Page 68 of Abel's Omega
“I can’t afford not to, if that’s what mates us for good.” He pulled out his phone and turned on the data, going straight to a web page with lines of numbers that reminded me of some of the financial reports I’d seen around the office.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Alpha Hunt,” he replied smugly and showed me the screen. “It released yesterday.”
“Holy crap,” I said, far louder than I’d meant to.
Fan frowned up at me. “Dabi! Language.”
“I’m sorry, baby. You’re right. I apologize.”
“Don’t do it again.” He jumped and swung from Abel’s arm.
“I won’t,” I told him, and shot a dirty look at Abel, who was biting his lip to keep the laughter inside. “You wait until he starts throwingyourwords back at you,” I hissed. “Then see who’s laughing.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” He slung an arm around my shoulders. “I can’t expect the income from Alpha Hunt to stay like this, but this should push a good chunk of change toward Jason’s fund. And I’ve rented the fields outside walls to someone to graze horses. Now, if Laine’s right about our chances in the counter-suit, we could be in the money.” He stopped and gazed out over the enclave. “How would you like to have a house—a real house, not an apartment—of your very own?”
I sucked in a breath in surprise. “We’re doing that well?”
“Better than I expected. Things are coming together like I’ve never imagined.” He looked down at me, his expression serious. “I have no idea what changed, but I’m glad it did, because it means I can give you all the things you deserve, without shorting either you or the pack. That’s a luxury I haven’t had since I took over. I plan to spend it where it’s most important.”
Oh.What could I say to that? My knees went weak and I went to him, pressing myself tight against his chest. My hero.
He chuckled; it rumbled, deep and comforting against my ear. And I made myself and him a promise that I would do everything in my power to make him happy.
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
We happened upon some old friends of Fan’s, friends who had dropped him like a hot potato when he was no longer Alpha’s pup. Fan ran ahead to say hi, and my heart clenched with worry for my boy. I hoped they wouldn’t be cruel. I hoped he wouldn’t close himself off from me again—he’d made such strides since moving to Mercy Hills.
I shouldn’t have worried.
Angry shouts met our ears and, without a word, we quickened our pace. One of the boys had Fan’s new car in his hand, holding it tauntingly just out of reach. “Omega’s brat,” the pup spat at mine.
“Give it back, it’s mine!” I could almost see steam coming out my oldest’s ears, he was so angry.
“Gonna get your Pappuh to come take it back? Oh, I forgot, you ain’t got one!”
Fan stamped his foot. “Yes I do! I have a new Pap.” Then he turned and ran for us, tears of rage streaming down his face. “Pap, Pap, he took my car.” And ran straight into Abel’s arms.
I covered my mouth to keep from sobbing out loud. I’d never even dreamed of this, but, oh, after this, if nothing in my life ever went right again, I could be still be happy.
Abel raised his eyebrows at me, then looked over at the now apprehensive pups. “That’s okay, Fan. We’ll go get it back.” He picked Fan up and walked toward the small group, his power swirling around him. He never did that, unless he was trying to make a point. I felt it reach toward the pups, and he would have been well within his rights to give them a good snap with it, but he held off, letting it hover no more than a finger’s length away from their skin. “Fan forgot his car,” he said in the politest of tones.
The boy holding Fan’s car cautiously held it out to him. “I’m sorry, Fan,” he said nervously.
Abel let Fan down to retrieve his toy, then picked him back up again. “Boys, I’m not going to deal with you myself, but I will be letting Roland know about your behavior. I suppose he’ll know what to do with you.” Then he held a hand out to me, and we walked on, so Fan could show us the special waterfall in the little creek that ran through the enclave.
We spent a second night in Jackson-Jellystone. In part to give Fan a chance to run around and play with some other pups that hadn’t been a part of the first group, but also because it was a ten hour drive between there and Buffalo Gap—and that was without stops for bathroom breaks and meals. Abel spent the afternoon interviewing candidates with Duke, and eventually got the list down to the two he thought could get up to speed the fastest, and one spare in case something happened to their first choices.
The papers were officially signed that evening at a small celebration held in the commons, with food I didn’t have to cook, and entertainment I didn’t have to arrange. It was heaven. And more so, because the pups were now officially Abel’s. No matter what happened to me, they had a home, and a father who would raise them to be good shifters, and good leaders. An omega could ask no more.
Then the next day we were packed in the van, Duke and Abel in the front, myself and the pups in the back. We had fun snacks, and Duke had shown me different places on the map we could stop and let Fan stretch his legs. I was as happy as I’d ever been. And now that the opportunity to go home for a visit had come up, a tight knot of homesickness had settled into my stomach. I was ready to see the people I’d grown up with.
Duke and Abel talked or listened to the radio. I read the last two of my Christmas novels, stopping occasionally when the motion of the car made me sick to my stomach. I slept a little, too, as did the pups. Fan played puppy games on Abel’s cell phone, an offer that had made me nervous at first, but he seemed to take the responsibility seriously enough that I could stop watching him so closely.
And then, finally, we were showing our papers at the gate to Buffalo Gap, and I was back in my home town. I hung out the window as we drove through the tiny community, heading for the Alpha’s house. My Uncle Mitchel waited on his front porch for us, hat tipped back on his head, battered boots up on the railing. No formality here. Abel’s posture changed, stiffening ominously. My stomach churned and a strange prickling had started in the skin around my hairline. I eyed Abel nervously, uncertain what he’d do or say. He’d been so stiff with Patrick, and I knew he still carried some anger at Uncle Mitchel for mating me off so early.
But all the tension disappeared when we got out of the van.
