Page 16 of Taming The Omega

She leaned over to speak directly to Seth. “You need to eat, dear, and get lots of rest. All right? Understand?”

“Yes, ma’am,” came Seth’s muffled reply from behind his knees.

“Good.” With a brisk nod at Caleb, the healer left the shed.

Will came waddling in right after her. He carried a big wicker basket, chock full of goodies, on one arm and a short pile of clothing on the other. “Hi, Caleb.”

“Hi, Will.” He immediately plucked the container out of the pregnant omega’s arms. “Here, you shouldn’t be carrying that.”

With a laugh, Will gave him a brief hug. “Don’t be silly. I’m not helpless.” He patted his rounded belly. “This isn’t big enough to get in my way yet.” Turning his attention to Seth, who peeked out from over his kneecaps, the boy said, “Hi, there. I’m Will.”

Seth stared at the too-cheerful and obviously pregnant omega with instant suspicion. Who was he exactly, other than someone that Caleb obviously knew well and fondly? A nasty feeling came over him, one uncomfortably like territoriality. His heartbeat ticked up and his lungs strained. This omega was intruding on Seth’s space, except that the shed didn’t belong to him, so that made no sense. There was something more to his reaction, although he couldn’t put his finger on what. He tracked the way the omega’s body brushed up against Caleb, and before he could help it, he growled. The other omega backed away immediately, a hand protectively on his baby bump.

“Hey, now! None of that.” Caleb put himself between Seth and the boy. Then he snapped his fingers. “Be quiet.”

Seth’s growl cut off abruptly, his vocal chords obeying the command before his brain even processed it. Sheepishly, he blinked up at the gamma.

“Will is an old friend of mine. He’s also the mate of one of the pack’s betas. I know you may be scared and still hurting some, but not so much now that you can be excused for that kind of aggression. You show Will the proper respect. And, remember you’re here on the alpha’s sufferance. If he thinks you’re a danger to any of the pack members, you’d be lucky if he only kicked you out. Understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Apologize.” Caleb stepped aside so that Seth could see Will clearly, although the gamma didn’t move away.

“I’m sorry,” he choked out because he was and didn’t know why he’d acted so stupidly. All the omega had done was bring him food.

And he’d been too familiar with Caleb.

The stray thought didn’t help him any. If anything it added to his sudden misery. He had no claim on Caleb. Yet the knowledge that this omega, Will, belonged to another shifter eased the unexpected tension in his chest. Which didn’t make him feel that much better overall. It only served to shift the discomfort up to his head and confuse him even more. It shouldn’t matter to him whose pup Will carried, but it did.

Will gave him a tentative smile, which was a surprise. A beta’s mate was high up in the pack hierarchy compared to an unmated omega. He didn’t owe Seth any favors. In fact, Seth would be lucky if this boy didn’t complain to his mate. The beta could tear Seth to pieces for showing such aggression. Not even Caleb would be able to intervene, either.

“It’s okay, Seth,” the omega said in a soft voice. “I’m kind of new to the pack, as well, and I know how scary it can be. I brought you some clothes that I hope will fit.” He placed them on the edge of the pallet, careful to stay out of Seth’s reach.

Seeing that caution caused Seth to feel ashamed. “Thank you.” He sniffed and ran the heel of his hand across his face. “I’m really sorry I acted that way. I wouldn’t have hurt you or your pup. I’m just out of sorts I guess.”

Will gave him another smile. “No surprise given that you’ve been injured and trying to settle in an unfamiliar place.” He patted his belly. “I’m extra skittish because I’m breeding. You know how that is.” He paused and licked his lower lip. “Or, maybe you don’t,” he added with an awkward shrug.

“No, I’ve never been bred.”

He lowered his gaze and rested his cheek on his knees. That was probably going to change soon, though. If he was kept by the Rogue Pack, he’d go into heat eventually. From what he’d seen of Lorcan, the alpha was very powerful and virile. Seth would bet the guy sent pack members into heat easily, and if it happened to him before he left, someone would claim him.

Caleb.

No. He put that thought aside. He didn’t want to be bred by anyone, not even Caleb. No matter how cheerful Will appeared, bearing pups was a painful process—from the mounting to the delivery. And, sometimes shifters died during whelping, especially small omegas like himself. Better to live alone than to become the property of some big, domineering beta or gamma who’d use him without a care and easily replace him without a second thought if he died.

Caleb wouldn’t be like that.

He put that thought aside, too. He couldn’t afford to waver in his decision made long ago to live on his own, by terms he set for himself and not the dictates of others. He would take what Caleb and the Rogue Pack offered in the way of help and sanctuary in order to heal. Then, one way or another, he’d find the opportunity and strength to run again before it was too late.

Resolved, he reached over to pick up the clothing Will had brought. The short stack contained a couple of T-shirts and two pairs of jeans. He smiled as brightly as he could manage at the omega. “Thanks, Will. I haven’t worn clothes in so long. I can’t wait.”

“You’re welcome.” The omega gestured toward the basket Caleb still held. “Andrea said you need lots of well-balanced food. I didn’t know what you liked, so I put a little of everything I could get my hands on. Put it down, Caleb. I bet Seth’s starving after his journey.”

“Right.” The gamma didn’t so much put the basket down, as sit himself onto the pallet next to Seth. As usual, the large body gave off a comforting warmth.

Seth wanted to snuggle up against him, but resisted. Rather, he sat quietly and intently as the guy pulled out first a large square of cloth that he lay onto the pallet like a kind of placemat. Then came some sandwiches that looked and smelled like ham and chicken salad, pieces of cheese and cut up vegetables, and…”

“Cookies!” He reached for one of the treats only to have Caleb grab him by the wrist.

---