CHAPTER EIGHT - Balthazar
I pulled up in front of Primrose House and put the truck into park. My heart was thundering in my chest. I’d barely slept the previous night.
Mariska had said yes.
We finally had our Omega. There was no way she’d leave us after the twelve dates. I knew it in my fucking heart and soul. “She’s the one.”
“Balthazar,” Mom sighed and unbuckled her seat belt.
I turned toward her, grinning. “She’s the one. I know it. Wait until you meet her. You’ll love her as much as I do.”
“I’m sure I’ll like her. She’s one of Eloise’s girls, so I know she’s a good egg.
But,” she patted my leg, talking carefully in that maternal tone I knew so well.
I was a handful growing up, but she was always there for me on my side.
“Every Omega you’ve dated, you’ve said she’s the one.
Get to know her first before pinning your heart on her. Take things slow for once.”
“We’re scent matches. She’s scent matched the whole pack.” That was the bow on this massive gift. I opened my truck door and hopped out, leaving it running.
“Yes, Lucian told me. I still say take things slow. You don’t want to scare her off.” Mom didn’t physically waggle her finger at me, but that was a verbal waggling. She slipped out of the passenger seat and moved to sit in the backseat.
I chuckled and trotted to the front door of the house. There was no way I could scare Mariska off. I’d give her the life every Omega dreamed of: a big farm house, attentive Alphas, and a dozen babies.
The front door opened before I even pushed the bell, and Lyla greeted me with a cheeky smirk. “Hi Balthazar. You’re looking good today.”
“Thanks.” I’d put on my dressiest flannel shirt and wore a winter vest over it.
I rarely dressed up, but this wasn’t the Omega I wanted to notice how I looked.
Lyla was nice, but she barely registered on my radar now.
Yet I couldn’t help but take note of her godawful ugly Christmas sweater.
“And you look like… the inside of Santa’s sack of gifts? ”
“It’s supposed to be the presents under the tree. See the green fringe like pine needles around my neck?” She fluffed it up. “Your guess was really good. I think I’ll have to work on the collar. Maybe make it longer and fuller.”
Right. The girl had a strange sense of fashion.
Eloise came around the corner with her purse tucked under her arm. “Good afternoon. I’m so excited to go to the market today. Did Liz come with you?”
“Hi. Yeah, she’s waiting in the truck.” I bobbed my head. My heart started to pound a little harder. Where was Mariska? I’d imagined her waiting on the porch for me with a big smile.
“Wonderful.” Eloise put on her boots before glancing at the door and then up the stairs. “Where’s Mari? She knew when we’d be leaving.”
Lyla skipped over to the foot of the stairs and yelled up. “Mari! Your date’s here!”
A door opened and the click of nails on hardwood came fast to the top of the stairs.
Artemis gave a single bark and wagged her tail.
While she seemed eager to run down to me, she stayed upstairs and waited for Mariska.
That was one very well trained animal. If Mariska had the patience for that, she would be an amazing mother.
The tap of boots announced my Omega’s arrival… bundled up from head to toe, with a scarf covering her nose and mouth. Hat, coat, gloves, scarf, jeans, and boots were black. It was like she was trying to be a ninja.
“Come on, dear. Let’s get going.” Eloise gestured to her and then gave Lyla a hug. “Have a lovely afternoon. I can’t wait to see the dress if you finish it.”
“It’s just going to be me and Artemis singing Christmas carols and creating a new line of holiday fashion.” Lyla hooted. “Have fun and don’t buy more than you can carry.”
“No promises.” Eloise laughed, and I stepped back so she could slip by me and go to the truck.
Mariska slowly came down the stairs with Artemis at her side. She stroked the dog’s head as they reached the bottom and nodded at me. Even with her scarf up, I could see a flush in her cheeks.
“What the heck, Mari? I told you that you could borrow any of my leggings and you should totally wear your blue sweater. Blue is your spirit color.” Lyla said the last bit like some fashion guru.
She then gave Mariska a quick hug. “But even in black, you’re beautiful.
Have fun and bring me back some jingle donuts. ”
“Okay. Thanks.” Mariska’s gaze kept darting my way. The girl couldn’t keep her eyes off me. I grinned as she told Artemis to stay and walked to the door which I held open for her. “Hi.”
