Reborn as a villain:Claim the omega, Kiss the beta, Kill the dukes Chapter 29: A little greed

Chapter 28

Ciel

I’m running. Heart pounding. Breath tearing out of in ragged gasps. I have to get away—for my baby, for .

The ground is uneven, branches claw at my ankles. One of them catches and I go down hard, skin scraping against dirt.

"Don’t tell you thought you could escape, little rose?" a voice sneers behind .

"No!" I scream, raw and desperate.

And then—arms. Warm, solid arms wrap around like an anchor.

"Ciel, hey, hey. It’s just a nightmare," Jack’s voice rumbles, low and steady.

I jolt awake, choking on my own sob, and clutch him like I’ll drown without him. My fingers fist into his shirt, shaking. His scent surrounds —lavender, sun-ward earth—and it’s the only thing pulling back from the cliff.

"It’s okay," he murmurs. "You’re safe. I’ve got you."

I press my face against his chest and hold on with everything in .

If only it was just a nightmare. But my nightmares have teeth. My nightmares are mory.

Jack shifts like he’s about to get up. "Let grab you so water—"

"Please stay." My voice cracks on the plea, embarrassing and small. "Don’t leave."

He stills. Then I feel him exhale, his body softening around mine. "Okay," he says gently.

Instead of moving away, he settles us back down onto the mattress, lying on his side. His arms stay locked around like a shield. My heartbeat is still erratic, but it’s slowing under his steady hand as he rubs circles on my back.

"I’m sorry," I whisper into his chest.

His fingers pause for a second. "What for?"

"For waking you," I mumble. My voice sounds childish even to .

Jack huffs softly—not annoyed, just a little sad."Don’t apologize. I have nightmares too sotis."

He looks so steady most of the ti, like nothing could ever rattle him—like he’s lived this safe, peaceful life. But maybe I don’t know anything. Looks can be deceiving.

He clears his throat lightly. "Okay, let’s talk about sothing different. I heard Nolan ntion a farm once? Your hotown?"

My eyes narrow suspiciously. "Promise you won’t laugh."

"I won’t." He raises his hands in mock surrender, but won’t et my gaze.

"Jack," I warn.

"I swear," he insists, still suspiciously avoiding my eyes.

"It’s a cabbage farm," I say flatly, watching him like a hawk for even a twitch of a smirk.

There’s the tiniest flicker at the corner of his lips. Poker face my ass.

"Cabbage farm? Huh. Interesting," he says carefully.

"Yes," I say, crossing my arms but unable to hide the pride creeping into my voice. "We’re ho to the best cabbages in the whole kingdom. We even supply them to the palace."

"Wo To the palace? That’s impressive." Jack’s tone is perfectly even, which only makes squint harder at him.

"Exactly. We’ve got the largest cabbage farm around. Sure, we grow other things, but our cabbages are famous." My voice softens a little as I talk, the mories spilling in.

"From my bedroom window, you could see them for miles. Shining in the morning light, rows and rows of green..."

Jack’s lips twitch. "Now I have to try so of these kingdom-famous cabbages."

"That’s a hint of a smile!" I point an accusing finger at him. "You were going to laugh, weren’t you?"

He chuckles then—low, warm. "You’re laughing now," I accuse.

"No, I’m not. I’m smiling because of what you’re saying," he says, voice rich with amusent.

"Riiiight," I say, unconvinced.

"I an it," he insists, still smiling. "I was happy to hear you talk about it."

And then he really smiles—eyes crinkling, dimple flashing faintly. Up close like this, I can see his eyes are a deep, rich brown, warm and endless. His curly hair is sticking up a little, his expression is open and boyish and devastating.

Jack looks like the sun.

Before I can stop myself, I reach out and poke his cheek.

He bites my finger. The audacity.

I want him.

I want him to be mine—only mine.

I don’t deserve him. Jack probably deserves so nice, whole oga who hasn’t been patched together like a broken toy. But I’m allowed to be greedy, right? Just for now.

Just in these monts.

I pull my finger out of his mouth and wipe it dramatically on his shirt. "What are you, a cannibal?"

His lips curve into that maddening grin. "I wouldn’t say I am," he says with a lazy drawl, "but I wouldn’t mind a taste of you."

"Argh, so cheesy," I groan, throwing a pillow at his chest. The worst part? My heart flutters anyway.

"I have to pee," I blurt out before I can think better of it.

"What? Now?" His eyebrows shoot up.

"Yeah, like right now," I insist, wriggling in place. Pregnancy bladder doesn’t negotiate.

He doesn’t waste a second. He springs off the bed and scoops up as if I weigh nothing, carrying bridal-style into the connected bathroom. He moves fast—record ti—and all I can think is he’s so strong. His arms are solid and warm, his chest pressed against my side.

Normally, anyone stronger than would make tense. My whole life has been proof that strength can be dangerous. But not Jack. Never Jack.

Even if Jack ever did hurt one day, I’d still have these monts. These small, ridiculous, soft mories that feel stolen from a better life.

"Are you done?" His head pops around the doorfra like an eager babysitter.

I look up at him from the toilet seat and roll my eyes. "Yep."

"You need help getting your shorts up, don’t you?" His mouth quirks.

I sigh dramatically. "Yes. Yes, I do."

Sotis I let Jack do these things just to see how far I can go—how far he will go. How much I can lean on him before he backs away. It might have backfired, because I’m getting used to it. Used to him. And that’s dangerous.

I can’t even see below my belly anymore; my own body is foreign terrain. But Jack kneels without hesitation, lifting gently to my feet, steadying with one arm while the other tugs the waistband over my hips.

I lean against his shoulder, breathing in that lavender-and-sun scent. And for a second, sothing cracks in my chest.

Is this what it would’ve been like?

If life had been kinder? If I’d married so nice man in a little house near the cabbage fields? If my baby’s father was soone who looked at the way Jack does now—soft and unhurried, like I’m worth the care?

Tears sting, sharp and sudden. I blink them back furiously.