Page 38 of Ruffled Feathers

Iwas an Omega. Holy shit, I was an Omega. This would change everything, and a little part of me mourned the life I’d had. Even though Strat was a lawyer, and Citrine was a geophysicist, they were the exceptions rather than the rule as to what was expected of Omegas.

It was generally assumed that Omegas would be homebodies, caring for their Packhouse, their nest, their offspring. None of those things sounded bad to me right now—especially the idea of a nest, and a lot of breeding so I could have offspring—but the logical part of me knew I’d soon be sad that I couldn’t just walk down the street by myself anymore. I’d need an Alpha or a Pack member with me, in case an unscrupulous Alpha decided to bark me into submission. The world was a lot more dangerous for Omegas, despite being coddled and loved.

A stabbing pain in what I assumed was my uterus—like a period cramp from a taser—had me folding in half. However, that was nothing in comparison to the clenching need inside, like if I didn’t get a cock inside me ASAP, I might actually scream.

This was insane. I clung to Strat’s hand as if he was my only anchor to reality. His scent washed over me, and I lifted his wristto my face, breathing him in. It appeased that feeling inside me, so I didn’t resist. I’d probably be embarrassed as hell about this later, but right now, I needed him so damn much. His scent was like a Vicodin straight in the veins.

His jaw was tight, and he didn’t speak after he got off the phone with Truett. At the thought of the Alpha, my body clenched around nothing, and I whined. This wasawful.

Strat laughed, and I realized I’d spoken out loud. “Don’t worry, sweetheart, it definitely has its perks later. You’ll quite like being an Omega when you have your big Alphas filling you up over and over. It’s a couple of days of only telling yourself yes. Taking what’s offered, without thought of propriety or other people’s needs. It’s all about you.” He sounded wistful, like it really was something nice. I couldn’t imagine how anything about this misery could be construed as nice.

He hit another button on his screen, and I realized he was starting a voice memo. “Okay, Otillie-James, while you are still coherent enough to think this is miserable bullshit, I need you to tell me who you want in your nest with you.”

“Truett and Sonny,” I said immediately, and my body clenched at the very thought of those two big Alphas wrapped around me, making me feel good. I looked over at Strat. “Uh, you. If you want. No pressure, though.”

He lifted our still-entwined fingers to his lips. “I would be honored. We should talk to your Alphas first, though, because you are definitely throwing me into heat as well.” His cheeks did look flushed, his eyes wide and wild. “Anyone else?”

I chewed my lip, worried about this next name. What if he felt pressured? My Omega didn’t care at all. She wanted her Beta, even if he really wasn’t hers, and logical me didn’t understand the impulse toownpeople.

“You can ask for whatever you want, Otillie-James. Doesn’t mean they have to give it to you. It’s a consensual transaction, always.”

“Lance. I want Lance.” Damn, I’d been hiding from my attraction to Lance, ever since he’d let me get a glimpse under the wild-man hair he’d been using as camouflage. It was wrong to want him there, to make him feel obligated to cross that line for me. “If he wants to be there. No pressure.”

I folded over again, moaning through the pain. This was miserable.

Strat stroked my thigh reassuringly. “I know, baby. I know. Don’t worry, the memo is just for the guys to know that this is what you want. I won’t even play it for them, unless they’re worried about your consent, as they should. But you’re already doing so great.”

I didn’t feel like I was doing great. I felt like I was on fire.

He pulled in through the gates of the estate, and I whined loudly, before slapping a hand over my mouth. Strat laughed, but didn’t get to say much because when the car slowed at the front of the house, Sonny was already there, opening the passenger door and dragging me out.

Well, there wasn’t much dragging happening, because I was propelling myself into his arms like a torpedo. I buried my nose into his neck and breathed deeply, filling my lungs with him.

“Truett called. What happened?”

I couldn’t answer; all I could do was whine. I looked past him at Lance, who was standing in the doorway, looking worried. I made a little grabby-hand motion before I could stifle it. If I really was an Omega, I didn’t have any self-control. My brain was screaming that this was terrible timing, unfair to everyone. We weren’t at this stage in our relationships, and when it came to Lance, he didn’t even know I wanted him like that.

When he didn’t walk closer, I buried my face in Sonny’s neck, and he stroked my back. But when a hand gripped mine behind Sonny’s back, I opened an eye. Lance was there, his calloused fingers holding mine, feeling cool and perfect.

“Are you okay, Otillie-James?” he asked softly, and I shook my head.

“No.”

“I’ll handle everything here. Don’t stress about it,” he soothed.

My Omega whined. She was happy that our Beta was taking care of our house, but she wanted him in the nest with her too. I didn’t evenhavea damn nest. I didn’t want to use Citrine’s; the idea of using another Omega’s nest made my stomach heave.

I chewed my lip, my sane brain trying to push back my brain-addling hormones. “Will you stay with me? In my nest?” I asked him, and he looked so shocked, you’d think I’d slapped him.

His face went through a whole range of emotions, some I couldn’t even name before they were gone, eventually settling back on his normal, neutral expression. His voice was soft. “I’m not sure I can.”

Swallowing hard, I blinked back tears. That wasn’t fair of me. It wasn’t even fair to ask. “That’s okay. Thank you for taking care of everything.” My little Omega heart was breaking, but I tried to keep that from my face.

I realized Sonny and Strat were speaking to each other in low voices. “You really had no indication?”

Sonny was shaking his head. “No, though I guess our Alphas had picked it up, because they’ve been a little less restrained toward her lately. It was impossible to keep the distance.”

Strat gave a strained laugh. “Hooray for bad Alpha control.” He was beginning to sweat too, and I wiggled in Sonny’s arms.

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