KEEGAN

Morning came, and I was surprised I had managed to sleep well after all that had happened last night. Maybe it was due to the jet lag. The Ranch was bustling with activity from very early in the morning, and it seemed like I was the last one to wake up. Luckily for me, Papa had left me some breakfast. Every bite was like I was in heaven. God/dess, I had missed my Papa’s cooking. After eating and taking a bath, I secretly checked on work. Nobody had to know about it, but there was someone who did. A phone call was all it took for me to know I had been busted. 

“Dude. You are on vacation. What are you doing checking on work?” The familiar voice of my best friend and co-CEO, Marco, came from the other side of the phone.

“Marco. Hey. I was just checking, okay? I couldn’t help it.” I admitted, guilty for breaking my vacation promise.

“Well, Keegan. You shouldn’t have. I told you it was all going to be fine without you, so you can rest and spend time with your family.” Marco scolded me. He had been in cahoots with my parents to make me take the vacation. “Don’t you trust me?”

“Yes. I trust you. You are a tech whisperer. Of course, I know you can manage.” I mentioned. Tech whisperers like Marco were a special kind of supernatural who could freely control technological objects with just one touch. That’s how he knew I had been checking work.

“Then stop looking at work, okay?” Marco said in a serious tone.

“I will. I promise.” I said with a sigh.

“Now. How is your family? Anything new?” He asked with a more cheerful voice.

“They are well. Everything is great.” I said, but my voice must have given something away.

“Mmmm. You are hiding something.” He mentioned, and then added. “Spill it.”

“I found my fated mate.” I confessed.

“What? Holy shit!” Marco said in shock, and then, when he calmed down, he added. “You are so lucky, Keegan.”

“Yeah. Super lucky.” I said almost sarcastically. 

“Wait. What do I hear in your voice? You are not excited?” Marco asked, confused but curious.

“No. I am. It’s just that he works for my family, and also I live in New York.” I explained.

“So? Why is that stopping you?” He asked, confused.

“He hates the city, and I live in New York?” I said.

“So?” Marco asked.

“We can’t be together that way.” I mentioned.

“I mean. There’s always a way.” Marco said.

“I don’t know.” I said, unsure.

“Just give it a thought. I have a meeting soon, so I have to leave you.” Marco said, and before he left, he scolded me once again. “Now, get off your phone and go look for your mate.” 

Marco hung up, and I let out a deep sigh. But he was right. There’s always a way, and I could only get that way if I talk it out with Bunny. So I went looking for him. The problem now was to find him. The Ranch was big, and he could be anywhere, especially since today was a working day. Families were already starting to arrive, so I had to be quick. I made the best use of my bear abilities and tried looking for his scent. After a few minutes, the sweet scent of honey attacked my nose, and I followed the trail all the way to the horse barn. Inside, Bunny was tending to some of the horses in the stalls while smiling. He had a beautiful smile. 

‘And a great ass. Look at him in those pants. Mmmm.’ Keith said in my mind, and I unconsciously looked down. He did have a great butt. A horse neighed, and that gained my attention back. I looked up, and heterochromic eyes were looking my way. I noticed a light blush on Bunny’s cheeks. Swallow me, Earth. He caught me looking at his ass.

“Are you here to help me, or are you just here to watch me?” The omega asked with an arched brow.

“I-I…Uhm.” I tried to say something, but words were not coming out. I cleared my throat and then answered. “I can help you, but I might be a bit rusty.”

“That’s okay. I have a horse you can help me with.” Bunny said with a soft smile.

“Lead the way.” I said, and then followed Bunny down the hallway of horse stalls. 

“Here you go, and be careful. He is a hard one to deal with.” He stopped at one stall and, looking at the horse inside, I immediately recognized him. A beautiful bay Morgan horse. My horse.

“Wait. Blizzard? Oh, God/dess! I didn’t know you were still here, bud.” I said with excitement, walking into the stall with him. As if he recognized me, he nickered at me. I softly caressed his neck.

“I knew he would be happy to see you. He hates everyone.” Bunny said, looking at us from the door. 

“This guy? No way. He is a sweetheart.” I said, looking back at the omega.

“To his owner only it seems.” He mentioned and then explained. “He is always in a terrible mood, unlike today. He must have felt sad without his owner.”

“Oh…” I said, and turned to look back at my horse. “I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner, bud. I will do my best to make up for the lost time.” As if he understood me, he let out another nicker at me.

“You can take him for a ride later. But you might want to have someone with you.” Meadow suggested with a smile. “People don’t ride horses in the city.”

“What do you mean? They do.” I said, confused, or well, acting confused.

“You are kidding.” Bunny said, looking at me with an arched brow.

“Want to know what kind of horse?” I asked. 

“Of course. What kind?” He said, waiting for my answer.

“Mustangs.” I said with a smirk.

“Mustangs? Wait…” He thought about it for a moment and then burst into laughter when he got it. Once he calmed down, he looked back at me. “That is such a dumb joke, Keegan.”

