Chapter 1 #2
“Why not?” Marcus asked, exasperation in his deep voice. “He's made it clear he's not interested.”
“He has not,” Indi snarled, and I could almost picture the alpha's hands on their narrow hips. “He isn't ready, okay? Being a pack is a big decision, and he deserves the time to consider what he wants. Why would we want to push him into a bond he isn't ready for? Because Cameo is—”
“It's been almost a year,” Marcus stressed. “And he won't even discuss why he doesn't want to. At this point, it just seems like he's just hanging out until he gets bored.”
“He's not,” Indi said, a little less sure than they'd been a moment ago. “We've talked about it, okay? He just needs… time.”
I chewed my lip. It was something that we’d discussed, of course it was. A year with an alpha and no bond? It wasn't usually how these things went. But nothing about our relationship was typical, down to the omega in the middle of it.
Indigo knew I wanted to be with them; otherwise, there was no reason for me to accept their offer to move in.
But… I wasn't ready for a bond. It didn't matter how deeply I felt for the alpha, or how fond I'd started to become of the pack that they held so close to their heart… it was too soon.
I rubbed the butterfly tattooed onto my forearm anxiously, a bad habit I'd picked up shortly after it'd been inked into place.
It wasn't my fault that Marcus never pushed me to tell him why, and really, even if he did, I wasn't exactly jumping at the chance to. Ultimately, my alpha knew how I felt about them, even if I wasn't ready to get mated.
“He could be lying,” Marcus said. “Not crazy to think so, he's getting a pretty sick deal—”
The sound of something slamming the table made me jump, the top stair squeaking like a frightened mouse under my foot.
Fuck.
Luckily, Indigo's shouting seemed to cover the noise, since neither of the alphas called out to me.
“Joon isn't a liar, and I won't have you talking about my partner like that, Marcus. So watch your fucking mouth—” There was a pause. Hardly a pause, really, more like a breath, before Indi scoffed. “I'm going, I'm already late. Shut this the fuck down, you're way out of line. Both of you.”
Until now, I didn't realize that Cameo was even part of the conversation, but it wasn't much of a surprise.
Always watching, always waiting, the alpha had a secret skill when it came to being the center of this pack's universe.
In another life, he would've made a great omega.
Indigo's heavy combat boots were loud as they stomped through the house, the chains dangling from his clothes shifting noisily until the back door banged shut hard enough to rattle the window panes.
The low whistle that followed in the stillness was undoubtedly Cameo, his voice edged with a subtle Italian accent that never failed to make my insides squirm. “You just had to get under their skin, didn't you?”
“It's not my fault,” Marcus growled. “They're the one trusting another omega who doesn't want to commit. I would've thought they learned their fucking lesson last time.”
Last time? What was that supposed to mean?
“They like Joon,” Cameo said with a sigh. “And you probably would too if you didn't keep pushing him away at every opportunity.”
“I'm not doing shit,” Marcus said, voice rising a bit for the first time. “Forgive me for choosing not to court some fuckin' omega that's just going to dump us when something better comes along.”
“Based on his behavior, I think that's unlikely,” Cameo said thoughtfully. “But I'm sure if we talk to him about having a baby, he's not going to stick around if he doesn't want to. Bond or not.”
A what?!
Of all the things the pack could’ve been arguing about, a baby was nowhere near the top of my guesses, not even in the top one thousand, probably.
In my surprise, I bit my tongue so hard that I tasted blood, a stifled whimper escaping me as I opened my mouth in a silent scream.
Is that what they were talking about? Having a baby?
It wasn't something I'd really put much thought into, given that most packs wanted a bond before a kid. And anything that tied me to someone like that was a big no in my book.
A direct line into my thoughts and feelings? Pass.
Pass as fuck, actually.
But… a baby wasn't a bond. It didn't sound like the worst thing, at least. Kids could be cute. And if things didn't work out with the pack, we could just draw up a custody agreement. Go our separate ways.
More of a surprise than my overall positive, if not a little apprehensive, thoughts about children, was Cameo.
I had a hard time believing that the germophobic alpha was interested in being a dad, given how messy kids could be.
At the same time… I could see it for him.
Cameo was a pretty traditional guy despite his unusual hobbies and B-horror-movie-villain personality.
It was easier than I thought it'd be to picture him with a round-cheeked little devil bouncing on his knee.
