Page 13 of Taming The Omega

Since he’d run from his own pack, he’d always simply gone where his nose took him. He had no plan for the rest of his life and at this point, given what he’d been through, he couldn’t see anything to look forward to. For the first time, he forced himself to accept that his life was on a fast track to a miserable end. Caleb had been right—omegas weren’t meant to live on their own.

What choice did he have, though? As much care as Caleb had taken with him, he hadn’t specifically offered him up any kind of future beyond the confines of their little cave. And, if the gamma offered him more, did he really want it? Fear of living a life as the mate of a dominant shifter was what had led him to run in the first place. He’d seen how well that had worked out for his dam and other lower-level pack members. He didn’t think he could survive that kind of life, either.

“There you are.”

The sound of the gamma’s voice startled him. He turned away from the tree he’d been leaning against and watched the cheerful gamma find a spot for his own morning ritual. Gods, that big dick was half-erect, too, although whether that was from a full bladder or something else, he didn’t know. Looking away, he told himself he didn’t care.

“How are you feeling?” Having finished, Caleb stood looking over at Seth expectantly. Feeling shy, he merely shrugged. “Let’s go back in and have breakfast. We need to talk.”

Hearing that pronouncement bothered Seth enough that for a second he considered bolting. That would be stupid, of course. The gamma wouldn’t let him go until he was damn good and ready. Maybe this was when he told Seth the price for helping him. Because there had to be something he expected in return. Seth knew no shifter that didn’t put a price on everything.

He trudged back to the cave, vividly aware of the warmth of the gamma as he passed him. Once they were seated inside, Caleb pulled out the last of the granola, peanut butter and bread from his bag. He portioned it out, giving Seth the biggest amount, before opening up the last bottle of water.

With most of his pain gone, Seth felt ravenous and hastily ate all that was put in front of him. When Caleb urged him to, he drank down most of the water, as well.

The gamma nodded in encouragement. “Good to see your appetite is back in full swing. You need fattening.”

Seth had nothing to say to that, so he focused on the label on the bottle, picking at it with his thumb.

“Do you think you can shift? Because we’ve run out of food, and well, it will be easier if we go back in wolf form. You know, faster. Plus shifting will help with your wounds even more than the, um, lapping did.”

Given the gamma’s pale skin, his blush was easy to see. The fact that the gamma was embarrassed by what they’d shared the night before surprised Seth. He would have sworn he was the only one to be unnerved by it. Then the meaning of the guy’s words hit him.

Seth flicked his gaze up to somewhere around Caleb’s chin. “Go back?”

A bit of throat-clearing preceded the answer. “Yeah, back to the compound for my pack. I think it’s for the best,” he quickly added before Seth could respond.

“For whom?” The impertinent question popped out. He instinctively flinched, expecting a blow for it.

The gamma placed his hand on Seth’s knee. “For you. You need more rest and food and a check-up by a proper healer. And, like I keep saying, an omega shouldn’t be out on his own. Someone needs to figure out where you should go from here. Someone smarter than me, that’s for sure.”

“You’ve been plenty smart enough so far,” he muttered without thinking, and again was surprised when no blow came.

“Yeah, well…” Caleb sighed. “I really think it’s a good idea for you to come with me, and that’s the last idea, smart or not, that I’m going to have on this subject.”

Seth dared to look up at him from under his lashes. “What if I don’t want to?”

As he stared back at the omega, Caleb felt conflicted. On the one hand, he was annoyed that the boy was giving him trouble about returning to the compound. On the other hand, he was proud that Seth mustered the courage to defy him. Not that he should be encouraging a lower-ranked shifter to do such a thing. Their species had survived for hundreds of thousands of years without the upright apes learning of their existence in part through strict hierarchy. When your very survival depended on quick actions, decisions couldn’t be made in a committee. Maybe someday they’d live a more egalitarian life, but not yet, not while they hid in plain sight of humans.

Although he hated throwing his literal and figurative weight around, this was a situation that called for it. Seth’s life hung in the balance. They couldn’t simply go their separate ways. He’d worry that the omega wouldn’t last much longer out on his own. This was a problem that Lorcan and his betas needed to sort out. And, although part of him kind of hoped Seth would join the Rogue Pack, another part of him was scared to death of the idea. In the short time they’d spent together, he’d grown way too fond of the boy. That jerk-off session the previous night had led to Caleb’s dick making all kinds of plans—ones where it got to claim that possibly virgin ass.

He needed to shut that train of thought down. This wasn’t about him. Seth’s welfare was all that mattered. Which meant he couldn’t be allowed to make his own decisions. Like it or not, Caleb needed to take charge.

With a sigh, he said, “I’m sorry, Seth. This isn’t up for discussion. I’m not letting you go off on your own.” He got up and started packing what little there was into the bag. “I’ll leave this stuff here and come back for it later. I don’t want to have to worry about carrying it in shifter form. It’s awkward.”

It would also make him slower and possibly harder for him to chase after Seth if he decided to take off. He didn’t say that, but he could tell by Seth’s expression he didn’t have to. The omega had reasoned it out on his own.

Caleb tossed the bag down. “Look, I’m sorry. I only want what’s best for you. I promise my alpha, Lorcan, is a great guy.”

Seth glared up at him. “Except he won’t allow me to make my own decisions.”

“I didn’t say that. I don’t even know that. What I do know is that-”

“Omegas aren’t supposed to be on their own.” Seth bit his lower lip, making him look both stubborn and adorable.

Knowing that this conversation was going nowhere, Caleb hardened his heart and reached down to grab Seth by his shoulders. The omega squeaked in alarm as Caleb pulled him to a standing position.

“Come on, now. You know I’m not going to hurt you.” In case his words didn’t do the trick, he pulled the boy into a quick embrace. Gods, he was so short, Caleb had no trouble pressing a quick kiss on the top of his head.

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