Chapter 13

13

C av woke up in the limo as it pulled in front of the hotel, shocked he'd slept at all. Minutes was all it could've been and nothing in the face of his deprivation. After getting him upstairs, Marlo and Gregory fed him—while he poured more minibar liquor down his throat at every chance—tossed him in a shower once back in his hotel room, and then helped him pass out across the bed soon after. When he awoke the following morning with a hellacious hangover, memories from the day before were vague. He got up, washed his face and teeth, and as he brushed his hair and looked into the mirror, a memory rose out of the muck in his mind.

He stared at his reflection, sure it had been a nightmare.

Wynter? Alive?

Cav walked straight to the minibar, pulled out the last two whiskeys left inside, and poured them into the tumbler he'd used the night before.

And then he stared at the glass, unable to lift it to his lips.

Memories replayed. Gregory and Marlo had promised to help find his omega so he could face the man sober. He sure as hell didn't want to be sober, but he needed to be—not that his head was all that clear that morning. Lifting the tumbler, he crossed to the bathroom and dumped the contents into the sink, rinsing it after. Cav stood there a moment, watching the drain as if the liquid might reappear and he'd have to refuse once more.

He glanced in the mirror and was disgusted by what he saw.

He needed to get his life in order. After he dragged on some clothes, he crossed the hall and knocked on Gregory and Marlo's shared room. No one answered, so he ambled down to the hotel's restaurant, where he found them most mornings after he'd slept off a drunken night. They were seated in a booth near the entryway, looking over the brunch menu.

"About time you woke up," Marlo murmured as Cav slid into the booth beside Gregory.

"Please tell me that the memory I have of yesterday didn't really happen and that it was a nightmare."

Gregory and Marlo shared a look.

"Fucking tell me it wasn't real," Cav mumbled, tears burning the backs of his eyes.

"Do you want the truth or for us to tell you it wasn't real?" Marlo asked, lowering the menu.

"Fuck, Marlo… couldn't you have just let him think it was a nightmare and moved on?" Gregory muttered.

Cav closed his eyes, too close to tears in a public space. He fought them, barely winning. When he finally had control of his emotions, he eyed the only people he considered friends outside of his brothers, though they were barely that. They put up with his shit because he made them money. "I need to find Wynter before we leave the province. I need answers."

"I know we promised to help," Gregory said. "But the situation has changed."

"I think you need to walk away… for your own sanity," Marlo added. "And safety."

"Safety?" Cavanaugh asked, gaze flicking up.

"Two massive, muscled betas came to our door last night. They said you best leave the province tonight or else you'd be forcefully ejected. If you attempt to contact your omega, they'll have you arrested and incarcerated," Marlo said.

"For what?" Cav asked.

"They said your travel documents have been revoked," Gregory replied.

"I've already called the provincial government and it's true," Marlo said. "If you stay in Alexandria, they can imprison you—and will."

"I've already rescheduled the jet for this evening," Gregory said. "I've cancelled the other two signings here. We move on to the next province. I've put out a couple of feelers to possibly add a couple of signings in Erieberg since we'll arrive early."

"Maybe we give him a couple of days to decompress instead?" Marlo asked.

"Maybe," Gregory murmured. "Might not hurt, though. Leaving him with nothing to do but drink all day and night isn't wise, either."

"True," Marlo said on a sigh.

"Do I get a say in any of this?" Cav asked. Threats or no, he needed to see Wynter before he left. When he could think clearly—or else he couldn't be sure what he'd seen. He had to see his omega's face and get some answers.

"No. You don't get a say. We leave or else you end up in prison," Gregory said. "We're getting food in your gut and then we're all headed up to pack."

"Fine," Cav said. He reached for a menu already waiting for him on the table.

"That's it?" Marlo asked, narrowing his eyes. "No argument?"

"Sounds like I don't have much of a choice in the matter," Cav mumbled, not looking up from the menu.

A server swung by a minute later and took their order. Once it was in, Gregory and Marlo continued to discuss their plans for the next couple of provinces. Cav tuned them out, his mind spinning. He rose from the booth, a fledgling plan in mind.

"Where are you going?" Gregory asked.

"I gotta hit the head," Cavanaugh murmured.

Marlo slid out with him.

"I don't need you there to hold my dick," Cavanaugh spat.

"Can we trust you not to leave the hotel?" Marlo asked.

