Page 93 of Generation Omega: Claimed

“Yes, she did. She saw a beautiful future for us, and I want that… I want you. Please, Ory, was she right? Do youwantme to be your mate?”

“Mate? Notomega—she really saidmate? You’re certain?”

“I am, and she also told me not to let you hold back because of an old oath. Ory, if you don’t want me…”

His hands tighten around me. “No, Tillie—don’t finish that sentence because you know it’s not true. But Mackenzie…”

Ory’s expression begins to change, but his body’s distinctlyOry-ishposture remains the same. Mackenzie is fighting for his voice, and it’s his strong accent I hear. “Dinna fash yerselabout me, Ory. I consented to this, and I’ll consent to it every day. Mylife is a gift now, and we’re here because of you. Besides, our lassie deserves the best we can provide, and that’s the two of us together. You know that’s the truth. So quit being aneejitand tell Tillie you love her already.”

When Mackenzie withdraws, Ory’s clenched jaw reveals his extreme frustration. “I don’t understand either of you. I come from an age when we didn’t ask—we took. The only way to win was to be the one standing over the corpses of your enemies, but even with all that, you truly want me here? You want a barbarian in your garden? Because you must know, I won’t be tamed, not if I’m truly your mate—let alone your alpha.”

My laugh is shockingly sultry, and it’s all I can do not to start grinding on him. “Tell me more about this barbarian in my garden. He sounds delicious.”

With steamy menace, Ory growls, “Oh, you’ll meet him soon, and you’ll never be the same.”

“Tonight—I’ll meet himtonight, after we get wherever we’re going.” I see the question in his eyes. “She said not to wait, not to assume there would be time later. My bonds must be solid, and I’ll need your help with a project before it’s our time to be together.”

“Anything you need.” He’s suddenly expressionless in a new way—not from a lack of expressions, but too many to count. “Tillie, about the barbarian…this—the real me in your pack—will have consequences that none of us can predict. And there’s no going back once this begins. I’ve done so much better than I thought I would, or could. I’ve allowed Mackenzie to exist, to hold you, to voice his opinion more than once. I’ve managed to be committed and detached at the same time.”

Detached—that’s the word, the place between indifference and separation.

“If I do this, claim my place in your life and this body,detachedwon’t be an option ever again.”

I nod, setting my palm over his heart. “She warned me there would be consequences.”

Ory is not surprised, but he’s still definitely confused. “How can you be sure that this is what’s intended? What if my test is to follow the first omega into acceptance and an ending at last?”

I don’t mean to chuckle as I move my fingers beneath the collar of his shirt, immediately locating one of his bondmarks. “You’ve got more than a dozen bites on you—more bonds than I haveyet—so it’s kind of difficult to believe you don’t belong here. But, to be sure, why don’t you ask the omega legacy and see what those controllingeejitshave to say? I think they owe you an answer after all you’ve done—don’t you?”

Ory blows out a breath and closes his eyes. When they pop back open a second later, feral has arrived.

Well,hello, barbarian. “What did they say?” I ask breathily.

His tone is strained, like he’s smothering a snarl. “They told me to honor the old ways and make you my mate. And that’s what we’re going to do.”

My heart begins sending pulses that Ory’s heart answers, reminding me of what happened between Gideon’s heart and mine in that auditorium. Ory and I are awakening our connection, and the effect is unmistakable.

Ory’s been an intense guy all along, but the man is transitioning into something even more dramatic. If he sprouted sexy fangs like an instant werewolf, I wouldn’t be shocked at all. The fluttering within me is from giddiness not fear. Every breath inspires another wave of his power that electrifies my senses in the best way. I don’t understand at first, but then that thread between us sings again. No, it’s notsinging. It’s roaring as he calls to my inner omega that’s all me now. He’s awakeningmyprimal side, because only in my wild state could I ever be his match—his mate.

I should feel guilty, and I do. I still want her back and for her to have the full, amazing life she deserved, but I have a mission, and it’s impossible to miss how crucial this turn of events is to our success. I now possess the ability to embody the entire spectrum of an omega’s existence—from the most delicate of blooms to thestabbiest, most bloodthirsty of tyrants. This is a lesson I couldn’t have learned any other way, and it’s only here because she knew that and gave me this gift I never would have asked for or expected her to give.

“Tonight, you’ll become my mate. You won’t see or hear from Mackenzie until this is done.” His lip raises like he’s about to take a bite out of me. “Make sure you want this…bothof you.”

Ory’s struggle is unbelievable as he wars with himself to give Mackenzie one last chance to opt-out. But given his voice, Mackenzie declares, “Forever, Ory.” Mackenzie’s gone a second later, and Ory glares defiantly at me.

“Forever,mate.” That’s my final answer.

The savage flash in his eyes is a warning and a promise of a bumpy ride to come, and I am here for it all.

CHAPTER 44

TILLIE

With a still simmering Ory as my escort, I return to the living room and find it empty. Hearing sounds in the kitchen, I move toward the entrance, pausing there. The sight is comical—award-winning actor, Gideon Blake, making sandwiches with Sage McGee. I remain where I am, treating their lunch prep as a spectator sport.

Sure, I might be a little barbarian tipsy just now, but I can’t conceal the funky grin that’s overtaken my face. The thing is, my bingo card for this year never included my favorite actor making sandwiches with a billionaire business titan in a beige-saturated mansion. But, now that I think about it, my bingo card was a filthy liar. That thing misled me entirely about where my life was heading. I’m not complaining, but a warning would have been nice.

Gideon’s focus immediately lands on me, and his shoulders relax just from my presence. But that calm state is short-lived, because my first alpha instantly perceives the change in the alpha to my right. I’d briefly wondered whether anyone would notice, and yeah… they did. Sage is pale as a ghost and frozen in place, while Gideon’s muscles flex, his jaw locks, and his handsalternate between fists and tighter fists. The display of manlyalpha-nessis glorious.

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