Page 2 of Carmichael's Omega

"Cassie!" Mina sniffles into my hair. I'm a few inches shorter than she is. Before I shifted into an omega, I always wondered why Mina stretched out like a lima bean to a very impressive five-foot-six, and I stayed at a solid five-foot-two. Omegas don't typically grow much. I was super skinny for a long time, too. It's not cool to have the body of a twelve-year-old male when you're a senior in high school.I filled out just in time to go to college. Yay for boobies.

"My pup," Teague murmurs happily.

I start sobbing. Awesome Cassie! Couldn't you just be tough for a few more minutes?

It helps that Mina is crying, too, sending Teague into a slight panic that even has my grieving wolf perk up. It's kinda funny to watch the ultimate alpha male get flustered over some tears.

"Stop crying!" he snaps angrily, typical of his reaction when he can't 'fix' the problem. Neither of us females listens. We never do.

"Give me Cass," Blu's voice interjects, his arms tugging me gently out of Mina's stranglehold so that Teague can comfort their female. "We missed you," Blu says quietly as he hugs me tight. I can hear the worry in his voice. I look up through my tears, smiling at the soft blues melting in concern. My smile falls as his eyes sharpen. Blu was always the best at reading my emotions. He's the one who sat with me when I shifted for the first time, and everyone realized that I was Omega. He understands what it's like to suddenly feel your life turn in a direction you never thought possible and yet strangely be OK with it.

It wasn't that surprising that I’m Omega, honestly. I was always really sensitive to everyone around me. If someone was sad, then I was, too. The stronger wolves my age always gravitate to me because my presence soothes them, characteristic Omega traits, but I never really thought anything of it. When I shifted, all of those empathetic feelings became even sharper, growing tenfold and manifesting into the uncontrollable urge to love and be loved. Thankfully, my family is strong emotionally. Being surrounded by a big family helps make an Omega feel secure.

Shifting into an Omega is partly why I decided to go off to college on my own instead of with my twin, Mattie. Yeah, that went over super-well. I thought Teague was going to have a stroke, but in the end, I wheedled and whined my way into some measure of freedom. It took me an extra semester before he would let me go, but I finally out-stubborned him.

I don't regret my decision. Maybe it would have been better to have never met him, but I can't regret meeting my mate.

Even if he doesn't want me.

"Doll, why did you come outside? It's starting to rain. You may slip and fall," the growled reprimand loses its ferocity when Teague picks Mina up and starts to carry her inside.

The lingering sorrow in my heart disappears as the Omega in me stirs. Rainbows of sheer happiness explode. "Mina's pregnant again!" I squeal.

"Teague!" Mina smacks his arm. "She figured it out because of you!" My sister pouts. "It was supposed to be a surprise, Cassie."

Teague shrugs, not bothering to hide the smug grin on his face. "Sorry, Babydoll."

Blu starts laughing, his arm tucked around me as we follow my sister and Teague back into the house. "These two are mine," he whispers in my ear. "Daniella and Deon. What do you think?"

"Twins?" I breathe. The rainbows are now joined with sprinkles. Sparkly, glittery sprinkles raining down from the rainbow-filled sky.

Blu laughs again. "Yeah. We should have known, ya know? Runs in the family." He ruffles my hair.

When I walk inside, I take a deep breath. More giant figures move toward me. Alpha Alexander and his mate, Lyall, are here. Auntie Simone hugs me tight to her. Uncle Gerald and Aunt Jackie are, too, with their own two children. Aunt Jackie is ready-to-pop pregnant with her third.

"We missed you, shortie," Uncle Gerald ruffles my hair just like Blu did. Sometimes it stinks to be so short.

"I missed you too!" I tell everyone.

Two skinny bodies race through and around the adult wolves with a dexterity that I find extremely impressive.

"Auntie Cass!" Conner bellows. He wraps his arms around my waist, hugging me so quickly that I don't have time to return it. Braxton follows, determined to be just like his big brother before both male pups disappear.

"Where's Velia?" I ask Mina.

"Napping," comes the cheerful reply. I smile at the thought of seeing my cherubic little niece.

Every hug from the grown males is accompanied by an inhaled breath. They are scenting me. Probably for males. They won't find anything interesting.

"I can totally see who the popular twin is," the teasing voice comes from behind me.

"Mattie!" I turn, laughing and crying, to throw my arms around my twin. His arms enfold me, and I bury my face in his chest. He doesn't smell of a male, either. I sniffle and inhale again. It seems my brother hasn't met his mate yet.

Conner and Braxton give Matt the same super-fast hugs they gave me before once again racing off.

Another hand reaches out and rubs my head. I lift my face from Matt to see Blu's younger brother, Abel, walking in behind Matt.

"Hi, Uncle Abes," my greeting is muffled in Matt's shirt. Neither of us seems willing to let go of the other. Uncle Abel just grins and offers me a wink. Uncle Abel moved back to ClearHowl just a few years ago, as soon as he turned eighteen. I don't know what happened in the years he was gone, but it's left shadows on his soul. He's still my favorite uncle. He spends a lot of time traveling and always has the best stories.

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