“But it made you laugh. I will take that as a win.” I said proudly.

“I didn’t think big-shot guys made silly jokes like that one.” Bunny mentioned.

“Well, I was born a rancher. I might be a tech guy, but I can be silly too.” I said with a proud smile.

“I can’t picture you as a computer guy.” He admitted, and that took me by surprise.

“Why? I am one.” I said, curious for his reasons.

“You just don’t look very computery to me.” He confessed with a shrug.

“Then how do I look to you?” I asked with curiosity.

“Handsome, extroverted rich guy who likes to party.” Bunny mentioned, but one word resonated in my mind more. Handsome. He thinks I am handsome. 

‘We are handsome. He likes us.’ Keith said in my mind, freaking out like he was a teen.

“Money part, yes. Parties? Sometimes. I’m a workaholic.” I explained and then continued. “As for the other part. You think I am handsome?”

“Anyone with eyes can see how handsome you are, Keegan.” He answered with a chuckle. The way he said my name made me shiver. It sounded nice coming from him. “The Beackman genes are strong even if you are a computer guy.”

“Well, now I have to say that you are really pretty, Bunny.” I mentioned with a flirty smile. If he was going to say I am handsome, I would admit to him that he is beautiful. 

“Oh. Thank you. Not everyone thinks that.” He said with a soft blush and let out a sigh. Who the fuck thought Meadow was not pretty? Don’t they have eyes? The omega had unique traits that made him gorgeous.

“Those people must be blind, because you are gorgeous.” I said, reassuring him that I wasn’t lying. “Cutest omega I have met in my life.”

‘Period.’ Keith agreed with me.

“Now you are just playing with me. There’s no way you didn’t meet any cute omegas in the city.” Bunny said with an arched brow, not believing me. “You probably hang out with models and famous folks.”

“I do, but no one compares to your beauty, Bunbun.” I said with a wink. The omega blushed and then hurried to hand me some things. 

“Anyway. Horses. Yes. We have to finish quickly.” He said, flustered, and I held back a chuckle at his reaction. 

Bunny reminded me how to care for the horses, and I helped with each of them. It felt nice to do the simple task once again in many years. Even if I was constantly attacked by the omega’s sweet scent, I focused on the job. I also managed to sneak in some conversation with him. I wanted to know him better, learn more about him, and as he asked me questions too, I realized I wasn’t the only one curious.

THIRD PERSON

Distracted with each other, the couple didn’t notice the curious eyes coming from the barn’s door. After sneaking a picture of them, the omega sneaked away without being caught, and with his phone out, he started to get to work. Without the couple knowing, a new text group emerged within the Beackman family. A group with only two people missing: Keegan and Bunny. And what happened in that chat, you may ask? 

PROJECT KEENY

Owen                              09:30 AM

What is this?

Emil                                09:30 AM

What the hell is Project Keeny?

Cecil                              09:30 AM

Photo file.

Maverick                        09:31 AM

Are those Keegan and Bunny?

Jeremy                           09:31 AM

Obviously. 

They really look cute together.

Elise                                09:31 AM

How did you even take that photo, Cecil?

Cecil                              09:32 AM

I was going to help Bunny with the horses and saw them.

I couldn’t interrupt.

Just look at that chemistry from a photo.

Emil                                09:32 AM

Bunny is so into him. 

I can see it in his eyes.

Owen                              09:33 AM

Keegan looks so happy, too.

You think there’s something we can do?

Elise                                09:33 AM

Isn’t that why Cecil made this group?

Keeny = Keegan x Bunny.

Cecil                              09:33 AM

Bingo!

We have to do something.

Conner                           09:34 AM

I don’t think this is a good idea.

We shouldn’t interfere.

Jeremy                           09:34 AM

Baby. It’s fine.

I’m in.

Emil                                09:34 AM

I’m also in.

I want Bunny to be happy.

Elise                                09:35 AM

I want to see what comes out of this. 

I’m also in.

Cecil                              09:36 AM

What about the others? 

Are you in or out?

Owen                              09:36 AM

Fuck it. 

Why not.

Maverick                        09:36 AM

I will help, too.

Conner                           09:36 AM

This is still a bad idea.

But I don’t have a choice.

I will do my best too.

Cecil                              09:37 AM

Great.

We have to come up with something ASAP.

Papa                                09:37 AM

First of all, why is everyone on their phones instead of working?

And second of all, your Dad and I are in too. 

Cecil                              09:37 AM

Oh, this is going to be so much fun.

Papa                                09:38 AM

Let’s talk after closing time. 

Now, get back to work.

*Seven thumbs up emoji reactions.*

And as promised, after closing time, the chat became alive again. Multiple ideas of how to get Keegan and Bunny together were discussed from side to side until everyone came to an agreement. With their plan decided, Project Keeny was set in motion to start tomorrow.

~oOoOo~