Page 29 of Omega's Reign

“Holly…I love you. I love you with my entire being, but things are complicated. You have so much faith in me but look at what happened. Look at the position I put you in. I went rogue, wanting nothing more than to put Hector in his place, and he still bested me. I can’t do this alone.” Beckett keeps his face hidden, his lips brushing against my skin.

Confusion puckers my brow and I try to pull away, but he doesn’t let me. He needs me close, touching him. He needs to stay hidden to be able to speak his mind.

I rub my hand over his shoulders. “You’re not supposed to do this alone. We’re a pack.”

“I’m the only alpha.” Beckett refuses to look at me.

I crane my neck, sliding my hand under his chin, cupping his jaw, guiding him to look up and meet my gaze. “That’s what this is about? Because an alpha doesn’t make the pack strong. An alpha helps us lead. An alpha keeps me safe. But an alpha does not give the pack power. It’s every single one of us.”

“I know that, but no one else sees it that way. Things might be changing, but it’s still difficult. You have to have the strongest pack, Holly. I can’t keep relying on your brothers. We need to think about what’s best for us. I want to proposition Andrew. He has shown himself loyal. He has the skills we need.” Beckett’s eyes line with tears, but they don’t fall. He would never let them fall for me to see.

I blink a few times, trying to wrap my mind around what he says. “You know the difficulties that come with inviting another alpha. There are expectations. The way packs with strong alpha leaders manage is because—”

“Of their omega,” Beckett finishes, speaking my thoughts out loud for me.

“I don’t know…” I have never truly thought of strengthening our pack by bringing in another. Usually packs grow by creating families within them. By extending lifelong friendships and connections. What he’s saying would mean entrusting our entire future with someone we have just met weeks ago. Someone we have hired as a bodyguard compared to growing a foundation that takes years and years.

“I’ve seen your connection for myself. I saw how you reacted to him. How he looks at you. I know this is a huge ask, but will you think about it? We can have specific arrangements. We can work things out if you truly are against this. I just want to be the best I can be for you.” Beckett stares into my eyes, his brown irises glittering with his unshed tears. This is probably the hardest thing he’s had to admit. The hardest thing to even think about.

He has always been the only alpha in his pack. His sisters, his cousins, everyone he has surrounded himself with is a beta. He’s one of the rare to manifest into an alpha, taking over the Silverstein name for his father. That’s why the Silverstein Pack has never been in complete control of a territory. They’ve always just helped the leaders.

“If this is what you feel we need, then I will keep an open mind.” I purse my lips, wondering how the hell we’re going to bring this up with Andrew. What if he doesn’t want anything to do with this? Because if he joins our pack, things will change. How exactly? I have no idea.

“I just want to discuss it with everyone. I think it will help our situation. People will be less likely to constantly plot against us. Andrew comes from an esteemed pack in Gilded Sands. It could really benefit our situation.” It sounds as if Beckett has been thinking about this for a while, even longer than just this last day. I should’ve suspected something when I was to choose the scent I found most desirable. It’s as if he was setting me up on a blind date, but more to bring someone into our pack compared to trying to set me up for anything romantic.

“What about our relationship? You’re my alpha. You know that the Pack Regimes have expectations. Andrew might not even be on board. He might not even like me. You could be reading everything wrong.” I refrain from speaking about how I feel, because I know my attraction and it would be a lie if I said anything otherwise. I’ve never kept a secret from Beckett. It’s one of those things we have yet to explore, our own need to bond with each other still new.

It’s funny. My brothers had asked me if this was what I wanted. They were concerned that I was infatuated with the Silversteins because they were the first guys to show me affection. The first guys who treated me like an equal and stood by my side. They thought my naivety would cloud my judgment, because I lacked the experience they thought I needed.

I didn’t think I needed experience to know what I wanted.

But now? Maybe I do.

What’s the worst that can happen? I’ve already been through hell. This might be what I need to show that I’m a good ruler. I don’t do what is only best for myself. I do what is best for my pack.

I do what is best for our future.

Even if it means a little compromise.

And that’s where I’ve seen others go wrong. They can’t adapt to things changing. They prefer things to stay the same.

But not me. I look forward to the change.

I strive for it.

14

Seducing Alphas

Holly

I thought I was over my nerves. I still get butterflies in my stomach for my guys, but there’s something different about the situation.

“How do you even bring this up?” I ask, sitting on the edge of the couch, bouncing the balls of my feet. “You can’t expect me to say, ‘hey, big alpha. Want to join my pack? Want to know what it’s like to have me as an omega? I’ll be a good girl.’ This is so crazy.” Heat burns my skin with my words, the seriousness of the situation turning me a bit loopy. I would never speak to someone like that. My anxiety makes me feel dumb.

Jordan chuckles and laces his fingers through mine. “That would totally work on me. You are the hottest woman in the world. A perfect ten.”

I squeeze my eyes shut and giggle, unable to stop fidgeting. “You’re too much.”

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