Chapter <b>35 </b>Tipping the Scales
<b>Mateo’s </b><b>POV </b>
The moment the needle pierced my skin, my pupils shrank.
Something about the Omega changed. The bathrobe hung loosely around her, but suddenly <b>it </b><b>gave </b><b>off </b><b>the </b>air of a sacred healer’s robe. Her blue eyes–usually soft–were glowing with an intense<b>, </b>unwavering <b>light</b><b>. </b>Right now, her entire world seemed to focus on that one needle.
And the moment it went in, I felt it.
A burst of heat surged through my abdomen. The ugly bruising began to dissolve before my <b>eyes</b><b>–</b><b>literally </b>disappearing, like ink diluted in water.
It was as if the needle had sparked something in my body–a jolt of pure vitality, jumpstarting a deep, instinctual healing process. It wasn’t just healing. I was regenerating. From the inside out.
Even my wolf, Odera, growled low in my consciousness, shocked. “Impossible. She’s channeling lunar energy through the needle!”
If Odera said that, then it had to be real. This wasn’t somemon street medic.
I’d met dry needling practitioners before–hell, even my mother’s migraines could only be relieved by monthly sessions from one of the top–tier needle healers. But none of them, <i>none</i><i>, </i>could do what this Omega just did heal internal trauma with a single strike.
Her needle didn’t just redirect energy. It restored life.
I suddenly thought… if I could get her to treat Simon….
I didn’t act right away. I waited until she had finished realigning my dislocated ankle–then, quick as a whip, I grabbed her wrist.
“Die… ore with me. Choose.”
Sheughed. Laughed! Her blue eyes shimmered with cold mockery.
“That’s how you thank the person who just saved your life?”
My fingers clenched tighter.
In the Zach family, betrayal was as ordinary as breathing. You didn’t survive by being grateful. You survived by using everything and everyone to your advantage. If I hadn’t been ruthless, my brother and I would’ve been torn apart by our own kin a long time ago.
I was about to threaten her again–when she leaned in slightly.
“You want me to treat your brother, don’t you?”
My blood froze.
Simon.
I’d never told anyone outside the family about him. I kept his condition heavily guarded. No <b>one </b><b>knew</b><b>. </b><b>No </b>
<b>one</b><b>. </b>
Chapter 35 Tipping the Scales
Finisher
“How do you know about Simon?!” I grabbed her by the throat and mmed <b>her </b><b>against </b><b>the </b><b>wall </b>One <b>squeeze</b>, and I could crush her windpipe. But… I hesitated..
<b>She </b>smiled faintly, breathing shallowly. “Don’t remember me? Alpha Mateo…. I’m Aubrey”
Aubrey?
My mind nked for several seconds before the pieces finally fell into ce.
“You’re Alpha Henry’s fiancée? That Omega from the Mary family?”
I stared, stunned. What were the odds?
Of all the ces I could’ve broken into… it had to be a dingy motel room upied by the very Omega betrothed to the man I just robbed. What the actual hell?
But it made sense now–how she knew about Simon.
I looked at her again. I’d seen Henry’s fiancée from afar before–head always down, in, timid, invisible. A forgettable Omega.
But this? This woman in front of me–gorgeous, sharp, powerful–was nothing like that ghost from my memory. Was this really the same person?
Her expression darkened at my words, clearly not pleased.
She met my eyes and said quietly, “I’m Aubrey. My family has been royal medics for nine generations. My father gave it up, but I inherited my grandfather’s legacy. If you want me to save your brother, hire me. Or go find someone else–if your brother can even wait that long.”
Then she pried my hand off and stepped back.
“You have one night to think it over.”
She walked to the bed, picked up the Moon Grass I’d stolen, and set it aside. Then, from my coat pocket, she fished out my phone, typed in her bank info, and tossed it onto the bed.
“Tomorrow, Mr. Mateo, kindly deposit the two hundred grand into my ount. If you want me to make a house call, my rate’s not high–just a million. Transfer both if you make up your mind.”
Without another word, she threw my coat on over her bathrobe and walked out.
Twatched her curvy figure disappear down the hall, rubbing my chin. Honestly, this Omega–her looks, her
skills, her attitude–was exactly my type.
If she wasn’t Alpha Henry’s woman, I might’ve stolen her for myself.
Aubrey’s POV
When I stepped outside, the rain had stopped. The damp night breeze cut through the leftover heat of the shower, clearing my head.
From the moment I was reborn, I hadn’t slept for over thirty hours. My body was aching for rest.
Then, suddenly–a car swerved to a stop in front of me.
08:37 <b>Mon</b>, 11 Aug. D
Chapter 35 Tipping the Seales
<b>*</b><b>Get </b>in.”
The window rolled down. Alpha Henry’s handsome face was drawn tight with anger. I could tell <b>instantly </b>he was barely holding back his rage.
Strange. Who’d pissed off this Alpha?