Page 4 of The Sad Omega

“No.” The flat, defeated tone was back in his voice and I didn’t like it. He didn’t sound like he cared all that much.

“There’s quite a few things to do around here,” I suggested cautiously. “People mostly meet each other here by joining clubs.”

“I’m not sure I’d be allowed,” he replied, biting his lip. I cast him a look of surprise. Allowed?

“Uh, what do you mean?”

“I have a lot of tasks to do at home, and our Alpha doesn’t like me going off on my own. That’s why I only come in once a week for the shopping.”

“Oh, so he’s… possessive?” I asked carefully.

He snorted. “Aren’t they all?”

I wasn’t sure how to respond to that.

There was possessive as in you’re mine and I’m not going to let anyone hurt you or there was I’m an asshole and I’m going to control everything you do.

It sounded like Isca’s alpha fell into the second category. His situation didn’t sound very pleasant and I didn’t want to rub it in his face that I had things so much better. Talius was an amazing alpha and a devoted and indulgent mate. I couldn’t imagine him telling me I wasn’t allowed to do something. By the Moon, I would have laughed at him if he’d tried that.

“Not necessarily,” I said, then changed the subject. “Do you want to exchange phone numbers? Then at least we can text or talk, even if you can’t come out.”

“I’d like that.”

We exchanged numbers and as we continued doing the rounds of the supermarket together, he relaxed and more of his personality began to emerge. While we talked, the sadness seemed to fade into the background, and he was animated and fun. I discovered he had a very dry sense of humour. He was twenty-four, six months older than me, and it turned out we liked a lot of the same movies and action video games. It seemed wiser to avoid the topic of our respective packs, though I did ask him about the guys in the car with him.

“They’re betas,” he told me. “Zarbius – our Alpha - usually drives me in so he can keep an eye on me, but he’s doing something with his friends today, so the betas brought me into town instead.”

“You couldn’t drive yourself?”

“I don’t have a licence. Zarbius doesn’t think omegas should drive.”

Eew. I couldn’t believe what a controlling asshole this Zarbius was. Life would be hell for an omega in his pack. I know I wouldn’t survive.

“Is Zarbius your mate?” I asked. It was an indelicate question and far too personal for the length of time we’d known each other, but it wasn’t my lack of manners that seemed to bother Isca.

He shuddered. “Yes,” he said, so quietly that I looked at him in consternation.

“He’s not good to you?” I queried gently, placing a hand softly on his wrist.

Isca’s eyes glinted and he blinked and turned away, shaking his head.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured sympathetically. I wanted to comfort him, but it didn’t seem the place and besides we didn’t know each other that well. I wasn’t sure how he’d take it. Instead, I changed the subject.

“What if I offered to show you where things are around town? Would he let you come here for that? You could say it’d save you searching for things when you need them in a hurry?Would you like to do that?”

Isca swiped at the corners of his eyes and gave me a grateful smile.

“I think I could persuade him,” he replied. “And yes, I’d like that.”

“I’d have to show you the bakery, and of course, you’d have to try the goods. Wouldn’t want to take home food the pack wouldn’t like, right?” I gave him a conspiratorial wink and his small smile transformed into something dazzling.

“I like the way you think.” He said it quietly, but there was no doubt he was onboard for my sneaky little plan. I smirked. I was the prince of sneaky little plans. Talius could vouch for that.

As we continued with our shopping, we made plans to meet up later in the week for an 'instructional tour' of the township.That sounded so much more convincing than saying we were going to be 'hanging out' though if I had my way that's exactly what we were going to be doing. We were both free on Thursday and Friday, so we tentatively agreed to meet on Thursday morning.

“Text me if you can’t make it or you need to change to Friday. I’m flexible. I don’t have anything this week that I can’t get out of, so I can work in with you.”

Just then, an alarm went off on Isca’s phone.

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