Page 15 of Romancing the Omega

“Good man.” The doctor smiled and petted Huckleberry. “I think you’re as big a softy as your brother. Now, what’s this I hear about you having a harem of omegas? Are you adding poor Yeo to your harem?”

“Really, doctor? Really?” Caden sniffed. “You should know better than to listen to gossip.”

“This gossip is so funny, though.” Dr. Grover chuckled as he loaded the big cat into a cat carrier. “In all seriousness, good luck with your courtship, son.”

Caden left the veterinarian and his laughter behind and made a quick trip to the pet store. He looked in the back seat. “I don’t want to leave you in the car and take the others. That doesn’t seem fair.” The cat’s grey eyes met his through the bars of his carrier. “I can’t do it.”

He dug around in his glove compartment and found one of Sassy’s extra leashes. “Let’s see if this will work.” He opened the carrier and fastened the leash on the collar. The cat just stared at him. He strapped Huck into his sling and grabbed Sassy and the cat’s leash, letting them hop out of the car. Sassy followed right behind him, but the cat just sat on the cold cement. “Come on, buddy.”

“Caden? Are you trying to walk a cat?” Caden grimaced at the voice. He really didn’t want to talk to Juan. The man was another one of Carter’s best friends. Juan, Ray, and Ernie were Carter’s chosen brothers. They were all jerks – big, fathead jerks.

“Clearly, I am trying to get him to go into the pet store.”

“Need some help?”

“No,” Caden said quickly. Not from Juan. The cat laid down and started rolling in the wet slush. Caden breathed out heavily. “You might be helpful.”

“Why don’t I pick him up? You don’t want to squish Huckleberry.” Juan took the cat’s leash, then bent and hauled the beast into his arms. “Damn. He’s a big one, huh? I didn’t really see you getting another pet.”

“He is a gift.” Caden walked quickly toward the store. He could deal with Juan for ten minutes, surely.

“Seriously? Who are you giving him to? Oh, wait. Is it that omega Elijah was talking about. He said you were courting him,” Juan said. The cashier stared at Juan’s green mohawk, fascinated.

“Yes. He is for Yeo.” Caden quickly looked for the basics. He bought the most expensive litter, figuring it had to be the best, but the variety of cat food had him stumped. Grain free? In-door maintenance?”

“Wow, that’s a lot of food.” Juan pushed a buggy full of cat. “I think Elijah buys Boo this brand.” He pointed to one of the mid-range priced dry foods.

Caden put a huge bag of it in his cart. If it was good enough for Boo, it would likely be good enough for Yeo’s cat. He started looking over the pet beds.

“Why don’t you like me and Ray?”

Juan’s question startled Caden. “What? I don’t hate you.”

“I didn’t say you hated us. You’re polite, and you talk to us when you have to. Cain was the same way for a few weeks, then settled in. You never have.”

“I don’t dislike you.” Caden shrugged. “I’m just a distant person.”

“You aren’t distant to your omega harem.”

Caden shot him a look. “Are you saying you want to be part of my harem? That’s a bit odd.”

“That’s not what I’m saying,” Juan said, rolling his eyes. He would fit right in with Justin, Grey, and Abel. “It’s just strange. We’re Carter’s best friends, so you would think… oh. Oh.”

“What?” Caden saw the perfect royal blue dog bed. It was perfect for an extra-large cat.

“You’re jealous.”

Caden dropped the bed and turned around. “What are you talking about? I’m not jealous.”

“You are so jealous.” Juan sounded amazed. “Fuck, that explains so much.”

“You’re wrong.” Caden grabbed the bed and hurriedly picked out some toys.

“It also explains why Carter turns green anytime someone mentions Grey, Abel, or Justin.”

“What does that mean?”

“You aren’t the only jealous Benson in town,” Juan said with a grin. The man helped Caden load his car and stuffed the poor cat back into its carrier. Caden ignored his stupid grin and sped off without saying goodbye. The idiot didn’t know what he was talking about.

---