Matias' POV:

It's been almost a month since we arrived here, and I have finally put a plan in motion to get Everest out of here. He is going to hate me, but at least I know that this plan will probably break his trust in me and stop him from liking me so it will be better for the both of us in the end.

It does not mean I am happy about this; I have fallen hard and fast for this little angel, and I am finding things about him that I love that have nothing to do with Cody. Sure, there are some similar qualities to Cody, but that is not why I like Everest. I like him for who he is, not because I want a replacement for my dead mate.

I didn't believe that having a second chance was a possibility for me. and this is only proving that it's not probable, but it could be possible. I will not let Everest go through an experimental surgery just because I want to be with him. He deserves to embrace who he is as a person, even if it is not what the rest of the world wants for him. It is who he is and I refuse to believe that being able to have a baby is his only purpose.

I did not sleep much last night; tonight my plan goes into action and I stayed up in order to relish in the time I have left with Everest and the time I have with him not hating me for what I am going to do to the poor Omega. He is going to hate me forever, never forgive me, but I hope he will be able to find happiness in what the outcome is.

Everest shifts against me and presses his nose into my neck, sighing softly.

It is already eleven in the morning, but Everest is not a morning person and he is going to have a stressful night (not that he knows it yet) so I think it's best that he continues to sleep. A bit of it is selfish on my part, because it means I get to have him at my side for a bit longer, clinging to me like I am the only one who matters.

Ever since we discussed our wolves fading, I have realized the more time that I spend with Everest, the more I feel my own flickering inside of my mind and body. I did not mention it to him because I would feel pretty bad if he couldn't feel his own and I could feel mine, but I am taking it as proof that there is some kind of connection between us... one that I will never get to pursue after tonight.

I hold Everest closer to me and kiss his forehead, trying not to let tears fall as I see the small smile forming on his lips.

My siblings know my plan, but no one else does.

Matteo was appalled that I'd let the one person that has made me smile since I lost Cody walk out of my life, but he understood. He insisted on mating Claude to take over the company so that I could have Everest and not have to have him undergo the surgery, but I know that even if Matteo mated Claude, if I ended up with Everest, my parents would still pick me as the heir.

There is a knock at my door and Sofia enters, with Antonio trailing behind her. "We have confirmed," she says, looking at me bitterly, as she shares the same opinions as Matteo and does not want Everest to leave. "He will be there tonight."

"Thank you," I respond dryly, looking down at Everest with teary eyes, but I force myself to relax when he starts to frown and squirm a bit in his sleep.

I don't want him to see me in tears because I will not be able to lie to him; he'll know and it will ruin my whole plan and desire to keep him safe. He always knows if I try to lie and I cannot find it in me to be dishonest now that I have fallen for him.

"You'll probably never be able to fall for anyone again," Sofia tells me, no emotion in her voice whatsoever. "I hope you are prepared for that."

I nod my head, never taking my eyes away from Everest. "I know. It doesn't matter... what matters is that Everest is safe and if that means following through with this plan, so be it. I don't care if it means I will never be happy, so long as he doesn't have to undergo an experimental surgery that could kill him or harm him."

"I wish there was a better way," Sofia whispers. "I really am sorry, Matias."

"I know," I respond. "Trust me, I know."

Everest stirs once again, which has me waving Antonio and Sofia from my room. It's terrible, but I cannot help but resent my sister and her mate. They do not have the same expectations that I have set in place for me; Antonio's parents, who also own a huge company with similar profits to my parent's, have no expectation that Sofia and Antonio have a child. However, my parents do and it lead to my mate being murdered because I wanted to keep him safe and now I have to send someone who I have fallen hard for away to keep him safe.

It's not fair; even Matteo gets more of a choice than I do, though he will be expected to have heirs and mate one of my parent's friends if he does not find his mate in the next few years. He still has time though, and I hope that his mate is someone with enough power that he will be taken somewhere that he will be able to escape their demands and expectations.

Everest's eyes flutter open and he leans up to peck my lips.

We aren't a couple, we have established that between us, but it does not stop us from kissing each other or showing tender affection whenever we so choose to. A couple of weeks ago, Everest helped me through my rut and there was definitely a lot of affection between the two of us during my lulls.

"Good morning to you, too," I joke as he slides into my lap so he can look out the window.

Well, and so he can also just sit in my lap, but he will never admit to that because he is a stubborn brat. Not that I would ever want to change that aspect; it's definitely charming on him.

"I do that every morning, don't act like it's a new thing," he says, smiling in a dorky way. "So... fancy dinner party tonight."

"Yes, and we cannot dodge it like we have done with the last seven. My parents have high expectations of us tonight and have a lot of people that we apparently have to meet."

Everest wrinkles his nose. "Ew."

I'm glad he did not see through my lie; I rehearsed this morning enough in my head that I know how to make it run smoothly and not get caught in a lie. If Everest senses anything, he will call me out and he will know if I try to keep lying to him.

"It is not the most ideal situation, I agree," I respond, sitting up and kissing him the same way he did to me.

These morning kisses and beautiful moments with him are going to be two of the things I miss the most when he's gone.

"I don't hate these stupid parties... the hors devours are always great, it's just the people I cannot stand."

