Page 18 of Omega's Formula

“Because he’s not what you think he is,” she says finally. “I know you have history. I know you have reasons to hate him. But people are complicated. Erik more than most.”

I don’t bother responding to that. I take my copy of the contract and head for the door.

The elevator ride down is long and silent. I clutch the contract in my hands, feeling the weight of what I’ve just agreed to. I’m suddenly more financially stable than I’ve been in years but it also feels like I’ve sold my soul.

I shake my head. It doesn’t matter.

Ellie will be taken care of. Ellie will get the treatment she needs. And suddenly, I’m no longer feeling the weight at all. I feel light as the air itself. She’s getting the treatment. Hermedical costs are covered for life. And all I have to do is stay out of Erik Nilsson’s way for a year. It’s a bargain.

6. Erik

Anna insists on attending, though I tell her this isn’t that kind of wedding.

“Every wedding is that kind of wedding,” she says, standing in my bedroom doorway with a white rose in her hand. “Put this in your lapel.”

“No.”

“Erik.” She crosses the room and starts fussing with my tie, which is already perfectly straight. “You’re getting married. Even if it’s just a formality, even if you don’t have a choice—”

“It’s a farce, Anna. Not a proper wedding.”

Anna tucks the rose into my lapel anyway. I don’t stop her. I’ll let her have the rose.

The truth is, I’m grateful she’s here, annoying as she is, and even with her trying to add romantic flourishes to something I want to get over with as soon as possible.

At least with Anna fussing over my appearance, I don’t have to think about what’s actually happening today.

I’m marrying Nolan West of all people. It feels like the world has gone mad.

But Sara’s been through every possible legal avenue. As much as I dislike Sara taking my sister’s side on everything, when it comes to the law, she is worth every cent that I pay her. And I pay her well.

Admittedly, Sara doesn’t think we’re going to get away with the low level of contact that I’m insisting on, but she also said, “Okay, fine. I’ll admit there’s a chance you’ll get away with it.”

Achance. The level of exasperation in her voice made it clear that she thinks it’s not going to happen but a small chance is still a chance and I’m going to take it.

Anna steps back and assesses me with the critical eye she’d inherited from our mother, and grimaces. “No. This doesn’t work. You should change. Wear the navy one. It makes you look less like a funeral director.”

“Might as well be a funeral. The death of my freedom to choose my own mate.”

“Drama doesn’t suit you.” She is already at the closet, pulling out the navy suit. “Change. Your omega will be here soon.”

Your omega. The words send something uncomfortable crawling down my spine. Nolan West is not mine. He’d made that abundantly clear.

I change into the navy suit anyway. Anna smiles like she’s won something.

The doorbell rings at exactly one-thirty. Exactly the time that David Sun said he would arrive. I smooth my jacket and go to answer it.

I am not prepared for what I see when I open the door.

Nolan West stands in my hallway wearing jeans. Faded, worn jeans that hug his hips in ways I absolutely refuse to notice. A simple black t-shirt stretches across his shoulders and makes his green eyes look like something out of a fever dream.

His scent hits me like a freight train. Instinctively, I take a deep breath and suddenly the suit pants feel a lot tighter.

He looks... good. Infuriatingly good. The kind of good that makes my fingers itch to reach out and touch, to see if his skin is as warm as it looks.

He also looks like he’s here to fix my plumbing.

“You’re not serious,” I say.