Page 21 of The Omega's Alpha
Holland gave him an exasperated look. “What do you mean how do I know? In the usual way of, we tried to get pregnant and we didn’t.”
“And you’re sure it wasn’t him?” One of the guys in the squad had had trouble that way, Quin remembered overhearing once. He hadn’t said anything—he’d been roaming around in wolf form, unnoticed by his human companions.
“Very sure,” Holland said bitterly.
“Doctor sure? Because we can take you to see—”
“More than that!” Holland snapped. “You want to know the truth? I slept with him while we were betrothed and I didn’t catch. And then on my next season, I didn’t catch again. And then he asked his brother to try, to see if he could get me pregnant.” Holland sucked in a painful sounding lungful of air and turned away from Quin, leaning against the wall with his head bowed. “So, yes, I know it’s me.”
Fuck. Barrenlands cursed bastard piss-alphas.“Do you want me to kill him for you?” He could feel the wolf that never really left, wanting blood for Holland’s pain. This was his mate, or would be, if he could find his way through his scars and Holland’s.
Holland spun around, mouth open and hands spread. He stared at Quin for a moment, observing him, and Quin noticed the small huff of air he took, testing Quin’s scent and the emotion behind his words. Holland’s eyes widened briefly, then narrowed in determination. “No. Do not kill him, Alpha Mercy Hills. It’s past. Over and done with. And I was willing, whatever you might think. He wanted a pup. I wanted a pup. And if it got us one, I would have taken whoever he sent to me, because he was my mate, and when he mated me, it was with the agreement that he would give me food and shelter and a home, and I would give him pups.”
He had to ask, though his stomach crawled with apprehension. “Did you love him?”
“No.” Holland said it as if it was obvious. “It was arranged, but I wasn’t unwilling. And sometimes love will grow in those situations. I had hope.”
And now you have none.“All right.” Quin made himself comfortable against the headboard. “I’m yours, however you want me. Now that we’ve established that, why don’t you come back to bed for a while?”
Holland stared at him, non-plussed, then cocked his head to one side and narrowed his eyes. He seemed on the point of saying something, but swallowed it down and began to walk slowly back toward the bed.
“Watch the glass,” Quin reminded him.
Holland glanced along the floor. “I think it might be on your side of the bed.”
Quin peered over the edge. “You’re right.” He lay back down and held out a hand to Holland. “Come here.” He watched as Holland eased himself down onto the bed, still dressed. Quin tugged on the hand clasped in his until Holland lay down, his head pillowed on Quin’s belly, and his eyes still dark and wary. “I have a confession to make.”
Holland raised his eyebrows, but the dark suspicion in his eyes never faded.
“I got transferred to a specialized group, the last couple of years. We did…very bad things, in even worse situations.” He took a breath and stared at the wall. “Thank you for suggesting the therapist. It’s helping. I’m not there yet, but I’ll get there.”
“I don’t know what you’re trying to tell me.” The words were hard, but the lines of Holland’s face softened with them.
Quin looked at him again and opened his mouth to explain, before closing it because he didn’t know either. “I guess… I like you. I don’t want to hurt you, but I’m still working on coming to terms with some of the stuff that happened overseas. I’m just asking you to be patient.” And it would give Holland more time to heal as well. Quin had never guessed… Well, who would do that to their mate? Perseguir, wasn’t it? He’d have to remember that.
“I can do patient. Omegas are always waiting.” Holland changed position, draping himself down Quin’s side, his head tucked in under Quin’s chin. “I’m sorry about your last assignments. I’ll do whatever I can to help.” His fingers made delicate circles over the ridge of Quin’s collarbone.
“Thank you.” Quin kissed the dark hair and held Holland close. “Tell me if there’s anything I can do for you.”
“You’re already doing it.” Holland kissed the underside of Quin’s chin and settled back down into Quin’s arms.
Quin tangled his fingers in Holland’s hair, and swore he’d make things right. For Holland.
Chapter Nineteen
Iwas startledby Quin’s sudden proposal and not at all pleased that I’d misread him so badly. It was just another reminder of how different Mercy Hills was from the rest of the world, and of what I couldn’t, in all justice, have. He might want me now, but at some point, he would want pups to raise in his way and his forebears’ ways. I couldn’t give him that and at some point, it would begin to eat at him and then any chance the mating might have had would die an agonizing death. But for now, I would put that all out of my mind, and concentrate on enjoying what I could have—which happened to be warm and naked beneath me. And, sadly, starting to make noises like we needed to get up and go back to real life. Reluctantly, I peeled myself off his body and watched sadly as he covered up the muscle I’d so recently been enjoying.
But then he slung an arm around my shoulder. “Let’s go pick through those applications and see if there’s anything that stands out as an emergency, then maybe you can treat me to lunch out?”
I laughed and slipped an arm around his waist. “You’ve been living with humans too long. But I suppose I can buck tradition.” I let him lead me back out to the office.
An hour later, I came to discover just what kind of sneaky little weasel I’d coaxed into inviting me to bed. Lunch at the restaurant hadn’t been at all what he had in mind. Or, not all of it.
After we’d eaten, we walked out the door to find Abel sitting in the sedan waiting for us. “Hop in,” he said.
I raised my eyebrows and looked at Quin, who wore a grin that straddled some nearly invisible line between feral and excited.
“I have a surprise,” he said and opened the back door for me. “Get in.”
