Page 52 of One Wild Omega

Emerson gave him an obscene finger gesture before their papa shooed them all into the kitchen to help grab items for the picnic tables set up outside. But that wouldn’t be the end of it. The topic was again brought up later that night, as the whole family sat on the patio, enjoying their delicious meal. After answering more questions, he felt like his family had come to terms with the possibility of him moving. Yet he didn’t feel any better about it. A knot formed in his stomach. He looked around the table at the people he loved most in the world, for better or for worse, and the thought of moving away just didn’t settle well.

Again, Tanner came to mind and Fitz didn’t understand his sudden fascination. They’d both seemed to agree that not seeing one another again was the right thing to do. He didn’t like the man he became around the omega. Yet why did the chance to move hundreds of miles away from Tanner McCreary have him feeling more out of sorts than leaving his family behind?

“I birthed eight babies and should have a table full of grandchildren by now. Do I? No. I have four. Four. That’s nowhere near a table full.”

Fitz’s head popped up at his papa’s words. He’d been lost in his own thoughts and missed how the conversation had led to his papa’s comments.

“What about that nice omega you were seeing?” Fitz’s father asked him. “What does he think about this promotion of yours?”

“He’s mated to another alpha and now a proud papa himself,” his papa answered for him. Pops turned to Fitz. “That should’ve been you. Bellamy was a catch.”

“He wasn’tmyomega,” Fitz replied.

“So what?” his papa cried. “I want grandbabies! You should’ve snatched him up before he got away.” Pops sighed. “At least Harley and Bayley have given me some. Rand and River are too young yet, I know… but you all are prime age to mate. Luke… you spend too much time working. Fitz missed the perfect opportunity. Emerson needs to grow up. And Harrison.”

“Pops,” Harrison warned.

The whole table seemed to tense. Fitz eyed Cassidy and saw the beta inwardly cringe.

“Well… Harrison has found his own happiness,” Pops said, his face growing red. “And welovehaving Cassidy here as part of our family.”

Cassidy smiled some, but it was obvious he felt uncomfortable. Fitz felt uncomfortable for him.

“Cassidyisamazing,” Fitz added.

Cassidy lifted his stare and smiled a little more at Fitz. “Thanks.”

“Yes, he is,” Harrison announced before rising from the picnic table and turning back to the table. “I had planned to do thisnextweek, but since this conversation needs to turn to something much better…” Harrison lowered to one knee beside Cassidy and fished a hand into his pocket.

Cassidy’s mouth dropped open, and the table silenced.

“Cassidy Springdale, I’ve loved you from the moment I met you. We’ve been together for nearly seven years, and I can’t imagine the next seven… or the next seventy… without you in it.”

Harrison brought out a small jewelry box and opened it. A gleaming band of gold with two small sapphires set in it appeared. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my husband?”

They all waited with baited breath to see how Cassidy would react. The air sizzled with electric anticipation. Fitz watched closely, seeing tears form in Cassidy’s eyes.

“I… I…” Cassidy took a deep breath. “I love you…sovery much, Harry.” Cassidy’s eyes welled up with tears. “But I can’t.”

Harrison’s face fell. Cassidy jumped from the table and ran toward the house. Harrison was soon racing after him.

Silence continued to hang over the rest of the family left in their wake.

“I can’t believe he said no,” Emerson said.

“They’re great together,” their father said. “Hopefully Harrison can talk some sense into him.”

“What if what I said…” their papa’s face twisted in what appeared to be pain. “What if he said no because of me?” Their papa tossed his napkin to the table and jumped up, turning for the house.

“Morgan,” Fitz’s father said, his voice low. “Let Harrison handle this.”

Fitz’s papa opened his mouth to argue, but closed his mouth and sat back down. “I didn’t mean to cause any trouble for them.”

“I doubt you did,” Fitz said.

No one seemed to know what to say. Fitz felt terrible for Harrison and Cassidy. Beta or not, Cassidy was an amazing man. Harrison and he were clearly deeply in love.

Tanner’s face flashed in his mind again. Fitz frowned, unnerved.

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