Chapter 97: This Is Benjamin

Benjamin took one last drag of his cigarette before stubbing it out in the metal tray beside his chair. The moment our skin had brushed when exchanging the card, the subtle, erratic tension in his posture completely smoothed out, my proximity grounding his hyper-sensitive neural strain once again.

?"Anyway," Benjamin said, standing up and adjusting his jacket, "while you were inside getting cooked by high-density fluid, your brothers sent about twelve frantic texts."

?I blinked, glad for the sudden shift in topic. "Twelve?"

?"Apparently, your mother has already mapped out an entire shopping list for the new kitchen," Benjamin chuckled dryly, a faint, amused curve pulling at his lips. "And your brothers are arguing. They’re demanding an immediate mall run before the stores close."

Gosh, and these were the same people who told me it would be fine even if I didn’t rely on Edgar. They wanted to bleed his wallet just as much as I did.

I know it’s just because they’re excited, but it does feel nice asking, knowing you’ll definitely be receiving.

?A soft, genuine breath of laughter escaped my lips despite myself.

?"Well," I said, turning toward the double glass doors leading out to the afternoon sun, "then I shouldn’t keep them waiting. Can you drive me back?"

"Sure. I guess I can spare some time," he said, like he was doing me a favor—which he was—but I had a feeling he also wanted to head there.

He made the vault in Edgar’s casino his own den because it’s quiet, so I wonder... What if he finds some place that’s far more comfortable with as little noise as possible?

Without management and people working in the manor, it’s just us Omegas and my human mother. No wolf thoughts to disturb his senses... Hm, that’s oddly specific. Why does my new residence come to mind?

I shook it off. Nothing like that’s going to happen.

The luxury coupe pulled back through the heavy iron gates of the Morningstar estate, coming to a smooth halt on the grand cobblestone driveway.

?When we stepped out, Benjamin didn’t lag behind or wait by the car. Instead, he stuck to my side like an extra shadow, his hand lightly resting against the small of my back as we walked up the stone portico and into the grand foyer.

"Um, I think this is the part where you get back in your car and head home," I said to him and he grinned.

"And what sort of attitude is that? The least I can do is say hi and be polite, right?" He declared and I side eyed him.

Since when is this arrogant bastard polite?

?My mother, who was currently organizing fresh linens near the entrance, stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes widening as she looked from Benjamin’s tailored coat to the surprisingly intimate distance between us.

My father stepped out a second later, adjusting his collar, his gaze instantly locking onto the tall Alpha practically glued to his daughter. He could feel the extraordinary pressure coming from Benjamin despite not having a wolf, and he got worried.

?"Brianna..." my mother began cautiously, her eyes darting between us in utter confusion. "Who... who is this young man?"

?"This is Benjamin," I introduced simply, gesturing toward him. "He’s Edgar’s cousin. I work as his companion to help manage his condition."

?My mother’s eyes blinked rapidly, her lips parting slightly as if trying to parse what ’companion’ meant in the vocabulary of high-society Alphas. My father’s brows drew together into a deep, troubled furrow.

?Before either of them could speak, Jayden and Jordan darted out from around the corner, grabbed my arms, and violently yanked me ten feet away into the side corridor, whispering frantically in hushed, panicked tones.

?"Brianna!" Jayden hissed, his eyes practically popping out of his head. "Look, we know Edgar Morningstar is an intimidating and unpredictable guy, but even if you wanted to keep a backup option just in case he abandons you, isn’t it a little too soon to be bringing another Alpha into his own house?! And it’s his cousin, no less!"

?"Are you insane?!" Jordan whispered loudly, gripping my shoulder. "You’re juggling two high-ranking Alphas from the same family under one roof?! Do you want this villa to explode?! Or do you want us to be put on WANTED posters?"

?THWACK! THWACK!

?I promptly brought two heavy knuckles crashing down onto the heads of my presumed big brothers, leaving them groaning and clutching their skulls as I blew a light puff of air off my smoking fists.

?"I don’t know what kind of brain rot is going on inside your heads, but it definitely isn’t the case," I growled under my breath, glaring at both of them. "I’m doing a job. And besides, he’s not just any Alpha. He’s the Almond heir."

?My father, who had walked up just in time to hear my last sentence, froze.

?The Almond heir... Someone from one of the four great packs.

?My father’s face went pale as he recalled the faint, alarming rumors he had overheard back in the school—whispers among the academy students about an Omega who was seen riding in the Almond heir’s car, a girl people claimed must have some secret, dangerous relationship with him.

He had worried himself sick over those rumors and had asked me about it. I had assured him it was fine, but seeing me walk into the house with that exact young man sticking to my hip made all those old anxieties resurface instantly.

?He looked at Benjamin, then at me, taking a heavy, cautious breath. But as he looked closer, he saw how relaxed Benjamin seemed in my presence—and remembered that Edgar Morningstar had literally just uprooted our entire family from the gutter and handed us a paradise.

If Benjamin was Edgar’s blood cousin, and Edgar had gone to such ridiculous lengths for us... maybe this young Alpha wasn’t hanging around my daughter with sinister motives after all.

?"Well..." my father said softly, stepping forward and offering a polite, respectful nod to Benjamin. "If he is Alpha Edgar’s family, then he is always welcome under our roof."

?Benjamin offered a smooth, effortless nod back, though his hand seamlessly found its way back to my waist the moment I stepped back to his side. "It’s a pleasure, sir. Now, I believe there was a mention of a mall run? My driver is waiting. I’ll be happy to take you."

"Stop sticking your nose in my business," I hissed at him and he smirked, taking out his gold card.

"I’ll cover the cost," he said and I was instantly hooked.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Lead the way!"