Page 92 of Omega's Flight
Ori nodded and followed Raleigh toward the door. "Thank you, I really appreciate all your help."
"Go feed her," Raleigh said kindly. "And look after yourselves. You're in Mercy Hills, now. You're safe." I shouldered my way out the door and carried the tray back across to my house.
As I washed the dishes, I wondered how Holland was going to manage all this, convince another pack to give up an omega, and the next one, and the next one. I'd thought Mercy Hills was rich, but the argument he'd had with Quin made me wonder. And worry.
And now Quin's insistence that they not pay for my pups made sense. And that worried me even more.
C H A P T E R 6 5
I set my dirty plate down on the table at the edge of the park, smiled at Dolph and Roberta, who were keeping an eye on it and making sure nothing got lost or broken, then wandered over to the sweets table. Neither Ori nor Pat had felt up to coming even just to the meal; in fact, Ori was already asleep when the pups and I stopped by and Pat was on his way there as soon as he'd turned off the lights. Holland had adjusted my schedule to take the two of them around the enclave tomorrow instead of cleaning up after Full Moon. "I want him to have a friend nearby," Holland had said after he'd told me their story. "I hope you don't mind." I hadn't, because I'd already figured out that Ori was sweet-tempered and trying to do his best. And those of us running from our homes were in this together. He deserved all the support I could offer.
A deep alpha voice sounded in my ear. "Are you going to eat those cookies or just stare them into submission?"
Cas.
A smile curved my lips and I plucked the top cookie off the plate. "Going to eat one of them anyway." I turned around and raised my eyebrows at him while I set my teeth into the edge of the cookie. He was more than usually handsome tonight, wearing a worn dress shirt that clung softly to the planes of his chest and the muscle of his arms. Was it... Could I...? I moved closer, so the scent of him washed over me, but...nothing.
He must have noticed my disappointment. "Impatient omegas," he mocked me gently and I punched him in the shoulder. He made a face and grabbed at the spot I'd hit, acting like I'd hurt him. As if that was likely.
"Don't be ridiculous," I scolded.
"Quin would tell you that's the only thing I know how to be," he said. "So, cookies?"
"There's a cinnamon bread over here too." I wished, oh so hard, that I could shake off this hold Degan had on me. With bitter amusement, I remembered the days when I'd been glad of it, certain of my body's response to his. Comforted by it, even.
"Grab me a slice and we can get out of the crowd for a bit." He smiled at me with a hint of mischief in his eyes. "But not too far. I want to see Quin dance again."
That coaxed a laugh out of me and I quickly grabbed two slices of the cinnamon bread and then followed him out of the crowd.
Cas found us a space on the edge of where the dancing would be, opposite the bonfire. I recognized some of the people in the crowd, recognized the curious glances—packs were terrible for gossip. Decided I didn't care. Cas was willing to wait for me, he'd said so.
I wanted him to come home with me. Not tonight, I hadn't figured out yet in the confusion of my emotions how I would deal with the pups. But soon, I wanted to spend a night wrapped in his scent and carry it with me through the next day.
"Oh, there they are." Cas practically chortled with delight. "This should be good for a couple of days of poking holes in the Alpha's ego."
I felt a patch of warmth at my waist, Cas hand resting lightly on my hip. For a moment, I considered whether I shouldn't step away, avoid making the gossip hotter than it probably already was. But his hand felt right, like it belonged where he'd put it. Let them talk. Maybe Degan would stop dragging his feet on tearing up our mating contract. I took a half-step closer and smiled up at him.
The first notes of the guitar player warming up drifted into the air. Around us, the noise of the crowd grew louder. I noticed a few groups setting up for the first dance, eager to celebrate Our Lady of Wolves.
"Come dance with me," I asked impulsively.
"Really?" he said with a grin. I saw his eyes flick over to the dancers assembling on the grass and his grin widened. "Absolutely. Never argue with an omega."
"If I check that with Holland, will I hear the same story?" I laughed as I teased him and he laughed back, then pulled me across the grass to join the set of dancers forming up around his brother.
Holland raised his eyebrows when he saw us coming, but his smile was warm and he spared a hand to give one of mine a quick squeeze of welcome. I saw Quin's eyes widen as Cas took the spot beside him, then his resigned expression shaded over into a thoughtful one.
The fiddle picked up in a few long screeches, then the first notes of the song began. We took our positions, and the music led us into the dance.
AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, I WAS SWEATY, EXHAUSTED, AND AS CERTAIN OF THE FUTURE I WANTED AS I could be. It wasn't only Cas I'd danced with but other alphas and betas and even a few gammas. And I'd stopped dancing when the lover's dances had begun, though I'd danced a promise dance with Cas, which was scandalous in a mated omega, but I refused to consider the possibility that Degan would force me back to Jackson-Jellystone. He was just being stubborn, like he always was, and making sure I understood that even in this, he held the power.
"Come run with me," Cas said as the crowds began to disperse. He took my hands and began to walk backwards toward the trees, pulling me along with him. I went willingly and a part of my mind was already wondering what he'd smell like when I was a wolf. I hadn't gone far yet on any of my runs, preferring to stay close and check on my pups.
Another adventure.
And an unexpected delight. We stripped out of our clothes together and if I was disappointed by my body's inertia around him, my heart could be pleased. I thought he enjoyed what he saw—I could see it in his eyes that he wanted to kiss me.
Briefly, I considered going to him anyway. I could pretend, and just to touch skin on skin would be comforting. But he started his change to his wolf shape before I could make up my mind, which was likely for the best. He wasn't an alpha who would be content with lies and I was finding I was an omega who wanted to live a life free of them. So I changed my shape and brushed up against his dark-furred flank when I'd once again risen to my four feet.
