Page 2 of Claiming Their Omega

“You said you haven’t been here in a while.” He chuckles, brushing off my clear attempt to dissuade him. “It’ll be fun.”

Honestly, I could use a night in. It’s weird to be back here after I… escaped, so to speak. Okay, maybe that’s an extreme word. My parents are great, we’re close, and I used to have friends here. But I did kind of flee like the wolves were on my back, and I haven’t returned. Not even for Christmases or other holidays. Being back makes me feel like I’m coming home, but also like there are snakes writhing in my stomach. But I know there’s no way William will be satisfied unless he gets his way.

We park, check in, and get our stuff into the room. It’s a cozy place, and of course the nicest in the area. Not that there are a ton to choose from, but William always insists on doing the nicest thing you can for yourself.

“Are you sure you don’t want to just have a night in?” I ask.

“Nah. I could really use a walk after all that driving.” William stretches. “Shall we?”

I freshen up first, and take my long blonde hair out of the braid I’ve had it in to brush it out. I don’t want to feel stale or look like I’ve been traveling all day.

William smiles at me as I exit. “You always have such an elegant air. Hard to imagine you grew up in a place like this.”

“Yeah,” I admit, glancing around. “I’ve come a long way from my small-town roots.”

William definitely isn’t like the rough and tumble cowboys I grew up with. He’s the kind of Alpha who wants to live on Park Avenue, and it makes me feel special that even though I’m a Beta and not an Omega, I’m the kind of woman he can see by his side.

“Any recommendations for where we should go?” he asks as we exit the hotel.

“There are a few places. There’s the pizzeria, and a place called ‘Spur of the Moment’…”

“Hah. I get it.” William laughs. “It’s the whole cowboy thing, that’s so quaint. That’ll be fun.”

I swallow. I can’t exactly tell him that it’s one of the most popular establishments in the area. “Sure.”

The moment we walk into the restaurant, I’m flooded with memories. I used to come here all the time with my family for special occasions, or tagging along with my older brother when he went here with his friends.

I’d been so young. No idea of the dream of writing and editing that would take hold of me, no idea I’d be running away to New York City.

The hostess doesn’t recognize me, which is a small miracle, but I recognize her. Emily Davis, younger sister of a girl I went to high school with. Emily’s only sixteen. She was eleven when I left, no wonder she has no idea who I am.

We get a table easily. William laughs about it. “You’d never get a seat this fast in Manhattan.”

“It’s never hard to get a table, even when it’s busy.” It never gets that busy here.

We sit down, and I offer to get us drinks from the bar. I know it’s maybe the kind of thing that others might say is typical for a Beta, offering to get something, to “serve” the Alpha, but William’s very particular. He has discerning taste. I think it’s a sign he trusts me to get something he’ll like.

But of course, when I reach the bar, fate finally stops being on my side.

“Holy hell,” a familiar voice drawls from behind me. “I’d know that pile of hair anywhere. Grace Whitmore?”

I know that voice. I hate to admit it, but I’d know that voice anywhere.

I turn around. “Jesse. Calling a woman a pile of hair, I see you’re as charming as ever.”

Jesse Stone smirks down at me. Literally. He’s six foot four, almost an entire foot taller than I am. “And you’re as prickly as ever.”

This close, I can catch Jesse’s scent: toasted pecans, freshly baked cornbread, and honey butter. It makes me think of a good old-fashioned cowpoke breakfast. It’s annoying that such a pain in my ass could smell so good. And of course he’s an Alpha. Ugh.

“Jesse, who—Grace?”

Whatever Hendrix was going to say is cut off as he realizes who Jesse’s talking to. Crowding up behind him are Easton and Cade. All four of them are tall, buff Alphas.

Great. Just what I need to deal with right now.

All four men are my brother’s best friends. I ran into them a lot growing up. I should’ve known it would be too much to hope I wouldn’t run into them now.

“Well, my night just got better.” Hendrix grins, his green eyes sparkling. Forever a flirt. “I had no idea you were in town.”

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