Page 28 of Mating the Omega
Mac stopped abruptly and turned to face me. “You thought I was sending you out because I wanted to talk about adult things?”
Ah, shit. That’s kind of what I sounded like didn’t I? I looked down at the ground and shrugged, kicking a rock half buried in the turf, forgetting I didn’t have any shoes and stubbing my toe. And now I really did love Mac, because he held me steady while I hopped around on one foot, cursing the rock, and he never even laughed once.
But once I’d stopped jumping around like a lunatic, he said something that drove my feelings for him deeper. “I didn’t want you to hear the things I was sure were going to be said when I spoke to my team. Not because I think you can’t handle it, but because I’m sure you’ve already had to handle it more times than I like to think of, and I didn’t want to do that to you. You deserve better.” He held me close, stared deep into my eyes, and added, “Should I carry you now? It’ll really set the gossips talking if you limp into the house.”
I swatted him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Mac called Abel before they even got near the house to warn him about what had happened, and ask what he wanted to do.
“Oh, feel free to tell them. I imagine I’ll see the mushroom cloud from here.” There was entirely too much satisfaction in Abel’s voice, and Mac instantly developed a brand new goal in life—see Abel mated as soon as possible.That’ll show you, you manipulative prick.Though he was secretly glad that Abel hadn’t wanted Jason.
He slung his arm over Jason’s shoulders again and pulled him close, grinning cheerily at him. “You ready to set off the dynamite?”
Jason reached up to lace his fingers through Mac’s, but he wore a thoughtful, somewhat anxious look. “Promise me something?”
“Anything.”
Jason smiled a distracted smile at him, then turned his gaze back toward the rapidly approaching town. “Promise you won’t let them take me?”
“You’re mated to me. Hopefully carrying my pup. They can’t take you.”
“They weren’t supposed to mate omegas before they turned eighteen, but that never stopped them.”
Mac came to a stop so quick he nearly lost his grip on Jason. “They what?” Jason’s eyes widened anxiously and Mac cursed himself for a fool. “Not you.” He took both Jason’s hands in his. “They bred omegas before they were mature.” He had to say it out loud to be sure he’d heard Jason right. The idea seemed too crazy when it was just in his head, inhuman behavior, beyond belief.
Jason nodded. “I think it was what decided my parents to run. Normally it was like, sixteen, sometimes fifteen. I had my first season in the fall just after I turned thirteen, like normal. But then it hit again in the spring, and everyone went crazy. Orvin tried to take custody of me, other alphas were offering my parents money for me. I know it’s supposed to mean I’m a True Omega, but I don’t even know what that means. So we left, skipped out one night in the back of a junk truck. And, well, you know the rest.”
He didn’t, just the ending, but he couldn’t imagine the middle was any better, and satisfying his curiosity wasn’t worth digging up all those old hurts for Jason. He pulled Jason to him and they started walking again. “I don’t even know what to say,” he finally confessed. Whatcouldyou say to that story?
Jason tilted his head back and smiled up at him. “Say you’ll keep me and never let that happen to our pups, even if they turn out the same way?”
“They’ll have to get to them over my dead body.”
“I hope not.” Jason hugged him, and then they were into the town and collecting all sorts of looks from the early birds of the pack. Jason’s bare feet and ill-fitting clothes, combined with the bruise on Mac’s face, told a racy tale that would keep the pack whispering for months.The rumor mill will be hot tonight.Let it. The truth was even better than anything the gossips could come up with. And if Jason turned up pregnant, so much the better.
He should have taken the truck. Yes, it would have left the rest of the team stuck out in the security building, but at least Jason wouldn’t have had to walk so far. And Mac kind of wanted to get all the notifications done. They needed to sort out where they would live. Where Jason’s father would live, and if it would be with them. Mac preferred not—he wanted some time where it was just him and Jason. They knew each other a little, but if they were going to make a success of this, they needed more uninterrupted time together.
And if some of that time happened to be in bed, well—Mac wasn’t going to complain.
Jason cuddled closer, his eyes wary as he watched the early morning risers.
“They’re just curious. It’s living in such a crowded place—we get all up in each other’s business.”
“It was like that at home too. I hated it.”
“You have reason. It’s better that the news gets out sooner than later. It’s not like I plan to hide you, and soon it’ll be obvious that we’re mated.”
“Are we, though? No ceremony, no recording of the match. My pack will argue it.”
Mac kept his tone light. “Should we stop now and make a public display? You know, for proof?” He nudged Jason with his hip.
Jason gave a derisive snort. “Jerk.” But he was smiling and Mac felt the loosening of his muscles as they walked.
That only lasted until they made the turn into—their?—neighborhood. Jason’s steps slowed, and Mac tightened his grip on Jason’s shoulders. “I’ve got you.”
Jason sighed and patted Mac’s hand. “I know. I’m just not looking forward to it.”
