Page 33 of The Omega Project

“My multitasking mate,” I murmur, but there’s a smile on my face as we head to the door.

We end up taking a giant stretch Hummer that would look ridiculous if it didn’t suit Creed down to his shiny size-thirteen boots. It’s almost painful watching him give up the driver’s seat to one of his security guys, but Emily’s in no state to be left right now. So, even though the SUV is as big as a tank, we all cram into the rear, with Emily and me in the middle, and Lang and Creed flanking our sides. Finn settles opposite us, his lean frame somehow dominating the empty seat.

Emily is smooshed up against my side, her body fever-hot where it presses against mine. Her hair has slipped out of its bun, and I can’t resist brushing my fingers through the red-gold curls as she hums into my shoulder. She’s wearing a silky blouse that’s as light as air, but her black trousers are made from a thick cotton, and she’s already squirming in discomfort. When she turns and pants into my neck, I can barely swallow the growl rising in my throat.

The truth is, she needs to get knotted, and preferably by more than one alpha. If like most omegas, she’d presented in herteens, she’d have all the toys and instruction to fight back the worst of the haze, but no one raised as a beta could be prepared for this. Until she gets some relief, the pain will only grow, her body driving her to find a worthy mate who will knot her and mark her with their claim. I just hope like hell my guys have laid the groundwork for a pretty hardcore conversation when the time comes.

“We’re pulling up to Derek’s place,” Lang tells her, and I can feel Emily’s sigh of relief in my bones. The haze is already upon her, and in my current state, the need to soothe her is almost overwhelming.

Which is why I give her boyfriend a huge smile as he climbs into the car.Damn, he’s a big boy.Not quite as muscled as my mate, but with the frame of a rugby player and hands and feet like shovels. He’s wearing a dark hoodie and faded jeans, and for a moment it’s like looking at a weird mash up of Creed and Finn. But then his gaze settles on Emily, and the adoration in his eyes makes his wholesome face unforgettable.

“Em. Are you okay? Come here.”

He doesn’t settle beside Finn, choosing instead to insert himself between his girlfriend and her professor. Lang takes the hint and moves down a little, but Emily makes a ragged sound of protest. “Don’t go! Can we just… squish together a bit?”

If I get any closer to Creed I’ll be wearing his tattoos, but I just give her hand a soothing squeeze. “Of course. No one is going anywhere.”

Derek quickly backs me up by scooping Em into his lap. “We’re all here, sweetheart. You can rest for a bit, okay?” She burrows into his shoulder with a relieved hum and with a dark glance at my alphas, he settles his apple green gaze on me. “Derek Summers. And you are?”

“Soren Hill,” I tell him, sticking out my hand and watching it disappear into his paw.

Despite his size, his grip is surprisingly gentle, and he looks me over carefully before giving a slight nod. “Finn said you’re working on the project with Emily.”

I’m tempted to leave it at that, but one thing I know about a heat is that all your secrets tend to come tumbling out. “I kind ofamthe project. Plus, I’m probably the reason she’s an omega right now.”

I wait for something to spark in those vibrant green eyes – confusion, anger, shock – but he just arches a brow at me. “You’re a switch?”

“I’m not sure exactly what I am,” I reply, since despite a year of tests, the jury is still out on what to call me. “But I presented as an omega at sixteen, underwent a designation manipulation process at twenty, and now I swing between heats and ruts. Quite violently, if it’s a bad day.”

I flick a glance at Finn, expecting a look of reproach for spilling my secrets, but he’s watching Derek with a laser focus. For his part, Emily’s boyfriend is staring at me with a sympathy that makes my heart beat faster. “I’m sorry you’re going through that. It sounds rough.”

“Thank you.”

I’m not sure what else to say, and my brows shoot up when he holds my gaze and murmurs, “I don’t feel very equipped to help her here. I’ve downloaded everything I can find on late-presenting omegas, but I’m guessing I’ve barely scratched the surface. What if I fuck it up?”

How adorable is it that the guy finds out his girlfriend has switched and immediately puts together a Heat 101 manual?

But the raw worry in his voice kicks my protective instincts into gear. “You won’t. What she needs right now is to be taken care of, and you’re clearly an expert at that. You just might need… a helping hand, so to speak.”

Derek’s gaze flicks to the alphas around us, slowly taking their measure. “You mean knots.”

It sounds like he’s talking about a cross between taxes and emergency dental work, and I bite back a smile. “Among other things, but yes. Knots will help ease her pain.”

His brow furrows, his arms tightening around his girlfriend, but he gives me a determined nod. “Okay, then I’ll follow your cue.”

“Mycue?” I’m pretty sure I’ve never looked so surprised. “But I just told you my history…”

He cuts me off with a shake of his head. “Are you going to hurt her?”

“Never.”

I couldn’t, I realise as I stare at Emily’s strained face. In fact, I think I’d protect her with everything in me.

“Then it sounds like you’re the best person here to tell us exactly what she needs.”

Emily

By secluded, they mean close to two hours up the coast, past where the freeway ends and the ocean curls right up to the edge of the unsealed road. It’s a vista of craggy limestone and bush scrub, punctuated with bright splashes of wattle and the fat white flowers of the grevilleas, oozing with nectar. It’s a ruggedly beautiful part of the state, but I can’t see how the distance is convenient given they all work in the city.

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