Page 22 of Omega’s Oath

“As I said before that’s between you and Rose, but if she didn’t tell you, I’m sure she has a reason. While it’s been nice to meet you, it’s time for you to leave. Rose is meant to be on bed rest, and she’s already overdone it more than I’d like.”

Rose’s mother looked affronted for his request. “You’re asking us to leave?”

Omega stood. “Yes, I am, and perhaps next time you’ll call and check if it’s convenient before you pop by or visit.”

He waited for the four of them to stand and ignored the slight sound of a chuckle that was coming from Mickie.

“Rose, are you going to let him speak to us like this?”

He waited, letting Rose answer. He didn’t want to steal her voice from her but be the buffer that she needed him to be right now.

Her fingers flexed in his hand. “Aide is right. I need my rest and it’s time for you to go.”

“Well, how rude to treat your family in such a way. I don’t know where I went wrong with you, girl.”

They strode to the door and Aide followed, smiling at the fact Hayden already had it open wide for them to leave. Cheryl was the last through the door and stopped, turning to her sister as she straightened the shoulder strap on her bag in a nervous gesture. “Maybe we could meet for lunch, just the two of us after the baby is born?”

Omega couldn’t say why he didn’t like the idea, but he didn’t. Something about Cheryl was off and he couldn’t help thinking her intentions toward her sister were anything but good, but he kept his silence for now. The truth was, he was seeing danger and threats to Rose at every turn and he needed to make sure he wasn’t just being an overprotective jerk. The last thing Rose needed was more people telling her how to think and what to do.

She already felt vulnerable, which was hard for her when she was normally so strong and confident, and he was the last person that wanted to treat her in such a way. Not that she’d let him. His Rose was fierce when she wanted to be. It was one of the things he loved about her. The thought made him smile as he waited for her to answer her sister.

“Yes, maybe. You have my number. Give me a call.”

The four of them watched as Rose’s father got into the driver’s side of the brand-new car and drove away without a backward glance. Omega closed the door and twisted toward Rose, who seemed to sag in relief. He wrapped his arms around her hips as her arms came around his waist, her fingers gripping the back of his shirt.

“Thank you for coming home.”

Home was a concept that had never felt more right than it did in that moment. He kissed the top of her head, inhaling the scent of her vanilla shampoo that was so familiar and fought the reaction of his body that having her so close evoked. Everything about having her in his arms felt right and he wondered why he’d thrashed against it so vigilantly.

He lifted his head to see Mickie and Hayden clearing away the plates from the coffee table. “I’m going to get Rose back in bed and work from home this afternoon.”

“Yeah, no problem. We’ll just get cleared away and we’ll be off.”

“Thanks for calling me, Mickie.”

“No problem.”

Rose lifted her head and smiled at her friends. “Thanks for today, guys. I’m glad you were here.”

Mickie waved it off. “It was nothing. What are friends for?”

“Can you lock up as you leave?”

Hayden gave him a wink and a little smirk. “Sure can.”

Omega helped Rose up the stairs and once he’d settled her back in bed, he toed off his boots and climbed on top of the covers. He’d love nothing more than to climb in with her but now wasn’t the time. She needed rest, not him pawing at her like a teenage boy who’d never seen a naked woman before and that was what she reduced him to.

Lifting his arm, he waited for her to scooch in and lay her head on his chest. He heard the sigh come from her as her body relaxed against his hold. Omega held the hand that was lying against his heart and brought the fingers to his lips, kissing them gently.

“You okay?”

Her head came up and she met his eyes, and he could see the shame and pain the day had caused her.

Rose let out an audible sigh. “Yes, you’d think I’d be used to dealing with my family by now, but every time I see them, they seem to reduce me to this insecure girl who doesn’t fit in and who’s a constant disappointment.”

Omega hated that for her, that the people who were meant to love her made her feel small and defeated. “Has it always been like that?”

Rose nodded against his chest. “Pretty much as long as I can remember. Cheryl and I were close when we were young kids, she’s two years younger than me and we’d play dolls and ride our bikes but as we got older, things began to change. She was always of the same mind as our parents. Find a man, get married, have babies, and work an appropriate part-time job. Not that there’s anything wrong with any of that.”