We have had to go to a few, but we have skipped the majority. Unfortunately, Claude has been at every single one, and he always shoots dirty looks at Everest, especially since Everest has put special effort into making sure that Matteo stays with him and can't be talked up by people only interested in money and getting in his pants.

I guess I'll have to be Matteo's protector now, and while I have a reputation that dissuades a large majority of people, Everest has a surprising intimidation aspect that keeps the majority of Alphas from getting too close. Those who have usually only stay for a couple of minutes before taking off.

"This one is supposed to have a dessert table," I say, making Everest perk up a bit.

"Well, I may enjoy this one a bit more then."

I personally ordered the dessert table for tonight so that Everest could enjoy it before he goes on to hate me forever for what will be done tonight. I'm sure he will understand the logic, but the reality will anger him to the point of hating me for years to come.

It is the best option, though.

For him.

I am selfish at times, but I would never be so selfish as so to encourage my Omega to have to go through a surgery that could ruin his life or even end it.

"I need to shower," Everest grumbles. "I think I get really sweaty when I sleep."

"Most people would when sleeping next to someone as hot as me," I respond in a cocky voice, making him roll his eyes and slide off of me. "May I join?"

This will be my last time getting to shower with him, even if we have only done so a few times before.

"Sure," Everest chirps, grabbing my hand. "When would I ever refuse extra attention?"

"Attention whore," I respond, ruffling his hair.

He shrugs. "I am who I am."

Everest strips down, giving me a flirtatious smirk and turns on the shower. He waits for the water to heat up while I strip down and we enter together, hand in hand.

"Do you still hate that you're falling for me?"

"Yes," I respond, kissing his lips. "So much."

He may think I'm being sarcastic or joking, but he does not know how serious I am. My heart is breaking inside of my body and I need to keep my composure or he'll know something is wrong.

"I hate that I'm still falling for you," Everest says to me, his hands cupping my face and kissing me deeply before briefly pulling back. "But these moments are nice."

They're amazing... he does not know how much I am hurting right now, knowing that I will be losing him to my stupid plan so I don't lose him to a fucked up surgery.

"Yeah, they are quite special to me," I whisper, pressing our foreheads together. "If things were easier and my parents were not psychotic, I would be much more enthusiastic and have already asked you to be more than my fuck buddy."

"Aw, thanks," Everest says and edge of sarcasm to his tone. "That means a lot to me."

I smile and kiss him even deeper than before, running my hands down his naked body. "Goddess, you're beautiful," I whisper, my cock twitching as I feel his smooth body under my palms. "You deserve the world."

Everest moans as I grab his ass and squeeze, making him arch his back and rub his lower belly against my cock. His nose presses into my neck and he kisses the skin there, a low purr escaping his throat.

I flip him around and pull his body against mine, kissing his neck and grabbing his hard cock to jerk him off.

"If I didn't want to be rested for this damn dinner party, I'd want to fuck you right now," I tell him, my voice soft as I keep my nose in his neck.

Everest sighs. "Just do it," he whines. "We haven't had sex since your rut and I'm horny."

"We know that one round will lead to five and we can't miss this dinner," I warn him.

It's kind of true, by my real reasoning is that I'd feel terrible having sex with him right now because I'm sending him away later tonight. He'd feel like I was using him and then throwing him out like a used condom.

At least a hand job has a bit less meaning. Especially if he's turned away from me and I'm not kissing him the whole time.

"Fine," Everest agrees, embracing the feeling of my hand around his cock and stroking him the way he likes it.

Sex has been something we haven't done too much outside of heat and rut, but we have shared hand jobs and blowjobs when we feel like doing so.

Which is at least once a week, if not a few times more.

What? We're both wolves who need release and we happen to find each other extremely attractive.

That's not the part I'll miss the most... I'm going to miss Everest's presence and knowing that he's going to be here for me and I'll have someone I care about in my life.

Fuck, I hate this situation.

"Oh!" Everest whimpers, thrusting into my hand, his cock throbbing.

I squeeze the base of his cock and stop my movements. "You really think I'm going to let you cum without me allowing it? When did I say you could take the lead?"

Everest whimpers once again, leaning back against me. "Please?" he asks, looking up at me with pleading eyes.

"Turn around, Omega," I whisper, and he does so, allowing me to take both of our cocks in my hand and stroking us together. "Fuck..."

Everest leans his head against my collar bone, nibbling my skin. "Close."

"Hold on for another minute," I order, and he obeys, only coming all over my hand when I tell him to.

Everest does not like being controlled in his everyday life, but he seems to like when I take control in the bedroom. He says he trusts me... he's going to take that back tonight.

Once he's finished coming, he falls against me, panting slightly.

"You better wash me up now and carry me to bed like the baby I am," Everest comments.

Obviously, I obey, and I carry my little Omega to the bedroom once we're cleaned and mostly dried off.

"Come on, let's pick out your outfit," I say, but Everest is already curled back up under the blankets, completely nude.

"Or, you could come lay with me," he says. "And enjoy my naked presence."

That's a much better idea, and an experience I'll never get again, so I roll my eyes dramatically.

"Well, since you're forcing me to..."

Everest giggles as I tackle him into the sheets and kiss his forehead, fighting my desire to cry.