"While I want answers, I don't want to end up in a prison, either," Cav said. He brushed both hands over his face. "I'm going to the bathroom. Come. Don't come. I don't care." He spun and walked out into the hotel's lobby, headed toward the restrooms—but veered toward the concierge's desk instead once he noticed no one had followed him out.

The concierge lifted his gaze and offered a broad smile.

"Mr. Cavanaugh! How can I assist you today?"

"Are you familiar with an omega named Wynter Jaymes who lives here in the province?"

"Of course. Well, I don't know him personally," the concierge said. "But everyone in Alexandria knows of the Jaymes Family."

Cav cringed inwardly but attempted to hide his ire with a smile. "I was hoping you might be able to get me an address?"

The concierge frowned. "I don't know that I can do that."

"Mr. Jaymes was at my signing yesterday and he expressed what a huge fan his alpha was. Sadly, his alpha had prior obligations and couldn't come to my signing himself. We chatted for a moment—and then, what do you know, Mr. Jaymes walked away from my table and left the signed copy of my book he'd just purchased for his alpha. I was hoping I might swing by and return it on my way out of town."

"I could deliver that for you myself, sir. No reason to make you go all the way out to the Family Quarter for that."

Family Quarter. Cav tucked that bit of information away. "You could," Cav murmured. "But I'm sure he was disappointed when he realized he'd lost the book—and he might be in the doghouse right now. If I stop in, I might be able to meet the husband and earn Wynter a few brownie points in the process and get him back in the man's good graces."

"Mate," the concierge corrected, an odd smile on his lips. "Not husband. They're an alpha-omega pair, not betas."

"Of course," Cav spat, forcing a grin. "What was I thinking?" He chuckled. "I've been all over the continent these last few months. All this travel has my head spinning."

The concierge eyed him a moment, as if weighing something, an expression wavering between a smile and concern.

"If you have any recommendations for sites to visit in that neck of the woods, I'll take those, too. The whirlwind of this book tour has made me forget I'm an explorer at heart. I can use the excuse of returning that book to sneak away from my editor and agent for a few hours and see this gorgeous province for myself."

"I'd be happy to make some suggestions for places to visit," the concierge murmured, smiling. "And I'm sure we might have an address on file for Mr. Jaymes. They have out-of-province business associates stay here on occasion," the beta said. "Just give me a moment to check our records."

"I sure appreciate it," Cav said, smiling his best smile.

As soon as the beta disappeared behind the desk, Cav dropped the fa?ade and searched the lobby to ensure Marlo and Gregory hadn't come looking for him. Rapping his knuckles on the desk, he prayed the concierge found what he needed before they noticed he'd been gone too long. Seconds passed, and his gut began to clench…

"Here it is, Mr. Cavanaugh."

Cav smiled, taking the slip of paper the concierge waved before him. "Wonderful. Thank you."

"Now, we don't normally hand out personal addresses of our guests like this, but I sense this one time will be okay."

"I won't rat you out," Cav joked.

"Oh, I wasn't suggesting you would," the concierge said, appearing to force a smile. "You being something of a celebrity and Mr. Jaymes being a fan of your work—I wouldn't want to get in the way of that."

"I'm sure both Mr. Jaymeses will be thrilled to see me," Cavanaugh lied. He folded the slip of paper and slid it into his pocket. "I best return to breakfast with my team before they think I ran off."

"Don't forget the sites," the concierge said, handing over a few brochures. "There's a lovely museum in the northwest corner of the Family Quadrant. You just can't miss that. And the park across the street is an absolute treasure."

Cav slapped on the smile again, listening while the man offered a few more suggestions and directions. He pulled a crisp twenty from his pocket and slid it to the man with a grin. "Well, that gives me plenty of ideas. Thank you for all your help."

"Have a wonderful day, Mr. Cavanaugh—and if there's anything else I can do for you, please, don't hesitate," the concierge said, slipping the bill into his pocket with practiced ease.

"You know I won't," Cav joked. As soon as he turned away, he dropped the fake smile again and trudged back toward the restaurant—and nearly slammed into Marlo as he rounded the corner.

"As long as you were gone, I thought you'd left to do something stupid," Marlo said, appearing relived. "Thank heavens you didn't."

"I had to take a dump," Cav fibbed.

Marlo cringed. "Thanks for sharing."

"Well, you said I was gone too long. Now you know why," Cav said as he passed Marlo and slipped back into the booth. His food was waiting for him, though he didn't want a single bite. Since he knew they were watching, he forced a forkful down. And another. He ate over half, though he wasn't sure he'd tasted a single bite.

