Page 26 of Taming The Omega

“I’m fine.”

Seth raised his head. “Kyle was listening at the kitchen window and said that Lorcan paid off that other pack.”

“Well, yeah. You know—restitution. Our ways are changing. We shifters don’t have to settle all of our fights with blood. Sometimes blankets and carrots do the trick.” He tried to give the omega a reassuring grin.

Seth wasn’t having any of it. Pulling away, he said, “It’s because of me. I wandered into their territory and they figured the Rogue Pack was responsible for what I did. But, it’s not. I trespassed on your pack lands, too.”

“It doesn’t matter. Lorcan’s not like Haldon.” He reached for the boy, trying to offer comfort, but Seth danced away from him.

And over to the alpha.

“Excuse me, sir.” Although clearly nervous, Seth stood straight and looked Lorcan in the eye.

Over the top of his pup’s head, the alpha stared back at Seth, his expression one of polite attention. “What is it, Omega?”

The boy’s hard swallow was visible. “I want to thank you for what you did. I know that you paid dearly for my mistake.”

“Taking care of an omega is my duty, although I appreciate your gratitude. Haldon’s guard should never have attacked you no matter what the perceived provocation. And he used it as an excuse to get things they are too lazy or indifferent to create themselves. It’s done, though, so no need to dwell on it.”

Seth licked his lips. “Yes, sir, except I want you to know that I will make it up to you. To the pack. I’ll work off the value of the goods you lost.”

“When Andrea clears you for work, my mate will assign you tasks. Everyone in the pack is expected to do their fair bit for the greater good, naturally.” The subtle shift in the way the alpha characterized Seth’s future work for the pack was not lost on Caleb.

Lorcan shared a look with his mate, who leaned into him, while giving Seth a reassuring smile. “Of course. We’ll find a good fit for you. There’s lots to do.”

Seth inclined his head. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Lorcan shot Caleb a pointed look over the omega’s head before leaving with his mate in tow.

Understanding that his job now was to bring Seth fully into the pack, he loped over and took the boy by the waist. “Come on, let’s grab some breakfast from the kitchen and go back to the shed. It’s been an exciting way to start the day, and I’m famished.”

The omega didn’t resist being tugged away. He stood quietly by, as well, while a helpful sigma took time from her normal breakfast chores to fill a basket with a simple, cold meal. With the food on one arm and Seth on the other, Caleb walked back to a place that had already become like a small, cozy home.

“Here we go.” Letting the omega go, he set up the meal. “Come on, you need to eat,” he urged when Seth stood by the door.

The boy didn’t argue. He slowly joined him, folding his thin legs gracefully into a pretzel and taking the bread and cheese Caleb offered. They ate in silence until they’d consumed almost every morsel. Caleb used his chewing time as a chance to come up with a way to say what he needed to.

Surprisingly, Seth beat him to it. “I’m part of the pack now, aren’t I?”

Caleb took a long swallow of water to buy himself a small reprieve. “What makes you say that?” Shit, such a cowardly way to address the issue.

“The alpha paid a lot to make my problem go away. It’s going to take me a long time to repay that.”

Guilt compelled him to say, “Lorcan doesn’t see it as a debt. You’re not obligated to ‘repay’ the pack.”

“Maybe so, but I’m not so feral or dishonorable that I’d let this pack suffer in any way because of me.” He lifted weepy eyes to Caleb. “I have to work to make up for the value of what was paid out because of my actions.”

The sight of the boy’s distress stabbed Caleb right in the heart. He reached out. “Oh, sweetheart, don’t cry.”

Pulling back, Seth held out his hands. “No, please don’t touch me. Sometimes when you do, I forget my own name, and I want to get this out.”

“Okay.” Caleb settled back down, both pleased and alarmed at the confession of his effect on the omega.

“I have to stay. It’s the only right thing to do. That means sooner or later, I’m going to go into heat.”

Caleb sighed. “Oh, Seth. I’m sorry. I know that frightens you.”

The omega nodded. “Yeah, it does. So does giving up my freedom to live in the security of a pack. But, I was talking to Joey before the intruders showed up. He seems so happy to be a part of this one. He had the same experience I did out on his own. You said it yourself—omegas aren’t made to be alone.

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