Page 63 of Broken Dreams

A bratty part of me wants to mention all the different kinds, but the poor guy is on edge. Should I put him out of his misery?

Nah. Fuck it.

Hiding my smirk, I glance at Quinn’s addition to the conversation.

I guess that would depend on the work available, right?

The growls from that single sentence make me hide my face in her soft hair, which is being contained with a pair of braids down her skull before being left loose to curl down her back. It keeps it off her face, but is still a delicious middle finger to all of the times we’ve had to put it up into ridiculous hairstyles.

Quinn unleashed is one of my favorite things. She’s playful here, despite our setbacks.

“I’ll call around to see if any of the clubs in Minneapolis are hiring,” Callum rumbles. “Are we including strip clubs in this search?”

Smart man. He’s attempting to give the option, while probably screaming,Please God, say no.

I think both Quinn and I have danced in that capacity for long enough to last multiple lifetimes. I also doubt that’s what she meant, she’s just having some fun with them.

No, she says, lips rolled in to attempt to hide her smile.

Without thinking, Callum’s fingers tickle her ribs, her squeal loud as fuck as she writhes. My soul sings as I loosely hold her as they fuck around, and he gives up pretty quickly, kissing her soundly.

“Such a brat,” he says affectionately, rolling his eyes. “So what we need is a job dancing. I’m also down to go running with you, Linus, if you want. What else?”

It’s so odd to be continually asked that, and have someone mean it. My trauma growing up must really be catching up to me. My parents didn’t give two fucks about my sister or I, so that’s the kind of care I’m used to.

I think it breaks my brain and heals my heart each time it happens.

“Ah,” I stutter, shaking my head.

“Hmm,” Callum says, leaning forward to pull some paperwork. “That’s okay, let’s just talk about something else. Whatever pops into your mind, tell us before it begins to be a problem so it can be addressed, okay?”

Relaxing, I nod. I can do that. Being on the spot makes it hard to think about what I need. It’s as if the thoughts evaporate in my mind.

“Those are the legal documents to change your last names to Kelly,” Duncan says. “It’s added protection to keep you hidden while building your lives. Eventually, we’ll need to submit paperwork to the Healthy Pack Organization stating that you’re our omegas.”

“It makes it more difficult for Bret to say you’re runaways from his workplace,” Callum grunts. “While owning omegas is illegal, people get around it through fear and intimidation all the time. If he says you’re his wards despite the fact that you’re both in your thirties, it makes it easier for the government to look away.”

That’s fucked up, Quinn practically growls.

I thought it would be more difficult to remember to call her by this name, but it suits her better. It’s soft and sweet the way she is, and has a whisper of strength associated to it.

This girl could have crumbled so many times. She hasn’t.

“Yeah, it is, sweet girl,” he sighs. “We don’t want to push and we won’t.”

“We don’t need bond bites to submit that paperwork either,” Duncan adds.

“You’re two of the best alphas I know,” I confess. “Why wouldn’t Quinn and I want to be yours?”

Being an alpha’s omega isn’t about possession and ownership when you’re with the right one. It’s about safety, love, and adoration. I understand why they’re moving slowly. I justmet them, while Quinn is working through being reunited with these alphas.

The pathway to making that decision is riddled with potholes, most of them our own making due to the mess in our minds. They’re being sensitive to that, but I need reassurance of why we’re waiting.

“It’s all we want,” Callum admits. “As toxic as Slick Dreams is, it was your home for a lot of years. Duncan and I want to give you space to figure things out, know what you want. We’ve waited twenty years to find Quinn, and found you as well in the same fell swoop.”

“Relying on just biology isn’t our style, either,” Duncan says. “We want to court you both. It doesn’t have to be anything officially submitted to a stuffy organization who doesn't know us or you. However, we’ve been giving you time to get acclimated.”

“Is our omega tired of us playing it safe?” Callum asks, breathing into my ear.