Rhys's POV
I had decided to take a day off from my acting and modeling career to indulge in something I had long forgotten how much I loved painting.
Everything was going smoothly, brush gliding over canvas in calm strokes, colors blending exactly the way I envisioned. Peaceful. Perfect.
At least, it was until a loud noise shattered the serenity, echoing through the garden like a thunderclap. I turned toward the source, brush still in hand, and then I saw him.
Standing in the exit was a man...no, an omega. A painfully beautiful one.
He had the kind of face that made time slow. Large, expressive eyes that shimmered like the ocean; lips soft and flushed as if painted by a god; delicate features framed by a mess of curly blue hair that matched his eyes perfectly.
His scent should have given him away instantly as an omega, but oddly enough, I couldn't smell a thing. No trace of vanilla, cinnamon, or any of the usual sweet, musky markers that came with being an omega. Not even the neutral scent of a beta. But still, his frame already screamed it, fragile, lithe, made to be protected. I hadn't come across an omega this beautiful in a long time. Maybe never.
He was perfect, well, almost. He looked underfed, his cheeks a bit too hollow, his collarbones more prominent than they should be. But those things could be fixed. A few good meals and some rest, and he'd be flawless. His face was practically born for magazine covers. And now that I think about it, wouldn't he make the perfect ambassador for the new fashion line my brand is launching next month?
But then he opened his mouth.
The moment he started talking about being filmed while naked, I knew he was one of Cassian's toys. Why would an omega be present in the mansion anyways if not because he's one of those pretty little things my twin brother liked to collect, play with, and discard when he got bored. There was no way I was letting someone who had slept with Cassian be the face of anything I owned. Absolutely not.
And yeah, he was using heavy suppressants. Probably to pass as a beta and to avoid attention. But he'd already blown his cover when he stormed in here mistaking me for my brother, launching into accusations without thinking.
Was he going to stand here and claim to be a beta now because I don't understand what he was complaining about.
Every omega Cassian's ever slept with was more than happy to let him record them. It was like a badge of honor to them, proof that they'd been chosen. Most of them even hoped he'd miss them enough to call them back after watching the recordings. But this one? He was complaining as if he hadn't agreed to it in the first place.
"Who… are you?" the handsome omega asked, his voice suddenly quieter, uncertainty replacing his earlier fury. Confused. Curious.
Ah, he finally realized I wasn't Cassian.
"I'm Rhys," I replied with a calm, practiced smile. "Cassian's twin."
His eyes widened, his expression twisting into a mix of shock and what looked like... rage?
"He has a twin?!" the omega gasped, then narrowed his eyes. "You're one of the five Alphas too, aren't you?"
I raised a brow, folding my arms across my chest, genuinely intrigued now. "So… you're one of my brother's whores, I assume? You seem new. What's your name?"
His jaw dropped. "Whore?!" he shouted, his cheeks turning red in anger. He stomped toward me, eyes blazing. "Of course. That word seems to roll off the tongues of Alphas so easily. That's all omegas are to you, isn't it? Breeding machines? Objects to own and label? How pathetic!"
I couldn't help it. I chuckled. He was adorable when he was mad.
Omegas were rare these days. Those with high breeding rates were claimed by powerful Alphas to bear strong heirs hence we can say their life would get better once they give birth. But the ones with lower breeding rates… well, they didn't get it so easy. Most ended up in clubs, bars, or struggling to make a living in the outer zones. The job market wasn't kind to omegas who were weaker or couldn't produce pups. Most places wouldn't even look at their resumes unless they had a sponsor or were bonded.
But this one…
This omega standing in front of me, had he not been touched by Cassian then I would've bent the rules for him. I don't care about his breeding rate. I would've made a space for him in my company, somewhere he could shine. Somewhere people would have no choice but to accept him. But knowing he'd already been in Cassian's bed?
It can never happen!
Even though I and Cassian are twin brothers, we were like pepper and eyes, one contact and the whole room burns.
Still, the omega kept glaring at me, his expression like fire turned to lightning, ready to strike.
I cleared my throat, shifting awkwardly beneath his intense gaze. It felt like his eyes were slicing through my skin.
"Uh… I mean, why are you so angry about my brother filming you?" I finally asked, tilting my head slightly. "Didn't you both… have fun? And didn't you consent to being recorded?"
His silence was deafening.
His face contorted with shock, lips parting like he wanted to speak but no words came. He stared at me like I'd just slapped him across the face. And maybe, in a way, I had.
After what felt like an eternity, the omega finally cleared his throat. His voice was quieter now, his gaze turning away with a roll of his eyes.
"Never mind," he muttered. "And just so you know, I didn't sleep with Alpha Cassian or anyone. So stop calling me a whore."
I raised an eyebrow, the corners of my lips twitching ever so slightly. Really? That was unexpected. For a second, I felt a strange sense of relief ripple through me, though I quickly masked it with skepticism.
"'Never mind'?" I echoed, my tone light, teasing even, as I gave him a soft, amused smile. "You didn't sleep with Cassian? Then how exactly did he end up with a video of you? That doesn't sound like the kind of thing someone just allows unless there was more going on."
"I'm...."
Whatever excuse or explanation he was about to give was cut off by the sudden appearance of Sofia, one of the head maids, hurrying into the garden with five others trailing behind her. Their faces were tight with worry, and their eyes darted immediately to the scene unfolding between us.
"Greetings, Alpha Rhys," they chorused breathlessly, offering hurried bows. "We're so sorry to interrupt your beautiful painting session."
I nodded at them absently, my attention already drifting back to the omega, still unnamed, still fuming and then watched as their eyes all locked on him.
"Master Zane," Sofia began, her tone soft. "We've been looking everywhere for you. You didn't wait for us."
Zane.
The name echoed in my mind like a slap.
Wait! Isn't that the name of the omega I was forced to purchase just to participate in that idiotic competition with my brothers? The one I hadn't even bothered to meet yet because I had no intention of taking part in the madness beyond what was required?
My gaze returned to him...Zane and everything clicked into place with startling clarity.
So this was him.