Page 21 of Mating the Omega
Mac grabbed a cushion off the couch and tossed it on the floor beside him. He scanned the contract, coming to an abrupt halt at the section which read ‘mate within the Mercy Hills Pack’.You had this in mind the whole time, didn’t you?But why hadn’t Abel made this clear to everyone? Maybe he’d only just decided.
Mac still wasn’t sure Abel mating with Jason was a bad idea, and his friend had been so close-mouthed about the whole deal that Mac didn’t really know what was going on inside that head. Maybe a little push was in order… “Whynotmate with the omega? He’s a good kid. He’s smart, and just listening to him, I think he’d be an asset to the pack. Put him in charge of the gardens.”
“I’ve thought about that. If we can keep him.”
“If you mate him—”
“I’m not planning on it. Except in an absolutely worst case scenario.”
Finally, an answer. Though it was an answer that pissed Mac off on Jason’s behalf. “What the fuck? If you’re not going to, then why are you stringing him along?”
“I didn’t plan to. Then I noticed how—reserved he was with me. And how much more relaxed he was with you.” He rolled over on the chair and pointed his beer bottle at Mac. “If I suddenly told him he’d be mating, say, you, what do you think would happen?”
“I…” Hmmm, that was a good question. What would Jason do? “You think he’d go all omega on me then?”
“I’m absolutely certain. And given his state of mind when he arrived, I’m convinced that telling him I don’t plan to mate him will give him the message he isn’t safe here. And fuck, I’d like to keep him in the pack. If only to keep him out of Montana Border’s claws. The shit they said—” Abel shook his head. “I was hoping he’d start showing an interest in someone else, and we could stage…I don’t know, something, so that he felt he could mate elsewhere. But it’ll have to be soon.”
“Why?”
Abel grimaced, and chugged the rest of his beer. “They’re sending two chaperons to make sure he goes home as virgin as he arrived.”
Shit. “When do they arrive?”
“Day before full moon. We’ll have to give them guest quarters in the building here.”
“I’ll talk to Housing about it before I leave tomorrow.”
“No, I’ve got it covered. But I’m sure as hell not looking forward to breaking it to your omega.”
“You want me to do it?”
Abel shook his head and stood up. “No, I better. You guys have a good relationship, I don’t want to make a mess of it. He can’t resent me any more than he already does. Want another beer?” He headed for the kitchen.
“No, I’m good.” He still had half of his left. Mac raised his voice so Abel could hear him. “It’s not resentment, what he feels for you. Honestly, I don’t know what it is. But he’s trying to be what he was taught makes a good omega, and he’s keeping your position here in mind. He means to be a good mate, and to hold up his share of your bargain, which as far as I can tell means he’s going to mold himself into the mate he thinks you want. I don’t think he’s even looking at you yet as a person, but then again, you haven’t given him a chance. But he’s sure as hell not looking at anyone else.”
Abel came back, bringing another beer for Mac. “Drink it anyway. Your Alpha commands—it’s not that late.” A pause, while he got comfortable again. “I know he’s trying. He’ll make someone a fantastic mate. It just won’t be me. Not if I can help it.” He held up his bottle in a casual salute. “Maybe it’ll be you. About time you filled up the rooms in that house, keep the complaints off my desk. And I think you’d be good for him. Better than me, anyway.”
And with those words, he opened up a whole realm of possibilities for Mac. “You’re the one who ordered me to take it.” Just, how to go about courting a prickly omega who thought he was mating someone else?
“Maybe I had a vision of your future. Pappy Mac, with all his pups gamboling around his feet.”
“Gamboling? You’ve been chewing on dictionaries again, haven’t you?” Jason wasn’t likely to believe Mac if he told the omega he was free to mate where he wanted. But now he had to get Abel to let his omega know he was free to choose elsewhere. Mac emptied his half-finished beer, and picked up the second. “I’ll think about it.”
“Don’t think long. This matchmaker outfit itches.”
Mac snorted and tossed the cap at his Alpha.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Well, shit. Perfect timing. Here’s me, right smack in the middle of my first heat of the season, and I’ve got a summons to meet with the Alpha.
Sorry, man, no can do. I’m trapped in the house here with a perpetual hard-on, daydreaming about your best friend shoving me face first into the mattress.
Only the teensiest bit awkward.
“No, I’m sorry, I can’t,” I told his secretary. “I’m stuck in the house.”
“Do you need maintenance? I can have them over there in an hour.”