When the thought of another mouthful brought bile up his throat, he gave up. Tossing his napkin to the table, he rose. "I'm going to go pack."

Marlo and Gregory eyed him suspiciously.

"You're just going to give up? So easily?" Marlo asked. "That's not like you."

"When people show you who they are, believe them." Cav knew he should take his own advice, but he couldn't. He had to have more answers. Needed to understand…

Why he hadn't been enough.

"He apparently faked his death to get away from me. He made his choice, so I should respect it and walk away," Cav added for good measure. "Plus, if folks find out that my omega isn't actually dead, it could tarnish my credibility and trash this book's sales."

Marlo cocked an eyebrow.

"I know I've been a pain in the ass, at best. And I've given you shit about that total fabrication of a book—but it's got my name on it and it's too late to back out now. It's best that I put as much distance between me and this place as I can—and fast. Before I end up locked up on top of all that."

Marlo continued to eye him suspiciously.

"I'm glad to hear you talk with some sense," Gregory said. "One decent night's sleep and you already sound better."

"You were right, as usual. I do need to take better care of myself. Especially out here on the road." Cav shook his head. "Or I'm going to end up in another asylum."

"Want me to come help you pack?" Marlo asked, slowly sliding out of the bench seat.

"Nah, I'm good. A little time alone to think might be welcome. I need to get my head straight before the next signing." He drew in a deep breath and released it slow. "I need to stop the drinking and find a way forward."

"I like where your head is going," Gregory said, smiling.

Cav glanced at Marlo and knew his editor was a harder sell.

"Yell if you need us. Once we're packed, I'll close out the bills and ask for a bellhop to head up to help you," Marlo said.

The memory of the porter dragging Wynter's luggage onto the train crossed his mind and he almost refused the help—but he needed them to think he was being agreeable. "Sounds good," Cav murmured. "See you in about thirty minutes?"

"The jet's not scheduled for another few hours, so there's no rush," Gregory said. "We told them we'd be gone as soon as we could schedule travel out, so we should hopefully be okay. As long as we're gone by nightfall…"

"See you in an hour or so, then," Cav said. He departed and headed for the elevator. Sensing their stares on him, he made a good show of it. He waited for the next car and slipped inside as soon as the doors opened. He hit the button for the second floor instead of the fifteenth, where their rooms were, and the doors closed. Cav waved to them as they did.

After the short trip up one flight, he made his way to the stairs at the end of the hallway and raced down—and then slammed out of the emergency exit onto the street. A bellman was more than happy to hail him a taxi, even with the alarms sounding all over the hotel. He heard Marlo and Gregory calling his name as he slipped into the backseat.

"Move it! Fast!" Cav told the cabbie.

"Huh?"

"I'll pay you fifty renos to floor it," Cav said.

The cabbie frowned, but shrugged, and took off before Marlo could knock on the window. Cav gave the man the address on the piece of paper once they were safely away from the hotel.

"What're you running from?" The cabbie asked, peeking in the rearview.

"Running to," Cav corrected.

"Hey… you're that author, aren't ya?" the cabbie asked. "I saw something on the news this morning about you and that you'd had to cancel your signing today. I know my brother-in-law is gotta be hella mad."

"I'll sign something for him. Make up for it," Cav mumbled. "How's that?"

"I probably got something up here you can sign. Hey, even better, I've got a story for you."

"Oh?" Cav asked, inwardly rolling his eyes. Everywhere he went, folks claimed their life story was the most interesting he'd ever hear, and he'd want to write it.

"I've lived a wild ride, my friend. It would make for a bestseller, I'm sure of it."

Cav scoffed and listened for a good few minutes to an uninteresting story until thoughts of Wynter distracted him. He replayed everything that had transpired between them, searching for clues that Wynter had been telling the truth outside the bookstore. He remembered nothing that said it was. He'd seen nothing but love in his omega's eyes.

He was sure of it.

Thirty minutes later, he was sitting in front of a massive set of iron gates with no way inside. A newspaper and pen were thrust his way.

"Best I got."

Cav frowned. "What?"

"The autograph. For my brother-in-law."

"Right, right," Cav said. He scribbled his name across the top banner, in the white space, and handed both back. "How much do I owe you?"

"You gonna write my life story? I might make this ride on the house, if so."

Cav forced a smile. "If I can find room in my schedule."

