by Leann Ryans
Hired to Breed
The Hired Series Book 3
Leann Ryans
Copyright © 2020 Leann Ryans
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
1. Annalise
2. Annalise
3. Annalise
4. Liam
5. Annalise
6. Liam
7. Annalise
8. Liam
9. Annalise
10. Liam
11. Annalise
12. Annalise
13. Liam
14. Annalise
15. Liam
16. Annalise
17. Liam
18. Annalise
19. Annalise
20. Liam
21. Annalise
22. Liam
23. Annalise
24. Liam
25. Annalise
26. Annalise
27. Liam
28. Annalise
29. Liam
30. Annalise
31. Liam
32. Annalise
33. Liam
34. Annalise
35. Liam
36. Annalise
37. Liam
38. Annalise
39. Liam
40. Annalise
41. Liam
42. Annalise
43. Liam
44. Annalise
45. Liam
46. Annalise
47. Liam
48. Annalise
49. Liam
50. Annalise
51. Liam
52. Annalise
53. Annalise
54. Liam
55. Annalise
56. Liam
Epilogue - Liam
Annalise
Thanks
USED: Omega Market Book 1
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1. Annalise
Annalise smoothed the skirt of her dress over her knees as she waited for Ms. Haranne to take her seat across the desk. She could have done everything online, but she’d always preferred handling business in person, especially when it involved something of so personal a matter.
“What can I do for you today Ms. Farah?”
Annalise met the director’s eyes across the expanse of cherry wood as she pulled in a calming breath.
“I’d like to hire one of your studs to provide me with a baby.”
She expected the owner of the facility to be surprised by her announcement, but Ms. Haranne’s face remained a passive mask of congeniality, so she continued.
“I’ve looked over the information online, but I thought coming to you directly would be better to work out the details. I have particular wants I’m hoping you can meet.”
“Of course,” Ms. Haranne replied, turning to her computer. “What is it you’re looking for?”
Annalise began with the basics, knowing it would narrow down her choices to a manageable number.
“He must be blond, with either blue or green eyes. No older than forty, with no history of health issues in him or his immediate family. I know all of your studs have passed their basic schooling as well as their temperament testing, but advanced schooling would be a bonus, and no one who’s had any behavioral issues.”
She waited as Ms. Haranne typed in her requests.
“I have seven Alphas that fit those requirements.”
She glanced down at the tablet lying on the desk in front of her, turning it on and bringing up a page before passing it to Annalise.
“This is their information. If you have any questions or want to narrow it further, let me know.”
Annalise looked down at the screen. Seven Alphas stared back at her, basic information listed next to their photographs.
Her gaze was immediately drawn to the second stud on the list, his piercing blue eyes seeming to challenge her. A shiver ran down her spine as she inspected his features, his firm lips holding her attention for a long moment.
He was classically handsome, with a square jaw defined by a five-o’clock shadow, without the heavy brow some Alphas sported. He was listed at only being six foot one, which was a little short for an Alpha, but still put him a foot taller than her. She found herself unable to look at any of the others.
Peeling her eyes from his image, she went over the rest of his information. He was just shy of turning twenty-seven, which put her more than ten years his senior, and he didn’t have any advanced schooling that she could find, but even after reading through the other profiles, her eyes were pulled back to him.
“The second Alpha on the list looks promising, though I’d like more information on him before making a final decision. Family information, if he’s produced a child before, as well as blood type, and disposition.”
Ms. Haranne nodded, typing a note on her computer.
“You’re wanting the stud to breed, but not to bond, correct?”
Annalise gave a firm nod, hands clasped in her lap. She had no desire to be attached to an Alpha when she was capable of providing everything for her child herself.
“That is correct. I only need him for the course of my heat.”
It was highly unlikely his seed wouldn’t take considering how fertile omegas were during their estrous, so she didn’t see any reason why she’d need the male beyond those few days. Even her beta sister had three children, and they were notoriously less fertile.
Ms. Haranne typed something on her computer and a new screen opened on the tablet Annalise was holding.
“The breeding contract includes the cost of the Alpha tending you through your heat here at the facility. If for any reason pregnancy does not result the first try, a second cycle will be covered at no charge. We do not have separate accommodations for you to stay in during the pregnancy since we get few requests for breeding, but we can provide you with an access card so you may come and go from the facility as needed. Your Alpha would be housed in one of the tending rooms for the duration of the pregnancy, and you may choose to stay there as well, or only visit as needed. Some omegas find they need more contact while others are fine with only an hour or two a day.”
Annalise’s brows furrowed as her eyes lifted from the contract to meet the other woman’s.
