14. Ezra
Ezra
T his day feels so reminiscent of the one where I met James. Should I be ashamed of the fact that I keep luring these Omegas in with cute animals? Possibly. But I have no shame, only unadulterated joy about my current situation.
“I want to thank you,” I tell her as she walks next to me while I push the wheelbarrow.
“For what?”
“For whatever you and James did last night. He never sleeps in our beds. It was nice to have him.”
She tilts her head and shrugs. “I’m not sure that I did anything. James doesn’t seem like the type of person to do anything he doesn’t want to.”
“This is true, but something you did or said must have made him want to come be with me.”
She taps her chin and shrugs again. “James and I are very different Omegas. I think a lot of the time he’s fighting against his instincts, maybe he’s done fighting.”
I can’t help but smile. Do I want James to change? No, I love the stubborn, handsome asshole with my whole heart. But do I want to touch him more openly and often, yes, I certainly do. I won’t push, even if this was just a one night thing. I’ll take whatever these two Omegas are willing to give.
“How was your first night at the house?” I ask her, changing the subject. Her cheeks redden, and I hide a smirk. I knew immediately when I walked into Ian’s room that they had done something. The mix of their scents was too thick not to notice.
“It was good.”
“Just good?” I joke, and she rubs her arm.
“More than good. I…I’m just worried.”
“What about?”
“A lot of things, this is all so fast.”
“Sometimes the best things move fast,” I say, thinking back to how quickly Ian and I bonded with James.
She nods and is clearly in a deep train of thought as we walk across the zoo. I give her space to think; I’m used to giving space because that’s what James usually needs.
“Ezra?”
“Yes, love?”
“If James was more affectionate, would you still want me here?”
I put the wheelbarrow down and turn to face her, her eyes widening as I wrap my hands around her forearms.
“You’re not a consolation prize, and you’re not a spare. You’re the piece that our pack is missing. I don’t want you to ever think that you’re just here to fill a void. You’re wanted, beautiful, and perfect.”
“Okay,” she concedes quickly, wrapping her arms around my waist and leaning into my chest for a hug. Her scent is subdued but sweet as I stroke her back and hold her tightly.
“All of us want you here. All of us need you here.” Just in case she doesn’t believe me, I place a gentle kiss against the crown of her head. When she tilts her head up, her skin is flushed from all the walking and radiant as the sun shines down on her.
I can’t help myself as I lean in, my thumb tilting her chin as I place a chaste kiss against her lips. I want to go deeper, tangle my tongue against hers and kiss until we can’t breathe, but I’m at work.
When we part from our kiss, her eyes are as wide as the smile that takes over her face. “Thanks, I needed that.”
“Anytime you need that, love, just let me know.”
She holds my forearm the whole time I push the wheelbarrow, and I feel like I’ve gone to Omega heaven.
Luna falls asleep on the car ride home, her head lulling against the headrest. Today was good, it was simple but fun watching her face light up at the most simple tasks I do everyday.
Her small gentle touches throughout the day meant everything, and I can’t stop thinking about the kiss.
And how afterwards, she just seemed so content and happy.
That such small acts of kindness and words of affirmation can make her so happy.
I feel complete as an Alpha, knowing that I know the things that make my Omegas happy.
Luna needs a lot of confirmation and touch.
While James needs acts of service and for him, actions always speak louder than words.
For James, he just wants to know that he’s being understood and thought about, and I plan on making sure both of these Omegas are properly spoiled with any want or need they have.
When we get home, Luna doesn’t stir, so I open the car door and carry her inside the house.
Her small sleeping form feels precious curled against my chest. As I look at the stairs, I huff and place her gently on the couch instead.
James is in the kitchen and comes into the living room, placing his blanket on top of her.
That small act means everything to someone like James, and my heart feels so full.
“Did you get enough rest, love?” I ask him, and he nods, while still looking at Luna’s sleeping form.
