Page 20 of Unsubmissive Omega
“Who lives in those houses?” Xander asked, pointing to some small cottages further down the compound to our right. They were tucked under some overhanging trees, half out-of-sight.
“Those belong to some of the older pack members. As they age, some start to find the summer heat distressing, particularly with the hot summers we’ve been having in recent years. So, we built those houses for them last year. The trees keep them nice and cool, and they have natural ventilation that draws the hot air up and out.”
“Neat,” Xander nodded approvingly. My chest puffed out, stupid alpha that I was, wanting to impress my mate.
“What about those ones up there?” He pointed to a spot three-quarters of the way up the hill, where the roof of a building was visible peeking through the tree-tops. There was another one further around the hill, only a green-painted wall visible, and another which he couldn’t see that was out of sight on the other side. “Is that pack land over there?”
“Yes, it is. And those are the vacation houses,” I told him. “They have a number of different uses. Newly mated couples may choose to go there for the mating itself and stay on for the days of their luna-union - or mate-cation, as some of them like to call it. Omegas in heat, who’ve chosen to have an alpha take them through it, go up there for privacy. Mated or unmated pairs, it makes no difference, they can all use the facility.
Basically, any time a little privacy would be appreciated, the pack can use them, even if that’s something as simple as a holiday at home, a staycation, as the humans would call it.
The houses are well stocked with basics they might need, and if they give us fair warning, we make sure the cupboards and fridge are stocked for several days so they don’t need to come down for supplies, and no-one needs go up there. No-one is allowed up there anyway, if one of the houses is occupied.”
“Do all the mated pairs go there for heats?”
“No, only a few. Mated pairs live in houses, though not necessarily alone, but most of the bedrooms are quite well sound-proofed.” Then I chuckled to myself.
“What?”
“Some of the younger dating couples choosenotto go up there - for some of the alphas it’s a point of pride how vocal their omegas are.”
Xander flushed a deep pink color. “Doesn’t that get awkward?”
“As long as there’s a certain amount of discretion and the omegas are having fun, no-one really minds. It’s usually late at night, and any pups are long since asleep. All the nurseries have the best soundproofing of the pack anyway.”
Xander looked up at the vacation houses again.
"It's well thought out," Xander nodded his approval.
“Your input will be welcomed,” I told him. “Most of these things have been thought up by alphas or betas. Not entirely. My sister contributed as well but I’m sure there’s more we can do. As Alpha Mate, you have a lot of say in determining what projects we undertake for the comfort of, well, all designations in thepack really, but especially the omegas. Here, let me show you the food hall where we have pack meals.”
Xander didn’t seem to have noticed we were still holding hands. He even asked a few questions as we strolled towards the food hall, and I explained different aspects of how the pack operated.
All in all, and despite my earlier misgivings, I felt we’d made progress.
Chapter 10
XANDER
I was surprised how well set up and organized the pack was. The cooler accommodation for the pack elders and the vacation cabins, with their various purposes, were clever. And they showed me that Darius really did care for his people.
As we walked around, Darius explained the different buildings. I’d surprised myself in the moment by allowing him to take me by the hand, and he seemed to have forgotten about it now, but I was surreptitiously enjoying the warmth of our clasped hands as he showed me the projects that had been implemented for the pack. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, there was something about him that called to me. I knew this didn’t mean anything, but I would enjoy what little pleasures I could.
Darius’ face was animated with each new program he spoke about – brown eyes bright and shining as he explained the problem they’d had to deal with, and I could literally see how excited he was to have solved it. It was impossible to miss his underlying passion for the pack. Not that it changed anything, but I began to see him in a new light.
That he was a good leader was obvious. Although his personal quarters – ours, now - were extensive, they were basic, and itwas clear the pack’s funds were not being diverted to supporting a life of luxury for the Pack Alpha, unlike in some packs I’d read of.
He cared about the welfare of everyone and had been innovative and thoughtful in his projects. It was good to see a pack leader who genuinely cared about his people and did something about it.
I’d lived in a pack when I was younger, before my parents disappeared, but I couldn’t remember details of how it was run, though I did have memories of playing games and running around with other kids my own age. I remembered laughing, friends, fun times. Yeah, hadn’t even thought about all that in a long time.
We didn’t see many adults as we walked about, but those we saw were universally respectful to Darius, and in a genuine kind of way too, not ingratiating or subservient at all. They all eyed me curiously but were too respectful to say anything until Darius had introduced me as their new Alpha Mate.
Each person congratulated us enthusiastically and shook our hands, seeming genuinely pleased. I smiled and felt like a first-class sham, knowing I was gonna be out of here at the first opportunity.
“They like you,” Darius said, a hopeful smile playing at the corners of his lips.
“Mmm,” was all I said. I didn’t want to give him false hope that I’d come around. I liked what I’d seen of the pack so far, and I could have made a home here. But despite my treatment at the hands of my uncle and cousins, or maybe because of it, I had enough self-respect to know I didn’t want to spend my life shackled to a man who only saw me as a transaction, somethinghe had to do to protect his pack. Because that was his primary motivation in everything, wasn’t it? It was obvious when we walked around. This Alpha truly loved his pack, he would do anything for it… even mate a shitty-tempered, uneducated, foul-mouthed omega like myself.
