Page 16 of Knot Our Omega

When the silence grew too heavy between us and she still didn't speak, I asked, "You do want children, don't you?" Her eyes fell to the floor, avoiding my question. I barked out her title, urging her to look at me. "Omega!"

Instantly her head snapped up, unable to resist my demand. "I- I hadn't had much of a family, Alpha. I don't know if I'd be good at it."

"Oh you'll be good." Alfie stepped around me. "You'll be perfect. And want to know the best part?"

She sniffed, and it was physically killing me. "What?"

"We'll learn together."

Her eyes lit up at the words, and for a moment, I hated my beta. Hated that he had such a carefree way with people that he could make even the most despaired omega open up. But I knew it was wrong. We were a unit for that reason. I hand-picked Alfie because of that quality. He wasn't just one of my best friends, but he was the gentlest soul I knew. A quality our omega needed.

"It's settled then," I cut in, interrupting the stare they were locked into. "The omega stays." I paused, reminding myself that I was an alpha and I gave orders, but maybe I should be gentler on my orders with my omega. "That is, if she'll have us."

"How could she not?" Felix joined us. "Have you seen this dimple?"

He smiled, pointing a finger at the indent in his cheek, causing her to laugh as she brushed the tears away. With a final sniffle, she spoke. "That dimple is hard to resist. I guess I have no choice."

Jealousy rolled through my gut at the thought that she was staying only for the delta, even as my alpha assured me heromega purred happily in his presence. But it was hard to believe my instincts, hard to trust what my inner alpha was saying when my omega didn't look at me quite the same as she did them.

"We weren't done with our discussions." My words came out harshly, and everyone in my unit flinched. My men from how I sounded, my omega out of... fear?

"Yes, Alpha." Her eyes instantly dropped to the floor.

"We need to mark you."

"I'm aware." She blinked a few times after speaking. "I mean, that's what I've been taught, Alpha."

Hmm... Did our omega have some hidden sass in her? My dick pushed against the zipper of my pants, my alpha begging me to mark her now. Urging me to see how far I could push our girl until she gave us every single thought in her sweet little mind.

"Look at me when I speak, omega." I hated that they taught omegas to be so submissive. In our home, she was the leader and we were her mere peasants, falling at her feet to serve her.

"Yes, Alpha." Her big, pretty eyes raised to mine and fuck, she was gorgeous. But I wished she left those cute little glasses on. Her head tilted to the side, exposing her neck, and blood rushed to my ears at the temptation. "Do it."

I made no move. In fact, every one of us stiffened at our omega's offer. After the silence hung heavy for far longer than necessary, I stated, "I will not."

"Is it not how it's done? In the manual?—"

"Forget the fucking manual!" I roared, then stepped back, holding my palms up when I saw her cower. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shout." Fuck, I wasn't helping my case any. Yelling would not earn her favor. "It's just... offensive that you would offer your neck in such an impersonal way. Though it is true that, to mark you as ours, we will bite your neck. A simple bite, especially one that would be as painful as that, would beimpersonal. I - we had already discussed how we wished to mark our mate permanently, and we prefer a more intimate route."

"Intimate?" Her eyes squinted a little, as if she couldn't figure out what exactly I meant. Had they really only taught our omega the bare minimum of subjects that fit the agenda they were trying to push?

"Omega. Had they taught you anything about coupling?"

Her face reddened, turning the prettiest shade of scarlet, and I wanted to reach forward and run my thumb along her cheek. But I doubted she'd appreciate it, not when we were having such a conversation.

She looked down, and my eyes followed her gaze, locking in on pieces of our clothing she had added to her nest this morning. My alpha growled with satisfaction, not realizing that he wasn't reading the room well. Yes, I wanted to take our mate, but I wanted her to be educated on what was to come first.

When she didn't answer me, I pressed forward while Felix and Alfie shifted uncomfortably beside me. "While it's true that an omega goes into heat and begs their alpha for his knot..." Her chest heaved and her eyes widened at the topic. "A unit doesn't need heat in order to..."

Fuck, I couldn't find the words. This was harder than I thought it would be. Luckily, Alfie chimed in, "In order to enjoy each other’s company."

Her brows pinched together as she whispered, "Enjoy each other’s company."

"What I think they are saying, love, is that the activities of heat are not only for when you are in heat. In fact, we quite enjoy it any time. And if we were to mark you, claim your skin, your body, your soul, as ours... we'd rather do it when you're in the throes of pleasure where you can enjoy the marking, and not when your body is stiff and ill-prepared."

"Oh."

"Yeah. Oh." Alfie stepped forward, taking her hand and twining their fingers. "Now let's go finish that breakfast that's grown cold and we can discuss other factors more, now that we've got your worries settled."

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