I stayed in that position for a while, totally taken aback. Completely shocked. My lips trembled, my legs weak and shaky, my palms slick with sweat. Tears spilled freely from my eyes.
A sudden knock on the door startled me. Forcing my trembling legs to move, I pushed myself up and walked unsteadily to the door. When I opened it, a young lady in a servant's uniform stood there. Without a word, she slipped a small white package into my hand and immediately turned to leave. I shut the door and looked down at the package.
It was a brand-new phone.
I returned to the floor, leaning my back against the bed as I opened the box. As I lifted the phone out, a small yellow slip of paper fluttered to the ground. I picked it up.
The handwriting was elegant, almost like fine calligraphy. But as I read the note, my heart dropped.
"I'm sorry for ruining your cellphone. This is a new, better, upgraded one. Love you." ~ Dawn
My chest tightened. I unwrapped the phone completely, turned it on, and waited.
Several seconds later, a message appeared. My breath caught as I opened it—then my heart sank like stone.
It was Ian. His bare chest slashed with deep claw marks. His eyes lifeless. His body stiff.
A broken sob tore from my throat.
I have the phone to my chest, crying uncontrollably. I had always known Ian still had something for me. He was my last hope for a mate and a lover.
A loud knock on my door jerked me awake; sunlight hit my eyes. I cracked my eyes open, realizing I had slept on the floor. I stretched, getting up slowly — my muscles weak and aching. Still, I forced my way toward the door and opened it.
A woman stood there, dressed in a white, knee-length pinafore. Her blonde hair was tied up in a bun.
I was about to speak when she stopped me, her gaze intense. "Don't say anything. Follow me."
I was confused but felt safe, so I followed her, stepping out of my bedroom.
As we stepped out of the elevator that took us to a different floor, the servants working in the Pack house suspected nothing while the lady led me to a place I didn't yet know. It was either she worked in the Pack house, or they didn't care to know who she was and why she had taken me.
We re-entered another elevator that took us to the third floor. The elevator slid open to a hallway with three rooms. The lady knocked on the very first door.
It was answered after several heartbeats by a man in a white shirt and black pants. His blonde hair was slicked back perfectly. He was very good looking. He raised a brow.
The lady guarding me bowed slightly.
"Mr Jasper, please inform Mr Gideon that she is here."
I paused. Gideon? As in my Gideon?
Mr Jasper opened the door wider, letting me in. As soon as I stepped inside and caught sight of Gideon by the side of the king-sized bed, balanced in his wheelchair, I rushed toward him and wrapped him in a hug, taking in his familiar scent of sandalwood.
I broke the hug to palm his cheek. "Gideon, what are you doing here?"
He smiled softly. "Jasper here is a friend."
I looked behind me and saw Mr Jasper closing the door softly and eyeing me.
"You left out the part where your friend is an extremely gorgeous girl," he teased Gideon.
"Yes, because I know you," Gideon returned.
I turned back to Gideon. "How did you get in? Wait—scratch that. How did you know where I was?"
"Bambi, I'm not stupid. That call yesterday was very suspicious. You suddenly asked about Ian." My heart sank at the mention of his name. "I went to check on him last night and I found him dead."
I took a step back; my throat tightened.
"I studied the injury and knew immediately that they were from the Alpha's men. Then I realized that someone must have threatened you with him. The Alpha."
I swallowed. "I—I swear, I didn't know he would—"
"That's fine." Gideon interrupted, his brown gaze intense on me. "I need to know how you became his breeder and why he is suddenly interfering in your personal life by going as far as murdering your friend."
"I can't tell you how I managed to be his breeder; I plan to take care of that."
"Take care of what? Are they aware of your identity as an Omega?"
I shook my head no.
"Then how do you plan to handle it when they find out?"
I said nothing because I had no reply.
"Listen, I asked Jasper here for help. I heard a breeder title can be revoked if a man suddenly appears to claim her as his mate and he would stop at nothing to have her."
I frowned. "I don't understand."
"Jasper will pretend to be your mate."
My lips parted in shock.
"He is not close with his brother, the Alpha, so there wouldn't be anything like betrayal."
"No, no, no, no. You can't do that."
Gideon frowned, leaning forward in his wheelchair.
"T—the Alpha would not take it lightly." I said.
"Who gives a fuck about how the Alpha will feel? I want to take you out of this mess, and I will do anything to make sure that happens."
"No, Gideon. You are not listening to me. He killed Ian, my ex. What more a man that appears to claim me back as his? We can't risk this young man's life." I concluded, pointing at Mr Jasper.
"I'm not listening to you. This young man you are referring to is almost as powerful as the Alpha. He would not be killed easily. And moreover, I think the Alpha killed Ian because he has touched you. It happens with most Alphas when they realize you've been touched by another man. They wouldn't want that man to live."
"Gideon! You don't understand. He wouldn't only kill this man but your life would also be in danger. Don't do this—"
"I don't know if this is where I come in..." Mr Jasper said, stepping forward. "Apart from being jobless in this Pack house since the passing of my parents, my other job has been fucking the women my brother has eyes on, so this is not a big deal."
I eyed him suspiciously.
"Oh, wait. I don't mean I would fuck you literally—well, if you let me, why not?—I meant, it is something he is used to, so he would not react in any way."
Should I believe them? He acted extra possessive with me last night; will that change if Mr Jasper is involved?
"My brother is having a meeting with his workers in the conference room; it is the best time to dash there and claim you as mine because if it is reveal before his workers, it'd spread and majority of the Pack would be aware. Hence, he will be forced to make decisions according to the Pack rules."
I looked back at Gideon. "Then what happens next?"
"He understands that both of you are mated and he lets you go."
I thought for a moment.
Would he?