Page 78 of The Omega

“Are you seriously asking me or do you already have it all figured out, Alpha?” I spit the title as an insult.

He didn’t rise to the bait. “My pack doesn’t want your pack anywhere near here and I can’t say that I blame them.”

“You know, I wish I understood what makes us so deplorable that your precious pack can’t stand to smell us from miles away.” My wolf started to pace, itching to get this solved once and for all.

Atlas’s expression turned grave. “You should’ve figured that out by now.”

“I haven’t,” I said. “Care to enlighten me?”

“It’s not all my story to tell.” His shoulders sagged as if he was tired of holding them up. “But it is my job to make sure my pack is safe.”

“From me?” I scoffed.

“From beasts like you,” he growled. “And anyone else who’d exploit others for their own gain.”

“That’s not—”

“Even if you didn’t bring the cameras and spotlight to our doorstep, what’s to stop you from skipping town and leaving an Alpha-less pack for me to care for?” Atlas ranted. “This isn’t some circus game you can play.”

“You seem to have me all figured out,” I said bitterly, not even bothering to try and defend myself. Alphas like him didn’t change their minds. “So tell me, is this conversation going somewhere? Or do you already have a plan for my mate?”

“My mate will be cared for, no matter the outcome.” He snagged a piece of steak from the rock, holding it aloft to prove a point. “But I’m trying to figure out how to fit you into the equation.”

“Let’s see…” I stood, brushing off my legs. “You have no right to the territory I legally claimed, despite all your attempts to thwart me at every turn. Fate literally tied us together for the rest of our lives by blessing us with the goddess’s gift of an Omega. The way I see it, you’re stuck with me, so you better get used to—”

“Guys.” Opal’s whimper from her nest had both of us turning her direction, holding our breath to see if she was sleeping or awake and in need.

The moon beat down upon us, shining in all her silver glory, as the fire crackled and smoke hung heavy in the air.

I waited another heartbeat before I broke the silence, looking over my shoulder at Atlas, who sat like a monstrous stone statue by the fire. “I’m not leaving her side.”

“I think you believe that now,” he said.

We’ll show him.

“Where’d you go?” Opal yawned and whined as she reached for us in the cold bed.

“But let’s see how long that lasts.” Atlas bit into a hunk of steak I’d cooked as he headed back to the nest.

28

Opal

My wolf napped in a field of wildflowers under the afternoon sun next to a white picket fence, feeling the warmth of her mates beside her. I knew she was dreaming of her happy-ever-after, so I gave her a minute more of that bliss before I allowed my consciousness to return.

There was a kink in my neck and I rolled my head to the side, hitting a piece of wood behind it. Leather straps dug into my wrists and held my arms upright.

My heart kicked into overdrive when I realized where I was. I kept my eyes closed tight, anticipation and excitement building. My ankles were strapped with padded leather cuffs too, keeping my legs spread open and leaving me exposed to whatever was coming next.

I couldn’t wait to find out.

Every inch of my bare skin was on display. I tried to keep my breathing steady so as not to give away that I was fully awake and ready for what my boys wanted to play. Dirty thoughts filled my mind. Delicious, tantalizing things. Need coiled deep in me again.

I hadn’t gotten enough of Dorian and Atlas yet, and I wasn’t sure I ever would.

Gently, I tried to test my weak mate bonds. My wolf was still a little bitter that they hadn’t returned our marks, but I was glad I’d done it. Otherwise, I would’ve been stressing out the whole time that history would repeat itself. That I’d be a mateless and unmarked Omega like my mother was.

Marking them had given me deeper insight into their emotions. I knew they wanted me for more than my body. That they planned to mark me in return someday. But I couldn’t see how to hurry things along.