Page 90 of Claiming Their Omega

“Surprised to see you here!” Maybelle smiles, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “What with you being such a city girl and all. I would’ve thought you’d feel all this was… beneath you.”

“Not at all. I was excited to be here.” I plaster a smile on my face.

“Hmm. It has been a while. Are you sure you’re not anxious to get back home, to the city? I’m sure we all would’ve bored you by now.”

“No, I’m really enjoying my time here, actually.” I get what she’s trying to say—that I’m a snob who thinks all this isn’t good enough for me. “I hope you’re having fun today.”

“Oh, I’m sure I will. It’ll be nice to enjoy this with people who understand the culture and aren’t just… you know… tourists.”

“Grace grew up around here, you know, she’s the farthest thing from a tourist.”

I jump in surprise and turn to see Jesse standing behind me. He’s got a calm look on his face, but I know Jesse’s moods well enough by now to see the spark in his eyes. He’s not happy.

Maybelle smiles like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. “Jesse! It’s so good to see you. I feel like none of us have gotten to see you around since you started courting.”

It’s a subtle dig at me—implying that I’m this terrible Omega keeping the four beloved Alphas away from everyone else—and I don’t actually think that Jesse will notice. Nobody noticed when Maybelle bullied me while we were growing up, after all.

But instead, Jesse cocks an eyebrow. The thing is, I haven’t seen Jesse truly angry before. But I know what he’s like when he’s teasing me, or even just irritated with me, and I guess I didn’t realize just how much softness he has for me until now, when I see him look at someone else with that softness completely missing.

“Honestly, it’s my fault entirely,” Jesse says with a grin. I don’t know if Maybelle can see the sharp edges of it, like a wolf baring its teeth, but I sure do. My stomach gives an odd little thrill. “We’ve been selfish, keeping Grace to ourselves.”

He looks at me, his gaze scorching, leaving no room to guess exactly what he means. I swallow hard, a thousand intimate moments flashing through my mind. It feels like he’s undressing me with his eyes.

Jesse looks back at Maybelle. “I had no idea you missed seeing her, but I should’ve known. I bet everyone missed Grace while she was out of town. I know my pack did.”

Maybelle looks like she might say something, but then I feel warm, broad hands land on my shoulders and a familiar, comforting scent envelops me. “Hey, got my food before you guys did.”

Easton kisses me on the cheek and pinches off a piece of cotton candy, holding it to my lips while he’s still draped over me. “Want some?” he murmurs in my ear.

I take the cotton candy, trying to be PG about it, but that’s almost impossible to do with cotton candy seeing how it dissolves on your tongue almost immediately. I end up sucking Easton’s fingers into my mouth a little, my heart hammering in my ears and my skin prickling with heat.

Easton chuckles and kisses my temple, openly affectionate in that caretaker way of his. It’s sexy, but also protective. Easton’s a bit more private than Jesse or Hendrix, although not as much as Cade. I don’t think he’d be going quite this hard if he wasn’t trying to protect me from Maybelle.

My heart swells with surprise and gratitude. I lean back into his chest and let him feed me more cotton candy, smiling up at him and sucking on his fingers, uncaring if other people in line think we’re being a bit gross.

Cade walks up, holding a tray of hot dogs and drinks for all of us. His brows rise a little when he sees Easton and Jesse and how they’re behaving. I make eye contact with him and shrug.

Maybelle shrugs at Jesse, apparently not ready to back down so easily. “Well, I just think it’s odd. I wondered if maybe you didn’t want to be seen in public.”

“Oh, we don’t want to be seen in public,” Easton teases. Cade smirks, amused in his own gruff way.

“I get it,” Jesse says, nodding like he’s just figured something out. “Your Alphas barely pay attention to you so you don’t realize what a healthy Alpha-Omega pack is supposed to look like.”

I can feel my eyes go wide with shock as I stare at Jesse, not sure I heard him correctly. The idea of Maybelle, of all people, not getting Alphas to pay attention to her is kind of shocking to me. I always knew she was rude and hurtful, but I thought everyone else bought into her elegant and graceful attitude. I was sure she’d have an Alpha pack that would like the same things she does and think she walks on air, like everyone did when we were in school together.

I guess not. I can’t help but feel a little bad for her, especially given how my Alphas treat me, and it’s not even a real courtship.

Or at least. It wasn’t real. Now… now I don’t know. The line feels so blurred. I mean, Hendrix got a tattoo… it could just be he agrees daisies mean luck and he wanted something more permanent like he said. I shouldn’t get my hopes up too much. Easton’s just being playful and sexy with me as a way to get back at Maybelle, because I know Easton’s kind heart would never abide a bully.

Or, maybe these are all just rationalizations I’m giving myself and there is something changing. Maybe this really is serious.

I don’t know which possibility scares me more.

Maybelle flushes with embarrassment. “I… well…”

“Alphas are supposed to worship their Omegas,” Jesse points out. “Adore them. I’m so sorry that’s not happening for you, but luckily, we’re happy to do that for Grace.”

“She deserves it,” Cade adds gruffly, to my shock.

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