Chapter 29
My tiny mate snuggles against my chest, and while a part of me feels bad, worried I’m holding her too tightly, the other part saw how she looked at the big alpha.
I know he’s not another scent match. She hasn’t reacted to him like she did to me or how I see her act towards John.
Always leaning closer, like she feels some kind of magnetic pull.
I can’t even blame her with this guy; he’s built like a bull.
Huge shoulders…well, huge everything, really.
The guy makes me feel petite, so I can only imagine how Sarah feels.
And that’s the problem, isn’t it? I can imagine.
I can imagine that he could carry her around with one arm, hold her, purr for her, like I can’t.
Even before this, before everyone got upset and Kelly took him for a hot cocoa, he just kept purring.
Damn, I wish I knew how to do that. I think you have to be built a certain way, really, but it doesn’t make me not jealous that he could comfort her in a way I never can.
And she likes him. I know she does, saw the way she reacted when that beta was close by.
I didn’t want to get involved because my girl can take care of herself.
She’s proved that often enough. More than once, I was worried that I’d have to scoop her up and make a hasty getaway, but she’s never backed down.
Even when I wished otherwise. My grandpa would call her a spitfire, but she doesn’t do nicknames.
That doesn’t stop me from doing it in my head sometimes, though. Fuck, I love this girl.
She’s wrapped her arms and legs around me, nuzzling into my throat, and the sting of her sharp little teeth on my skin pulls me out of my jealousy spiral.
I might not be able to give her what the big alpha can, but I have a whole drawer full of knotting toys that I can use, and a guitar, and I’ll damned sure do my best.
“You ok there, Pretty Boy?” Her voice is muffled against my neck and her tongue laves across me again. I probably taste like ass right now. We were both trying to get in a workout before those guys with the shockingly appropriate names started harassing her.
“Am I feeling ok? You’re the one licking me in public, Omega. You feeling alright? Too warm? Or did all that manly alpha posturing turn you on too much?” I chuckle quietly, trying to show that I’m making a joke, but her snorting laugh drowns me out.
“Holy fuck! Really? The Chads! Fuck, what are the rest of their names? That was just…ugh. Who do those idiots think that kind of pickup line works on, anyway?” She starts wiggling in my arms, and I let her slide free, just keeping her pressed close so I can lean in and give her a hug once her feet hit the ground.
She’s told me repeatedly that I shouldn’t be insecure about our relationship.
But while we may be scent-matched, I know she’ll need at least one alpha—probably more—soon.
Even though she told me she’s always done her heats alone, I worry.
That can get dangerous, and while it calms me down that I’ll be close by to help her now, it amazes me every time I look at her that she’s made it so far on her own.
This girl is so damned strong. Her last one was near Halloween, which means the next one should be coming up in a month.
But she said that due to her PMOS, they aren’t exactly clockwork.
Which I’m taking to mean it could be more or less than a month away.
We brought several toys, just in case. And she already reserved a heat suite in Springfield for the week, along with picking out heat helpers from their catalogue with the stipulation that I would also be there.
There’s a very slim chance of needing it, but her cycles are so iffy she doesn’t want to take the risk.
Sarah laughed nervously when she told me about it, and I told her I was fine as long as they let me stay.
She’s never been comfortable enough to have helpers before, but she told me that as long as I’m present, I’ll keep things from going wrong.
Her trust is a bit humbling, if I’m being honest.
She would have made a great Boy Scout, with plans and then contingencies for those plans.
I think it just comes from being an omega and being forced to be self-sufficient.
I don’t want to tell her I hate her family for that shit—their neglect made her into the amazing woman I know and love—but I kinda do hate her family for putting her through it.
My girl deserves the world, and I’m going to do everything I can to give it to her.
Starting with that huge fucker sipping hot cocoa in the office.
Please don’t let him pound me into the ground.
Spence
Kelly pats me on the shoulder and leaves me to my cocoa.
I feel like a fucking loser for that—for telling them about Hope, and for not being alpha enough to stand up for myself.
I hate that they had to get involved, and I hate that they’re losing business because of me.
A small voice in my head reminds me that I didn’t lead Hope on, and I’ve dissuaded her at every turn, but she refused to take the hint.
I couldn’t even talk to my pack about it because Al threatened to step in, and I felt like I should take care of the problem myself. Clearly, I did a bang-up job there.
Fuck my life.
Add into it now that Sarah thinks I’m either a huge man-slut or a loser, and I want to just crawl under a rock and cry.
Oh, can’t forget I already did that in front of her.
I wish I could just sneak out of here and never come back.
They all saw how weak I really am. How useless—not really an alpha.
Not that I blame Mom and Dad; they just don’t know much about alphas.
