Page 18 of Knot Their Girl
The look he gave me told me he could make no such promises, and I sighed as I went to bed, my thoughts churning.My nephew, of course, didn’t know I went to the Omega Garden not to find myself an omega, but to find him one.
I’d made it this long. I didn’t need one, but Colter…
He was struggling. Having a mate might help him.
As I laid in bed that night, my thoughts drifted to the omega from the restroom: Raeka Whittenhall. I knew it was a longshot for me to get any omega to agree to an arrangement as odd as this one, but if there was one omega who might, it may just be her.
“You have to say more,” Raeka tells me. “Because my mind is running a mile a minute here.”
“I told your mother I want to put in an offer for you,” I try to explain this carefully, delicately, in a way that I hope won’t upset her or freak her out too much. “And that’s how it would look to the world, but…”
She blinks up at me, the breeze around us full of fragrance thanks to the roses surrounding us. Still, beneath the scent of rose is her scent, muddled by something. “But?”
“The offer would be from me on behalf of my nephew.”
The look she gives me then makes me wonder if she didn’t quite hear me right. And then, after a minute passes, she exclaims, “What?” I’m about to explain further when she goes on, “If the offer is on behalf of your nephew, why isn’t here? Why didn’t he go to the Omega Garden instead of you—and, wait a minute. You said it would look like you and me were a match to the outside world. What does that mean?”
“My nephew, Colter, can’t officially put in an offer for you, or for any omega.” I add quietly, “He’s twenty-one. Your age… but he’s a beta.”
“Oh.” Something in her changes. She doesn’t seem as upset as she did moments ago, and I hope that means she will at least consider it.
“I’m aware it’s unconventional, and needless to say, I would appreciate it if the part about my nephew could remain a secret between us. As far your mother is aware, I’m here for you, putting in an offer for you, because I—” For some reason, these next two words are the most difficult words I’ve said in a long time. “—want you.”
She folds her arms over her chest, but then must realize how that might look to her mother, who is probably watching from one of the windows, so she drops her arms back to her sides and puckers her lips as she gazes up at me—and I do my very hardest not to stare at that mouth too long.
“So, let me get this straight: you told my mom you’re putting an offer on me, that you want me to be yours—and that’s how the rest of the world will see it, too—but you really want me for your nephew, who’s a beta?”
I nod once. “That’s right.”
“Why can’t your nephew get his own girl, if he wants one? Is he a loser? Got something wrong with him?” Blunt and to the point, much like she was the first time we met. It was what drew me to her, but hearing her say that about Colter…
“There’s nothing wrong with him,” I tell her. “He’s housebound. Not because he can’t go out, but because he doesn’t want to. He’s… mute. He hasn’t spoken a word since his parents died eleven years ago. I’ve been his guardian since my sister died.”
“Shit,” she whispers. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s been a long time. Colter is struggling, though. He’s struggled ever since the accident.”
“Does he know you’re out here trying to play matchmaker for him?”
I reach for the back of my neck and rub it as I shift my stare to the roses beside us. “He doesn’t. He thinks I’m looking for an omega for myself.”
“And you’re fine with it?”
That makes me furrow my brow and ask, “What do you mean?”
“You’re fine with playing matchmaker for your nephew—getting him an omega—while not having one yourself? You won’t get all jealous and stuff?” Her gaze travels along me, sluggish, in a way I can’t say anyone ever has before. It’s like she sees right through me, and even though she’s an omega, she’s not afraid to question me. “You won’t decide you want me instead?”
“No.” The word comes out of me a little too quickly, which she notices, and it causes her to raise a single eyebrow. “I won’t, and I’m willing to provide you with a bodyguard, like you had that night at the Omega Garden, if it would make you feel better.”
All she says to that is “Interesting.”
Interesting, but that isn’t an agreement. That isn’t her saying yes. I need a yes. I want a yes. I want to go home, start making the arrangements, and get everything situated for her, and then I want her to move in with us as quickly as possible.
That’s how it is for other packs and their omegas. Some have an official ceremony, like a wedding, but many forgo that entirely. Even so, this arrangement would be out of the ordinary. I am aware that she can easily say no, and I’ll have to accept it. Some alphas might not; it appears as though her mother wants her to find a match as soon as possible, thus she could technically try to force a match onto Raeka.
I don’t want to be a part of that. I want her to choose me.
Or, to choose to give Colter a chance, I mean.
