Liam frowned, momentarily distracted from the issue. “Speaking of my brother,” he said.
“What about him?”
“You must have noticed that he has a crush on you,” Liam said.
Westcliff’s face went utterly blank.
“Pardon?” he said at last.
“Jules has something of a puppy crush on you,” Liam said with an uncomfortable chuckle. “It’s not all that surprising, really. Our alpha was female, and our dad and oldest brother left for the war a long time ago. Jules didn’t really have an older male figure to look up to—Uncle doesn’t count. Jules was practically bound to develop something of a crush on you, considering that you’re the only alpha he sees regularly.” And the only alpha who paid him attention until Nasr, Liam thought, but he didn’t say it aloud. He knew how proud Jules was: he would be absolutely humiliated if Liam told that to a man Jules was crushing on.
“I’m not sure why you’re telling me this,” Westcliff said evenly, his expression inscrutable.
“Because I don’t want my brother to get hurt,” Liam said. “Of course it’s just a silly, childish crush, but crushes can hurt, too, and I don’t want to marry a man who inadvertently hurts my brother.”
Westcliff’s eyes were gleaming with a strange emotion. “I still don’t understand what you expect me to say or do,” he said.
“Stop encouraging him,” Liam said exasperatedly.
“I’m not encouraging him.” Westcliff’s tone was slow, as if Liam was talking nonsense.
“You do! All the scent-marking, hand-holding and hand-kissing—it’s very… ambiguous. Someone not used to an alpha’s attention might easily misinterpret it.”
“What are you suggesting I do?” Westcliff snapped.
Liam flinched.
Westcliff took a deep breath through his clenched teeth. “I apologize,” he said after a moment. “But I’m really at a loss. Are you suggesting that I must treat Julian coldly?”
“Yes,” Liam said faintly, still reeling from Westcliff’s outburst. Was that Westcliff’s true face? “It’s for his own good. Put some distance between you.”
A muscle twitched in Westcliff’s cheek. “This is ridiculous. Even if you’re correct, it’s just a harmless crush.”
“I don’t want my brother to get hurt,” Liam repeated.
“I don’t want to hurt him, either,” Westcliff said, looking away. “Thanks for the warning, but it was unnecessary. Julian has recently lost a mate and it’s natural that he subconsciously gravitates toward an alpha he trusts to soothe the wound in his psyche.”
Liam frowned, not convinced at all. He didn’t like that Westcliff had completely dismissed his concerns—that he was downright refusing to do as Liam was requesting. What kind of marriage would they have if Westcliff was already treating him so dismissively?
“I disagree,” he said. “But going back to the first issue: I’m not convinced yet that we suit, Your Grace. We need to talk about it.”
Westcliff shot him another irritated look. “I thought we had an understanding. You were aware from the first day that I thought highly of you. Our match is beneficial to both of us. What is there to talk about?”
What was there to talk about, indeed. Apparently wanting some affection and attention from his future husband was too much to ask for.
Liam felt his eyes burn with angry tears. “We’ll have to agree to disagree, then,” he bit out. “Until you prove that you can be an attentive alpha for me, speaking of marriage is very premature.” He lifted his chin. He had his pride, damn it. People called him the Diamond of the Season. He didn’t have to settle for an alpha who couldn’t be bothered to listen to his opinion, no matter how handsome and titled that alpha was. “I have other suitors, Your Grace. I don’t need you. Considering the upcoming events, you need me more than I need you. Good day to you.” He rose to his feet and strode out of the room, his head held high. He wouldn’t let anyone take him for granted. He was Liam Blake, the most sought-after omega in the country. Westcliff would come crawling back to him in a day or two.
Chapter 18
“Did you really break up with Liam?” Jules said the moment De—Westcliff entered the drawing room.
Westcliff paused before closing the door.
And then they were alone.
Jules swallowed. He sternly told his heart to stop being stupid. This was his brother’s future mate. His brother’s. Not his. Never his.
But fuck, Westcliff looked unfairly handsome in that dark suit and pale-blue shirt—it made his tanned jawline and neck look mouthwateringly good.
Jules dragged his eyes away.
“Liam is out,” he said when the silence stretched. “If you wanted to apologize to him, that is. He’s out on a walk with another suitor.” Liam had been confident that it would make Westcliff jealous and contrite and he would soon “come crawling back” to him, begging his forgiveness.
Except Westcliff didn’t look particularly contrite. His expression was very strange, actually. He was looking at Jules as if… as if he were seeing him for the first time.