Omega’s Pretend Mate by Lacey Daize
Chapter 1 - Gabe
~December~
Iwrung my hands as the black sedan approached the small airport. I wanted to tell the driver to turn around and take me home, but I knew it wouldn’t happen.
He was under orders. So was I.
He’d been hired to take me from my home in Harris Cove to the airport an hour away, where I was expected to board the family jet and travel across the country to the family home outside of Boston.
My parent’s house manager, William, had even arranged tarmac service, probably because he anticipated my desire to run. It wouldn't be the first time I would have been summoned home, only to cancel at the last minute.
I loved my family, but I hated going home, or even being near the majority of them for any length of time. Their obsession with me finding a mate and pumping out babies was infuriating at best. My only solution had been to put distance between us.
It had been the reason I’d chosen a house on the opposite coast when grandfather had purchased a house for me after I’d graduated law school—it was the only way to get away from the constant nagging.
The tarmac gates opened, the sedan slipped through, and I saw the family jet waiting for me. It was only a minute later that the car stopped and the driver stepped out to open the door for me.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.
It was only a few days. I just had to make an appearance, reassure everybody that I was ok and promise them that I was looking for an alpha.
I wasn’t, of course. I was perfectly fine without an alpha. I had my own ambitions, and being a house omega—like the rest of my family thought I should be—wasn’t it. But I couldn’t say that, not to my parents, and definitely not to my grandparents.
It was better to placate them with a little white lie than have the rest of my family minding my business.
I got out and a flight attendant escorted me to the plane while the driver passed my luggage to another member of the flight crew.
“Is there anything I can get you before take off Mr. Everest?” the flight attendant asked.
“Water…” I mumbled, “and… a glass of white wine.”
“Have a seat and I’ll be right there with it.”
“Thank you.”
I climbed the steps into the plane and sank onto one of the plush leather seats, then clasped my hands in my lap in a futile attempt to hide my nerves.
“Hate flying?” the attendant asked as she set the water and wine on the table next to me.
I shook my head. “I’m fine flying. Just have a lot on my mind.”
She blushed lightly. “Apologies for my assumption.”
“It’s ok.”
She smiled. “They’re finishing their checks in the cockpit, then we’ll be underway.”
That was actually the last thing I wanted to hear, and I wondered if I could get out of going home if there was a last-minute problem with the plane. But I forced a smile anyway. “Thank you.”
“Let me know if there’s anything else you need.” She straightened and cleared her throat. “The first leg of the flight will be two hours. We’ll pick up several more members of the family in Denver, then nonstop to Boston.”
“Thank you,” I said. Two hours. That was all the freedom I had until I had to put on the facade of a proper single rich omega for however long I was in Boston.
The plane hadn’t taken off yet, and I was already looking forward to returning home to Harris Cove.
∞∞∞
I looked around at the collection of aunts, uncles and cousins—some of whom I hadn’t seen since I was a child—sitting around my grandparents’ parlor. This wasn’t just my parents and grandparents wanting me home for the holidays because I hadn’t been in a couple years. No, this was an all-hands-on-deck meeting.
My grandparents’ house manager, Bennett, opened the doors and my grandfather, Martin Everest, shuffled in, obviously being helped by my grandmama, Irene.
I winced. They hadn’t said a word, and I could tell that grandfather wasn’t well.
A quiet murmur spread through the room, and I realized that I wasn’t the only one who was surprised.
Grandmama fussed over grandfather for a moment before he finally got frustrated and motioned for her to sit beside him. Then he took her hand, and I watched him bump his thumb over her knuckles.
“I’m sure my appearance is a shock to most of you,” grandfather stated, his voice slightly weaker than I remembered. He looked around before continuing. “And, as I’m sure you can deduce, I don’t have much time left.”
“Ganfa! Ganfa!” cried one of the toddlers in the room, who squirmed off his mama’s lap and ran over to grandfather.
Grandfather picked up his great-grandson with a pained grimace and set him on his knee, then turned back to the rest of us. “I was diagnosed with cancer just over a year ago. As to why this is the first you are hearing of this, I’d asked everybody local to keep my illness to themselves until we were confident that we’d explored all options for recovery. This was so that I could spend my time focusing on treatments rather than entertaining visitors.”
