Zane's POV~
I had already decided to keep my mouth shut about the embarrassing circumstances that led to me being videoed naked. I mean, what was the point of explaining it to Rhys anyway? He was an Alpha just like Cassian and chances were he's also a horny bastard like his twin brother.
It seemed smarter to let him assume I was just one of Cassian's many toys. But then, a thought hit me like a lightning bolt.
What if I told him I was a Beta?
It wasn't that far-fetched. Cassian doesn't only bring his Omegas to the mansion but Betas comes too to provide some sort of service such as cleaning, delivery, admin work, whatever.
Sure, I had messed up earlier. I'd given myself away when I accused Rhys whom I had mistaken for Cassian of being the one who recorded me. That had been an Omega-level emotional outburst, and I knew it.
But then again, it wasn't like he'd picked up on my scent. The doctor already made sure I took suppressant that dulled my pheromones to the point of near nonexistence. If I hadn't, in my angry state, my scent would've gone wild no doubt. And if that had happened, Rhys or any other Alpha within range might have been drawn to me like wolves to blood.
And I seriously doubt my asshole would've survived that kind of attention.
Yeah… not a good time for honesty.
So technically, Rhys didn't know for sure if I was an Omega or a Beta. I could still play it off. Maybe say Cassian had mistaken me for an Omega too due to my frail body, which is why he videoed me. That could work. It was clean, believable.
Perfect.
Just as I was about to lie through my teeth and excuse myself, Sofia showed up with her little entourage of maids flanking her like she was royalty. I nearly groaned out loud.
I shot her a wink and quickened my breath slightly, silently begging her to change the subject, say anything but acknowledge my existence. I needed her to play along, to say something else and not address me.
But despite my efforts, Sofia looked directly at Rhy's and said what I feared the most.
Fuck!
Rhys smirked. "I didn't know the Omega I purchased would be this handsome… and this fierce, I must say."
I kept my expression blank, refusing to take the bait. I wasn't about to entertain another Alpha's attention, Cassian was already too much.
"I'll be going now, Alpha Rhys," I said carefully, swallowing the knot of anxiety rising in my throat. I turned slightly, intending to walk away and disappear before things got complicated.
But then just then, a strong hand grabbed my wrist halting me.
It was Rhys.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" he asked smoothly. "I've been meaning to speak to my Omega for some time now, but my schedule's been hell. Since you're already here, we might as well talk."
My?
My mind screeched at the possessiveness in his tone.
His Omega?
Damn! He is another crazy-ass Alpha like Cassian and Alfie. This is starting to look like a family trait or something?
"I'm sorry, Alpha Rhys," I replied immediately, keeping my tone respectful yet distant as I freed my wrist from his hand and I must say it was only possible since he released my wrist instead as there's no way I could have done that due to his strength. "But the doctor advised me not to move around too much. Standing, sitting, walking or any kind of physical strain isn't good for my current condition. I only stepped outside for some fresh air."
That was a solid excuse. Medical stuff always made people back off.
Unfortunately, not Rhys.
"Should I come to your room later in the day then?" he asked, smirking as if he already knew what my answer would be.
I nearly choked.
Absolutely not.
There was a bed in that room. A whole-ass bed. No way in hell was I putting myself in that kind of vulnerable position.
"You know what? We can just talk here," I replied quickly, forcing a smile onto my face as panic coiled in my stomach.
Rhys didn't argue. Instead, he turned his attention to Sofia and the other maids.
"Get a chair for Zane," he ordered coolly.
The maids didn't question him. One of them disappeared and returned quickly with a polished wooden chair, placing it gently behind me.
And just like that, all of them quietly filed out of the garden, leaving me alone with Rhys. Whether it was an unspoken command or they simply knew when to give an Alpha his privacy, I didn't know.
But now it was just me… and him.
"Sit," Rhys commanded, his voice low and firm as his intense gaze locked with mine. "Right in front of me."
I let out a heavy sigh and picked up the chair reluctantly, dragging it across the garden floor before lowering myself into it. Rhys sat directly across from me, his painting board placed between us like a barrier or a stage.
Wait… was he seriously about to paint me?
He picked up a paintbrush, dipped it into a mixture of colors, and began to work on his canvas. The sound of the bristles brushing against the board filled the air, strangely soothing, but unnerving at the same time. Every now and then, his eyes flicked up to meet mine, cool and assessing, before returning to the painting.
"So," he began softly, the brush still gliding over the canvas. "You mean to say… you didn't have sex with Cassian, yet he ended up filming you?"
His tone was calm...too calm. It sent a shiver down my spine.
"Yes," I replied stiffly. "While I was using the bath, the maids he gave me started recording me. When I asked them why, they said it was on Alpha Cassian's orders."
I paused, clenching my fists in my lap as the memory of that humiliation flared in my chest. "I was on my way to confront him, but… I ended up burying the idea."
Rhys nodded slowly, the corner of his lips lifting into a warm, disarming smile. "Good," he said. "It's good that you didn't."
That smile of his… it was the kind that could melt butter faster than sunlight. And, to my own horror, I felt it warm something inside me, too.
Gross.