Talons

Chapter 110: The Opportunity

Colton's POV

Rhea looks confused as I gesture for Crystal to come toward me, and kneel to her level. I can tell she is nervous for the girl, sympathetic toward her even, and I plan to use that to my utmost advantage.

I know it's foul, a low blow as humans would say, but at this point; I don’t care what I have to do to get and keep my woman by my side. If I have to exploit Crystal’s misfortune a little to sway Rhea, I will.

Crystal’s mother was my mother’s personal attendant and up until I turned eighteen and lost worth for not being fated to either twin, the woman was assigned to me.

Without a way to earn money, she joined her husband to work in a human run and owned establishment. In short, because of my father’s pettiness, two innocent people lost their lives, leaving three children behind. Unable to stomach it, I took them under my wing: hence my inflated cost of living on Iron territory despite being the future alpha.

“I think I upset your friend by touching her things,” Crystal says innocently, and I’m silently thanking her for that little addition. My mate's expression grew so pitiful that I knew she was fighting the urge to run to the girl and scoop her into a hug.

"That woman isn't my friend. She is my fated mate.” Crystal's eyes go wide.

“She’s very pretty alpha,” she says, looking back at Rhea as if to confirm her statement was true.

“I know,” I reply. “One of the prettiest in the room.” Crystal's cheeks turn red, and I poke her nose. I genuinely care for the girl and I can’t wait to have a daughter of my own. For those who say I spoil Carly, they haven’t seen anything yet. “Do you see how clean my suite is?” Crystal nods, and I tell her that Rhea is a very neat person. “But once I have pups with my mate, it will be hard to maintain. Do you think you and your sister would be interested in helping out?”

The little girl wraps her arms around my neck, surprising me, but I enclose her into a hug after my initial shock is gone. By nature, omegas are timid around full wolves, especially those of a high rank, but Crystal is clearly ignoring that instinct.

Releasing me, the little girl runs over to Rhea, whose facial expression is comical right now. Crystal is patting her belly, asking her when she plans to have pups, and my smile is barely contained.

“That’s awful,” Holly links, and I turn to her with a mischievous grin that is quickly wiped away by my mate's response.

Rhea’s POV

Crystal leaves my side to approach Colton, who is wearing a smile that’s creepy to me. He seems to be gentle with her, but Sylvia and I are on edge.

I was around Crystal’s age when he dislocated my shoulder, so I know he is not above hurting little girls, and I’m not entirely convinced that he helps her out of the kindness of his heart.

I hear the little girl whispering that she thinks I’m upset with her, and I find myself wanting to correct her immediately. I just know how important getting an education is for a pack helper, and I don’t want her to settle early.

I have lived hand to mouth and had it not been for the fact that I found extraordinary favor with my university and coach Jim, there is a very real possibility that I could have been homeless, even with my scholarships.

“That woman isn’t my friend,” Colton replies, and part of me is glad he knows it. “She is my fated mate,” he continues, and I find myself growing concerned.

Crystal compliments my appearance, and Colton turns the compliment into one for her, making the little girl's cheeks turn red and my stomach churn. He starts pointing around the room, showing her how clean it is, and I can't help but to wonder what he’s up to.

“Once I have pups with my mate, it will be hard to maintain. Do you think you and your sister would be interested in helping out?”

The little girl wraps her arms around Colton’s neck before releasing him and running to me. She starts patting my belly, asking me when I plan to have pups, and my mortification is barely contained.

For a pack helper, especially one as young as Crystal, becoming the alpha’s personal babysitter is considered an honor. Ranked wolves who bond with their nannies typically treat them well even into adulthood, so it's like a retirement plan for them, especially if their children can go on to follow in their career path. That can, in some cases, even improve one’s rank.

“You don’t look happy,” Crystal says, and I intuitively know she is about to cry. “I promise I can be responsible; look…” The little girl opens the fridge and shows me how well organized it is, and truthfully, I’m impressed. “I can even start helping now.” She clasps her hands together in the pleading gesture and my mind starts searching for a response. Finally, I find one that won’t give Colton the wrong idea.

“Of course you can take care of your alphas pups. I would be powerless to stop you.”