Easy to see it for all of them, honestly, especially Indi. They'd be a phenomenal parent, given how understanding and thoughtful they were. And who was I to stand in their way if that's what they wanted?
“You're sure you're serious about this? Having a baby, without a bonded omega?”
“What, you think I lack maternal instinct?” Cameo asked, the offense clear in his tone.
Yes!
“Obviously not,” Marcus said. “I just want to make sure it's what we really want. It's a really long and arduous process to get a surrogate… and expensive.”
Cameo sighed. “Money isn't the issue, but I am hoping we can find someone outside of the system. I’m not against the mother being involved, if she wanted to be… but picking some woman out of a catalogue to be the mother of our children gives me the same gross vibes as scent cards.”
Something in his voice prickled at my mind, but I couldn't quite place it. Less than a hunch, but more than nothing. Cameo wasn’t always the most forward with his feelings, reducing his life into a series of wants and dislikes, but—
Marcus’ loud laugh interrupted my half-baked thought. “That's going to be a challenge. Most omegas aren't looking to offer up their body for a baby they aren't keeping. It doesn't matter how much money you offer them.”
“Everyone has a price, Marcus,” the other alpha admonished. “Besides, I'm sure it will work in our favor. Cazzo, I thought selling the company would mean no more stupid ass-kissing meetings. But it seems like they've doubled instead. I'd better get going.”
“Oh no, is someone afraid of a little work?” Marcus teased, seeming to let the topic drop for now.
I was honestly surprised to hear something so light-hearted from him. Marcus wasn't really someone who teased or was playful at all.
Or, you know, felt joy.
But maybe that was only towards me.
Of the three alphas, he'd always been the most difficult. Like every time we took a step forward, we somehow ended up three steps back just as fast… A phenomenon that was as much my fault as it was his.
At this point, I was pretty sure he didn't like me, and that made the entire situation more complicated. If I couldn't gel with the whole pack, how was I supposed to stick with them?
I'd never been an easy person to get along with. Prickly, overemotional, and too stubborn were just a few of my parents' favorite digs over the years. As far as they were concerned, I didn't exemplify anything an omega should be: obedient, subservient, agreeable… Fucking dull if you asked me.
Where was the fun in playing doormat to a bunch of alphaholes for the rest of my life?
The only one who used to understand me was my brother, Mason, but then everything happened… and as much as he pretended that it was okay, I knew that it was hard for him. The strain on our relationship was obvious, and I’d felt pretty alone ever since.
That was, until I met Indigo.
Maybe that’s why I was considering this crazy idea, I just… didn’t think I could bear to lose them. And if a baby would make them happy? I was at least willing to consider it, as long as it meant we could continue our relationship at a pace we were comfortable with.
“Chiudi il becco!” Cameo snapped, though I swear I could hear the grim smile in the alpha's tone. “I'll see you later.”
His footsteps came towards where I was waiting at the top of the stairs, and I shrank back against the dark wainscoting and wallpaper, in an attempt to avoid detection. Luckily, he didn't even glance my way as he bypassed the stairs and headed towards his office at the front of the house.
I was about to head back to my nest, now that the conversation—or maybe I should call it an argument—was over. Irritation settling into anger that they'd been discussing me like I didn't live here, like I wasn't a part of this pack too.
“I know you're there,” Marcus called once Cameo's door snapped shut, his voice drifting up to where I hid just steps from the landing.
I froze, not even daring to breathe.
He couldn't be talking to me, right? Indigo had totally covered that stair squeak, and—
“Come out, come out, Joon,” the alpha taunted softly. “Let's talk.”
I thought about tiptoeing back to my nest and pretending like I was never there.
I didn't need his attitude or to listen to some fucking lecture.
But… I couldn't deny that I was at least a little curious about what he had to say for himself. My feet moved down the squeaky wooden steps—finding Marcus leaning against the island’s white marble countertop with a mug in hand.
Obviously, I thought to myself with an internalized eyeroll. When did I ever see Marcus anywhere that wasn't his room or the kitchen?
The alpha towered over me, even after forfeiting a few good inches with his poor posture. His chef jacket was on but left unbuttoned over a basic white T-shirt, reminding me that it wouldn't be long until he was leaving for the day, too.
At least whatever lashing I was in for would be brief.