“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to come across like that,” she apologized.
“It’s okay. Yes. This is my only home. I own this place and about fifty acres, more than two-thirds of it is wooded and the remaining third has a few crops and some livestock.”
“I don’t mean to seem indelicate, but why do you need someone to pretend to be your wife? Is it okay to ask that?”
“It’s okay to ask anything you’d like. If we are going to be convincing as a couple, I need for you to not have any reservations about being here, to understand why you are here.”
Kay smiled, relieved that he wasn’t offended by her being so nosey. He could just as easily tell her that she was being paid to do something and to do it or not to do it. Instead, he seemed perfectly fine with her asking what seemed, even to her, like awkward questions.
“Thanks,” she replied, taking a sip of her water.
“To answer your question, I can’t inherit my pack’s ranch and take my place as their next alpha unless I’m married.”
“No hopes of doing things the old-fashioned way?”
“No. Not interested in it, for reasons we don’t need to get into today. I am looking for someone willing to pose as my wife for the next six to eight months. Our alpha is on his death bed. I am in line to take his place. Once my place is secure, we will part ways. In the meantime, you and I will work side by side here on my farm and at the main ranch, where all members of the pack are expected to do their part. It’s our livelihood.”
“Won’t they be suspicious?”
“Not if we play our cards right. We will say you cannot give me children and that we’re ending our marriage. No one will think twice about that. A barren omega is worthless in the eyes of the pack.”
“Yes, we aren’t viewed as worth more than incubators,” she snapped back.
“I’m sorry, Kay. Now it is my turn to apologize. I don’t think that, but I’m aware that many do. It’s not something that will ever change, I’m afraid.”
Kay nodded. Of course, it wasn’t his fault. It was just always a hurtful reminder when people acknowledged how little someone like her was worth to the clan. When this was over, if she went through with it, she had already made the decision to transition to the human world, taking her chances on being successful at something other than having litters. Then again, the money she could get from this would go a long way toward helping her move forward.
“You’re probably right,” she said, eager to drop the line of thought and move on. “So, then. You just need someone to pretend to be your wife. No kids. No sex. What happens if eight months pass and your alpha still lingers?”
“He won’t. He has two months at best. My plan is to spend that first month or so being seen together, accepted as a couple and then going away for a weekend. We’ll return with wedding bands and a marriage certificate.”
“Marriage certificate?”
“Fake. Provided by the same agency that sent you here. It will appear in the marriage records, in case someone wants to verify, but will disappear once we’ve parted ways. So, there will be no record left behind that either of us might have to explain elsewhere.”
“How can they do that?”
“I have no idea. We’re probably better off not knowing.”
“I’m sure you are paying them well to take care of the loose ends. I know I did.”
“Oh?”
Kay looked at him, realizing he didn’t know any more about her than she knew about him. She had assumed he was fully apprised of her situation.
“They didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
He shifted in his chair, appearing less in control of the situation now. It was the first time she had seen a shift in what came across as natural confidence since she had met him. He wasn’t arrogant, just self-assured, direct.
“I ran away from my clan. They gave me a new identity and told me that they had an opportunity for me, if I was interested.”
“This opportunity, I take it.”
“Yes.”
“Why are you running from your clan?”
“Because I don’t want to spend my life cranking out babies for the alpha.”
Their eyes met and held for mere seconds, just long enough to say everything words couldn’t quite convey. The specifics didn’t matter. All that mattered was that neither of them wanted to be tied down with marriage and children. It was a good arrangement for both of them. He got his ranch and she got enough money to go wherever she wanted and become whoever Kay Newton would come to be.
“Will he come after you?” he asked, well aware that crossing an alpha could spell disaster for her and anyone who aided her.