Chapter 5

Avalon’s POV

As soon as we were far enough from Blackwood's door, Kaelen grabbed my arm, yanking me into an empty study room. The door had barely closed before he rounded on me, eyes flashing with barely contained fury.

"What the fuck was that?" he hissed, keeping his voice low despite his obvious rage. "Touching him like that? 'Little wolf'? Are you serious, Avalon?"

I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms as I studied my beta. Jealousy looked good on him—his gold-silver eyes practically glowed with it, his body tense and ready to fight. It was almost cute how possessive he could be.

"Are you done?" I asked calmly.

"No, I'm not fucking done." He paced the small room like a caged animal. "We came here for one reason—to strengthen our packs' alliance and increase our political power. Not for you to get distracted by some fallen alpha from a disgraced bloodline."

I let out a low chuckle. "Is that what you think is happening?"

"I know what I saw," Kaelen snapped. "The way you touched him, looked at him. You've never shown that much interest in anyone but—" He stopped himself, the unspoken words hanging between us: but me.

"Kaelen," I said, my voice dropping lower, serious now. "Did you smell him? Really smell him when we entered that room?"

He frowned, confused by the sudden change in direction. "I smelled an alpha trying too hard to seem dominant."

I shook my head, moving closer to him. "No. When we first walked in, there was something else. Something his scent blocker didn't quite cover."

Kaelen's eyes widened slightly. "Scent blocker? You think he's—"

"I know he is," I whispered, though no one could possibly hear us. "The Blackwood bloodline doesn't just seem un-alpha... it's something else entirely. That moment in his room, when his guard was down, I caught it. Sweet, unmistakable. He's an omega, Kaelen. A male omega."

Kaelen went completely still, processing the implications. "That's... that's impossible. Male omegas are practically extinct. And one at Blackmoor? How would he even get admitted?"

"The Blackwoods were founders," I reminded him. "Despite their fall from grace, certain privileges remain. And think about it—his family's decline started when they suddenly stopped producing alphas. Your family claimed one of his relatives, remember? As did mine."

Understanding dawned on Kaelen's face. "That's why he reacted that way when Ivan pinned him. It wasn't just fear—it was submission."

"Exactly." I nodded. "My pack has some of the stronger nosed wolves in the region. What I caught was brief, but unmistakable. His blockers had worn off just enough when we entered his room."

Kaelen's jealousy transformed into something colder, more calculating. "We should expose him," he said. "Make it known what he is. The humiliation would be fitting for someone trying to infiltrate Blackmoor under false pretenses."

I gave him a disappointed look. "And waste such a rare opportunity? Think bigger, Kaelen."

"What do you mean?"

I lowered my voice further, though we were completely alone. "A male omega from one of the founding bloodlines? Do you have any idea what that would mean for my pack? For our alliance?"

Kaelen's expression hardened as he caught my meaning. "You want to use him as a breeder," he stated flatly.

"My pack needs new blood," I said simply. "And your father would want him too, wouldn't he? Another male omega for the Silverthorn line?" I raised an eyebrow. "Our families have been building this alliance for generations. Imagine what controlling a Blackwood omega would do for us—politically, genetically."

Kaelen looked away, jaw tight. I knew what he was thinking. For all his ambition and ruthlessness, there was a part of him that remembered what happened to the last male omega his family claimed. How they kept him isolated, used for breeding and nothing else.

"If he doesn't accept your 'protection' from Ivan, we could just threaten him with exposure," Kaelen suggested, voice tight. "He'd have no choice but to cooperate."

I shook my head. "No. Threatening him would just make him run. He's survived this long by being careful—if he feels cornered, he'll disappear." I pushed away from the wall, moving to stand directly in front of Kaelen. "We need him to trust us. Or at least, trust me."

Kaelen's eyes met mine, searching. "And the treehouse meeting? That's your play?"

"It's the first step," I confirmed. "Get him away from prying eyes, make him dependent on our protection. Ivan's hostility is a convenient tool."

"You're sure about this?" Kaelen asked, his voice neutral now, the strategic beta replacing the jealous lover.

I reached out, running my thumb along his lower lip, a familiar gesture that made his breath catch. "Trust me, Kaelen. I know what I'm doing. This isn't about attraction—it's about power. For both our packs."

It wasn't entirely a lie. The political advantage of controlling a male omega from a founding family was undeniable. But I couldn't deny the pull I felt toward Jason Blackwood, something beyond the unexpected discovery of his true nature. Something that had been there from the first time I saw him, even before I suspected what he was.

Kaelen seemed to sense my divided attention. His hand caught mine, pulling it away from his face. "And us? Where does this leave us if you're planning to claim him?"

I smiled, leaning in to brush my lips against his ear. "Nothing changes between us. You're still mine, Kaelen. My beta, my right hand." I nipped at his earlobe, feeling him shiver. "But imagine what the three of us could be together."

He pulled back, studying my face with narrowed eyes. "You're playing a dangerous game, Avalon."

"I always do," I replied. "That's why I always win."