Chapter 6

As soon as she reached them, she spoke directly to Eloise, her tone calm but firm.

"Eloise, I'm going to have to speak to my son in private." The young woman jumped slightly and straightened up, as if caught off guard.

"Oh... of course, Madam." She glanced uncertainly at Nigel, but he said nothing. He kept his eyes downcast, his jaw clenched.

Eloise bit her lip, then stood up reluctantly.

"I'll... get us some tea," she murmured before walking away, leaving behind a faint floral fragrance.

When the silence returned, Leonie sat down on the bench next to her son, without looking at him immediately. Nigel sighed in annoyance. “Mother, if you’re just going to lecture me, I—”

“You’re going to marry Ryse.” His voice cracked like a whip.

Nigel jerked his head up, his eyes wide.

“What?!” Leonie took a deep breath, remaining calm in the face of her son’s predictable outburst.

“You heard me perfectly well.”

Nigel clenched his fists.

“Absolutely not.”

“There’s nothing to discuss, Nigel. You’re an alpha, and she’s an omega. That’s how it has to be.” His son burst into bitter laughter.

“That’s how it has to be? Do you realize what you’re saying? We’re talking about my marriage, my life, and you’re telling me I have no choice?” “Léonie finally turned her head toward him, her gaze piercing.

“And what do you intend to do, Nigel? Marry Eloise and hope everything will be alright? Hope that nature will accept your union without a hitch? You know as well as I do that our world doesn’t work that way.” Nigel clenched his jaw so hard that the muscles in his neck contracted painfully.

“I refuse to submit to these archaic traditions!” Léonie raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Archaic traditions that have nevertheless maintained the balance between alphas and omegas for generations.” Nigel stood up abruptly, unable to remain seated any longer.

He walked a few steps through the cool grass, hands on his hips, his gaze lost in the distance.

“Ryse doesn’t want this marriage either,” he finally said in a hoarse voice. Léonie didn't move.

"That doesn't change anything." Nigel turned slowly toward her, a glint of disbelief in his eyes.

"How can you say that?! You care for her, don't you? She grew up under your roof, you almost consider her one of your own. So why do you want to condemn her to this?" Léonie stared at him for a moment before answering, her voice softer this time.

"Because this is where she belongs." Nigel opened his mouth to reply, but no sound came out.

His mother continued:

"You think I don't understand your rejection, your fears? I'm not blind, Nigel. I know something is haunting you, something connected to omegas. But that's no reason to ignore who you are." “She paused, then added with unwavering firmness:

“Ryse will be your wife. I don’t want to hear another word about it.” The silence that followed was crushing. Nigel stared at his mother, a glint of anger and incomprehension in his eyes. He wanted to shout, argue, throw everything away… but faced with Léonie’s quiet confidence, he felt powerless. Léonie rose in turn, smoothing the folds of her dress with measured elegance.

“You’ve always been a proud man, Nigel. But think carefully about what I’ve told you. Because this time, there will be no alternative.”And with that, she turned on her heel and walked slowly away, leaving him alone with his tormented thoughts. Nigel stood up abruptly, his eyes burning with anger, and turned to his mother without the slightest hesitation.

“I will never marry Ryse.” His voice was firm, sharp, as if each word were a promise of rebellion. “No matter what you say. I won’t do it.” Leonie stared at him for a moment, her face impassive despite the storm in her eyes.

She knew her son was stubborn, that the principles that guided him were sometimes difficult to shake, but she had never imagined he would go so far as open rebellion.

But there it was. He had his own vision, and he clung to it.

“Very well,” she replied, her voice calm but full of determination. “But remember, Nigel, you can’t escape your destiny.” He didn’t reply, but with a sharp gesture, he turned on his heel and headed for the garden gate. Léonie watched him leave, but didn’t make a sound. She knew he needed to breathe, to step back, to think about what he had just heard.

But as he walked away, a wave of worry washed over her.

She knew the situation with Ryse wouldn’t be resolved so easily.

At the same time, in the kitchen, Ryse stood by the table, her mind racing. Her heart pounded, each beat echoing in her chest like a painful sound. She had overheard the conversation between Nigel and his mother, and although she knew this marriage wasn’t what she wanted, it didn’t hurt any less. She had never imagined it would all turn out like this, that she would be forced to live in the shadow of a situation she hadn't chosen.

Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder, pulling her from her thoughts.

Eloise.

The young woman stared at her sternly, her arms crossed over her chest.

"You're not going to tell me you're still crying, are you?" Eloise's voice was sharp, almost accusatory.

Ryse turned slowly, tears welling in her eyes.

"Eloise, I..." She didn't know how to answer. Everything seemed so muddled in her head.

"Don't play the victim, Ryse," Eloise cut her off coldly. "That's what you wanted, isn't it? After all, you're the one who orchestrated this whole thing so Nigel would notice you. So why cry now?" “Why pretend all of this is beyond your control?” Eloise’s words struck Ryse like a slap, painful and cruel.

She felt her shoulders tense under the weight of the reproaches, but she didn’t dare reply. What could she say? That she had never wanted this? That she had never sought to be the center of Nigel’s attention, even if things had turned out this way?

But Eloise didn’t give her time to think. She continued, her tone becoming increasingly contemptuous.

“You knew perfectly well that this would all end like this. You knew that an alpha like Nigel would never accept an omega in his life, especially after everything that’s happened. So why insist on playing the poor victim?” Ryse lowered her eyes, unable to bear Eloise’s gaze any longer. The beta's words were like daggers to her heart, and she felt anger rising within her, but she didn't dare respond.

Eloise, satisfied to have silenced her, finally walked away. "That's pathetic, Ryse. You'd better wake up." The kitchen door closed softly behind her, leaving Ryse alone with her tormented thoughts.