Page 14 of Unruly Omega

“Hello, Locke.”

“You’re okay,” I said, breathless as I reached him. Somewhere along the way, I’d broken into a sprint, eager to be near him.

“I am. Markus said I’m well enough to go for a walk. I don’t have to be in his house anymore. He thinks the IV did its job.”

“And the long-term effects?” I asked, wanting to push the errant hair from his face.

“We don’t know yet. He wants me to wait a while before I try and shift again. So you can get the dart guns ready.”

My heart stopped and my face burned with the heat of shame. Of all the things I’d told him, he remembered us tranqing him. “I’m so sorry. We didn’t know what to do and you were roaring and growling. We…”

“I’m kidding, Locke. He didn’t say that.”

We both snorted. I shook my head with a chuckle. Thank the goddess he had a sense of humor.

I couldn’t believe he was in front of me, smiling. The omega I’d dreamed of all my life. Even when the times were horrible, I kept hope in my heart that one day my fated would drop into my life.

I’d hoped for a not-so-violent way, but I would take him however he came.

My omega had to be handled with care. It would take him a while to trust his surroundings and us, and that had nothing to do with me being his mate. I would wait for him no matter how long it took.

“Have you seen the grounds of the sanctuary? I’d love to show you around.”

“That would be great. I was going to do some exploring of my own, but that’s probably frowned upon. You don’t know me.”

Yes, I did. In ways that required no words. Only heart.

“We know you well enough. Besides, there are cameras and security measures in place. They are to protect all of us, and thatincludes you now. I hope that one day you come to think of this place as home.”

He smiled and thoroughly ended me. “Then I’d love a tour of my new home. Thank you.”

We made the rounds. I showed him the barn and the bunkhouse where we usually kept new people who came here for help. There was no way in hell that he would stay there though. I’d already called dibs on an unused guest room that was right down the hall from mine. The others raised eyebrows at my insistence but gave in. No matter what he’d been through or was capable of, he was my mate.

And we kept a dart gun in the house too. Just in case. Not because my mate was a bad person, per se, but because when that other bear was in charge, he was not, and their natures were night and day.

Once we got to the kitchen, I made him a sandwich and enjoyed every second of watching him eat it. He sheepishly asked for a glass of milk and I added a brownie for good measure. “You have to make sure you’re eating enough. Healing and shifting will expend calories that you can’t afford to waste.”

He looked down at himself. “I don’t even know how I got so thin. I didn’t used to be this way. I wasn’t one to turn down a second breakfast, ever.”

“There will be plenty of time to visit the past. Best thing you can do is focus on your future.” Aw, man, I was quoting Markus now.

“That’s easier said than done,” Kellan answered.

“I know.” I couldn’t help myself. I covered his hand with mine to comfort him, and he turned his hand around, his palm touching mine. We talked a lot more about the sanctuary and the people we helped. Some of the others came through and introduced themselves, and others kept to themselves.

“You’re the alpha here, right?” Kellan asked as the conversation lulled.

“Kind of. The others look to me for leadership, but there’s no hard lines of hierarchy.”

“Oh. They treat you like you are.”

I nodded. “They do.”

“Can I ask you something else?” He blushed, and I wondered what was on his mind. Did he feel the same things I was? Was his stomach full of butterflies and his thoughts flurrying with dreams?

“Of course. You can ask me anything.”

“You said you’re only kind of the alpha here but…but you’re my alpha, right?”

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