Page 27 of The Omega's Bloodline: Part One

“Not a fucking clue.” Seth shrugged. “It was invisible to me and I didn’t stick around. I think it might be the same thing I’ve felt the last couple of months.”

“So, something is probably tracking you, and you’re bringing it here instead of calling?” Caden looked pissed as hell.

Seth stared down at his feet. “I don’t have a phone right now and I wanted you to know. And I figured if I ended up having to run from something, the safest place would be with you.”

The words softened Caden a little, but he was still tense under my hands. “I need you to leave,” he said to Seth.

I bristled at Caden’s words.

“This is Logan’s house, not yours,” said Seth, a panicked edge sneaking into his voice. “If she wants me out, she can tell me herself.”

I barely got Seth around to begin with. I certainly wasn’t going to kick him out when he was spooked. “You can stay.”

Caden’s face pinched.

“Quit looking like you bit into a lemon.” I patted his chest. “We can’t send your brother out into the night when something might be after him.”

“See, she gets it,” said Seth.

Caden dropped into his house cat form and hissed. He tended to shift when his emotions got the better of him. Complexfeelings were easier to manage with a tiny walnut brain. He paw-slapped Seth’s leg and I scooped him up.

“Back off, babe.” I scratched behind his ears. “Seth, you can stay for tonight so we can figure things out. Caden, I need you to deal with it.”

He couldn’t quite pout in any of his cat forms, but his displeasure was clear as day. Caden huffed and stood in my arms, rubbing his cheeks against mine while glaring at his brother. I did my best not to giggle at him staking his territory in such an adorable way. I might as well be wearing a neon sign that saidCaden’s Human.

I snorted. At least he’s content with being a cuddlebug instead of trying to piss on me to keep his brother at bay.

“Thanks, Lo.” Seth offered me an apologetic smile. “I promise I’ll be out of your hair soon. Could I bother you for some snacks? It’s been a while since I’ve eaten.”

Caden growled in my arms, but I booped his nose to cut off his cranky sounds.

“There’s leftover lasagna in the fridge. Help yourself.”

Caden looked up at me with wide eyes.That’s mine.

“I’ll make you some fresh tomorrow. How’s that?” I kissed the top of his head. While Caden handled the vast majority of the cooking, lasagna was one of the few items I did well and made for him on occasion.

Acceptable. He purred too quietly to hear, but I could feel it against my hands.

I gave him some good scritches behind his ears and carted him into the kitchen. Seth was already microwaving the leftovers. Caden stood carefully, laying one cat paw on each of my shoulders before headbutting the underside of my chin.

Also mine.

I giggled and gave him a solid hug. Caden ran his cheek along mine, deliberately scenting me again in front of Seth.

“Oh my gods.” Seth drew out the last syllable. “I’m not trying to crawl up Logan’s ass like I did with Rachel. I just need a place to crash. I’m not going to take her.”

I froze and stared at Seth. Caden sat stiff as a board in my arms at Rachel’s mention. I only had vague details about Caden’s ex-wife. They’d been together only a few years in the early ’60s, and she’d disappeared—presumably died, since from the sounds of it, the shifter community had completely lost track of her—barely a year after she’d left Caden. Had Seth and Rachel…?

Focus, Logan. Something hunting shifters was more important right now.

I rubbed a soothing hand down Caden’s back, getting the spot he really liked at the base of his tail until he started to relax again.

“Seth, be nice or get the fuck out.”

Heat flickered in Seth’s gaze, but he didn’t challenge me.

That finally made Caden melt, and he settled properly against me. I was more than ready for bed now that sex was off the menu, but first we needed information. I sat down at the kitchen table and Caden got himself comfortable on my lap in a position where he could watch Seth over the edge.

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