Page 188 of Labor of Love

James’ eyes sparkle, and I get the feeling he’s happy I didn’t just roll over and beg to sign up. I feel like I passed some silent test as he nods at me approvingly.

“No catch, Kestrel. I promise, all these alphas are my friends. My family. They’re doing it for a good cause, and each ofthem has their reasons. There will be things like prenups and contracts involved to protect both parties. But ideally, you’d meet the alpha of your dreams, fall in love, and live happily ever after?—”

I scoff.

“And worst-case scenario,” he continues, “if you are chosen by one of the alphas, then you’ll have protection for yourself and your little one. Like I said, just be willing to provide your alpha with an heir.”

I already know I’m going to say yes. Honestly, I wasn’t that hard of a sell. Not when it’s the only option I have to live a real life. I just pray my faith in the alpha in front of me won’t come back to bite me in the butt.

“Okay,” I nod. “Sign me up.”

3

BROOKS

“This house is even more stunning than the photos,” my brother says as he slides the patio door open, and we walk outside. “How the hell did you score this place?”

Rearranging my sunglasses back over my glowing green eyes, I smile as I glance around at the backyard. The sparkling pool shimmers under the sunlight, the ocean breeze is a light caress against my skin, and the cawing of seagulls can be heard in the distance. In about forty-eight hours, there will be a handful of omegas here in my new home looking for a new husband. And in about one week, I will marry one of them.

“I have no idea. The realtor didn’t seem to have many options available at first.” I flash him a grin. “Well, until I dropped my name.”

“Ah, yeah. Say no more.” Asa smirks, knowing how powerful our family name is all over the world. While there are some who don’t know what we look like, almost everyone knows who the DeLano Alpha brothers are. And Brooks DeLano holds some weight in this town.

I don’t usually enjoy throwing my name around just to get my way, but from my understanding, some of these omegasdon’t really have any time. My inner dragon whines at the thought, reminding me I don’t really have any time, either.

When my realtor, Maria, realized who I was, her eyes widened with shock. She bent over backward, trying to find me a house by the ocean.

We spend a few minutes walking the perimeter and checking the privacy wards that were placed here yesterday. The mage did a good job. As a dragon, it’s important to not only protect ourselves, but to our hoard as well.

“At least it’s fully furnished,” he says as we make our way back inside.

“Right? I would be scrambling around like a madman trying to get everything ready for the event tomorrow.”

“Yeah, talk about lucky. I wouldn’t be shocked if someone was run out of their home just to give you a place to stay.”

I frown. “That isn’t funny, Asa.” I hold up my finger and pull out my phone before shooting off a text to have my assistant check in with the previous residents before lunch today. “I really hope that isn’t true.”

Asa peers over my shoulder and reads my text. “Hmm. Always such a good alpha, taking care of everyone around him.”

I roll my eyes. My brother has made it very clear he thinks I have a hero complex. “It’s called human decency.”

“Is that what you call this whole ‘save the planet’s omegas’program you started with Archer?”

I shove him playfully as I brush past him and walk into my kitchen. “Gods, you really are a pain in the ass, aren’t you? I’m not saving the whole damn planet. I’m just helping one omega.”

I rummage around in the fridge and pull out a bottle of water before popping the cap and chugging it in one go. I prop my hip against the counter and watch my brother as he pours himself a cup of coffee.

“Do you have something against me getting married?”

“Not really, man. It’s just wild to me. You’ve always been the one in our family talking about true love and fated mates. I always assumed you’d marry for love, you know?”

“Yeah, well, I’ve been searching for my mate for over forty years. I’m not getting any younger. I want to have a family.”This might be my only shot.I don’t bother telling Asa that I might have already missed my chance.

“You know I don’t believe in all that ‘fated mates’ bullshit. But my point is,you do. And now you’re just going to marry some random omega and hope for the best? With our luck, he’ll probably be a gold digger.”

I toss the empty water bottle in the recycle bin and let out a deep sigh. “James handpicked each omega. I trust he’s done his research and investigated each person. I don’t have time to find someone who wouldn’t be after me just because of my money. This way, both parties know exactly what we are getting into. The prenuptial contract will protect us, and I’ll be assisting someone who could really use a helping hand.”

Asa stills at my words. “What do you mean, you don’t have time?”

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