Page 17 of The Sad Omega

In the evening, Isca surprised me, walking into the kitchen as if he owned it and shoo-ing me away while he cooked dinner. I wasn't going to argue! I used the time to do some of my never-ending paperwork, and when dinner was ready, the two of us ate at the kitchen table, which felt strangely empty without Irian.

As the evening wore on, Isca began to fidget. He got up and down a couple of times, seemingly for no reason, and then finally he headed out of the room and went to clean up after our meal.

“Is everything all right, Isca?” I asked him, following him into the kitchen. He nearly jumped when I spoke and he didn’t turn around. I noticed a red flush on his neck.

“Yes, Talius, everything’s fine,” he said.

“Are you sure? Can I help you wash up?”

“No, thanks. I’ve got this.”

I wasn’t convinced, but I didn’t want to push. He got pushed around enough in his own household, he didn’t need that in mine. Maybe he felt awkward alone in the house with me. Or maybe he just felt more comfortable in the traditional omega role. So I left him to it. I wasn’t looking forward to going to bed, where there would be an Irian-sized empty space waiting for me, so I went back into my office and spent another hour working on the damn paperwork.

When I came out, the rest of the house was quiet, the lights dimmed, and Isca was nowhere to be seen. I assumed he had retired for the night in the little guest bedroom he used when staying with us.

I felt disappointed he hadn’t thought to say goodnight to me. I was fond of him, but much as we’d been getting along well this afternoon, I knew alphas weren’t his favorite thing.

“Goodnight Isca,” I called as I walked past his door, but I didn’t wait for an answer.

???

It was dark in the room, except for a sliver of moonlight snaking in through the window. The bedcovers were cool and soft, and I was just drifting off to sleep when I was disturbed by a movement on the bed next to me. I blinked awake, brain half asleep still, not believing what I was seeing.

It was Isca. He was crouched on the bed, chest to the mattress, arms stretched over his head. His knees were folded up under his body and his ass was in the air. He was naked. This was the most submissive posture an omega could take. He was presenting.

But we didn’t have this kind of relationship.

And I had a mate.

And he was shaking all over.

Astrange shudder went through me. He was gorgeous, and I’d known for a long time that I was attracted to him, not that I’d intended to do anything about it. But he was… terrified? And he was aroused. I could scent it. Did he find me attractive too? In this close proximity, his arousal was a problem because my alpha instincts were making it difficult to resist the allure of an omega’s scent. I wouldn’t give in to it, but I couldn’t deny the desire was there.

I felt a twinge through my mind-bond with my mate. Wherever he was, Irian could feel my desire for Isca and I felt his twinge of hurt. I tried to send feelings of reassurance and love along the connection. We were going to have to talk later, and I realized it had been a mistake not to bring this up earlier.

I turned to the problem at hand.

“Isca,” I said gently. “What are you doing?”

“Alpha’s privilege,” his voice trembled. He was afraid but trying to conceal it. “I’m the only omega here, so… ”

“Is that how it is in your pack?” I asked.

“That’s how it’s been in all my packs.” He sounded resigned.

I reached out, stroking his beautiful back with my fingers. He shivered under my touch. His soft skin felt like magic. I sighed. I wasn’t going to have him, but I didn’t want him to feel the sting of rejection either. He was, in his own mind, trying to do the right thing, the thing his alphas had taught him was expected from an omega. And in the past, that would have been true. But not these days, and not in this pack.

“I won’t deny I’m attracted to you, Isca, you’re a beautiful, sexy man, but I’m not going to do anything about that. Firstly, because I have a mate and secondly, alphas – and betas – don’t have any special entitlements here, especially over omegas who we are bound to protect.”

He made a little whimper.

I sat up in bed, and grabbing Irian’s housecoat which was hanging from the headboard, draped it over him.

“Here, put this on. Let’s go out into the lounge and talk.”

Getting out of bed, I wrapped my own housecoat around myself and pulled my sweatpants on. Isca hadn’t moved from the bed, but he was shaking all over. No longer afraid I’d want to have sex with him whether he wanted it or not, I guessed he was now terrified he was in trouble.

As kindly as I could, I helped him up from the bed, wrapping Irian’s housecoat around him, and with an arm around his shoulders, led him out to the lounge room. His head was down and he wouldn't look at me. I sat him on the couch, while I made us mugs of hot chocolate. Pressing one into his hands, I settled myself on the couch next to him. He was still shaking, so I pulled him to me, keeping a comforting arm around his trembling shoulders.

---