Page 49 of Carmichael's Omega

I smile faintly at Mattie and pick up my phone. Teague would never have left the family unprotected, even for a half-day trip. Alpha Alex answers on the first ring.

"Hi, Cass. Mina has been waiting," he says wryly.

My sister must snatch the phone straight from his hand. "I'm assuming he's left?" she asks, sounding furious.

"Just a minute ago."

"I'd make him sleep in your old room, Cass, but then the pups will just find him and curl up with him. Maybe I can make him sleep outside," she practically growls.

I giggle. "He won't. Not when he hasn't seen any of you in a whole ten hours."

She sighs. "I love him, but why is he so bull-headed?"

I shrug, forgetting that she can't see me for a second. "I guess it's an alpha thing."

Mina pauses for a beat. "He didn't seem that bad," she tells me. I hear Blu laugh in the background, then call out,'she thinks he's hot!'loud enough for me to hear.

I almost drop my phone. "You met Carmichael?" I ask in sheer disbelief. Horrible images dance through my head. Teague. Campus. Carnage.

"He came here to introduce himself to the family."

"To ClearHowl? Our ClearHowl? Carmichael came to our house?!" I shriek.

"Isn't that sweet of him?" Mina says.

I hear the mischievousness in her voice. I do. I still fall for it, though.

"He's not sweet, Mina. He's trying, but he's really not," I protest.

She starts laughing. It takes a full minute for her to calm down while I pout silently. Finally, she can breathe again. "He has that whole bad boy, biker thing going on, doesn't he?" Mina says wickedly.

I start to smile when she echoes Mattie's opinion. It gets cut off when Mina speaks again. "Teague punched him in the face. Broke his nose, probably gave him two black eyes. Poor pup. He stood up again, though. It was kind of impressive."

"He was OK?" I blurt out quickly.

Mina snorts. "He took it like an alpha." Her voice softens. "Cassie, I know Teague doesn't like him..." she pauses while Blu mutters something behind her. "And Blu doesn't like him," she adds. "But, you're their pup, so their opinions don't really mean much.Yes, Blu, I did say that!" she snaps away from the phone. "You are biased!Alpha Alex seems to think he has potential," Mina continues. She pauses again, "he wants to talk to you."

Alpha Alex's deep voice comes on the phone. "Cassie, how do you feel about him?"

"I love him," I respond promptly.

Alpha Alex chuckles softly. "I know, sweetheart, but how do youfeelabout him? As an omega?" he clarifies.

I pause, frowning. I haven't been able to separate myself from the bond. "He reminds me of Teague," I tell him slowly. "Powerful, stubborn, an alpha. And," I take a deep breath, "hurting. Like Teague was before he had Mina and Blu."

"Cassie," Alpha Alex's voice drops. I feel Mattie wrap his arms around me, lending his support. I close my eyes. Alpha Alex breathes out slowly. "Cassie, I need you to be cautious, understand?"

"I will be," I tell him.

The door buzzer rings.

Mattie gives me a confused look. "Maybe T forgot something?" he says under his breath. I notice the faintest tremble in his hand as he pushes the button. "Hello?"

"Matt, it's Gio."

Mattie looks at me over his shoulder, "it's Gio?" He unlocks the door for Uncle Gerald's younger brother.

"Gio is staying with Mattie. Protection. Cassie, you will stay with Mattie or at the LaNu House when you aren't going to class," Alpha Alex's voice in my ear doesn't allow for arguments.

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