They bought several books like So, You’re Raising an Alpha and The ABOs of Parenting Designations.
They did the best they could, and I am so lucky I have them and my sisters.
I’ll call Tiffany later and ask her what I should do, though I shouldn’t mention Hope’s name unless I want to be bailing my sister out of jail… again.
She’d probably get along well with Sarah, if they wouldn’t kill each other.
That being said, unleashing the two of them on Oak Flats seems like it might be a disaster in the making.
It’s not like I know Sarah well, but Tiff can be over the top when she gets mad, or excited, or protective.
She’s the closest to my age, and we had a couple years of college together before I graduated.
Not that anybody messed with her. It always made Mom laugh.
All the guys were afraid I’d do something if they bothered my sis, even though they should have been more worried about what she could do if they pissed her off.
She’s sweet and polite unless you get pushy.
Then hang on. It’s even more ironic, because she’s super feminine.
Always wearing the most flowery skirts and pretty peasant blouses.
She looks so sweet and unassuming but she carries a hunting knife in a thigh holster under the skirt.
She actually uses it for hunting. Which, once again, isn’t something I can do.
I admire her for her abilities, and I love the taste of venison, but the disemboweling always makes me queasy.
I’m happy to help her haul one out of the woods and hoist it into a tree, but anything more and she says I turn a funny green color.
Tiffany says it’s hilarious, but I think I would be a vegetarian if I had to hunt my own food.
The hot cocoa I’m sipping turns bitter at the thought of having to help Tiffany again.
I don’t mind, truly, but I’m also really glad that deer season is over.
Of course, turkey season is gonna start any day now, but she can handle the cleanup on those herself.
She took me hunting with her a few times, and I love being outside and enjoying nature, but killing something just doesn’t sit right with me.
My brain just keeps asking how I’d feel if I was out trying to get a burger and someone shot an arrow at my ass. Hard pass.
My thoughts turn back to work when a hand lands on my shoulder and I look up into the eyes of Greg, the beta I met earlier with Sarah.
He’s leaning against Kelly’s desk with a curious look on his face.
“Hey, um…Spence? I thought that’s what Teddy said your name was.
Sarah called you Moose, but I’ve never known her to actually ask anyone’s permission before bestowing a new moniker on them. You ok there, my dude?”
Aww, that’s nice he came to check on me.
But…where’s Sarah? Is she ok?
He didn’t leave her alone, did he?
No, wait, Kelly and her pack are here; it’ll be fine.
I look around, not seeing the tiny omega, and he notices before I can ask.
“Sorry, Sarah went back to hitting the free weights. We were stuck on a plane for a long time yesterday, and if she doesn’t burn off some of her excess energy, she’s gonna strangle Steve when we get back to their house. You know how it is?”
I do, actually. He’s one of my bosses too, but I don’t find him as irritating as some people, though I did almost strangle him when we first met.
But I can tell how much he loves Teddy and the rest of the pack.
Even Kelly, though he won’t admit it. He has all the social skills of a dead skunk, but he’s loyal to the people he cares about.
Plus, I’ve seen the way Kelly smiles when they talk about those books of theirs, and anybody who can make the sweet beta girl smile like that is ok.
My mind snaps back to the beta in front of me. Stupid, derailed train of thought. “Oh, sorry, I was…um…can I help you with something? That is, if they don’t fire me. I mean, they might…still. I lost ’em two contracts today. Nobody would blame them for it.” It’s a miracle my voice doesn’t crack.
“What, dude? No, Teddy won’t fire you, and I’m pretty sure Kelly wouldn’t let Garret or Steve do it either.
Besides, while I know for a fact that Sarah can take care of herself if she needs to, I’d rather her not have to.
The less trouble we get into while we’re here, the better.
Besides, I think she likes your knight-in-shining-tank-top schtick.
You know? Not many people treat Sarah like she deserves.
Even at school, most of the other omegas find her a little… what’s the word? Abrasive.”
I nod along, though I can’t imagine how anyone could find her anything but adorable. He’s staring at me with an intense expression, and I’m starting to worry I have a hot cocoa mustache…is that even a thing? You can have a milk mustache, but can you get one from…
I’m getting sidetracked again.
He seems to come to some sort of internal decision, because he nods to himself before speaking to me again.
“So, Spence…Kelly mentioned your pack earlier. Do you guys have an omega? I don’t want to step on anybody’s toes, so I thought it would be prudent to ask before I ask about a favor we might need.
Might being the operative word here, and I still need to talk to Sarah, but I don’t want to suggest anything she’ll kill me for later without talking to all other parties first. You get me? ”
My purr stutters back to life in my chest, and I can feel my face heating in embarrassment. Holy hell, why can’t I control this damned thing?