Page 47 of The Other Omega

“He is considerably more than adorable,” Eleanor said, touching her pad again.

The formal profile disappeared, replaced by another image of Alaric. This time, he was shirtless.

Ivy, Nora, and I squealed together, then burst out laughing. He’d clearly been photographed without knowing it, training outdoors with several other men. He was drenched in sweat, his dark hair damp and pushed back from his face. His shoulders were enormous, but his thick, muscular arms, veins standing out beneath the skin, nearly did me in. Then I noticed his chest properly—broad, hard and chiselled, dusted with dark hair that narrowed towards a very impressive set of abs.

“Mother!” Nora cried.

“How did you even get this?” I managed through my laughter.

“I have my ways,” Eleanor replied as though it were nothing, a little smile at the corner of her mouth.

“Perhaps we should show her the next one before she asks Fathers to take her to him tonight,” Ivy said.

“I’m sorry, but I’m entitled to be happy that my future mate is this handsome.” I gestured towards the enormous half-naked General floating in the middle of the room. “Look at him. Isn’t he perfect?”

“You have yet to meet him,” Nora reminded me.

“Please don’t ruin this for me.”

The image changed to Caius, Alaric’s younger brother. He looked every bit as intimidating as Alaric, but something about him felt wild.

His hair was cut almost down to the scalp, and his steel-grey eyes stared directly ahead. Long, jagged scars traced one side of his face, making me almost flinch. Whatever had caused them must have hurt a lot. The slight tilt of his chin gave him a rebellious look, like he was ready to launch himself at someone. God help whoever ends up on the other side of his anger.

I leaned back slightly. “Whoa.”

Ivy laughed. “That’s a rather different response.”

“He does look frightening,” Nora said.

Information appeared beside his image, following the same format as Alaric’s. I skimmed past his age, designation and family details until one line caught my attention.

CAREER: COMMANDER OF THE FIRST LEGION

“I’ve been told he doesn’t merely command his legion,” Eleanor said, looking at me with something that might have been worry. “He takes an active part in their training and…” A smile began to form. “I believe you’ll be pleased to learn that he’s the first commander of his rank to appoint a female Alpha as his second-in-command.”

“Oh!” I smiled at the image. “Very nice, Caius.” Then something occurred to me. “But what exactly does a Special Operations Legion do?”

“I would also like to know,” Nora admitted.

“Thank you!” I gestured towards her. “Finally, I’m not the only one who doesn’t know something.”

Eleanor smiled. “I’m afraid his work isn’t generally discussed outside military circles.”

“That only makes him more frightening,” Nora whispered.

“He doesn’t look scary…” Who am I kidding? He looks terrifying. “He’s just intimidating.”

Ivy shrugged. “Of the two, I prefer him.”

“You can’t pick my mates,” I teased.

“I’m merely expressing my approval.” She laughed.

It was easy to forget I was pretending. I could sit there teasing them and talking nonsense about handsome men without checking every word before it left my mouth. Guilt followed almost immediately. It felt too close to cheating on my Ivy and Nora, but I couldn’t dwell on that. However much I enjoyed being with them, I still had to keep pretending if I was going to make it in this world.

I pushed the guilt aside and read farther down Caius’s profile. “I think he’s very handsome. And the airship hobby?”

“Let me guess,” Nora said. “You find it cute?”