Page 139 of Stolen Omega

“Is it possible she has another mate, besides us?” I ask, wondering if that’s the other thing I sensed from her. She could be conflicted about perfuming for us if she already has another mate.

“Maybe,” he murmurs, frowning.

“Would it matter if she did?”

“Huh?” Zane shakes his head. “No. Not to me. It would only matter if he was a jerk.”

Well, I guess at least I know he doesn’t think Cameron’s a jerk. Hopefully my on-again, off-again lover won’t think Zane’s an asshole when he finally actually meets him. I know he had doubts in the past, but that was back when he was absent from my life when he should have been around.

This is a completely different situation.

“Same,” I tell him, making him smile.

He stays quiet, clearly needing the thinking time.

I try not to disturb him, but I can’t help humming the song Zoey always used to sing along to.

It drags another smile to his lips.

“Kind of feels like a daydream,” he murmurs. “Doesn’t it?”

I stop humming and frown at him. “Wait. You said it’s written in her contract that she can’t take mates. Doesn’t that mean she can’t claim us or ask you to mark her? What could happen if she does?”

“If Zelena Ortega was really here, and she was our true mate, that might be a problem. The contract doesn’t mention Zoey Rodriguez.” His sly smile tells me he’s pleased about that little reveal.

“Maybe I should call my mom,” I mutter. “Make sure that’s a solid defense.”

He looks me dead in the eye. “What makes you think I didn’t already run it past her?”

“You’re not serious. You called my mom? When?”

He shrugs and then leans back against the wall by the door, folding his arms in front of his chest.

“I don’t know. A couple months ago. I gave her a theoretical problem, and she gave me her advice.”

I can’t believe he did that, and I can’t believe my mom didn’t tell me she’d spoken to him.

“You know she’ll know it wasn’t theoretical?”

He knows, and he doesn’t care.

“She asked what I was up to.”

“Was that all she asked?” I seriously doubt it.

“Fine. She asked when I’d be making an honest man of you. I told her it would be soon. She told me she’d make sure the authorities heard about my theoretical problem if we weren’t in a steady relationship by the end of the year.”

“You’re kidding.” I know he’s not, but I can feel color creeping into my cheeks at hearing about my mom’s embarrassing proposition. “Please tell me I’m not here right not because of that.”

“You’re here because I have a lot of time to make up for,” he tells me. “Not because your mom knows you need an Alpha.”

Well, thank God for that. But still …

“It’s September. Please tell me she isn’t expecting to hear wedding bells before December 31st.”

“She didn’t get that specific, but she might ask what date we have planned for the wedding once we break the news that we’re bonded.”

“You’re banned from talking to my mom again without me.”