Page 45 of Claiming Their Omega

“I thought something was—I thought you had cancer or something.”

“What? No!” Grace looks alarmed, eyes wide. “No, I just meant—I don’t know the first thing about being an Omega!”

I frown. “You just… are an Omega.”

“No, I’m not. I’m not ‘just’ anything. You know the expectations. The heats, and providing for a whole pack, and how am I supposed to balance all this biology and work at the same time?”

“Well, you seem to be handling the ranch work well. I wish we could hire some extra hands that were as willing to work as you are. You’ve jumped right in.”

Grace blushes a little. “Thank you.” Then she sobers up again. “What I mean is… I just don’t know what to do with myself anymore. Who I’m supposed to be. So much of being an Omega is about what your body needs. I mean, that’s why they pair us with packs more often than just one Alpha, right?”

“That’s my understanding, yeah.”

It was impressed on us the moment we presented that our job was to pamper and provide for our Omega with everything in us. To make sure that our Omega would never have a moment of discomfort, that any needs would be met. I take that kind of thing seriously—just as seriously as I take my family legacy and handling this ranch.

“I just feel like I’m a stranger in here. I’m not in control anymore.” Tears prick at Grace’s eyes. “My body’s calling the shots. It’s like puberty all over again, except worse, because I’m going through it alone. Everyone already had their presentations, they did this. I’m just… late and alone and stuck.”

My heart breaks to hear her talk in that defeated, scared tone. I want to wrap myself around her tightly and hiss at the world, at anything or anyone that might hurt her. But what am I supposed to do when the thing that’s apparently hurting her is… herself? How can I fix that? I have to find a way.

“Well,” I say slowly, “you might be going through this a bit late. But I’m sure you’re not the only one in this situation. Perhaps there’s some kind of online forum or website you can go to for Omegas who are in this sort of situation, and see how they’re handling it.”

Grace nods. “I hadn’t really thought of that.”

“Well, hey, sometimes you’ve gotta talk these things through.” I reach out and squeeze her hand where it rests on the tabletop. “And even if being a late bloomer is rare, there are other Omegas, right at that ORD facility too. They might be younger but maybe that means in a way they’re more prepared. You can ask them. There have got to be Omegas right here in town you can chat with.”

She pulls a face. “I don’t… I wouldn’t feel comfortable with that.”

“Okay. Can I ask why?”

“Well, they were all so excited to be Omegas. I’m not. I’d want someone who could understand that frustration.”

I nod. “Life likes to throw us some wicked curveballs, huh?”

As I speak, I can’t help but think of my father. God, I wish he was here right now. He pops into my head often, in moments when I wish I could ask for his advice, but especially right now. I want to know how to take care of Grace. How to handle this whole mess in my heart.

Grace laughs softly and wipes at her eyes with her free hand. “Yeah, you could say that.”

“I’m an Alpha, not an Omega. But if there’s anything I can do for you to make this easier, you know you only need to ask. That’s what we bid on you for, you know? We’re here to help you. Any way we can.”

Grace nods. “I just wish I knew… or could practice being an Omega. Does that make sense? That I could do almost a trial run…” Her voice trails off and her eyes go a little wide as she stares at me.

I stare back at her. “What is it?”

“There is a way you could help me,” Grace breathes, and my body floods with heat. I can smell her, her scent growing stronger. Not quite perfuming, but something. “As long as you’re here, and we’re all doing this… you could help me… learn all of it.”

She sounds like she did when she begged me to take her virginity, and my cock grows hot and heavy between my legs. It was torture to resist her then, and I crave her even more now.

“Learn…” I clear my throat, trying to sound steadier than I feel. “Learn what?”

“You could help me learn how to be an Omega.”

“You already know how. You are an Omega, and you’re doing great. There’s nothing for you to learn.”

“Yes there is.” Her voice drops a little.

“What do you mean?”

“Sex. It’s different between an Alpha and an Omega, isn’t it? It’s not the same as it would be if I were a Beta. I need to know these things, Jesse. I just want to feel… I don’t know, prepared.”

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