“Stay here? No, I don’t plan to see the stud again once my heat is finished.”
Ms. Haranne stared back at her, her only outward sign of something wrong the slow dilation of her pupils and the thinning of her lips as she pressed them together.
“Omega physiology is different than a beta. They need regular contact with the father of the child to maintain a healthy pregnancy. Without the Alpha’s presence, most experience spontaneous loss of the fetus.”
Annalise blinked, mind whirling as heat rose in her cheeks. Her parents and sister were all betas, and she was embarrassed to realize she hadn’t been aware of something so important to her dynamic. It wasn’t something she’d ever had reason to ask about.
Clearing her throat, she tried to shake off her surprise and figure out if she could still achieve her wish to have a child. Coming to The Haven daily would be a problem since she didn’t live within the city. She made the trip because her research showed The Haven was the best f
acility, and she thought she would only need to come a few times.
“Coming here daily would be an issue since I don’t reside within the city. Could the Alpha stay with me during the course of the pregnancy?”
Ms. Haranne gave her a smile that answered the question before her mouth opened to speak.
“Due to the mandates and regulations, that’s not a possibility unless you choose to bond with the Alpha during your heat. We do allow the Alphas to bond if that’s something you want to consider.”
Annalise shook her head. She didn’t need an Alpha stepping into her life and trying to take it over. The only thing she needed was a baby.
“No, that’s really not an option.”
“And you’re not able to stay here at the facility? The cost is included, so you wouldn’t need to find other arrangements in the city. We could even have the Alpha remain in his room unless you call for him.”
Annalise gave a disdainful sniff. She’d toured the building before coming to Ms. Haranne’s office, and while the amenities were sufficient for her cycle, they wouldn’t do to live in for nine months or more. One room without windows was not enough space for her, and sharing it with an Alpha was out of the question.
“No, I’m afraid that doesn’t work, either. This may not be possible after all.”
Her heart dropped but she was careful to hide it. She’d longed for a child for years, and when she finally thought it was possible, it felt like the option was being yanked away from her due to biology.
Once again, being an omega caused heartache.
She could move closer to The Haven, but that would take time to arrange and put her too far from her sister to make her usual visits. She loved seeing her nieces and nephew, and she knew her sister looked forward to the break it afforded her when Annalise watched them for her.
She didn’t want to waste the money to maintain two homes, but she wouldn’t stay so far away from her only family once the baby was born, so that would mean having to move back with a newborn, even if she found a new house before the birth.
The other option was to find a facility closer to her home, but she didn’t think she had enough time before her heat was due to research them. She hadn’t liked the other two she’d looked into, and thinking of having to frequent them during the pregnancy left her even more repulsed.
No, The Haven was the best. It was her only option.
Ms. Haranne was silent as Annalise thought. She doubted she could make a decision and the arrangements to carry it out before her next heat, and she’d always had fewer cycles than most. It would be close to a year before she came into heat again, and she already felt like she was running out of time. Pushing forty, her clock was ticking.
Her eyes dropped to the tablet in her lap and she gazed at the Alphas as her shoulders slumped. She started to shake her head and hand the tablet back when Ms. Haranne spoke again.
“Have you heard of Eden?”
Annalise looked up, brow furrowed. The name seemed familiar, but she couldn’t place where she’d heard it before.
“I don’t think so.”
“Eden is… unique. It was founded by a previous client and her Alpha mate. While technically an Alpha-camp, it’s set up like any other city, except Alphas are free to interact and move about the way it was before the mandates were in place.”
Annalise’s brows rose as she remembered reading about Eden when it was first being built. It was close to where she lived so there had been a lot of buzz about it. Some people thought it was a great idea, while most scoffed and expected it to fail. They called it dangerous. She wasn’t sure what she thought of the idea, only that it carried a certain amount of risk if what they were taught about Alphas was true.
“I remember.”
“Since Eden is licensed as an Alpha-camp, it would be possible for the Alpha to live with you there. We can make the transfer part of his contract, then he would return here after the birth when you no longer need him.”
Annalise’s eyes widened as she thought it over. It would still involve her having to move, but Eden was a lot closer to her home and she would be able to visit her sister regularly. If she remembered right, it was only a couple hours away if she used a Speeder like she had to come to The Haven.
“That’s… a possibility. I need to think about it.”
“I understand. It’s not a decision to make lightly.”
Annalise nodded. She’d have to do more research before she could commit to the idea, but even the chance of making her dream work was enough to raise her spirits again. She had a few weeks before her heat was due, and she wouldn’t give up without pursuing the option.
“Thank you for the information. I’ll look into it and get back to you.”