“Hi to you too.” I breathed in her scent as she passed me. There was a light scent of Ivory soap and peaches, as if she’d attempted to hide her natural perfume, but I could still smell her. Creamy vanilla only made sweeter by the hint of peaches.
I waved to Lyla and shut the door to fall in step with Mariska. The sun peeked out from behind the clouds and made her pretty amber eyes sparkle. I drank in every detail about her. Everything in me felt so alive. I wanted to remember this moment forever. Our first date.
“You really are gorgeous.”
She blinked rapidly as if she couldn’t believe I just said that. Her cheeks reddened further and her scent thickened in the most delicious of ways. Hell, yeah.
“Thank you.” Mariska’s voice trembled slightly, and she hurried the last few steps to get to the truck.
As she reached for the handle, I leaned around her and opened the door first. Offering a hand, I resisted the urge to bend forward to thoroughly inhale her scent. “Hop on in. I’ve had the seats warming and there’s hot cocoa in the thermos if you want some.”
Mariska murmured her thanks again and lightly put her gloved hand in mine.
She climbed up and settled into the seat, and I closed the door behind her.
I strode around to the driver’s side, wondering how fast I could get rid of our escorts so I could have Mariska all to myself.
We were going to be in a market surrounded by people, but having my mom follow us around did put a damper on my game.
Before I did up my seat belt, I twisted around and smiled. “Mariska, this is my mom, Liz. Mom, this is Mariska Belmont. She’s almost as big of a dog lover as you are.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Mariska reached back to shake hands with my mom. “You have dogs too?”
“So lovely to finally meet you as well, Mariska.” Mom squeezed her hand.
“I do. I have two Saint Bernards, Sugarplum and Twinkle. Great big sweet ladies. I needed some female energy on the farm once my daughter married and moved away, and Balthazar’s pack moved in.
You have the right idea running an Omega boarding house, Eloise.
Much calmer energy than a house full of Alphas. ”
Eloise laughed, and I could see Mariska’s shoulders relax a bit.
I had no doubt Mom would adopt Mariska as one of her own before the day was out.
Buckling up, I pulled onto the road and headed south.
It wasn’t a long drive, and I was content to let the women talk.
Mom asked Mariska a bunch of questions and had her laughing too.
This was family. Warmth surrounded me as we drove to Elkhart Lake. It was a mild day with a few clouds in the sky. The truck purred along the road as the women chatted.
Mom warned me about saying Mariska was the one, but no Omega had ever so easily gotten along with her. It was meant to be like this all along.
We managed to squeeze into a parking spot someone just left, and the rich smells of Christmas goods twirled around us as we got out.
People walked toward the resort and the massive tent they had set up for the vendors.
A section of field to one side had been cleared off and made into an ice rink.
Near that, a pen with reindeer was surrounded by children wanting to pet them and get their photos taken.
“You two lead the way, and we’ll follow.” Mom was smiling, but when she caught my eye, I could feel another mental finger waggle.
“Just don’t go too fast. We like to look at everything.” Eloise chuckled. The woman meant business. She carried two massive green and red tote bags for whatever she wanted to buy.
Mariska walked quietly beside me. Somewhere near the tent a brass band started playing a holiday tune and her shoulders sagged. We couldn’t have that.
“So what did you want to do first? If you’re hungry, we can grab something to eat or go skating or shop. Whatever you want.” I’d show her I could be the perfect attentive Alpha and do whatever my Omega wanted. Just as long as I got to spend time with her.
“Can we do something outside? I want to avoid…” Mariska looked toward the tent with the constant stream of people coming in and out. “The big crowd. I’m not hungry yet either.”
“Of course. There’s the ice sculpture gallery near the beach, the rink, and sleigh rides through downtown.”
She pursed her lips and cutely furrowed her brow as she considered the options. “Maybe we can go look at the sculptures. I’m not great on skates—”
“Really?” I snagged her hand and tugged her toward the rink. “Everyone in Wisconsin knows how to skate.”
She didn’t resist but stared at the ice warily. “Not everyone. I can ski and snowboard—”
“And ride a sled behind a snow machine like an expert,” I added with a wink. I raised my chin with victory seeing a little smile she tried to hide behind her scarf.
“That too. I haven’t been skating since… I was maybe nine years old.” Her smile faded and a faraway look stole into her eyes. “We should go to the beach.”