Chapter 136 CHAPTER 136

Chapter 136 CHAPTER 136
Soren yawns, hand over his mouth, as he walks down the stairs, dressed in a shirt he stole from Reign's closet and a pair of sweatpants, but the moment he steps into the living room, he comes to an abrupt halt at the sight before him.

“Ren…” Iris calls out from where she stands, tears in her eyes as she stares at her frozen brother, and a second later, she's running towards him, wrapping her arms around his body.

“I'm sorry!” She wailed, her voice echoing loudly through the wall.

Soren's eyes fall on Reign, who sits comfortably, legs crossed over the other, while going through a tablet that illuminates brightly on his face.

Soren stares back at his sister and slowly unhooks her hands from around his before squatting to her level. “You're here,” he whispers, almost as if he doesn't believe his eyes.

“I’m sorry. Mother said she only wanted to see you because she missed you. I didn't know she would hurt you like that. I'm sorry,” she continues to wail, tears like water rolling down her face.

Soren immediately shakes his head and cups her face, wiping off every tear stain. “I should be the one apologizing; I left you with her,” he states and then immediately wraps his arms around her small body. “I promise to protect you better from now on.”

“Mr. Montgomery says I'm going to stay here with you from today. We'll be together every day,” Iris whispers against his shoulder, and Soren immediately pulls back, staring at her with wide eyes before snapping his gaze over to Reign.

“Really?” He asks the enigma, excitement zooming off his tone that he's unable to hide.

“Hmmm,” comes the man's reply, keeping his gaze solely on the screen before him. 

Soren stares back at Iris and places a kiss on her forehead, but the moment he pulls back, his eyes dim. “What about Mother?"

“She won't be bothering you anymore,” Reign replies.

Soren takes Iris’ hand and stands to his feet, uncertainty suddenly surging through his veins as he glances at the enigma. "She—" he starts but cuts himself off, unsure how to say the right words without exposing himself. “Did she tell you anything?” He forces the words out. 

Reign finally lifts his gaze from the tablet to look at him, and Soren's stomach churns at the intense gaze he receives. He almost takes a step back.

“Was she supposed to tell me something, Soren?"

Soren swallows deeply and shakes his head at the question that feels like it’s puncturing through his soul. “Nothing,” he replies after a beat. If she did reveal his secret, Iris wouldn't be here with him, and Soren wouldn't be standing here. Will Reign still accept him if he discovers the beta he loves has been lying to him since the start? Soren has been so head in the clouds in love over the months that he has almost forgotten he's a liar.

“What's kept you so deeply in thought?” Reign pins him with a stare, knocking Soren back to reality.

He immediately shakes his head but pauses as a thought crosses his mind. “You didn't kill her, did you?” he pushes up a questioning brow.

Reign's face goes blank in an instant. He sets aside the tablet and stands to his feet, then he advances on Soren. “What do you take me for, sweetheart, someone who kills on a whim?”

Soren almost nods but decides against it as he immediately shakes his head as Reign comes to stand in front of him, and then he hooks his finger under his chin and lifts his face up, locking their eyes together. Soren’s heart beats through his throat.

“How do you reward me for your kind—”

Soren doesn't let the enigma finish his words as his hand goes to the back of his head and pulls him closer, slamming their lips together. Reign’s eyes widen only for a second in shock while Iris gasps and puts both palms over her face but peeks through her fingers.

Reign soon takes control of the kiss. His gloved hand slides from Soren’s chin down to the nape of his neck, deepening the angle as he pulls the Omega flush against his chest while Soren’s hands tangle in Reign’s dark hair, his entire body sinking into the Enigma’s possessive warmth, greedily pouring every ounce of relief, gratitude, and terrified love into the kiss.

Behind her small hands, Iris lets out a giggling gasp before turning her back to them completely and squealing, "Gross! You guys are gross!”

The sound breaks the spell, and Soren reluctantly pulls back, his breath coming out hot and heavy, his lips swollen and red. He blinks up at Reign through a haze of affection, his blue eyes soft while Reign’s thumb gently traces Soren’s lower lip, a dangerous smirk playing on his face.

"A very acceptable down payment, sweetheart, but we are far from settled," he says.

Soren’s heart skips a beat, but he forces a teasing laugh. Standing on his tiptoes, he places one last peck at the corner of Reign's lips before pulling back to meet his gaze. “Thank you,” he whispers with a grateful smile. For now, he continues to be a liar; when the time is right, he’ll tell the enigma everything and pray to be accepted.

Soren brings his gaze down to Iris, taking her hand again. “Come on, squirt, let’s get your things unpacked. You get to pick your own room.”

Iris’s eyes light up, and she almost bounces on her feet as he squeals excitedly. “Really? A whole room for myself?”

Reign watches them climb the stairs with a fond gaze that soon disappears once they go out of sight, and just as another figure enters the room, he keeps his head lowered before the engagement.

Reign’s eyes dim with a sinister gaze. “Keep an eye on her; get rid of her the moment she goes off her lane.”

“Yes, boss.”