The driver scowled, clearly understanding it wasn't going to happen. "Don't know what you're missing. It'll be twenty-eight-fifty."

Cav handed over two twenties. "Thanks. The rest is for you."

"Big spender. Must be nice being the famous author," the cabbie said. "You know, maybe I'll write my own life story and you can see how wrong you were."

"I hope I was wrong," Cav murmured as he got out. "Good luck."

"You'll see," the cabbie yelled out the window before roaring off.

Cav sighed. He'd neglected to ask the man to stay, but then, it wasn't as if he needed another witness to his coming humiliation. He strode closer to the wrought iron gates that stood sentry two-hundred feet in front of a massive mansion and well-manicured lawn. A call box stood to one side just outside it. While he knew he likely shouldn't, he pressed the Call button before he thought better of it.

"Hello?"

"Wilder Cavanaugh to see Wynter Jaymes, please."

"Hold on," the disembodied voice said, the crackle of the box quieting.

He paced along the width of the drive, back and forth, waiting to see if Wynter would face him. Waiting to see a ghost reappear in his life, if only for a moment. Long minutes passed and no instructions came. The gates didn't open. No one appeared.

Unwilling to give up, Cavanaugh leapt onto the gates and began climbing. He'd see his omega if it was the last thing he did.

"Cavanaugh! Stop!"

Cavanaugh paused long enough to see Wynter running closer—as fast as a pregnant omega could waddle-run. His clothing was tighter than the day before, clearly showing the swell of a belly filled with another alpha's child. Seeing that was a stab to the gut. He'd almost forgotten the vision of a rounded stomach, or the feeling of it when he'd hugged his omega close. He slid back down the gate on the outside, watching Wynter approach from the inside. His mind churned with questions he was too afraid to ask—questions that would eat him alive if he didn't ask them.

Wynter wobbled up to the gate and eyed him, sadness in those lovely blue eyes.

Eyes he'd thought he'd never see again.

It is him. He's alive.

Hope sparked, but Cav had no business feeling it. He was a fool.

"I told you to leave me alone," Wynter whispered. "Why can't you just… let go?"

"I was pretty shitfaced yesterday. When I woke up this morning, I was sure seeing you had been a nightmare. My agent assured me it was real, but I couldn't believe it. No way my omega faked his own death just to get away from me, right?"

Wynter's lower lip wobbled just barely, but Cav had seen it. A flash of tears appeared, too, but were soon gone. The math wasn't adding up, not that it ever had when it came to that week of his life.

"Tears?"

Wynter looked away. Cav fought the sting to his own eyes. He might be there, making an ass of himself, but the fuck if he was going to cry.

"Don't pretend you give a shit now," Cav said, needing to provoke a reaction and revel in his anger. It was the only thing that would save him from breaking. He rested his forehead on the gate, glaring at Wynter. "You didn't five years ago, that's abundantly clear. You really are a cold, heartless man, aren't you?"

"I…" Wynter clenched his eyes shut, a lone tear sliding down his cheek. When he reopened his eyes, something had changed, just like the day before. That same mask slipped into place. "You're right. I didn't care then, and I don't care now. You need to leave my family and I alone."

"I could've been your family… if you'd allowed me to be." He fought a sob rising up. It's all he'd wanted. To have a family with his omega.

Wynter's lower lip wobbled again, and Cav sensed it wasn't fake—though everything outwardly told him it was.

He stared at the ground to hide the rise of emotion. Once he got a hold of it, he lifted his gaze. "How did you orchestrate all that? The fire. The other body."

Wynter crossed his arms over his chest and lifted his chin haughtily. "With enough money, anything can be done."

"You'd been under me for days. Then I was only gone a couple of hours and when I returned, there's a dead body relatively the same size and hair color as you, lying burnt outside my cabin? How?"

Memories of that vision had haunted his dreams for years—and then only to learn it hadn't been his Wynter? He had to know who it had been. Who died in his cabin?

Wynter shrugged. "You were asleep. Between rounds of my heat. I made some calls then. I'd been plotting for days."

"From what phone?" Cav asked.

Wynter blinked a few times. "The one in your cabin."

A lie. "I hadn't reconnected service yet," Cav whispered.

Wynter opened and closed his mouth a couple of times. "Someone had. Or maybe you'd forgotten to turn it off before you left. I don't know, but it was working. I used it to… plan my escape."

"I don't believe you," Cav said.

"I don't care if you do or don't. The point is… this is over. It's been over. You need to go—and never come back." Wynter searched behind Cav, a look of terror in his eyes. "I never want to see you again, Cavanaugh."

