Zane's POV
Rhys leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering. "Besides, Zane… you're not just any Omega. You have the highest breeding rate in the entire pack."
My breath caught in my throat.
Highest breeding rate in the entire pack?!
"Despite the fact that you haven't awakened your wolf or may not even have one, your rate is exceptionally high. That alone makes you rare. But I believe… once your wolf awakens, you'll have even more advantages. Maybe ones no one has ever seen before."
I blinked at him, stunned.
I haven't awakened my wolf too? I guess that's why I'm unable to control my phromones or whatever.
"Alfie was the one who discovered your stats," Rhys continued, voice casual now, but I could feel the weight behind his words. "He saved you some years ago, and his personal doctor has been responsible for your care. Every test imaginable was run on you, even ones that weren't necessary just to make sure you were safe."
I furrowed my brows.
"Alfie? That thug?"
I nearly said it out loud but stopped myself just in time.
He saved me?
We'd… met before?
Oh yeah. We even met on Earth but he doesn't recognize me here.
I let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through my hair as I tried to piece everything together.
"But then… how do you know about Alpha Alfie saving me? Did he perhaps tell you about it or you witnessed it?" I raised an eyebrow, curiosity flickering across my face. "It's obvious you're just meeting me for the first time though as you couldn't even recognize me when I walked in here."
Rhys's smile didn't falter. "Just like I said," he replied smoothly, "you'll eventually get to know more about us five Alphas, as long as you live here."
That same warm smile was still plastered on his lips. At this point, I couldn't help but pity his poor cheeks, weren't they sore from all that constant grinning?
"And yeah," he added casually, "nothing really escapes an Alpha's senses… unless we choose not to care."
"I see," I murmured, letting out a heavy sigh. "Then what illness did I have that had Alpha Alfie to save me?"
"Oh, that?" Rhys said with a light chuckle. "I didn't get many details as it didn't seem all that important. Honestly, I stopped paying attention the moment I heard it was an Omega he saved. I just assumed my brother had a good time with an Omega who fainted because they couldn't keep up with him in bed. So, naturally, he had no choice but to save them."
I swallowed hard.
Silence...
"Anyways, about the acting and modeling job...I've decided. You'll have to do it," Rhys finally said, breaking the awkward silent, his voice low and now commanding. "You have no choice, since you're mine."
Here we go again with the whole possessive alpha routine.
"I'll prepare the contracts tonight and have them sent to you," he continued, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead . "Don't worry, the terms will be in your favor. And I'll personally revise anything you're not comfortable with after you read it."
His gaze softened. "I still stand by my promise, I won't force myself on you. I won't sleep with you, and I swear to protect you since that's part of my duty anyways."
I swallowed hard, his words tightening something in my chest.
"You deserve protection, Zane. And you're going to be the face of my brand. With your looks, every Alpha in the territory will be blushing and drooling. They'll all want you and that will make me a lot of money."
Oh great. Now I wasn't just a high-breeding-rate Omega, I was also a walking goldmine.
I let out a sharp scoff and stood from the chair as the whole conversation was getting annoying now.
"I'm not done painting you!" Rhys's voice rang out to me, eyes wide with surprise. "You should sit back down so I can finish."
"I'm sorry," I replied with a polite, almost mocking smile, "but I have to go now. I just remembered I need to do some shopping. I'm meeting the patriarch tonight."
Rhys paused, visibly disappointed. "Oh I see...okay then. You better not be late for father's appointment. I suppose I'll have to finish your portrait some other time." He set the brush down and stood, adjusting his sleeves. "Please take care of yourself. I'll have one of my bodyguards follow you.. "
"I don't need it," I snapped a little too quickly, trying to keep my frustration in check. "I'm sure there are enough guards already lurking around ready to escort me, Alpha Rhys." I added the title with a deliberately deep bow before turning to leave.
Surprisingly, he didn't stop me.
But just as I stepped away from the garden, I felt a hand grab my ass from behind.
I swear I never heard his footsteps until he grabbed me followed by an outburst of laughter from him.
Shock and disgust slammed into me like a tidal wave. My body stiffened, and I spun around in disbelief.
Rhys stood there, his smile still annoyingly present on his lips. "You've got a nice ass, Zane. No wonder Cassian is obsessed. Don't mind me, I'm just admiring the face… or rather, the backside of my brand."
I stood frozen, jaw slack, unable to form words.
Rhys casually returned to his chair and picked up his brush again, as if he hadn't just groped me.
He even winked at me.
My heart dropped.
Both twins are insane!
Without another word, I turned and stormed off, determined to get out of there before that lunatic decided to take things further in broad daylight.
He said he has no interest in sex? That he won't touch me but that's bullshit.
The whole acting and modeling gig was just a way for him to keep me close, gain exclusive access to me without interference from his brothers, and profit from my face while pretending to be noble.
Kill two birds with one stone, they call it.
That bastard!
I made my way toward the mansion, only to realize that Sofia and the other maids are gone again?
I glanced around, frowning.
Where the hell did they disappear to again?!
Before I could reach the mansion's entryway, I heard the screech of tires behind me.
I turned...too late.
A black car came speeding toward me. My legs locked in place. I couldn't move.
But just as the car veered to the side, narrowly avoiding me, a strong hand yanked me backward. My head slammed into cold metal, and everything blurred.
I barely registered the sound of the car door slamming shut behind me before my consciousness slipped into darkness.