He sighed as he snuggled the toddler closer. “Unfortunately, last week my doctors informed me that we’ve exhausted all the standard regimens given my age and progression. We are moving onto some off-label options, and they’re looking into experimental and foreign therapies, but unless we have success with one of these, it’s estimated that I only have a year or so to live.”
Another murmur spread through the room.
“Let me be clear,” he continued. “I have not given up, and neither should you. The Everest family is one of fighters, and I’m not going to let something like a cancer diagnosis change that. But we’re also practical, and I decided that now is the time to inform you of all the changes going forward.”
He coughed, then nodded at Bennett, who stepped forward while grandmama fussed over grandfather again.
“Everything will remain mainly as you’re accustomed to for the time being,” Bennett said. “Walter,” he paused to nod in my dad’s direction, “has managed the day-to-day operations of Pinnacle Publishing for many years already, allowing Mr. Everest to reduce his role to that of occasional consultant. So changes to the company will be minor.”
He paused and looked around the room before he continued. “The changes that concern most of you are in regards to your trust funds, and how Mr. Everest will be changing the trustee roles for them over the coming year.”
Bennett allowed another murmur to go through the room as he unfolded a piece of paper and settled his glasses on his nose.
“Alpha heirs over thirty, and all heirs over twenty-five and mated or married for at least one year will be named trustees for their respective trusts upon Mr Everest’s passing, or sooner at his discretion. All other beneficiaries will have their trusts overseen by Evelyn,” he stated, nodding towards my alpha aunt, “until such conditions are met.”
I frowned. Surely he misspoke and meant everybody over thirty. Maybe it was because I was the only unmated adult omega in the family, and there were several alphas. They were old-fashioned, but surely I could be trusted to manage my own money.
He folded the paper again. “Evelyn has spent the past few months reviewing expenses in preparation for her role, and has already indicated that she sees some potential savings in tightening the budget of discretionary disbursements.”
Bennett looked over to my aunt, who stood.
“You’ll likely find me stricter than father when it comes to discretionary disbursements,” she started. “This is in line with my fiduciary role as trustee. While there will be no changes to any recurring payments, I think the younger members of the family may find that this is a good time to learn proper budgeting so that they are prepared to make their funds last for the remainder of their lives once they do assume control of their trusts.”
There was some grumbling among the college-aged grandchildren, but I wasn’t surprised. I’d seen their social media posts of lavish vacations and new cars.
Still, I didn’t begrudge them their complaints. I wouldn’t want my money controlled by my type-A personality aunt either. She was so rigid and demanding that she could be the dictionary photo for a micromanager.
Aunt Evelyn glared at the grumbling twenty-somethings, who quickly quieted under her gaze. “That reaction alone proves that this will be a necessary lesson for some of you. Father will continue to approve or deny requests for now, but you will also receive my notes alongside any of his indicating what my response would have been, so that you can see how my approach to discretionary disbursements will differ from his.”
She sat and Bennett stepped forward again.
“Mr. and Mrs. Everest will be meeting privately with you all over the next few days to catch up since so many of you live out of town. This will give him a chance to balance health needs and family time. For now that covers the mass announcement.”
Bennett turned to grandmama and grandfather, leaned in to listen to a request, then strolled from the room.
I watched as various family members stood and converged to discuss the news. Then I saw that grandmama and grandfather were still sitting alone. Seeing my chance, I stood and made my way over.
“Gabe,” grandmama said, standing and opening her arms for a hug.
“Hi grandmama,” I said, walking into her embrace. I then leaned over and hugged grandfather around the toddler who had fallen asleep in his lap. “Hi grandfather.”
He nodded at me while grandmama motioned me towards a chair, which I pulled around to face them.
“How are you sweetheart?” grandmama asked. “We hardly ever see you.”
I smiled. “I’m good. Busy most days. It’s a lot of work being a lawyer.”
Grandmama took my hand and patted it. “I’m sure things will settle down for you once you find a nice alpha dear. Then you can devote your time to children.”
“I plan to keep working once I’m mated, grandmama.”
Grandfather snorted. “An omega your age should be focused on raising a family, not work.”
“There’s plenty of time to do both,” I replied. “I know you’re eager to see more great-grandchildren, but we all know you’re going to pull through and live at least another twenty years or more.”
