Page 44 of Omega's Pretend Mate
His grandfather shook his head. “No, I never thought I would have to second-guess her judgement.”
“I’m sorry,” Gabe said again.
“You really thought getting married was your only option?”
Gabe nodded. “I love you grandfather, and I want you to live a long time. But I couldn’t take the chance either. I read the rules of the trust so many times, hoping I’d missed something. The only way I saw to keep Evelyn and Ivy from forcing me out was to be married longer than a year and therefore be trustee for myself. I didn’t want to hurt anybody.”
His grandfather teared up. “I’m so sorry you felt that way. I always thought we were looking out for you, but you had to go to extremes to look out for yourself instead.”
“Just because I’m omega doesn’t mean I’m helpless.”
“I see that now. I’m so sorry. Is this really what you want?”
Gabe looked at me and smiled. “I love him grandfather. This may have all started in an attempt to keep my house, but I want him too. He’s my alpha.”
His grandfather patted his cheek. “Then I won’t keep you from him. We’ll see you back out there in a few minutes.”
Mom escorted us off to a side-room and looked us over.
“I can’t do anything about the redness in your eyes, but I’m thinking you were going to cry anyway,” she told Gabe, then handed him a tissue. “Dab away the tears and I think you’ll be ok.”
She turned to me and ran her hands down my suit. “Brush off your knee from where you proposed again.”
I smiled. “Thanks mom.”
She bolted to the bedroom to grab the makeup kit, and returned to touch up the powder on Gabe’s face.
“I think that’s as good as I can do in a pinch,” she said. “Luckily it’s just light and natural for photos.”
I hugged her. “You’re a lifesaver.”
She smiled. “I’m going to go make sure that horrible woman is gone. Then it’s time to get on with things.”
I looked at Gabe, and nodded.
Mom disappeared, then ducked her head in only seconds later. “They’re gone. Your father and grandfather just saw them out, Gabe. We’re all headed back out.”
“Ok,” we said in unison.
I turned to my omega and took his hands in mine. “Is this really what you want?”
He looked at me and smiled. “I love you. I want you by my side for the rest of my life. I want your mark, and I want to start a family with you.”
“I don’t deserve an omega like you,” I said. “You’re far too good for me.”
He shook his head. “I’m the one who should say that. You’re an amazing man Christian Jeffries, and I can’t wait to be yours.”
I smiled, even as tears threatened to spill. “Shall we go do this then, correctly this time?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
I wanted to kiss him, but decided that it would wait until we were officially wed. I grabbed his hand and led him back out to where our families and friends were waiting for us.
“Now where were we?” the officiant asked as we once again took our places. He then smiled. “Oh yes, the vows.”
I met Gabe’s gaze, somehow glad we’d decided not to write our own vows. They wouldn’t have held a candle to what we’d said only moments before.
He was my omega, and I would spend the rest of my life proving to him that he’d made the right choice.