Colton’s POV

Orlin is whining in my mind; the sting of my mate's words was a little too much for him. She just indirectly told me that she doesn’t plan to bear my children, and I have no one to blame but myself for the pain I’m in.

I don’t know what rejection feels like, but I can imagine it feels something like the way I feel right now. Crystal is too young to even understand what Rhea meant by her words, so she is squealing in joy.

“I can finish putting away the rest of the things. You should get sleep, it’s important for a growing wolf,” my mate says. Crystal’s face goes sullen, and I know it’s because of what Rhea said.

“I’m not a wolf, I’m an omega.”

“No.” My mate sternly replies. “You are a beautiful young girl who still has a bright future ahead of her. My cousin is an omega. She is a very well-respected nurse, and she has a fated partner.”

“But-”

“No buts, go to bed and I can tell you more about her in the morning.” Crystal doesn’t waste any time flying out of my suite, and I can’t help but to feel bad for the girl.

“You shouldn’t lie to her like that. She has enough to deal with.” My mate doesn’t look at me, but she takes a deep breath before responding.

“I-It wasn’t a lie,” she whispers. “Y-you can confirm with Miracle.” I'm left scratching my head because from what I know, omegas don’t have fated partners, and if they do, they are almost always rejected.

“Was she rejected?” Rhea shakes her head and I link Dolton to confirm the story. After a few seconds, he does, and now I feel like everything I have been taught about the bond is wrong.

“I’m still standing here,” Holly rudely interjects, and my mate flashes her a guilty smile. “We were supposed to be changing your clothes.”

“Changed for what?” I ask a little too aggressively.

“Don’t pull that sh*t with me Colt; you already agreed.” I start to panic because I don’t want my mate to go anywhere, but this would be a good chance for me to show her that I trust her.

“Just be careful please.”

I leave my suite, unable to stay and watch my mate get ready to go out without me because I swear I might cry.

Rhea’s POV

Colton didn’t look like he wanted me to go anywhere, but after a brief moment of tension he leaves, and Holly follows me into ‘my room’ where she starts to look over the clothes I bought.

She starts complaining about how boring everything is, but that is the way I dress. If I had known I was going out, I would have purchased something a little dressier.

Unsatisfied with my options, Holly leaves and comes back with a handful of items she ‘hoarded’ over her time in the states. Most of them still have tags and when I ask her about it, she tells me that she has a bit of an online shopping addiction to which I can totally relate.

There is something satisfying about finding a cute item online, waiting for it to arrive and then loving it. At the same time, it's a completely mood-ruining experience when the opposite occurs.

I shift through the things and settle on a black, loose fitting, lace lined camisole with black leather pants. Holly insisted on styling my hair and I now have two buns on either side of my head while the back is left out.

It's a cute hairstyle, but I feel like I need makeup to pull it off, and after getting changed, Holly comes back with black eyeliner which I carefully apply in a fringe.

"That outfit didn't look sh*t like that on me," she complains as she looks me up and down. "Time to go, yeah?"

We start to head out, and Holly curses when Miracle and Mandy are standing in the pack lobby waiting for us.

"No, no. Neither of you are coming." I look at her in complete confusion.

"I thought this was a girls’ night."

"It is, which is why they aren't invited. Dolton will show up anywhere Miracle is like a damn movie slasher, and Carter quite literally stalks his mate anytime she and I go out."

I can't help but to laugh at thoughts of Dolton wearing a hockey mask, following my cousin at a slow walk as she sprints but is still too 'slow' to get away. I then think of Carter sneaking in the shadows ready to pounce the moment Mandy's hips sway.

"Bottom line, you aren't invited."

"Who isn't invited?" Dolton asks, and Holly clutches my arm while pointing.

"You see? What did I say?" Everyone except Miracle and Dolton are laughing, and my cousin becomes angry.

"Alright, it's not that damn funny," she says, and I can't help but to laugh more. "Stop laughing or I'll kick you b*tches asses." Dolton's face goes lustful, and he embraces Miracle from behind.

"Forget them; stay here with me and I'll do that thing with you." My cousin runs toward the stairs, likely returning to their room and Holly and I can't help but to let out an audible 'eww.'

We walk out the Packhouse and see Colton waiting by Holly's car.

"Abso-f*****g-lutely-not. Change!"