Page 51 of Claiming Their Omega

“No we’re—hey!”

I gently pick Grace up and carry her out, then set her down on her feet once we’re outside. “Yes, we are. We’re going home. You’ve had way too many.”

“Like you care.”

“I do care. I especially care if you’re setting yourself up to get hurt by drinking yourself sick. You’re going to have a hell of a hangover in the morning.”

“Worth it.” Grace slumps against me. “Ugh. You don’t even like me. You just pity me.”

“That’s not true.”

“Such a gentleman.” Her tone is scathing. “Rescuing the poor little Omega from making a bad decision. What did you think you’d find me here with a biker gang surrounding me like a movie?”

“No, but I am surprised you didn’t slide off the bar and split your head open.”

“Ugh,” she replies, very eloquently.

I can’t help the fondness that grips my heart in a vice. “Grace, please, let me get you home. I care about you being safe.”

Grace sniffles, but doesn’t protest as I put my arm around her and lead her toward my bike.

“Get on,” I order, letting go of her. She’ll have to wear my helmet, but it’s fine. I can risk it. I’ve been riding for years and can handle myself. The helmet’s adjustable, luckily.

Grace stares at the bike, her eyes wide and face pale. I frown. “Grace. Get on.”

She shakes her head, and I realize… she’s scared. “Nope,” she blurts out. “No, no, no thank you.”

“Grace, it’s perfectly safe.”

“You don’t know that!” she hisses. “These things are death traps!”

“Grace…”

She shakes her head. I’m sure part of it is that she’s drunk, but she really does look terrified. And to be fair maybe driving her on a motorcycle isn’t the smartest choice right now. She could easily get sick and throw up.

“I’m not getting on that thing,” she insists, her voice small and young. It cracks in the middle, and wow. I really am a sucker.

I glance at the bike. I’m pretty sure it’ll be safe. If you’re the type of person to come here for a drink, you’re the type of person who other people know better than to mess with, so I don’t think anyone will do anything about my bike if I leave it here. I can come back and get it. And if someone does take it, I can just track them down and teach them a lesson about private property.

“All right,” I say, my voice gruffer than I want it. “We can walk.”

Grace looks up at me in surprise, her blue eyes large and luminous in the light of the moon. “Really?”

I swallow hard and nod. I don’t trust my voice right now.

It’ll be a bit of a walk, but not terrible. It’ll give her a chance to sober up from the alcohol while she’s at it too.

For a bit it’s silent, just the two of us. It’s nice, actually. I don’t like how much other people talk all the time, and how uncomfortable they are with silence, but I hate being silent with someone I don’t feel comfortable around. I’d rather just be on my own.

But with Grace, it’s not awkward. She doesn’t make me feel like I have to talk or like she’s uncomfortable with the silence. It’s nice. I haven’t been able to just exist in silence like this with someone other than my pack since… I can’t remember, really.

After a bit, though, she does speak. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“You had to come out and get me. I’m so sorry.” Grace looks small and young. It makes me want to curl around her and protect her. “I just wanted to get away. I feel so—so—so lost.”

“Being an Omega is a hell of a shift.”

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