Page 1 of Unruly Omega

Chapter One

Locke

I didn’t have any cubs of my own, but watching Benson pack his things up to move on and move out was about the closest thing to watching one of my kids striking out on their own. Benson was a grown man, close to my age, but he and I had become close since he came to the sanctuary years ago.

He’d become a friend somewhere along his healing journey and had now found his mate. That mate belonged to another pack who he claimed had accepted him with open arms.

“Don’t forget your closet,” I said as he stuffed things into a huge duffle.

“I got everything from the closet already, alpha.”

“I’m not the alpha, Benson. You did that on purpose.”

Benson was a button-pusher. Always with a smile on his face, of course.

“Sure, boss.”

I didn’t know which one was worse, boss or alpha. Neither fit my station. We were a team. I didn’t dare call us a pack or a den. We came from all walks of life and had gone through things that would make most people faint…or die.

“Speaking of alphas, are you sure Reggie is willing to take you into the pack? He’s a tough one.”

Benson turned around and sat on the edge of the bed. “I’m sure. You talked to him on the phone the other day. And then you grilled my mate.”

“I didn’t grill him. I asked intuitive and well-thought-out questions.”

“You asked him if he loved me.”

I shrugged one shoulder. “You’re my friend.”

“Am I?” He resumed the packing, making my heart sink a bit lower. I had to remind myself that Benson was doing what we intended when we opened this place. We took shifters in who needed care for one reason or another and attempted to rehabilitate them.

Help them return to a normal life, if possible.

Most of the shifters who came here were from the government facilities. They called themselves shifter researchers, but they were torture experts. Chemical, physical, emotional, mental. They used every instrument in their evil tool box, some of which we hadn’t even pinpointed.

They said the program was voluntary, but I hadn’t met one shifter who walked into a research facility of their own volition.

Not one.

“Stop giving me shit. Yes, you’re my friend. I’m…I’m gonna miss you. A little.”

“I’m gonna miss you too. But this is good. I think one day, you’re gonna meet your mate too, Locke.”

“I’m gonna leave you to it.”

Benson stood. “Locke, come on. I know you want a mate. You’re an alpha and a good man. You’ll find your omega.”

“Maybe. Do you need anything before you leave?”

“No. I’m good. I’ll keep in touch.”

I nodded but turned before he became aware of the pain I was sure was written all over my face. “Good luck to you, Benson. I hope the Goddess smiles on your and your omega’s life.”

Before I said anything else cheesy and dramatic, I walked down the hall that connected the dormitory building to the main house. My bear smelled the fresh pot of coffee first. The general consensus was that bears loved honey. Mine did as well, but he liked his with a little coffee.

Didn’t hurt that it kept this bear awake.

While I stirred in creamer and grabbed leftover banana-cinnamon bread from breakfast, I checked the schedule. We had a group session in a few minutes.

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