Cav turned and found nothing. When he looked back at Wynter, he thought he saw fear. Why? "What has you so afraid?"

"You have to leave, Cav. Please."

"I love you, Wynter." He didn't want to. He wanted to hate the man who'd shattered his heart, not once, but twice. He was a chump, and he knew it, yet he couldn't stop himself from loving Wynter Jaymes and making a bigger fool of himself in the attempt to hold on to what was his.

Wynter's eyes closed again, another fat tear slipping down his face. "You don't love me. We had one week together. That's not enough time to fall in love."

"You told me you loved me, too." Cav reached through the gate and attempted to caress Wynter's cheek, but his omega moved before his fingers connected. "You're mine… and I'm yours. I hate that I still want you, but I do."

"I'm not yours. It was all a trick… I wasn't… I wasn't even in heat," Wynter murmured.

"What?"

"I used… a medicine that mimics a heat…" His lower lip wobbled ever so slightly. "Because I'm a whore, remember? A whore who couldn't get enough alpha dick. I took that pill when I was in the club car and you're just the dumb alpha who got caught up in my web."

Cav eyed him, shocked.

"Before I climbed aboard the train, my alpha and I had argued—and I wanted some revenge. You were my revenge. Thanks for that, by the way." Wynter placed a hand over his swollen stomach and grinned. "He learned a valuable lesson. I came home smelling of you and he knew I'd been with another. Now he does exactly as I tell him, knowing I'll make him pay if he doesn't. He's turned into the perfect mate and father. I couldn't ask for any better—and it's all thanks to you."

"Lies," Cav said. He knew it bone deep. Wynter didn't mean a single word of that. He felt their connection, as raw and needy as ever under the pain.

"It's the truth. None of it was real. You're not my alpha, and I'm not your omega. I belong to my mate. My true alpha." Wynter rubbed his belly. "And now he's put a third child on me."

"Third?" Cav's stomach tilted.

"Yep, we have a beautiful family together, my alpha and I."

"When did you have the second one?" Cav asked, his mind a riot.

Wynter's smile faltered a second before it returned, as wide and fake as ever. "Soon after I returned. The make-up sex over the next few heats was simply… divine." Wynter chuckled. "He can barely keep his hands off me since you."

"Stop fucking lying," Cav spat.

"I'm not," Wynter said. He backed away a couple of steps. "I'm not yours. You're not mine. It was all a fantasy of medicinal fabrication. Go off on your adventures. Maybe you'll run into your actual omega along the way."

He spun and marched toward the house.

"Are you happy?"

Wynter froze. He didn't turn back, but Cav had the answer. Wynter was miserable. As miserable or more so than Cav was in that moment. He could feel it in the air, spreading like a plague, leaving them both festering with torment. Without answering, Wynter continued forward, toward the house, without looking back.

Cav turned to see a taxi waiting. Not the one who'd brought him, but another. Marlo stood a few feet away from it, arms crossed over his chest. "How about you? Are you happy now?"

Embarrassed that Marlo had witnessed the interaction in part or whole, Cav turned back to watch Wynter disappear into the front door. "Not in the slightest."

"What happened to believing him when he told you who he was?"

Cav didn't answer.

"You just had to come and let him destroy you all over again, hmm?" Marlo spat. "You're a fucking sadomasochist."

"Maybe I am."

"Stop chasing after nightmares, Cav. They'll only hurt you." Marlo placed a palm on Cav's chest. "Follow the light and love in your heart."

"There's none of that here inside me."

"There could be… if you let it," Marlo murmured.

"I can't be with you again, Marlo. Not like that. You deserve better."

Marlo's eyes narrowed. " I know. You've told me enough times—and I'm done. You win. I was an idiot and shouldn't have let it happen. I knew you were a fucking mess, but… I don't know… maybe I thought I could fix you, like I've fixed your books, righting the wrong words and feelings and putting them back into place." He scoffed. "But now seeing you with him… and how much he's still got a hold on you…" Marlo sighed. "There's nothing left for anyone else. That's clear."

"I wish I could be the man you deserve."

Marlo nodded, forlorn. "I know."

Silence hung between them for a few seconds.

"While I know there's no future for us, I still care enough that I won't let you destroy yourself, either. Not if I can help it. You shouldn't have come here."

"I had to have some answers," Cav whispered.

"And did you get any?"