“Yeah, I feel good.”
“It was nice sleeping next to you.”
He nods but doesn’t comment. I won’t let myself look too deep into it, but if he allows me a night here and there, I’ll take it.
“How was work?”
“Amazing,” I say, and James gives me a good smile.
“She’s good for us,” he says, looking at her and moving back into the kitchen to eat.
“I think she is. You’re still happy and okay with her being in your space?”
He nods and looks at the countertop in thought. “I think… I think I need someone who gets it. Luna understands what I’m going through to some extent. It doesn’t hurt that she’s sweet and beautiful.”
“No, it certainly doesn’t. Didn’t think your type was sweet and beautiful.”
“Me either,” he huffs as Ian strolls into the kitchen. I watch as James rubs his neck. Ian is James’ type. Big, gruff, a little mean, and can take control. He leans forward, kissing James’ hair as he looks around the room.
“Where’s Luna?”
“Sleeping on the couch. Seems you gentlemen kept her up late.”
“Hey, I didn’t do shit. She couldn’t sleep and was outside when I came inside last night.”
Ian clears his throat. “Did you guys have a good time?”
“Yeah, we did,” he leaves it at that, but the look on his face is clear.
Luna gave him something that Ian and I don’t.
I want to give my Omega everything, but if I can’t provide it, I know I have a pack I can count on.
This is why a pack dynamic works, we all want each other happy, and there’s always multiple people willing to pitch in where others might be faltering.
“Good,” Ian says, and I don’t miss that James sits a little taller at his Alpha’s use of the word good.
“Are you still wanting to go to the fundraiser tomorrow?” Ian asks James, and he grimaces.
James is a bit of a homebody. He likes his trips to the beach and maybe a dinner here or there.
But large crowds aren’t his thing. I know he only agreed to go with Ian to this function because it’s important to him and his job.
It’s a plus one sort of thing, totally diminishing pack relationships but whatever.
“Maybe Luna would like to go?” James throws it out there.
Suddenly a blonde head pops up from the couch, her makeup a little rubbed off from where she was lying on the couch as she blinks her big eyes. “Where would Luna like to go?” she says in a sleepy voice.
“There’s a fundraiser tomorrow night. I have a plus one,” Ian says. My best friend is usually very confident, but I hear a small fraction of doubt in his voice when he says it.
“You don’t want to go, James?”
“No, I hate that shit.”
Luna brings a finger to her mouth and lightly bites the nail. “You want me to go, Ian?” she asks, and he nods. She smiles and nods back.
“Okay, I just need something to wear.”
“I’ll take care of it,” he says, and I hide a smile. Ian already spoiled his stepsister before he wanted to fuck her. I can’t imagine all the shit he’s going to buy her now that he is. Or well, will be.
“And what will we do while these two go out and play?” I ask James, and he smirks.
“I have no doubt you’ll think of something.”
Maybe it’s the high from being with Luna earlier or how simple this pack conversation is moving, but I lean forward and kiss James.
He accepts my affection openly. It’s short lived, but when I pull away and he’s smiling with pink cheeks, my heart feels a level of fullness that I never thought possible.
James clears his throat. “Dinner?”
Luna has plopped back onto the couch, poor thing exhausted. “Sushi, please,” her small voice says.
“Sushi it is,” James replies. If I didn’t witness it with my own two eyes, I wouldn’t believe it. James gets up from the kitchen and sits on the couch near Luna’s feet, sitting quietly near the other Omega as he puts something on TV.
Ian and I share a glance that reads ‘what the fuck.’ But neither of us say anything as we just let this moment happen, two Omegas sharing a space, enjoying each other’s close comfort.
“Right, well, I’ll order the food,” Ian says, staring at the couch.
“Yeah, you do that.”
“Take a shower, you smell like a fucking barn animal,” he says as he walks past me. I shrug off the asshole comment and just let myself enjoy the simplicity of it all.