Page 29
My head tilted to the side. “Told me what?” There was no need for me to try to control my pheromones, but I did my best to do so anyway. The last thing I wanted, or needed, was Eli trying to comfort me right now.
Jackson smiled broadly. “Oh, my. This makes my night that much more interesting.”
“He hasn’t told me what?” I stressed, but Jackson raised a hand to silence me as he gestured towards a door that was slightly ajar.
As I paused at the door, listening, my world slowly came to a stop, my heart dropping to my stomach.
“You told me to bring him here, so I brought him. And yet you pull this shit? Again?” Eli sounded exasperated, the edge of his voice beginning to fray with irritation.
“We believed you were dating an omega, son.” Eli’s father responded in a rumbling voice. “We weren’t going to ask Taylor to come, but your mother thought it would be appropriate to have him here as an alternative. You need to weigh your options and being with a beta isn’t one of them.”
I’m not a beta…
“He’s not a beta! And if he was, why would that be an issue?”
“Because,” Eli’s mother replied, “You need to fulfill your duties as head of the family. You know beta males cannot conceive.”
“He’s not a beta!”
Another voice, one that was sultry and low, interjected. “You say that, yet I can’t identify his scent.”
“It doesn’t matter what you can identify, Taylor. Why is he even included in this conversation?”
“Because of the two of them, Taylor is the better choice for you. We can announce the engagement later this evening.”
I stumbled back, gasping softly. “Engagement?”
“Ahh, he also neglected to tell you our parents have found him a suitable mate?” Jackson sighed softly. “He’s always been so secretive.”
My breath quickened as I continued listening. I felt like I was slowly sliding into a deep, dark void. I didn’t want to be here for any part of this conversation, but I forced myself to stay, to listen. If Eli was already engaged, what else was he lying to me about?
“If an omega doesn’t have a strong scent, I doubt he’ll be able to give you children,” Taylor drawled.
“What if I don’t want children?” Eli fired back.
A loud bang preceded his father bellowing, “Don’t be preposterous! From the time you’ve presented you’ve been nothing but an insolent, spoiled, self-sabotaging, brat. You’ve rebelled against the natural order of things and paraded alphas and betas in front of your mother and I for years. The first time you come home with an omega, you bring one that barely releases pheromones and you dare to question why he’s not suitable for you?!”
“Honey.” Eli’s mother cautioned.
“No,” his father snapped. “I’m tired of you coddling him. You have always said you want children, Elias. Always. And now you question it? Why? Because we’re telling you it’s time to settle down with the best choice for you?”
“I haven’t discussed a future with Delaney, but I want to… can’t you let me decide for myself what’s best for me? Can’t I talk to him about what he wants?” Eli's voice softened, his tone pleading.
“And if he says he doesn’t want children?” His mother asked.
“Then—”
Jackson chose that moment to push open the door. He stepped around me, gesturing in my general direction. “My apologies for the interruption, but your date was looking for you, Elias.”
Eli looked like I felt—devastated and confused. My subtle scent of jasmine soured, the fragrance making my nostrils burn and the bridge of my nose scrunch. For once, I was grateful that no one else could pick up on my scent.
Except for Eli.
“Lane—Delaney?” Eli took a step towards me, pulling up short as I backpedaled, shaking my head.
“Engagement?” I softly repeated. “When were you going to tell me?”
“I wasn’t. Wait, no,” Eli rushed out as I winced. “I meant to say that I wasn’t going to tell you because I’m not engaged. I have no intention of agreeing to an arranged marriage.”
