Page 15 of Omega's Breed

“So, that leaves us with Caleb and Finn. Now, I know you’re already familiar with Caleb, but Finn has stepped up. He’s volunteered in strong terms to be your mate. Hopefully, that’s okay with you. If not? Well, the choice is yours. If you want Caleb, then that’s who you get.”

Will could hardly believe what he was hearing. The alpha was giving him a choice of mates, and that choice included Finn. He pictured the large beta with the hard expression, yet amazing kindness for both Will and Annie. He could even smell the beta’s scent that he’d lain wrapped in every night when he’d put on the male’s shirt. The large, hot body had kept him warm at night without preying on him even though Finn could have done so easily.

And being a beta, he was in a high position within the pack. The alpha obviously trusted him or he wouldn’t have sent him out to other packs looking for a gamma. To have such a powerful mate would mean Annie and their future pups would be provided for and protected. Wasn’t that the most important thing?

The thought of being mounted again by anyone made his skin crawl and his stomach turn. But, his omega nature wouldn’t be denied. There was no way to avoid going into heat. It might be easier if Caleb claimed him because he was familiar to Will, and he knew the gamma was a good guy, a known quantity. That might make things better for Will, except his needs and wants weren’t the only thing. Or, even the most important thing. Annie and his future pups mattered more. If he had to have a mate, he may as well have the best possible one for them purely on a pragmatic basis.

“It’s hard, sir,” he admitted in a quiet voice. “I’ve never had to make such an important decision before.”

The alpha placed his hand lightly on Will’s shoulder. Amazingly, the touch steadied him. “You don’t have to decide right now. We have some time, although there’s no way to tell how much, and this isn’t something to decide in the throes of your heat.”

Will nodded. “I understand.” Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to meet the alpha’s gaze. “And, I’m not sure time will help me decide anyway.” With a fluttering in his stomach, he made up his mind. “I accept the beta’s offer. I’ll mate with Finn.”

Gods, he hoped he was making the right choice because once his heat began, there would be no going back.

Chapter Six

“What do you think?”

Will looked around the room wide-eyed. It was twice the size of what he’d expected. “This whole thing is for me and Annie?” Surely there was a mistake. There had to be someone else sharing the space.

Finn shuffled his feet, far more subdued that Will had come to expect from him. “Well, I’ll be moving in once your heat hits.” He cleared his throat. “I’ll get started right away, though, on our own house. Like Craig and Mabel, who used to share this room, we’re going to have a growing family. We’ll need a place of our own. It won’t be anything fancy,” he added, his gaze fixed on the top of his scuffed boots.

“I don’t care,” Will blurted out because the knowledge that they’d actually have a separate house for themselves was even more unbelievable. “It’s all so wonderful. Thank you.”

Annie wiggled in his arms. She’d gotten over her mad about being woken up, and now clearly wanted to be put down to explore. The floor was bare, but polished smooth, so he put her on all fours and let her crawl around. She immediately headed for a row of cubbies in one corner. They contained the armful of clothing Finn had scrounged up from the communal stock of pup stuff. She wouldn’t be dependent on her father’s dubious sewing skills all the time. There were some things there, too, for him. The idea that the other pack members had donated items for him to wear both warmed his heart and embarrassed him. He didn’t like being a burden on anyone.

Speaking of which.

“You don’t have to mate me if you don’t want to.”

Finn looked up and frowned. “I know I don’t. I insisted.”

Curiosity made him bold. “Why? I mean, you’re a beta who could have anyone. I’m only a toss-away omega with an unclaimed pup.”

Finn’s frown increased. “Don’t say that about yourself. Magnus and your old pack may not have valued you the way they should have, but you’re a sweet boy, and Annie is a precious pup. You should have had a proper mating and she a proper sire.”

The beta paced away suddenly and the tension showed in the set of his wide shoulders. “I want you.” Turning, he added, “My wolf wants you.”

Hearing those words in particular gave him a funny feeling low in his belly. Only one other had ever stated a desire for him, and that declaration had made him sick and fearful. So much so that his poor wolf cowered deep inside him, afraid to come out, afraid to want anything or anyone.

“Will?” Finn had approached him silently and now stood only a foot away. The beta reached over and gently lay his hand on Will’s cheek. The large palm felt warm against his skin. “Are you okay with mating? I don’t want you to regret tying yourself to one guy, and someone you barely know at that.”

He knew what Magnus had told Finn, that Will had wanted the parade of males mounting him. Perhaps the beta believed those tales. He needed to dispel them. “I want to take a mate, and I know you well enough to believe you’ll be good to me. And, Annie.”

“You can count on that. On me. Always.” The fierceness of his tone and expression convinced Will of the beta’s sincerity.

He suddenly didn’t want to wait. Stepping into the touch, he said, “Please, can we do it now?” The idea of experiencing another heat was frightening enough. Add in being mated, and it made him queasy to think of it. “I don’t want to wait until I’m mindless.” He licked his lips and gazed up at Finn with a pleading expression.

Finn gazed into the omega’s moistening eyes, hating to see the fear there. And, it was fear, too, not some overwhelming desire making him anxious to mate with Finn. His protective instincts rose instantly. All he wanted to do was wipe that look off the boy’s face.

He smiled encouragingly. “It’s okay. Everything’s going to be fine. I promise.” He swallowed hard, quelling his own sudden disquiet.

It was imperative that he got this mating thing right—again. He’d done it once already and knew what to do. Even though Will had whelped Annie, for all intents and purposes, the omega was like a virgin. His first experience at being mounted sounded like a nightmare for a too-young shifter. If nothing else, Will deserved respect and patience.

“We won’t wait until your heat, if that’s what you want. But,” he added with a soft chuckle. “We’re not going to do it right now, right here. For one thing, Annie just buried herself in clothing.”

Will blinked. “What?” Looking over his shoulder, he sighed. “Annie!”

---