Page 42 of Taming The Omega

He had no idea who they were exactly or where they’d come from. They stayed in wolf form and so did he. There was no point in trying to talk to them for recruitment until he’d managed to build trust. That would take time. Hopefully in a few weeks, they would be comfortable enough with him that he could get them to shift into humans. Then they could explore the possibility of their coming back with him. His instincts told him they were decent shifters, good candidates for the Rogue Pack, but he couldn’t act precipitously any more than they could. He had a lot more vulnerable pups to protect.

An anguished cry startled him out of his post-feeding stupor. He raised his head in alarm and looked around. None of the others acted as if they’d heard it. Instead, they eyed him suspiciously. The cry repeated, this time accompanied by a painful whimper. That’s when he realized it was in his head.

Seth!

His mate was in trouble. He lunged to his feet, panic causing his paws to scramble on the pine needle bed. The ferals copied him, instantly alert to danger, yet obviously confused about what was causing Caleb to act so. He didn’t know, either, not precisely. He was amazed that he could hear his mate with so much distance between them, but those few sounds weren’t enough to tell him exactly what was happening to the boy. Yet, there was only one thing to be done.

He shifted with such speed that it made him stagger. Standing more firmly on his human legs, he looked the beta in the eye.

“We need to talk.”

Chapter Sixteen

“The day is beautiful. You’ll have a nice relaxing time out here.” Joey led the procession to the front porch, fluffing pillows and spreading a thick comforter on top of the long outdoor couch.

“You could use the fresh air. Andrea said so. Careful, Lorcan.” Kyle hovered next to his mate, who carried Seth in his strong alpha arms as if Seth were a pup or something.

He wasn’t complaining, didn’t murmur a syllable of dissent. After spending a couple of days in Andrea’s room, then a few more on his own pallet in the communal male bedroom, followed by a whole day on the great room couch, he was delighted to be allowed outside. The fact that he wasn’t allowed to walk there under his own power or do anything more than lie down and be waited on irked, but only a little.

He was still pregnant, and the bleeding had stopped. Andrea had assured him that these were all good signs. A little spotting early in the breeding wasn’t that unusual, especially for the first pregnancy. Miscarriages happened quickly if they were going to happen at all. Joey had confirmed that by quietly telling about his own experience. The guy had spent a lot of time with Seth, keeping him occupied and sane.

The company was particularly welcome given that Seth’s wolf had gone into hiding from the fright over the possible loss of the pup. The poor thing cowered in the back of Seth’s mind still, although Joey’s allowing Seth to hold Little Craig had helped draw the wolf out a little. Cuddling that adorable pup had worked wonders for them both actually. And the scare had solidified Seth’s feelings.

He wanted this pup. And he wanted Caleb, too, although he wouldn’t allow himself to dwell on his mate. Instead, he wallowed in the pleasure of having friends who cared for him. The crisis had proven that he had become a welcome member of the Rogue Pack. The omegas in particular had formed a tight group. Even now, they all crowded around him, offering him a cool drink and a bowl of fruit to snack on.

Mabel had told him that this was how it was supposed to be when he’d shyly thanked her for something. Omegas were a special type of shifter, males even more so. Unlike sigmas who might have one or two pups in their lifetime, if that, omegas produced litters that kept their numbers strong. But that very fecundity made them vulnerable, and they needed help from the rest of the pack, especially the lower-ranked members.

Not all packs saw it that way, of course, and the Rogue’s were different regardless. They were small in number, so everyone pitched in where they could, rank be damned. Lorcan set the tone, naturally. Even in his short time with the pack, Seth had seen how the alpha deemed no task beneath his dignity. That included, mortifyingly, the alpha laying him down as if he were the most precious thing in the world.

“Are you sure you’re comfortable?” Will peered down at him with a concerned expression.

“I’m fine, really. Thank you. All of you,” he added, careful to look each shifter in the eye. He would have done the same with Lorcan, except the alpha had already left him to the others.

Mabel perched on the end of the couch. “One of us will stay with you at all times in case you need something. I get first watch,” she added with a bright smile.

“Thanks, but you don’t have to do that.” He didn’t like keeping any of them from their chores or time with their pups. “I’m fine. Really.”

“Of course you are,” Joey said. “Alpha’s orders. We take care of you until Andrea says you’re okay to be up and moving around.”

“We’re only doing what your mate would if he were here,” Kyle added with a slight grimace.

Just the mention of Caleb caused his mood to drop. Going through the miscarriage scare had been ten times worse because Caleb hadn’t been there to comfort him. But, he refused to feel sorry for himself. His mate had more important things to do than play nursemaid. And he’d be back as soon as he could. Where they’d go from there was obvious, as well. They’d have their own house in a month or so, the pup would be born sometime during winter, and they’d muddle through their lives together as best they could. Seth would nurse his love for Caleb deep in his heart and never let it show. It wouldn’t be fair to put pressure on his mate to manufacture feelings that he didn’t have. Seth already had it better than many omegas. He knew that and he wouldn’t ask for more.

Before the gang could disperse, a warning cry came barreling out of the woods. Everyone froze for a second before jumping into action.

Kyle started issuing orders. “Into the great room, now. I’ll find Lorcan so he can get Seth.”

“No.” Seth had already swung his feet over the side of the couch. “I can walk.” He wasn’t going to risk his pup if an attack was imminent.

He didn’t have to. Lorcan and Craig came running up the porch steps. The alpha grabbed his mate to shove him inside, while the gamma scooped up Seth in arms nearly as strong as the alpha’s.

“I’ve got you, no worries.”

The gamma didn’t manage to take more than a few steps before a familiar red wolf came bounding out of the woods and headed straight toward them. Seth gasped and his mind worked to process what his eyes were seeing. Caleb was back! Seth’s wolf sprang up and yipped with unbridled excitement. A deep howl reverberated in Seth’s mind in returned greeting.

His mate shifted into human form before he took the first step of the stairs. He skidded to a stop with breath heaving right in front of Craig. Then he bared his teeth.

“No offense, Craig, but if you don’t hand my mate over right now, I’m going to rip your fucking head off.”

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