Page 124 of Claiming Their Omega

I stare at them all. “How are you here? Did you have to leave? Were the McAllisters that horrible?”

“We—we heard you,” Easton says at last, when the other three stay silent. “You called to us. You begged us to help you.”

I frown, thinking back.

I remember thinking help, but I was thinking more like the universe, or some entity, the way you pray when you’re desperate. I didn’t think I was actually calling out to anyone. “How is that possible? I wasn’t on the phone with any of you. I was just sort of… begging in my head as I passed out.”

I look at each of them in turn. “How did you hear me? How did you know I was in trouble? Is it like the whole… feeling emotions thing?”

Easton clears his throat. “Not exactly. This is something even more rare. Hearing the person’s voice in your head only happens if they’re your true mate.”

My heart skips a beat as his words settle over me, and I stare at them all, stunned.

“True mate?” I whisper.

“Yes.” Jesse clears his throat, watching me carefully like he’s afraid I’ll run. “We all heard you in our minds, wildcard.”

“So all four of you are… are my true mates?”

My voice is faint, barely a whisper as emotions roll through my chest, making my heart race. Although almost every Omega ends up being courted by and then bonding with an Alpha or group of Alphas, a true mate match is something beyond even that. It’s like finding a missing piece of your soul.

“We are.” Cade nods, his voice a low rumble. “And you’re ours.”

“But it still doesn’t mean you have to accept our bites,” Hendrix says, and I can hear the protectiveness in his voice. “We want you, Grace. So fucking much. But we would never tie you down against your will. We would never keep you here if you want to leave.”

Something squeezes in my chest, a tight feeling that aches and feels good at the same time, as if my ribs are too small to contain all the feelings rushing through me.

Even now, even knowing how deep the connection between us is, these men—these beautiful, wonderful Alphas—are putting me first. They’re taking care of me, the way they always have. The way they always will.

I don’t want to leave, I think, letting the words echo clearly in my mind. I never want to leave any of you. And I think… I think some part of me always knew that we were true mates. That you were the only ones in the whole world for me.

All the men fall silent, their eyes wide with expressions of shock, and I realize that they must have heard what I said, just like I hoped they would. I spoke in their minds again.

I can feel myself flushing, my pulse thrumming in my throat as I open my mouth to say the words that I’ve kept inside for far too long. “I—I love you. All of you. I’m in love with you.”

Easton’s eyes are gleaming, and I reach out and take his hand, squeezing it. I can feel the connection crackling between us, unspoken thoughts and emotions swirling through the air. Tears prick at my eyes as I gaze up at all of them as each of his pack mates step closer, surrounding me. It’s overwhelming to finally acknowledge the emotions that I’ve felt growing inside of me for weeks.

“Thank god. Because I think I’ve been in love with you since the second you came to live with us, darlin’,” Hendrix says. He’s got that teasing lilt in his voice, but his eyes are soft and completely serious. He’s not just saying that to tease or be flirtatious. He’s being sincere, wearing his heart on his sleeve. “Hell, maybe even a lot longer than that, since way back when we were younger.”

“I didn’t know you thought of me that way at all back then,” I admit softly.

I think I started to suspect, given that he saved the short story I wrote and rescued it from the trash, but I never would’ve dared seriously consider it.

Hendrix smiles at me, his expression warm. “It’s always been you, for me. I didn’t want to think about it too much, since you were gone and it seemed like you’d always be gone. But when you showed up again, how could I resist? How could any of us resist the chance to be around you again? You’re a better person than you let yourself believe, and your drive and bravery inspired me to be a braver and more driven person too. I love you, and I admire the hell out of you.”

I take his hand and kiss his knuckles. I feel like I’m going to cry. That’s so sweet of him to say, and so heartfelt in a way that I know Hendrix isn’t known for being. He’s a guy who likes to tease and make jokes, but he’s capable of so much depth and feeling.

“I guess that makes two of us, then,” Jesse says quietly, “because Hendrix isn’t the only one who’s always been in love with you. You’re a bright light to me, Grace. I only ever want to be worthy of you. I felt for so long that I couldn’t be the man that you deserved, but even then, I couldn’t convince myself to give you up. I needed to be around you, like a plant needs sunshine or a horse needs grass.”

He reaches forward and tucks my hair behind my ear, his fingertips lingering on my jaw. “I love how playful you make me feel, how you lighten my heart and brighten my day. You make me feel like I’m good enough, and I’ll spend every day of my life trying to prove you right. Trying to be the Alpha you deserve.”

I lean heavily into Cade’s chest as I brace myself to kiss Jesse softly.

“Anyone else want to admit they were in love with me the whole time?” I tease, smiling despite the emotions clogging my chest. I poke Cade. “Not you. I won’t have you lying and saying you did.”

“I didn’t let myself fall in love with anyone,” Cade grunts. “I wasn’t going to let myself be hurt that way. I saw what it did to my dad and I knew from a young age that it just wasn’t worth it. I wouldn’t let myself or my pack be hurt like that.”

“Didn’t you all worry you’d be missing out?” I ask, finally able to ask the question I never had the guts to voice before.

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