Page 119 of Your Wild Omega

My gaze lifts to the walls as he explains the ventilation. “And the lighting? It can’t be dark or gloomy.”

He grins. “We’ll cover everything in glass. That light enough for you?”

Damn, I sure hope it’s open enough for Red. The weak morning light streams through, casting a few spindly shadows off the framing beams. If it stays feeling this exposed, then that’s the best I can do for her.

I nod slowly. “And the privacy?”

“Yeah, glad you asked. All the glass will be tinted. Now, what I wanted to ask you about is the solar panels. Originally, we were going to stack them on either side of your roof beam up there.” He points to the main overhead beam running the length of the building. “Which will cut light through the top. However, a new product coming out of Korea with solar panels embedded inside glass panes is getting some traction lately.” His face lights up as he lifts his helmet to scratch his hair. “And can you believe it? It’s completely clear.”

I hum in surprise. “Really? That sounds too good to be true.”

He laughs. “I know, right? But it’s legit. The part that hurts is the price tag.” He whistles and lifts his eyebrows, suggesting it’s expensive.

I turn, watching the dull light on the floor. On a cloudy or rainy day, a roof with solar panels will turn this space even darker. “But that new glass means more light in here?” I clarify.

The builder shrugs. “Sure, but we can also achieve that with artificial lights.”

I shake my head. Aunt Lexi slipped a card to me after dinner and told me it wasfor my pack. Knowing her, there’ll be five zeroes and I’m not too proud to use it, not when both my packmembers have unique needs. That’s assuming Callisto doesn’t beat me to the invoices.

“Send me the details,” I tell him. “But I’d say that’s a perfect material for this build. But what about the tinting, then?”

“We’ll double pane and tint the inside. Will cut the wind noise and increase your climate control efficiency. And for the walls, I was thinking about double panes with the shutters in between. Very elegant and requires little maintenance and cleaning, which you kind of want up here where the wind is stronger.” He sandwiches his hands together. “You ever seen them?”

When I shake my head, he says he’ll send me links.

I leave the rooftop buoyed with hope. A quick check in my calendar says we only have a few weeks until Red’s next heat, so the outfitting won’t be done by then, but it might be okay to use if just the roof and walls are in place.

But my omega may want to lock herself in the library again. Callisto had the chopped door replaced with metal bars when we thought Zack would need a cage, so at least we should be able to see Red if she barricades herself inside.

I secretly hope that with her two alphas linked by bonds, she might cope with her inner demons. If we can just project enough love and calm into her, maybe we can override the panic. Of course, the bond runs in both directions. Zack and I will experience her trauma as well. The whole scenario might boil down to discovering who is stronger.

I spent longer on the roof than planned, so I jog all the way to the store to pick up milk and a loaf of gluten-free bread. As I’m paying, a rack of glossy magazines catches my eye. Front and center sits my omega—in someone else’s arms.

“Bugger me,” I hiss.

There’s no mistaking the bastard who has his arm around her on a golf cart. Bradley Jacks is trying to muscle in on my omega.

“You want that gossip rag too?” the sleepy cashier asks.

I collect one from each publisher, my scowl deepening as I read the titles:Star romance blooms in Ommywood? Secret rendezvous for #1 bachelor. Hot new actress steals Brad’s heart.

The shiny papers slip all across the counter as I throw them down.

The woman’s brows rise as she catches and scans them. “Bradley Jacks fan?” she asks, grinning.

“Not on your life,” I growl out.

She laughs. “Come on. Everyone loves Bradley.”

I swipe my card at the machine and stuff the goods roughly into the bags, too pissed to worry about balance or proper order. “Yeah, until they meet him.” I snort as I turn away.

Her eyes widen in shock and maybe a hint of awe. “What, you’ve actually met him?”

“I work with the fucker.” I glance back over my shoulder. “And I can tell you with a hundred percent certainty this story’s completely false.”

Not that some random cashier needs to know, but I feel a little better for saying my piece. The doorway chimes loudly as I stride through, registering my presence. Well, I plan to register my presence on Brad’s face sooner rather than later.

It wasn’t enough for that grotty SOB to treat me like a stand-in omega, but now he’s actively hunting my real omega?

---