Page 13 of Redeeming His Omega Mate

“How’s my pumpkin?” he asked, pinching her nose lightly.

“I’m fine,” Aria grinned. “My friends still don’t believe the Alpha’s my friend.”

“Maybe they’ll believe it when I show up at your school for the father-daughter dance at the end of the term.”

Aria’s eyes lit up. “What? Really?”

I interrupted before the excitement took over completely. “Okay, sweetie. I think it’s time for you to head inside. The Alpha and I need to talk for a bit.”

Kael put Aria down gently, and she skipped inside. As soon as she was out of sight, I turned to Kael with a serious expression.

“You can’t just say things like that to her.”

Kael shrugged. “Why not? She needs someone to take her, doesn’t she?” His tone was casual, but his gaze was anything but. “Unless you’d rather disappoint her.”

My jaw clenched. “That’s not the point. This isn’t your decision.

He took a step closer, his presence pressing in on me like a silent challenge. “You and I both know she doesn’t have anyone else. And you wouldn’t deny her, would you?”

A wave of guilt washed over me, but I pushed it away. Aria would be heartbroken if she couldn’t go. And Kael knew it. He was getting too close, becoming a presence in our lives, and I didn’t want Aria to get used to it. I also didn’t want anyone to think I was being favored by the Alpha. I needed to keep some distance, not just for me but for Aria, too.

I sighed, forcing my voice to stay even. “Let me think about it.”

Kael’s gaze lingered on me a moment too long before he took a step back. “Sure,” he said with a crooked smile.

A sense of awkwardness hung in the air, but I quickly dismissed it.

“Did you want to talk about something else?” I asked.

A small, triumphant smile curved his lips. “Actually, yes. I wanted to share some good news with you in person.”

I waited, curiosity gnawing at me.

“It’s about the alliance,” he continued, his smile growing. “I’m pleased to inform you that a pack has accepted our offer. They’re not a neighboring pack, but they have resources that will be invaluable to us.They’ve even invited us for a dinner celebration to mark the occasion, and I’d like you to join me.”

Relief flooded through me, knowing Aria’s safety was no longer in question. But that sense of calm quickly evaporated as Kael added one last line.

“So, get ready, Tala. We leave for the Stonehart pack in two days.”

Chapter 6

Damian

The council room was tense, charged by grim discussions about the recurring issue: Rogues. They were no longer a nuisance but a relentless threat, testing the borders of our territory with increasing boldness. My father had been battling the same problem a few months before his death, but I hadn’t understood the full extent of it until the mantle of Alpha rested on my shoulders. I’d sworn to protect them the day I took the oath, and I intended to keep that promise. But every day, I was reminded how fragile that vow was.

My father had ruled with an iron fist, wielding fear as a weapon to control both our pack and those outside our borders. It had worked—until it didn’t. His legacy left Stonehart isolated, with fractured relationships and enemies lurking on every front. Building alliances now was like patching up a sinking ship. Few packs trusted us enough to stand by our side—until two days ago.

Silver Fang had reached out, offering an alliance. On the surface, itsounded promising. They had resources that we desperately needed. But there was a catch. There always was.

“They’re only willing to forge an alliance if there’s a mating bond to solidify the agreement,” Elder Maren said, his voice edged with stubborn authority. He leaned forward as though the sheer force of his will could make me agree. “They’ve proposed that you mate with the Alpha’s sister. Both packs value the sanctity of marriage, and this would bind us in a way that cannot be easily broken.”

He wasn’t wrong. Stonehart did value marriage as a sacred, unbreakable contract. And in truth, the offer was practical. A marriage bound by duty would solidify trust between both packs. But every instinct in me recoiled at the idea of having to marry another woman.

“There has to be another way,” I said, my voice low but firm. I didn’t care if tradition dictated otherwise. I wasn’t giving in that easily. Still, the question hung in the back of my mind: How long before the rogues struck again and before we ran out of options?

As usual, the meeting ended with me dismissing them until the next day. Council meetings were fast becoming a daily occurrence. All hands had to be on deck to solve the rising issue, and for the first time in a while, there seemed to be a light at the end of the tunnel. But this time, it was at a cost I did not want.

The truth was, Stonehart was unraveling. The Betas and Omegas were locked in a seething conflict that threatened to tear the pack apart before the rogues could even lift a claw. I’d inherited a pack on the edge of ruin, and it was my job to pull it back from the brink.

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