barely veiled hostility. I ignored the way their stares drilled into me, some bold and unashamed. Of course, everyone knew me. I’d made a fool of myself years ago, and my actions had become the talk of the town.

Pushing their stares to the back of my mind, I held my head high and continued. I had left this place in shame, and now, my return was a spectacle.

I felt a sense of relief here in the slums, where I didn’t have to carry the burden of pretending not to remember a past I could very much recall. Alpha Kael, and most certainly Serena, would never be caught dead in a place like this.

As I neared the path that led to Gina’s home, the sounds of the market faded, and the road grew quieter, offering a reprieve from the stares and whispers. When I reached her front door, I paused, feeling a tight knot in my chest. I wasn’t sure what kind of welcome I would receive. It had been so long—far too long. And given the way I left, I had no idea what to expect now.

Swallowing hard, I lifted my hand to knock, but before I could, the door swung open, and a boy with wild black curls rushed out, nearly knocking me off balance. I stumbled back as he came to a stop, his wide eyes staring up at me.

“Aiden, be careful out there!” a familiar voice scolded from inside the cottage. Almost immediately, Gina appeared in the doorway.

Her eyes grew wide in shock when they landed on me standing by her doorstep. “Tala?” she asked, disbelief heavy in her voice.

I managed a small smile, replying, “Hey, Gina.”

The young boy stared up at me with curiosity before glancing back at his mother as if waiting for some explanation. Gina’s hand instinctively rested on his shoulder. For a long moment, neither of us said anything; we just stood there, staring at each other.

The awkward silence between us was finally broken when the boytugged at Gina’s hand. “Mama, I’m gonna go find Papa at the workshop!”

Gina tore her gaze away from mine, ruffling the boy’s hair as she said, “Stay out of trouble, okay?”

The boy gave me a quick glance, and if I didn’t know any better, I would have sworn it was a warning. Then he turned and hurried off.

I looked back at Gina. “You wanna come in?” she asked.

I followed her inside, where the warmth and scent of freshly brewed tea filled the cozy room. The living room was simple yet inviting, with mismatched furniture that gave it a lived-in feel. A soft, faded rug covered the wooden floor, and the walls were adorned with hand-painted pictures and little trinkets, each one telling a story. There were a few potted plants on the windowsills, adding a touch of green to the warm and cozy room.

Gina disappeared to what I presumed was the kitchen and reemerged with a small sizzling kettle. I took a seat at the worn wooden table as Gina poured two cups of tea.

She set one in front of me but didn’t sit. Her gaze flickered over me, assessing me. “You look… different.”

“Yeah.” I nodded with a small smile. “You look good,” I said dryly, cradling the warm cup between my palms.

“Oh please,” she chuckled. “Between having to keep an eye on Aiden every single minute of the day and running the tea shop, I barely have time to care about my looks. I’m definitely a shadow of the girl you knew before you left town.”

I shook my head. “No, I’m serious, Gina. You look good.” That wasn’t a lie. Yes, she looked a lot different from how she had been seven years ago. But she looked healthier in general. She had added a bit of weight in contrast to how thin she used to be. Her brown skin seemed to glow more, a stark contrast to how dull it had been. Her auburn hair, which used to be wild and untamed, was pulled back neatly in a braid, bringing out the softness of her features.

She regarded me for a moment as though trying to see if I was saying the truth before she smiled and muttered a quiet, “Thank you.”

After a beat, she asked, “So, are you just passing through?”

---