Cav shook his head. "Not really."

"Stop chasing a man who clearly doesn't want you. If I can do it, so can you."

Cav met Marlo's pained stare, hating that he was the cause behind it. "You'll have to give me some lessons. Maybe write a book about it."

Marlo smiled. "Maybe I should. I did write your newest bestseller. With a little help, of course."

Cav snickered. "Not much help, it seems."

Marlo frowned. "I didn't write as much as you seem to think. In all honesty, it's basically all you. I just cut and pasted the hell out of it."

"That was some cut and paste job. Do you think you could do that to me? Take out the parts I don't need and shine the turd that's left behind?" As soon as the words were out of Cav's mouth, he knew he never should've said them, especially with the look on Marlo's face. "Sorry, I didn't mean anything… you don't need to fix me." He scrubbed his face with both hands. "I need to fix me."

How he was going to do that, he wasn't sure. He glanced over one shoulder and eyed the house, knowing his omega was somewhere inside. Instinct screamed for him to climb the gate and ransack the place until he got what was his.

A medicine?

He'd heard it existed—one that faked a heat. But could it fake the bond he'd felt, too?

"Let's get the fuck out of Alexandria," Marlo said. "Please."

Cav glanced up at the house again. "Yeah. Sure."

Marlo all but shoved him into the back of the waiting taxi and slid in beside him. "Gregory's packing your shit. He's going to meet us at the airfield. It'll be early, but we'll just have to hang out there. Hopefully it shows our intent to leave—and you don't end up arrested."

"Yeah, but if I do, imagine the story it would make," Cav muttered. He watched Wynter's house fading from view, his heart shattering within.

From his bedroom window, Wynter spied Cav's taxi disappear. His tears and massive sobs made it hard to see anything, though. His heart splintered into a million pieces, what little he'd managed to mend from their last encounter. He slid to the floor, curling into the fetal position, and lay there for what felt like hours. Unable to move, he remained until the sun slid from the sky and the stars appeared.

Sometime during the night, someone moved him into his bed in the room where he slept alone. He doubted it was Warden, who kept a bedroom on the other side of the house and rarely made an appearance near his rooms.

Wynter remained abed for three weeks, barely eating, sleeping the days away. Warden did seem to notice that after a while. He sent a chain of doctors to Wynter's room to determine what was wrong with his broken omega, and none seemed quite confident in the answer. Wynter knew, but was unable to express it, fearful it would cause trouble for Cavanaugh. That fear had him near catatonic—trapped in a prison of his own body.

For all intents and purposes, Wynter appeared healthy, as did the babe. A bit dehydrated, sure, but that was easily enough fixed with an IV and a bag of saline or two. They juiced him up and assumed all would be fine in a day or two.

Only it wasn't.

Another three weeks abed and Wynter didn't care if he ever got out of it again. He'd soon be forced to though, when the third of his children was born. He spent hours gazing at his swollen belly, wishing it was Cavanaugh's child, not Warden's.

Since Wilder's birth, Warden had made himself scarce when it was time for a heat—having business in Erieberg where Jaymes & Associates was constructing the new outer wall expansion. Months of fighting for the contract, then months of planning, negotiating, budgeting, and dealing with the provincial government had followed, before the years of construction had commenced. Sadly, a massive storm had hit nine months before and made air travel impossible—and Warden had been stuck servicing him.

Of course he'd ended up pregnant.

Another child he didn't want from a man he could scarcely look at. When Vaughn was born and placed into his arms, he cried for the life he could've had.

The alpha he could've had.

But after the ugly words he'd said and the pain he'd caused, there was no way back to Wilder Cavanaugh. Wynter would have to learn to accept his lot in life and make the best of it. So, that's what he did. He shoved the pain of Cavanaugh as deep as it would go and busied himself pretending to be the loving omega he couldn't be for his true alpha. It started with brunch at the club twice a week and mingling with the upper crust of Alexandria. Tennis lessons came every Thursday, and then he learned to golf. Soon, he was chairing charity galas and he and Warden were invited to every party, picnic, and dinner party.

He became quite the little actor—to those on the outside—and eventually, he even believed his own lies. Fake it ‘til you make it was all too real. It took him too long to realize he'd become his own papa, wrapped up in a world he'd never wanted to become a part of, but by that point, he was too far deep and there was no way out.

His apparent acquiescence seemed to please Warden and in time, they learned to live peacefully side-by-side, for the most part.

That was, until the past came back to haunt them.