Page 23 of The Beta: Part Two
“No, bella, don't be sorry. It is an incredible honor that you would even consider me. Of course, I'll be there if you need me. I will always answer your call.”
My throat is suddenly almost too thick to speak, but I manage, “thank you, Corso. You may not even have to deal with it. Jasper will make the decision. If it starts looking like I'll need the extra hand, he's going to be the one who calls.”
I am trying to make it sound like it isn't a huge thing, but everyone knows that it is.
I also want it to be perfectly clear who decides when it's time to call in outside help.
I hope we won't need it, just asking is bad enough.
“Perfectly reasonable. Alex and Reid will come with me, to provide additional security.”
That's also perfectly reasonable, and Devon says so, “absolutely. That will also be appreciated. We'll be in touch.”
Then Devon reaches over and ends the call.
“He doesn't know what happened, with the rogues and the hospital,” I say, pressing my hand to my throat.
Nathan says so softly, “you don't have to tell him if you don't want to. Nobody, including your parents, has made it public knowledge. We all knew you wouldn't like that, so we didn't do it. We're handling those motherfuckers on our own, anyway. If you do tell Corso, he'd probably just dump money and resources into helping us find and destroy them. I don’t think he would say a word to anyone else.”
I nod. Nathan is right, he just doesn't know how right he is. Corso is very well spoken, is very polite, but he is one of those alphas that doesn’t need bravado. He'd rather rip out your throat without announcing it.
~
The next morning a florist truck comes to fill the house with gorgeous, ethereal gardenias and blood red roses. The fragrance is heaven. Every vase and box the delivery crew brings in is addressed to either Jasper or myself; and they're all from Corso.
There are also two sets of throwing knives that are sharp enough to cut you just from looking at them, also addressed to us, also from Corso. The fancy black and gold card that he sent is one of congratulations and hope for a bright and happy future.
I shouldn't be surprised, Corso is exactly the type to celebrate something like this, and he's thoughtful enough to include Jasper. I don't know if he's trying to stroke and pacify a male ego or an omega one, but Jasper loves the flowers and the knives. Devon, not so much. He's sulking. Probably because he didn’t think of filling the house with flowers and new weapons for our pleasure.
“You can’t keep pouting, Devon. You can bring home flowers whenever you want and they’ll be just as wonderful,” Jasper says. He has tried every way he can to make Devon feel better, but I’m sick of Devon’s attitude about it. Devon doesn’t say anything, he just keeps making the same face he’s made off and on since the flowers started arriving.
“The flowers are beautiful, but it will take more than flowers to tempt Jasper away from you,” I’m trying to remind him that he doesn’t have anything to be sulky or jealous about, but Devon, as always, ruins it.
“You did it. Without flowers.”
I’m about to hand out a whole lot of ugly truths, but Jasper saves him from it.
“Stop it, Devon. You’re being ridiculous. And a dick. Talia hasn’t taken me from you and you know it. You’re just being a baby because Corso sent us flowers and it made us happy. You’re not threatened by Talia, and you’re not going to take shit out on her just because you know she’ll let you by with it.”
Devon closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. When he opens his eyes, he looks at me. “You’re right. It isn’t Talia’s fault that Corso sent flowers and gifts, and it isn’t her fault that you love them. I’m glad you like them, and I’m glad she likes them, too. I’m sorry, Talia.”
Well, I might just fall over from shock. “It’s fine, Devon.”
“It isn’t,” he says, “I’ll do better.”
All I can do is offer him a smile. I don’t know what to say to or about Devon apologizing to me. I was hoping we could start reframing our relationship, especially now that I’m going to be his omega, but I wasn’t expecting actual apologies anytime soon.
The morning also comes with news from my mother, my very nosy mother. She called with the decree that she would be coming to help host the end of season cookout. Jasper is nervously thrilled, and I am annoyed. I think she just wants to see how Jasper and I are together outside of a public setting, and if she's here helping with preparations and the like then she'll get to see it.
I get it, we are a bit of a novelty, with us both being omegas, but I don't know what she expects to see. Granted, since I've gotten myself back together, for the most part, Jasper and I are very physically affectionate with each other. I think Kaleb and Trent especially enjoy watching us. Actually, that isn't true. They all watch us. Devon has said more than once that watching two omegas love each other is one of the most beautiful and lust-inducing things that could ever exist and that he can't believe that he gets to witness it from his favorite seat on the couch.
I am having increasing heat spikes and they are making me incredibly cranky. I wish there was a better, less petulant sounding word to describe how I feel never knowing when slick is going to come pouring down my legs or when I get the sudden, painful need to beg someone to fuck me or let me suck them off, but cranky is the best I can come up with.
I don't remember Jasper being cranky, but when I asked him about it he told me as gently as he could that it was because he was bonded to alphas; and that I will feel so much better once I'm bonded to them. I'm still very twitchy about that, and the conversation around it is uncomfortable.
I can't shake the feeling that I'm causing Jasper hurt in some way, no matter the reassurances. He says that, too, will right itself when I let them claim me. He says that a pack bond is beautiful, but an alpha-omega bond with an entire pack is the most wonderful thing I'll ever experience, other than enjoying his body, of course. And I do enjoy it; as often as he can stand it.
I worry that he's being set aside since so much worry and attention is being given to my new omega-ness and watching for me to go into heat; so I've put in extra effort into appreciating him. Everyone has been very helpful. It has become a game to see who can make him the most flustered or relaxed, preferable at the same time. So far, Devon is in the lead, and that's only temporary.