He huffed a sarcastic laugh, but the smile he fought told me that he appreciated it.
“I am glad to see you stepping back though,” I said. “Handing things off to dad and aunt Evelyn will let you take some nice vacations as you recover.”
Grandmama beamed. “We couldn’t be prouder of them. Instead of fighting like alphas tend to do, they both took to their roles without fuss.”
Grandfather nodded as one of my cousins stepped in to retrieve her sleeping toddler from his lap. “Evelyn really was the right choice. She’s done an outstanding job as CFO, and I know she’ll make sound decisions for you all.”
Grandmama nodded. “Yes. Young alphas can be a bit rash, and she’ll keep them in line.”
“And omegas shouldn’t worry about money,” grandfather added. “That’s an alpha’s job.”
My stomach dropped. They hadn’t said it directly, but they didn’t need to. My exclusion was not an accident. My age didn’t matter. If grandfather thought that omegas should leave finances to their alphas, then that went double for unmated ones.
I wouldn’t be granted oversight of my own money, all because of my gender.
I forced a smile, but grandmama must have sensed my displeasure. She patted my hand again. “Don’t worry dear. I’m sure you’ll find a nice alpha to settle down with soon. Surely there must be one in that law office you work in. You just need to let him know you’re interested. Alphas can be dense like that sometimes. Then you can start focusing on a family.”
Thoughts of one particular alpha came to mind. Christian Jeffries was undoubtedly my work crush, with his dirty-blond hair, blue eyes and broad chest. I had to control my urge to groan in appreciation every time he walked past in a suit. If there was ever a man I’d wanted to fuck a baby into me, it was him.
Too bad he’d only ever been completely professional with me.
I swallowed thickly, “Of course.”
We made small talk for several more minutes, and I quickly steered them away from the topics of money and my love life to the experimental and off-label treatments that would surely help grandfather beat his cancer.
Finally grandfather grew visibly tired, and he was ushered from the room by both grandmama and Bennett, leaving me alone with the knowledge that I was once again seen as lesser due to the fact that I was an omega.
I took a deep breath to calm myself.
I was annoyed, but really, I didn’t have anything to worry about. Grandfather had overseen my trust until then, and I had little concern that aunt Evelyn would have a problem with my requests. I only made two per year in order to pay property taxes on my house. The rest of my expenses were easily covered between my recurring payments and my salary.
It was hardly what anybody would consider an extravagant use of money.
I noticed that the room had cleared considerably while I was talking to my grandparents.
“Gabe,” mama called from where she stood next to my dad. “Get your coat dear, the car will arrive in a few minutes to take us home.”
I nodded, and watched as they turned back to my brother Josh, his wife and their children.
I wove through the remaining relatives and out into the hall. I was almost to the small coat room when I heard a shrill complaint come from the library.
“It’s not fair!”
I froze. That was the voice of my cousin Ivy, Evelyn’s daughter. If her mom was the epitome of a micromanager, then Ivy was that of entitled brat. She was only a year younger than me, but threw tantrums like a child if she didn’t get her way. Even her alpha-husband and her own children knew to give into her rather than deal with her whining.
I blamed Evelyn. She’d treated Ivy like a perfect princess her entire life. She was her one and only child since her mate Donovan had died giving birth. Because of that she’d given Ivy everything she wanted, and the word ‘no’ was enough to send my cousin into a meltdown that would make Chernobyl look like a minor incident.
I was glad I wasn’t on the receiving end of her current tirade, until she said something that made ice flow through my veins.
“You said that grandfather was going to put you in charge of things! But it was just the trusts! You were supposed to be in charge of the properties too! Now who’s going to kick Gabe out of that house?”
“Nobody is kicking anybody out of any houses, Ivy,” Evelyn said.
“Why does Gabe get a beach house all to himself?” Ivy demanded. “I got my penthouse when I got married, but he’s just an old spinster! He doesn’t deserve a house on the beach!”
“Honey,” Evelyn tried, placating tone to her voice. “You could have asked for a house in Harris Cove too if it was that important.”
“But I want his house!”
