Page 33 of Taming The Omega

“Don’t worry about it,” the alpha mate called over. “We only have two looms anyway, and your keeping the pups occupied is a big help. Especially with Joey on lock-down for the foreseeable future.”

Guilt pricked at Seth. “That’s my fault. If those shifters hadn’t come looking for me…” There would have been no reason for Joey’s mate to worry, no restitution paid on Seth’s behalf, no need for him to mate Caleb…Stop obsessing about it. It’s done!

“You are not to feel responsible. This is all on Joey. He knew better than to go wandering that far from his cabin and the longhouse so soon after whelping. There is nothing on this planet as touchy as a new sire. He’s lucky Liam hasn’t chained him to a wall. Ouch!”

Seth looked over as Kyle disengaged his daughter from his nipple. He hadn’t seen many male omegas in his life and none nursing up close. It was weird how although Kyle’s nipples were large from feeding his pup, his pecs were barely swollen. They looked nothing like female breasts, and yet managed to produce plenty of milk. Just another part of male omegas’ strange anatomy. Soon, his body would be doing the same thing. Thinking of it sent a shivery tingles to his own flat chest.

“Is she ever going to stop biting me?” Kyle asked, gingerly switching sides.

Mabel shook her head without looking up from her loom. “Not so far in my experience.”

“Not in mine, either,” Will chimed in. “But be happy you can still nurse her. It keeps your next heat at bay.”

With a grimace, Kyle said, “That’s why I try not to complain too much. A few teeth marks is a fair trade.”

Seth grabbed another tumbling block and handed it to the nearest twin. “Don’t you want to have another pup?” He winced as soon as the question left his mouth, worried he’d overstepped his bounds.

The alpha mate looked up at him without any sign of displeasure. “Sure, just not too soon. Lorcan and I agreed to try to space the pups out by a couple of years at least. Having too many pups in a short period of time can be really hard on the father. I want to stay healthy, and of course Lorcan wants that as well.”

That made a lot of sense. He’d seen a number of females worn out from whelping repeatedly in only a few years. “I hope Caleb will allow me to do the same,” he ventured.

Mabel stilled her hands and frowned over at him. “There’s no allowing. You tell him that’s the way it’s going to be. It’s your body, so it’s your decision.” With a firm nod, she returned to her work.

“She’s right,” Will agreed, and Kyle echoed him. “You’ve got nothing to worry about anyway with Caleb. I’ve known him my whole life, and he was always an honorable guy.” The omega’s mouth formed a hard line. “He was the only one to refuse when my old alpha passed me around during my first heat. He’ll be good to you.”

Seth turned his attention back to the twins and their blocks. “But, he’s my mate,” he said after a few seconds. “He has control over my life now.” And that meant the gamma could mount and breed him whenever he liked.

“To a point.” This from Kyle and given his status as alpha mate, his words held more weight. “This is a different kind of pack, remember? If Caleb does anything worrisome, you need to come to me. I’ll intercede with Lorcan.”

Seth smiled at the boy and hunched his shoulders at the same time Annie decided to use them as a climbing rock. She tumbled at the unexpected movement. He caught her before she hit the play mat and sitting up, he held her in front of him.

“Oh, are you all right sweetie?” In the blink of an eye, the furry pup in his hands turned into a giggling human toddler.

“’Gain!” She screeched.

Seth darted his eyes over to Will, giving him a helpless look. “What?”

Will grinned. “She thinks you’re playing a game and wants you to do it again.” He started to rise. “I’ll take her and put some clothes on her. She’s about due for a nap.” As if hearing her father’s words, the little girl gave a big yawn.

The sight of her adorable face tugged at Seth. “It’s okay, I’ll do it. Where are her things?”

Sitting back, Will shrugged. “Okay fine. Thanks, and over in that cubby by the corner.”

Still holding the wiggling Annie, Seth knee-walked to the place Will had pointed, and pulled out a simple dress. It wasn’t easy, but eventually he managed to dress the girl and bring her back to the play mat. Then he lay down with her and tried to engage her in the block-playing. Her father had been right, though. She dropped off to sleep pretty quickly.

He grabbed a nearby baby blanket and draped it over her bare legs before lying down on his stomach again and watching her. She was so sweet and happy, her little bow lips smacking until her thumb found its way in. An odd shudder ran through him as he considered that soon he would be growing a pup of his own. It seemed impossible, and yet also all too real.

Now that his future as a father was set, he could admit, if only to himself, that he really did want to have pups. It had only been his fear of the kind of life he and they would be subjected to in his old pack that had led him to run. That kind of cruelty was something he never wanted for his own offspring.

The Rogue Pack was different, however. Even his fearful eye could see that. He and they would be safe here so long as Caleb proved to be a good mate and sire. From everything he knew about the gamma, there was really no reason for him to doubt that. Except Caleb didn’t want to be mated and didn’t want to sire pups. Circumstances had driven him to offer for Seth. That was also the plain truth of the matter. There was no question that he’d do his duty by Seth and their pups. He’d give them a home and protection and make sure they never went hungry. Too bad he wouldn’t be able to give them his heart. Seth knew better than to wish for that. It was greedy to even think about getting it. He would take what the gamma could give and be grateful.

In light of what he knew, his immature behavior that morning had been shameful. He needed to apologize to his mate as soon as he saw him.

****

“Hey, Seth, time to wake up.”

Seth’s eyelids flew open, and he lay blinking up at the ceiling of the weaving shed, momentarily confused. “Oh, I fell asleep? That’s weird.”

---