Page 31 of Claiming Their Omega

“That’s terrible.” I put my hand on his arm. “I don’t have words. I’m so sorry. I’m glad you had your pack mates to support you.”

Jesse’s gaze softens as he finally looks directly at me. “Thank you.” He glances away, out across the fields. “I didn’t know what I was doing. Dad raised me on this ranch, taught me how to do everything, but it’s different being in charge.”

“Especially all by yourself,” Easton adds.

“Good thing he wasn’t really alone,” I point out softly.

Easton smiles at me appreciatively.

“The others saved my ass,” Jesse says firmly. “I had no idea what I was doing, and they swooped in and kept this place from failing. It’s been in my family for years, and thankfully, now maybe it’ll keep going for many more.”

“You’re being too hard on yourself,” Hendrix insists. “You had shit under control. You were just going through a lot. I can’t even imagine the pain of losing a parent.”

“I can. And I know how bad the grief can be,” Cade mutters quietly. He bumps his shoulder with Jesse’s in solidarity. “Of course we’d have your back.”

I find myself smiling softly, my heart warm and full as I watch them. The three other Alphas look at Jesse as their leader, with trust and affection, and he looks at them like he’s not sure how he got so lucky. It tugs at my heart strings, to know they all have each other’s backs.

And I’m glad Jesse wasn’t alone in his grief.

“Well.” Jesse clears his throat. “Let’s show the little lady where she’s going to stay.”

The whole house is lovely. Homey and full of mementos from Jesse’s family and their pasts. I suspect it hasn’t really been touched in some time, though, and I want to ask Jesse and the other Alphas if they’ve added their personal touch to things. It might’ve been in Jesse’s family for generations but it’s their home now. They’re allowed to make it suit their tastes.

I’m led upstairs to what’s obviously a spare room. There’s a bed with a home-made quilt on it, and a wooden dresser with a mirror perched on top, and a landscape painting.

“My great-aunt did that,” Jesse tells me, nodding at the painting. “Her art’s through the whole house.”

Easton clears his throat. “Sorry we couldn’t, uh, decorate more.”

“We didn’t have a lot of time,” Hendrix adds.

I stare at the four of them. Jesse’s staring me down like he dares me to comment, but the other three all look at the floor or out the window. They’re embarrassed, I realize.

“This is lovely,” I insist. I walk over to the bed and pick up the quilt. It’s blue with daisies on it, clearly handmade and with great skill and care. “I love this. I’ve always liked daisies.”

“I know,” Hendrix blurts out.

I look over at him, and find his neck is a bit red. “That’s why I picked that one,” he explains. “There are a lot of quilts in this house.”

I can feel my eyebrows rising and my stomach goes hot and tight. I had no idea that he remembered that about me. I feel stunned.

“I thought it would make you more comfortable,” Hendrix finishes, rubbing at the back of his neck.

“You’re right, it does,” I promise him. And it is very sweet. I’m genuinely touched.

“You must be starved,” Easton says, glancing at Hendrix. He must sense the man’s discomfort. I wonder if they’re not sure what to do with a new person invading their home, but their kindness is appreciated. “Let’s get you some grub.”

I laugh, surprised at myself. “That’d be great, thanks.”

All four men cook, not letting me help. “You deserve to relax a little,” Hendrix insists.

Watching them move around the kitchen together, it’s clear how well they all fit into the space and with each other. How well they all know one another. I’m sure they’ve made dinner like this together a thousand times before.

Maybe a proper Omega would be eager to push her way in there and show them how it’s done, insist that they put their feet up for once, but honestly I feel like an intruder. I’m glad I’m not staying long, because I don’t know that I could find a way to fit when they all fit so well together already. I can’t possibly offer them anything more than they already give each other.

It curdles the pit of my stomach, which is ridiculous. I don’t want to give these four anything. They’re not really my Alphas, and they’re not really trying to court me. I shouldn’t care that there’s no room for me or that I’m out of my element here and can’t do anything better than they can.

In fact I should be elated. It means I’m not depriving them of anything. They’re perfectly happy and ready to go all by themselves.

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