Page 55 of One Wild Omega

“It’s going to be left outside, so I was going for utilitarian.”

“Which is smart. You don’t need strangers ruining your stuff.” Bellamy disappeared inside the office and reappeared a minute later with a few cushions. They fit almost perfectly.

“See… you makeeverythingbetter,” Tanner said to Bellamy. He lowered his coffee and muffin to the surface of the table. “First my brother. And now my day. Lemme at that baby!”

Baby Carter let out a wail. “In just a moment,” Bellamy said. “Somebody’sseriouslyhungry today.”

“He’s a growing alpha. He needs lots of nourishment.”

He took a seat and settled the baby in to nurse. “We don’t know yet if he’s omega, beta, or alpha. You know that.”

Tanner rubbed the bit of soft head exposed through the sling. “Look how big he is,” Tanner cried. “That’s an alpha, and you know it.”

Bellamy smiled down at his son.

“I get to burp him,” Tanner said, without any idea what a burping entailed. Best to learn early on so he could sneak in as much baby time as possible.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to ruin your chances of landing yourself a construction worker or two.”

Tanner scoffed. “Ruin my chances? Not even possible. My nephew is too cute. He’lllurethem over.”

“We’ll see,” Bellamy said. A warm breeze washed over them, the shade from the umbrella keeping them cool. “Actually, it’s a perfect day to sit out here. I should’ve grabbed some lunch.”

“Once he’s done with his, why don’t you run to the coffee shop and grab something while I tend to my little nephew?” He spread his hands over the surface of the new table. “Might as well get full use out of this thing. We can take coffee breaks… have lunch… I can sketch… who knows what other uses we might have for it besides giving me time for lechery? It was a sound investment.”

“Is that what you’re telling yourself?” Bellamy asked, chuckling.

“Yes!” Tanner grinned widely. He looked at Bellamy cradling Carter and felt his womb clench slightly. Just being around the baby made his body ache for a child of his own, but he knew it was purely instinct. Omegas had been created to bring forth life, or so their religious tomes told them. Even now, after the Omega Rights Movement had swept through the province, there were many who thought it was still the only thing men like them were capable of. “Do you regret having Carter?”

“My gods, no!” Bellamy said, his eyes widening.

“Not even a little bit?” Tanner asked. “I mean… you’ve always been so independent and adamant you wanted a career. Babies take a whole lot of time.”

Bellamy’s frown faded some. “Trust me… I wasn’t expecting my life to switch gears the way it has. Becoming a papa wasn’t even on my radar, but fate came in and changed my life.” He paused, smiling down at Carter. “For the better.”

“It’s changed Quinn, too. For the better.”

“Really? Quinn doesn’t seem to be all that much changed to me.”

“You’d known me for years and hadnevermet my brothers. Why? Because they’re both workaholics. I think I’ve seen more of Quinn in this last year than I have in the previous five combined. You’ve saved one brother. Now we just need to work on Beau.”

The babe finished up, and Bellamy lifted Carter to one shoulder. “Ready, Uncle Tanner?”

Tanner jiggled in his seat, rubbing his hands together for a moment before reaching for the infant. As soon as the baby was resting on his shoulder, he felt a sense of peace coming over him. Drawing in the scent of clean baby, he smiled. Tanner showed him what to do, and he went to work. After a moment, Bellamy snuck over and grabbed a sandwich and drink from Mick and Brim’s before returning.

Carter, fully burped, rested in the crook of Tanner’s arm, fighting sleep. Tanner looked down at the child, and his womb clenched again—the instinct taking over. He could already see a beautiful babe in his arms… one with Fitz’s green eyes and his flair for the dramatic.

A sad smile spread across his lips, knowing that would never happen.

Bellamy finished one half of his sandwich and then eyed Tanner. “All this talk of changing lives. What about you? And that alpha of yours?” Bellamy asked.

“I never should’ve told you that,” Tanner said, his jaw clenching. And in one instant, the happiness baby Carter had given began to fade. He was not in the mood to talk about Fitz, especially not with Bellamy. Not that Bellamy knew the truth.

“Tan—why hold back? If you know who he is… unless… he’s not a terrible guy, is he?”

Tanner shook his head. “No… he’s a great guy. A really great guy.”Just not to me.He’d seen how good a friend Fitz had been to Bellamy over the years. It had both been insightfulanda nightmare, but at least he’d seen both sides.

Bellamy grew quiet a moment. “So… I have a theory, and I’m hoping like hell that I’m wrong. Like really, really,reallywrong.” Bellamy paused. “Yet at the same time… I almost hope I’m right.”

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