Page 104 of Claiming Their Omega

“Fancy seeing you all here,” Travis drawls, taking a few steps closer, trying to crowd us in. I can see Kyle and Leon moving on either side of him, as if they’re trying to box us in like a pack of wolves.

Jesse and the others don’t move, jaws set and eyes glittering. My heart swells with pride at their courage and strength. They’re not easily intimidated.

“Wow, amazing, we’re at a county fair that everyone here attends. What a shock,” Hendrix says dryly. “You could knock me down with a feather.”

“You four, stomping around like you own the place. Like you’re the golden boys.” Travis snorts derisively. “Somebody’s gonna knock you down a peg someday soon, and you’re going to learn that you’re just like the rest of us.”

“We’re not the ones who are arrogant or have an attitude problem,” Jesse replies.

“No, you’re just the dirty thieves who can’t stand to see someone else trying to be successful.”

“That’s what you think happened? Might want to get your head checked, see if you’ve gotten kicked by your horse too many times. Because I knew you were dumb, but now you’re also delusional.”

“I’m neither, and you’d be smart to start respecting me and mine.” Travis gives a slow ugly smile that I don’t like. Objectively, he’s a good looking guy, I suppose. But there’s something about how he holds himself, the expressions he makes, that contorts his face and makes him look wrong.

“I’ll start respecting you when you give me a reason to respect you,” Jesse bites out, his calm demeanor finally cracking and revealing the righteous anger beneath.

“Oh, I’ll give you a reason,” Travis replies. That ugly smile of his morphs into a snarl. “You took something of ours. We just might fix to take something of yours.”

It doesn’t seem like an idle threat, either. My heart races as my mind darts back to what the men said to me back when I first came to the ranch—about how they’d combined Easton’s family ranch with Jesse’s in order to keep both ranches going. I know that it can be hard to keep making a living this way.

The idea that the McAllisters could ruin the ranch and destroy the livelihoods of my Alphas makes my stomach go cold with fear.

I feel all four Alphas tense and the air between the two groups grows cold. Jesse and Cade both look like they’re going to launch themselves at Travis. Easton takes a small step forward to put himself between me and the McAllisters.

For a second I think they really are all going to fight each other. I find myself shaking with adrenaline and anticipation. It’s out in public, plenty of witnesses, and yet it feels like we’re all alone, a bubble of violence that’s about to pop.

I’m not sure what changes. Maybe Travis realizes that three against four isn’t quite a fair fight and he’s not sure he and his two pack mates can win it. Maybe they don’t want to draw a crowd. Maybe they’ve got a shred of honor left in them and don’t want to get into a fight where an Omega might get hurt.

But the tension slips out of Travis’ shoulders, and the fire of anger in his eyes dims a little. He takes a small step back. “We’ll be seeing you all. Watch your backs.”

He turns and storms off, Kyle and Leon following.

I shiver. Easton keeps his arm around me, securing me, but I don’t feel safe. I know that they’d do anything to protect me, but it’s not myself I’m worried about. It’s the four of them.

Chapter 37

Grace

The mood is ruined. I’m glad we had already gotten something to eat before that confrontation. I can’t imagine stomaching any food right now.

We skip the music performances and head back to the car. The big pink bear in the back seat now feels awkward instead of funny. This silly, happy thing invading the solemn bubble we’re all in. I cram the bear at my feet, but it’s large enough that I could still rest my head on it like a pillow if I wanted to fall asleep on the ride home.

I probably would have, before we ran into the McAllisters. Now I’m far too jittery and upset.

The car ride is silent. None of the men speak.

Finally I can’t stand it anymore. I clear my throat. “What’s the deal with the McAllisters?”

There’s silence. I sigh. “I know it’s about more than just you buying the land to help out my folks. It has to be. I know they’re a petty pack but this is something more. I know it.”

“It’s nothing,” Jesse says, his voice quiet and terse. “Like you said, they’re petty. Can’t stand losing out on anything, even a small piece of land. God forbid someone get in the way of their ambitions.”

The other three nod in agreement and say nothing. I swallow hard. I’m scared, but I’m also irritated. I’m not going to be kept in the dark like this. Not when it’s so clearly a problem.

I know I’m not their Omega, not really. I know that I don’t have a right in that way. But I do have a right as their friend, and as someone living in their damn house. They can’t bottle it all up, especially if maybe there’s something I can do to help.

I’m still lost in thought about it by the time we get home. Originally I’d figured that we’d be all too tired after the fair but we could at least sleep together in my nest and have some fun times when we woke up in the morning. Now that’s clearly not happening, and the others shuffle off.

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