Handing the tablet back to Ms. Haranne, she rose to leave. She had arrangements to make.
2. Annalise
The Speeder slowed as it neared the edge of Eden. Since it wasn’t far from the path she’d have taken home anyway, Annalise decided there was no time like the present to see if she would be able to live there during her pregnancy. She’d seen bits of it on the news, but there was nothing like exploring a place in person to know if it was livable.
She had certain standards.
The view as the Speeder dropped was reassuring. While small compared to the cities where most of the population lived, it wasn’t as tiny as she’d imagined. She’d been picturing something like the small towns of the past, with single-story huts gathered along a dirt road, but was relieved to see proper buildings gathered around what had to be the city center.
Though Eden was an Alpha-camp which was usually restricted, she was allowed to land within the wall that separated the property claimed for the camp, and everything beyond. There was a landing pad on the top of what she’d been told was the Administration Building where visitors could come and go instead of having to travel through the gates and make her way in by land.
As more details came into view, Annalise was impressed. The layout of the buildings and even the homes beyond the main area seemed to have been planned to accentuate the natural features of the area. It was strange to see so much greenery within the city proper that wasn’t a small plot of landscaped plants, but she found she liked the look.
A gentle bump let her know the Speeder had touched down on the roof, so she unbuckled herself and stepped from the small enclosure. Named for how quickly they could cover great distances, Speeders were small, and could only fit one to two people to preserve its aerodynamics.
She was surprised to turn and find a slim blonde waiting for her.
“Welcome, you must be Annalise,” the woman said as she stepped forward, offering her hand.
Annalise took it, giving a small nod as her brows rose in question. Close enough that the wind couldn’t blow it away, she caught the scent of omega.
“I’m Sandra Nevouto. You spoke with my assistant, Natashia, to set up your tour.”
Annalise tried to hide her surprise at meeting the woman behind the whole concept of Eden. She’d asked for someone to show her around since she was interested in possibly moving to the city, but she hadn’t expected it to be Sandra.
“It’s a pleasure. I didn’t expect to meet the woman who built Eden.”
Sandra laughed, releasing her hand.
“Oh, I didn’t build it. That was my mate, Austin. I only drew up the plans for him to follow.”
Sandra ran a hand through her hair to contain the locks the wind was trying to tug out of place and Annalise noticed the crescent scar on the woman’s neck. The surge of emotion that rose inside her certainly wasn’t jealousy since she had no interest in letting an Alpha claim her.
“I’m sure that was the more difficult part. It looks beautiful from above.”
Sandra’s cheeks took on a pretty shade of pink as she said her thanks before motioning for Annalise to follow her from the roof. The lift wasn’t the enclosed metal box she expected. Instead, the doors were glass, giving her a glimpse into each
floor they passed.
“I’ll be giving you the tour as well as showing you the available apartments you requested. The building is just getting the finishing touches on it, so there’s no one living there yet, and you can choose the paint if you decide to make the move here.”
“I’m honored you’d take the time out of your day to escort me around,” Annalise replied as the doors opened to the bottom floor.
The lobby they stepped into was brightly lit, with more glass walls showing off the tree-lined street outside. She liked all of the openness it provided, since she wasn’t a fan of enclosed spaces.
“It’s no problem, really. I’m glad more people are starting to take a chance on Eden, and I hope you’ll enjoy living here.”
Annalise didn’t want to give Sandra false hope, so she decided to be upfront about her plans.
“I wouldn’t be moving here permanently. Only for the course of the pregnancy. I’d be returning to my home after delivery.”
“You’re expecting?”
The delighted smile Sandra turned to her brought heat to her cheeks as she had to deny the one thing she wanted more than anything.
“Not—Not yet. I’m hiring a stud from The Haven, but I live too far away to visit when needed, so Ms. Haranne offered living here as an alternative.”
Sandra’s expression lost some of the excitement Annalise had seen, though there was none of the judgment she feared at her unusual choice.
“Austin was a stud at The Haven. No matter how long you plan to stay, it will be nice to have another omega around for a while. After the first rush, not as many have been willing to take the chance on us as I’d hoped, but maybe you can spread the word after you’ve lived here and return home.”
Annalise nodded as they stepped outside. The breeze from the rooftop was gentler at street-level and carried the scents of the nearby river. The lack of crowds was a bit disconcerting, but she noticed a few people entering and leaving the buildings nearby.
Sandra led her along the sidewalk, pointing out where the shops were. Annalise was glad to see a variety of everything from grocery chains, to salons and coffee shops, having feared Eden would have limited options. Sandra had done well convincing companies to take a chance on her vision.