I cringed. This wasn’t going to go well. She’d thrown a tantrum right after grandfather had bought the house for me as a graduation present, claiming that she deserved to have a beach house, despite her already having been given her own place when she’d mated two years prior.
I’d thought she’d gotten over it, but apparently not.
“I want Gabe’s house!” Ivy cried. “It’s not fair that he has a beach house all to himself while I have to book a resort trip to enjoy the beach.”
“You can do so many other things living in the city though,” Evelyn tried. “You have a penthouse condo in Manhattan, and you always love your resort vacations.”
“But I deserve it!” Ivy wailed. “I need a vacation house too! Gabe has a strip of beach to himself! That should be me! Why can’t you get me his house?”
“It’s in his name dear. Just like your condo is in your name. It’s meant to be the first big asset gift.”
“There must be something you can do!”
There was a moment of silence, and my stomach turned. It only meant one thing: that aunt Evelyn was trying to figure out a way to get Ivy what she wanted.
“He does pay a lot in property taxes for one person…” she mused. “Surely it makes more sense for a lone omega to live someplace more affordable until they find an alpha…”
“Thanks mommy!” Ivy declared. “I knew you’d find a way.”
“It’ll take time though sweetheart. Father will never deny such a request.”
“I’ll wait.”
I almost snorted sarcastically, but managed to hold back. The last thing I needed was for them to know that I was there.
“No promises Ivy,” Evelyn warned. “Just because he asks for it, doesn’t mean that he can’t cover it on his own. I don’t have access to any of his other finances.”
“I know you’ll get me his house once grandfather dies,” Ivy chirped.
I frowned and tip-toed away to grab my coat before my parents called for me and gave away the fact that I’d been there.
How callous could Ivy be? Both of them, really. I might not agree with grandfather’s decision regarding my trust, but he was still alive and would hopefully see positive results with the alternative therapies. Counting on his death to take away my home was just horrid.
Still, now I had real concerns. I loved my grandfather, despite his outdated mindset, and hoped he’d live a long time anyway, but now my financial interests were also tied to him beating the cancer.
Somehow that made me hate Ivy even more. Her greed put a tarnish on my honest desire for grandfather to live.
Still, it was for the best that I’d heard her little outburst. I now knew that she and aunt Evelyn were scheming something, and it gave me a bit of time to prepare.
∞∞∞
~March~
I stared at the competing emails, feeling a lead weight growing in my stomach.
Gabe,
Thank you for asking your grandmama and I to visit when I’m feeling better. I think a summer beach trip might just be what we need. We’ll let you know when we plan to take you up on it.
I’ve reviewed your request for a discretionary disbursement for property taxes, as well as the included bill, and have paid them per usual. Let me know if there were any problems.
-Martin Everest
Grandfather’s email was what I’d expected. A bit of chit-chat, then directly to the point. No mention of any problems.
Unfortunately, aunt Evelyn’s email had arrived only minutes later.
Gabe,
As mentioned in our December family meeting, I am reviewing and providing my own assessment of how I would handle discretionary funds requests for trusts that I will be named a trustee on.
Unfortunately, your grandfather and I are at odds on this disbursement. While I understand that you need a place to live, your property taxes are inordinately high for an omega without an alpha or family. It seems fiscally irresponsible for so much to be paid yearly, when that sum could be saved and applied to future family costs.
My suggestion is for you to reconsider your living arrangements and find a home more suitable to your lifestyle.
-Evelyn Everest
I wanted to throw my tablet. How were property taxes irresponsible? The taxes and recurring payments combined barely put a dent in the annual interest. My married cousins, especially Ivy, would be in charge of their own money to spend however they wanted, but I was the irresponsible one for wanting to pay a common biannual bill with mine?
I tossed my tablet on the couch before I acted on the impulse to hurl it across the room and watch it shatter.
All of this was simply because of some stupid archaic mindsets about omegas. I’d worked hard, gotten a law degree and a job that made me happy. I wasn’t out there like Ivy throwing tantrums, or like some of my alpha cousins who got in trouble for being caught publicly with a different omega every week. I didn’t ask for a new luxury car every year, because the existing one was the previous year’s model.
All I wanted was a quiet life in my beach house, and even that seemed to be too much to ask.
I stormed into my bedroom, flopped on my bed, and screamed into my pillow.