As we drove into a massive compound with equally massive gates, I honestly thought we were pulling into a very wealthy neighborhood maybe one of those exclusive Omega-friendly areas Soren once mentioned existed somewhere in the pack.
But the further we went in, the more I realized this was something else entirely.
We passed rows of perfectly trimmed flowers shaped like spirals and arches. There were vines running up carved white pillars, lanterns shaped like glowing blossoms, and wide stone paths curved with soft golden light. Everything looked magical, like a fairyland someone sculpted with too much time and far too much money. Whoever managed this place had to be unbelievably talented these flowers were glowing even in the middle of the night. I didn't even know flowers could glow.
"pretty huh?" Soren asked casually, like this was normal.
"Yes…It's… beautiful," I whispered, because what else do you say when paradise slaps you in the face?
Lights lined both sides of the road, guiding us deeper into the estate. The air smelled like fresh pine, honeyed blossoms, something soft and sweet I couldn't place. After driving for a while, we finally reached the first house. Except calling it a house was an insult. It was a mansion the size of a small town.
In front of it, a massive waterfall spilled down polished black stone into a shimmering pond. The whole front yard looked like it had been designed by pack ancestors themselves. I stared with my mouth slightly open. Even the Alpha of my old pack never lived like this. And Soren… Soren lived here?
How?
Why?
I couldn't imagine an Alpha spending this much on a neighborhood just so pack members could have a pretty view. Much less allowing an omega to live here, omegas didn't get this kind of luxury anywhere. Not that I knew.
We pulled up to the entrance and Soren parked casually, like this wasn't the most extravagant place I had ever seen. He stepped out of the car and so did I, still stunned into silence.
Immediately, someone walked up to Soren with a polite bow.
Soren handed them his keys.
The person got into his car and drove off.
"Your car!" I burst out, panic punching me in the chest.
"Uhm?" Soren blinked at me like I had just told him the sky was falling.
"He just drove your car," I said, pointing helplessly. "He took it. He… he's stealing it."
"Ohhh," Soren laughed lightly. "He's just going to park it. It's fine."
"Are you sure?" I asked. I'd never been more suspicious in my life.
"It's okay," he reassured me, waving for me to follow him. "Come on!"
We walked toward the front entrance and before I could fully process the luxury of the stone steps alone,
Someone opened the door with a deep bow. He was dressed in a black suit
"Welcome home, Sir Soren," the man said respectfully.
Sir?
Sir Soren?
"Hello, Matt," Soren said with a warm smile, handing over his jacket. "Did you get my message?"
"Yes," Matt nodded. "A room has been prepared on the second floor just as you requested."
"Perfect!" Soren clapped like he had just won a prize.
Then he turned to me.
"Holland, this is Matt."
"Hello," I greeted awkwardly.
"Hello, Sir Holland," Matt said politely. "Sir Soren has told me a lot about you."
"Matt!" Soren yelped, grabbing me by the wrist and dragging me away. "Don't scare our guests!"
I didn't get to ask what exactly he'd said about me, which was probably for the best because I might pass out from how huge this house was.
Soren grinned at me as we stepped into the living room.
"Welcome to my home."
"My home," he said.
Like it was normal.
I looked around, jaw practically unhinged.
Tall glass windows framed an enormous sitting room filled with velvet couches, marble floors, and a chandelier made of crystal leaves. There were paintings of wolves, moons, and forests. Everything smelled faintly of lavender and vanilla. .
This wasn't a home.
This was a palace.
"Do other people live here?" I asked carefully, because nothing made sense anymore.
"No," Soren replied casually. "Except the workers, of course."
"You have workers?" I asked, completely lost. "Why would you have workers? Are you—" My voice dropped. "Are you the Alpha's mate?"
"What? No!" Soren made a disgusted noise like I'd offered him rotten meat. "Why would I be his mate?"
"You own a house like this," I argued. "What other explanation is there?"
This place was huge. Bigger than huge. The kind of huge that shouldn't be legal.
Soren shrugged dramatically. "Well…" He flipped his hair. "Maybe I'm rich?"
I stared at him.
He stared back.
There was no way a normal omega was this rich. Rich enough for waterfalls and glowing flowers and butlers and parking assistants. I should've known the moment we passed that gate this wasn't a neighborhood.
This was his house.
Not his Alpha's.
Not a shared estate.
His.
"What… what do you even do?" I asked quietly. "To have something like this?"
"Oh," he smiled mischievously. "That's a long story."
"That doesn't answer the question," I frowned.
"And it won't," he winked. "Not today. Today is about ice cream and settling in."
I blinked. "Soren… this place is…"
"Too big?" he interrupted with a shrug. "Yeah. I know. But it's comfortable. And now that you're staying the night, you get to experience the best guest room. It has the fluffiest blankets and a balcony view of the back waterfalls."
"Back waterfalls?" I repeated faintly. "There's more?"
"Obviously," Soren said, like it was common sense.
I took a step back and looked around again.
Marble floors.
Golden light.
A staircase wide enough to fit a parade.
Luxurious carpets.
Original artwork.
A scent diffuser that probably cost more than my entire childhood home.
"Soren," I said slowly. "Are you secretly royalty?"
He snorted. "Nope."
"A war leader?"
"Nope."
"A celebrity?"
"Nope."
"Then how—"
"I'm just rich Holland," he laughed lightly. "Stop asking questions and just enjoy it"
"Oh…"
"Oh," he mimicked dramatically, laughing as he slung an arm around my shoulder. "Come on, let's get you settled in before Matt panics about us standing in the hallway."
He led me deeper into the house, talking about his favorite rooms, the indoor gardens, and the heated floors, none of which sounded real.