Page 74 of Knot the Alphas' Feral Omega

Alphas were protectors and leaders, yes, but they were also caregivers above all else. Society commonly accepted that omegas were the ones who did the caregiving for the pack, but alphas were intended to be the providers. We were meant to make things easier for the rest of the pack, including theomegas, and support them in their roles as emotional caregivers, mothers, and lovers.

I had massively failed in that endeavor, but that didn’t mean things were over between us. It just meant I would have to work much harder to prove to her that I was a changed man—and a changed leader.

The two of us ate silently for a while, and then Lilah looked up at me from underneath her eyelashes, smiling shyly. “So, tell me about yourself.”

I cocked my head to the side, setting my fork down and smiling at her. “What would you like to know?”

She shrugged one shoulder, forking another bunch of eggs and sausage into her mouth and chewing. “Anything. Let me get to know you this time.”

Her voice was surprisingly vulnerable, and I felt another stab of guilt inside me. I clasped my hands together in front of me, blowing out a breath.

“Okay, well, I was raised here. I have four siblings—three sisters and a brother—and my parents’ pack has two alphas, a beta, and my mother, who is their omega.”

Lilah’s eyes widened slightly, and she let out a low whistle. “Big family.”

I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips at the thought of them. “We don’t talk that often, and we aren’t a super close family, but I love them. My sisters are all betas, and they’re all staunchly anti-pack, independent women.”

I chuckled a little bit, and then continued, “My brother is an alpha, and he has a pack of his own with his best friend, who’s a Beta, and their own omega, who they met in college. They registered to court with the state as soon as they were allowed to, and then they bonded a couple of months ago in this big ceremony.” I paused, and then finished, “About a month before we met you, actually.”

Lilah nodded again, her expression thoughtful as she picked up the glass of orange juice I had set out for her and taking a sip. “Did you always want to be the Prime Alpha of your own pack?”

I shook my head. “Emmett and Killian foisted that on me.” I chuckled softly. “We met in college, and the three of us knew we would eventually want to start our own pack despite all being alphas. I’m sure you’ve realized that all-alpha packs aren’t very common, especially when there’s an omega involved. We’re possessive fuckers, and managing that much testosterone can be...challenging.”

Lilah nodded, and I lowered my chin as I continued, “Deciding who would be head of the pack was always a point of contention in other packs I saw, but neither Killian nor Emmett wanted the Prime position. When we registered our pack, and they asked who would take over as Prime, neither of them even offered.” I shrugged a little. “I don’t mind. I have a tendency to bulldoze over everyone else’s opinions, anyway, so it made sense that I take over as leader.”

I couldn’t help the hint of self-deprecation that entered my voice, and Lilah furrowed her brow as she reached out and grabbed my wrist again, stroking her thumb soothingly back and forth across the back of my hand. “I don’t think you’re quite as bad as you make yourself out to be,” she said softly.

I looked at her, disbelief curling inside my chest—along with dangerous tingles of hope. “Of all the people who should be making me feel better right now, you’re about at the bottom of the list,” I pointed out, offering her a wry smile.

She giggled softly, and the sound lit me up from the inside out. Then she smiled at me, her eyes soft, and I felt something inside of me—something that had been bruised and broken ever since I had foolishly made the decision to reject her—start to heal.

“Maybe,” she agreed. “But if I didn’t forgive, I wouldn’t be the person I am. Just like you wouldn’t be the person you are if you weren’t such a stubborn dick, to the point where everyone around you recognizes that there’s no point in trying to argue with you.” She winked and squeezed my wrist. “I hope you know that’s going to change now that I’m here, though.”

Her voice grew uncharacteristically serious as she said those words, and my stomach flipped. I swallowed, and then nodded. “I do know that,” I said softly. “I’m looking forward to it. I need someone to challenge me.”

Lilah’s eyes glittered with mischief, and she tossed back her head and laughed. “This is a very different side of you, Oliver,” she said, smiling.

I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face in response to her warmth. “I should hope so,” I agreed, grinning. Then I looked down at her plate, which was only about half empty, and nodded at it. “Now, I think that’s enough twenty questions. Finish up, and then we’re heading out.”

She cocked her head to the side. “We’re going out?”

I nodded, and my nerves returned tenfold. “Yes, we are. You and me, all day. Just the two of us.”

I held my breath as I waited for her to respond, but Lilah didn’t disappoint me. She just nodded, picking up her fork and digging into her food again. “Where are we going?”

Relief flooded me, and I sat back in my chair as I linked my hands together and watched her eat. “It’s a surprise.”

She eyed me but said nothing further, and anticipation buzzed inside me as I watched her finish eating.

Today was going to be good—I could just feel it.

39

Lilah

Shopping. Oliver was taking meshopping.

I squeezed his hand as he escorted me into the enormous department store, Nests, where Killian had first taken me to get everything I might need for my nest.

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