Page 22 of The Beta: Part Two
I understand why he's worried. I even understand why he thinks calling Corso is a good idea, but those exact reasons are the same ones that make calling him a terrible idea. “Jasper, I get what you're saying. I do. But the same reasons that make it seem like a good idea to involve Corso are the reasons why it isn't. I didn't leave Corso's pack because they were awful to me, I left it because they weren't. They wanted me to be theirs,” a low growl sounds from more than one alpha at the table, “they wanted to bond me into their pack, wanted me to be their mate. But at the time I was a beta and I couldn't be what they really needed, what they deserved. Corso is a good alpha; Alex and Reid, too. They deserve an omega to take care of them, to love them. I walked away from them because I couldn't give them that. Asking this of him is a cruelty.”
“It is an honor, Talia. An honor. And he will see it as one,” Kaleb says with such solemn honesty that I lower my eyes.
I can't see how asking him to see me through something he very much wanted and will never be able to keep would be anything but cruel. But what if Kaleb is right? What if it's some kind of alpha thing, honored to be asked to attend an omega's heat?
Devon must see something in my expression because he adds his own agreement, “it is an honor to be asked to care for an unclaimed omega during their first heat. To know that you're trusted to care for the omega when they are blind to everything but their body's needs without taking advantage. To be considered noble and worthy enough to be asked. It is an honor any good alpha would treasure.”
I understand what they're saying, I do, but I still think it would be cruel to ask Corso.
Jasper takes my contemplation as the perfect opportunity to drastically simplify the decision. His pretty green eyes are serious when he says, “this is how it has to be. I won't let our sweet alphas be made to suffer, they won't allow me to suffer; and the lot of us are unwilling to tolerate your suffering, either. So this is it, cupcake. We can try it your way, and I will pray that it works out because I can feel and appreciate your reluctance to hurt Corso. But I will call him and ask him if he will come if we call him. Look at Devon's chest and arms. You did that in a fit of pleasure. What might you do if you exhaust Trent and Nathan? I know you would never want to rip our Nathan to shreds because he is too exhausted to continue, but heat does strange things to an omega.”
“Nice that you don't mind me being carved up by our little battle pixie. So good to know you care,” Trent sniffs, but we all know he's just saying it to lighten the air.
“You'd be fine. You'd probably even get off on it if she did rip into you. You like it well enough when I mark you up,” Jasper says with a wink.
“Fuck yeah, I do. I want you both to have a go at me.” Of course Trent wants that, the lech. He said it jokingly, but I'm almost sure he really would like it if the two of us became feral in our need and tore into his flesh. Maybe he isn't the only one, if my sodden shorts are anything to go by. I actually blush when I see five noses scent the air and turn dark gazes on me.
“Fuck sake,” I grumble, “fine. But I'll call him myself.”
Jasper gives me a winning smile and says, “on speaker. I want to hear what he says. We all need to come to the same understanding and agreement, since we will be inviting another alpha into our home, and I am asking him to help take care of my girl in my stead.”
Hearing him call me his girl makes me shiver, and causes me to release another rush of slick. That is definitelynoton the list of omega perks.
“Fine,” I sigh, “I'm doing it now. I know the doctor said two weeks, but who the fuck really knows?”
I pick up my phone from the table, Devon was nice enough to carry both it and me up the stairs for dinner and this lovely conversation. I dial Corso's number with a shaky feeling in my stomach. Half of me wants him to say no, and the other half...well, the other half of me is apparently a whore.
He answers on the third ring,“what's wrong?”
I sigh again, more deeply than I think I ever have. Corso's concern for me, especially after all this time, is what makes this cruel. “Nothing, I'm fine. Really. I'm okay, Corso. I'm just calling to ask for a pretty shitty favor.”
Every man at the table glares at me.
They can call this an honor all they want, I still think it's a shit deal for an alpha of the only pack who ever gave a genuine fuck about me.
“What do you need, bellissima?”
Deep breath, in and out, I close my eyes and speak in a rush, “turns out my mother's insistence and hard work wasn't a waste and I'm an omega, after all.”
Silence.
I was right. This was cruel. Now I'm staring down the table with my own glare.
I hear Corso take a breath, and I don't give him time to ask any questions. I said I would ask, and I'm going to, but I hate it. “If you're available, would you terribly mind coming here to, um, help deal with my first heat that's probably going to happen in the next two weeks?”
After a few beats of heavy silence that I can hardly breathe through, he asks,“am I on speaker?”
Jasper and the rest answer with a unified yes, and Corso continues in a very cold tone,“are you telling me that none of the alphas in that pack are willing to help you through your first heat? I understand that Jasper may be unwilling to share, but the last time I saw you it seemed very much like he would be willing.”
Jasper's mouth tightens and raises in a little snarl at the accusation, “no, that isn't the case at all,” he clips, “you know very well the issues with the council and the rogues, you know that we have had more than one attack on our pack. Talia refuses to allow the entire pack into her nest because she needs at least two alphas to be on guard, as well as a security team, in order to feel safe. That leaves me and the other two alphas to tend to her needs; and I know, without doubt, that it will take more than two alphas and one knotless, male omega to take care of her. No matter how much it grates me to ask, I need more help taking care of her and she will only agree to one more alpha. There are very few alphas we would trust in this situation, and even fewer that she would trust. You are on that extremely short list.”
I link my fingers with Jasper's on the table. I know what it costs him to ask for this. I don't need him to have a knot, I only need him. It's just bad luck that we're both omegas.
“And your alphas are okay with inviting me into their home to help their omega tend another unclaimed omega through her heat?”He's understandably incredulous, and the word unclaimed is practically sneered.
Kaleb is who answers, “yes, Corso. It is a unique situation, but you are a noble alpha, and Talia speaks very highly of you.”
Then I cut in. “You don't have to, Corso. I'm sorry I asked. Don't worry about it.”
