Page 26 of Omega's Bears

“I never said you were stupid.”

“You act like I’m stupid.”

“I don’t think you’re stupid.”

“Why are you avoiding me?” I ask, fully expecting him to deny that he’s doing any such thing.

He doesn’t answer.

“I know you’ve imprinted,” I say. “You know that I know. And we both know I’m an omega. I’m a breeder. It’s why the clan voted to let me stay in the first place.”

“It’s not like that anymore,” Ryan says.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re not just here to be a breeder. You’re part of the family.”

“Oh.” I’m more surprised by this than by anything Ryan’s ever said to me. It’s so matter of fact. He doesn’t sound like he resents my presence, but he’s also not making any special effort to make me feel a part of things. He’s simply informing me of a fact. I’m part of the family. He might as well have been telling me about the weather, for all the emotion in his voice. Actually, come to think of it, he was a lot more emotional when we were talking about the weather. “Well. Thank you.”

Ryan shrugs and resumes his staring.

“You haven’t answered my question,” I point out.

“We don’t have to do anything,” Ryan says. “You and me. Just because I’ve imprinted doesn’t mean we’ve got no choice.”

“But I...,” I hesitate. I feel so vulnerable right now. “I’d like to.”

“I’m sure either of the others would mate with you,” he says. “You don’t have to imprint to mate, you know.”

“Ryan,” Luka says.

I hadn’t realized he was listening in. I whirl around. Luka and Jack are both watching us. In hindsight, I was stupid not to think they would. There’s nothing else to do in this cave, nothing else going on. Of course, their attention would be caught by the only action.

And I don’t know what Luka’s going to say, but there’s something in his tone that tells me all the secrets are about to be revealed. A thrill of fear runs through me. Once again, this decision is being made without my input. I was crazy to think I had power or authority over the information in our clan. Luka is going to tell Ryan everything.

But he doesn’t speak.

And maybe he doesn’t need to. Maybe the understanding between the two of them is just so perfect that words aren’t necessary. Because Ryan reads Luka’s face like a book. “My God. You imprinted on her.”

I’m expecting Luka to fall all over himself apologizing, to assure Ryan that it wasn’t intentional. And part of me is also expecting Luka to get defensive and inform Ryan that imprinting doesn’t mean he owns me, or that he hadn’t staked a claim to me. That he was wasting time.

I’m not expecting Luka’s actual response at all. He nods and simply says “yes” quietly.

I’m desperately anxious. Should I be apologizing? Explaining myself? Am I about to be thrown out of the cave into the blizzard? Will the two men fight over me?

Jack gets to his feet. “Believe it or not, Luka, you’re not alone.”

Ryan’s eyes widen. “You too?”

Jack nods confirmation.

“Have the two of you slept with her?”

“That’s really Cami’s business to share,” Luka cuts in.

“I don’t mind,” I say hurriedly, even though the truth is that I’m wishing we weren’t having this conversation at all. “It’s Ryan’s business too.”

“Well. Yes, we have,” Luka says.

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