Page 54 of Wild Omega

“In an hour.”

“Right, I—” I pause at the top of the courthouse stairs. Last chance. I could tell him to reschedule and have time to chase after Rickon and Red. Maybe I could make things right with the stunning omega, tap into some of that dopamine and longevity. Pack up.

Lose myself.

Hale catches my attention. “Hey, since you’re coming in, can you bring me a chicken and salad wrap? I haven’t eaten yet today.”

His voice flips a switch in my head, smothering that unfamiliar yearning for an omega. This is what we lawyers do. We chase our goals ruthlessly. We neglect to eat, neglect to sleep, but never lose sight of our target to bring justice. Without people like me, the world would descend into lawless chaos.

“Sure, Hale. Be there in ten.”

It’s my first meeting with the two men assigned to help with the omega cases, so I can’t appear unprofessional. We have to be on the same page for the pre-hearings.

Besides, I promised my dad I’d make partner and nothing else takes precedence. Not even a wild omega.

Chapter twenty-three

Red

Giddiness wells up inside as Rickon takes my hand to help me out of the Omuber car. We stole kisses with the takeaway drinks balanced on our knees for the ride from the cafe to his house, while giggling like high schoolers skipping class. My sticky thighs catch together as he leads me up narrow side steps to a second-floor unit and dials a number into the keypad.

“Welcome home,” he says, flipping the lights on even though it’s still daylight out. “It’s not much, but it’s what I have.”

My mushy heart flip-flops.Home. What a wonderful word, and all the sweeter for being said in his gentle voice. I have an alpha, and a home, and together we’re a pack. All things I was never sure I’d have.

Rickon’s shoulders sag. “Oh, I don’t have an omega’s room, sorry. I never thought I’d, well . . .” With a wry smile he waves his hand up and down to indicate me. “Never thought I’d get this lucky.”

I grab his hand and kiss his palm, flashing him a searching look. For the first time in my life, I’m the lucky one.

“Hey, that’s what I should be doing,” he says with a chuckle, reaching for my hand. Rickon exudes hotness, and he has the face of an angel coupled with a calm manner that puts me at ease, but something tells me he’s picked up the belief he’s not worthy of good things. We’ll work on that.

I follow his example and kick off my shoes inside the doorway.

Something squawks. “Hello. Come get it. Ozzie, Ozzie.”

I lean around the entrance corner and spot a giant bird cage taking up the end of a corridor. Inside, a mostly green bird stretches out his wings and bobs his orange head sideways to peer at me.

“Oh, he’s darling!” I cry, tugging my hand free from Rickon’s to skip through the door. Excitement bubbles up as I look around.

Honestly, the place is tiny, with a galley kitchen opening into a living area, and beyond that a bedroom with an en suite, but it’s cute, and mostly neat. Rickon’s love for color shines through with bold prints on the wall done in the same sparkling colors as the eyeshadow palette in his bag.

Geometric cushions sit neatly on his leather couch in a black-and-white theme that makes the splashes of color stand out. A dark purple orchid, a teal throw rug, and a photo of him and Callisto as school seniors complete the scheme. And, of course, the beautiful green parrot, who squawks again.

“This is Ozzie,” Rickon says, smiling proudly. “After you’ve been here a bit and he settles, I’ll get him out for you.”

“Hi, Ozzie,” I say, leaning down to admire him. He hooks the narrow bars with his beak and climbs up the side to eye level. Bright red hues splash around the base of his curved beak, and more red feathers morph with orange and yellow down his breast, like a sunset.

Tucking his head to the side, he chirps and proudly says, “Fuck off!”

I choke on a laugh.

“Oh, shit!” Rickon hisses. “No, Ozzie.” He spins, touching my arm. “I’m so sorry. He’s heard a lot of foul language, so he’s pretty savage.” He rubs my back as I cough. “You all right?”

Wiping tears from my eyes, I drape my arm around Rickon’s shoulder, noticing he’s the same height as me. My alpha looks like he’s about to have a panic attack. “It’s fine,” I soothe. “I like his spirit.”

Rickon slumps with relief.

I turn back to the bird and risk sticking a finger through the opening. “Nice to meet you, Ozzie. Fuck you too.”

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