Page 108 of Omega's Flight
Holland got restlessly to his feet and started moving around the room, tidying the small disorders that were naturally left behind in a home. I noticed the sink, empty except for one glass, but beside it sat a broom and dustpan. Not wishing to be caught standing around while my Alpha's Mate cleaned up behind Cas, I picked up the broom and began a thorough sweep.
I was so focused on covering every inch of the floor that I didn't hear Cas come out of the bathroom until his sardonic words broke the quiet. "I should have you two come over to wake me up more often."
Holland glared at him for a moment, then shook his head. "You're not a slob, anyway." He slanted a glance in my direction, heavy with meaning. Yes, I know. He wouldn't be a hard mate to look after. Not when it came to keeping a clean house, anyway. But I still didn't want to give myself away again, become something to be owned even if it would be Cas doing the owning.
"Ready?" Cas said, pulling his sneakers on.
I scooped up the tiny pile of dirt I'd collected and dumped it into the just as tiny garbage can by the door. "Ready," I said, and put the broom away.
Cas caught me around the waist. "Thank you." He threw a challenging look Holland's way and kissed me quickly. I laughed, startled, and followed him toward the door, hoping he hadn't seen the smile on Holland's face. Knowing Cas, he'd run the opposite direction if he thought his packbrother was rooting for us to become a pair. I still didn't quite understand why Holland and Bax were supporting us, given that I was still mated. But for now anyway I wasn't going to pry that old wolf's mouth open, just in case the teeth inside bit me.
Holland went to the door and waited while Cas filled a bag with a stack of files from his desk and a handful of pens scooped out of a cracked plastic bowl on his table. "Ready," he announced and then we were on our way back to talk to the Alpha.
C H A P T E R 7 7
C as kept his misgivings to himself on the way over to Quin's office, but an Alpha's conclave wasn't a good sign, even just the threat of one. He'd thought they'd have time to come up with a good offer, something that would convince Jackson-Jellystone that they could afford to give up an omega. But it looked like the other packs were starting to catch on to how much value the omegas had, at least to Mercy Hills. From the things he'd gleaned from Raleigh's conversations, they hadn't caught up with the concept of omegas having value in other packs. How much of this was a money grab, anyway? And he wondered if Mutch would be angry if they did start going from pack to pack, buying omegas. He'd bring it up with Quin, once it was just the two of them, and see what his half-brother thought. It might be a way to ease the tensions that both of them recognized as a serious future threat. It wasn't dangerous yet, but it would be. Any time one group came into money, another group would always be jealous.
Upstairs, they gathered in Quin's office. Not as comfortable as the apartment, but this was business.
He looked up from settling Raleigh in a chair to see Holland and Quin discussing something in low, urgent voices. Quin held Holland's hands and seemed to be paying close attention to whatever it was that Holland was laying out for him. He frowned once and asked a question—Cas briefly considered borrowing from his wolf and eavesdropping, but he wasn't ten any more. He could wait for Quin to let him in on whatever it was painting that expression of reluctant agreement on Quin's face.
"I think that's my fault," Raleigh said. His eyebrows had drawn together with worry.
Cas shook his head. "They're big boys. If they had a problem with you, they'd tell you. It's just how they are."
Raleigh smiled, but it wasn't terribly convincing.
Holland was on the phone now. Quin listened in to him for a moment, then padded back toward the desk. "Holland told me about your decision, Raleigh," he said gently. "I want to be certain that you're okay with it. It's going to put you at risk of him attempting to continue this behavior. We can't guarantee he won't pressure you or the pups."
Raleigh's fingers tightened on the chair's arms until his knuckles whitened. "I know." He took a deep breath and blew it out, refusing to meet anyone's eyes. "I don't know what to do here. I can't say I'm not scared." One of his hands lifted from the chair arm and reached blindly out into space and Cas took it without thinking. Quin didn't even blink, a non-response that did make Cas blink in confusion. "I've changed," Raleigh continued. "I think. I think the pups have changed, being here." He turned his gaze up to meet Quin's. "Maybe he will too?" His fingers tightened on Cas's, but he looked over at Holland. "And I have friends who will help."
Damn right you do. Cas held Raleigh's hand until Holland came back over to the desk, then reluctantly let it go.
"If we can free a few people up, the second house from this end, third row of houses away from the wall can be made habitable." He chewed his lip and looked at Quin with a guilty expression. "Laine keeps a room at his house for April. I expect Degan will want the same thing."
Raleigh twitched but didn't say anything, keeping his eyes trained on the floor.
"Raleigh?" Cas asked gently.
The omega gave a convulsive jerk, as if he was going to get up and leave, but he never left the chair. The hand that Cas had been holding clenched into a fist, then relaxed with an effort Cas could see. "Okay," Raleigh said mildly. "I can deal with that." He tipped his head back and his eyes sought Holland's. “But not right away? I want to know what I'm going into. I didn't know that the first time. I don't want to make that mistake again."
Holland nodded and put a hand on his shoulder. "Would you like me to present the idea to him? You don't even have to be here, if you don't want. Cas will take you home." Holland's gaze flicked up to Cas's, and Cas nodded a silent answer. Of course he would.
Raleigh shook his head. "No, it should be me. He was always a little jealous of Salma and Los Padros and Mercy Hills. Maybe he'll be more careful if he thinks he's getting this chance because of me."
"He is," Quin grumbled.
Raleigh sent a smile the Alpha's way, though his hands were restless in his lap. "Then I'm not lying."
That made Quin give a bark of laughter. "No, I suppose not." He glanced over at his mate. "When do you want to do this?"
"The sooner it's done, the sooner it's over with," Holland said firmly. He patted Raleigh's shoulder and reached out to Quin. "Or do you want a moment to think about how to approach it?"
Quin stared at him briefly, then shook his head. "I'm ready to be done with Jackson-Jellystone's shit. They've been a thorn in my side since before I took this job on." He pinched the bridge of his nose, but let go when Holland began to rub his shoulders. "You think I could talk Abel into taking over again?"
"Not likely," Holland told him, in that dry tone that was his version of humor. "I'll make it up to you later." He bent down and laid a kiss on top of Quin's head. "Ready to get it over with?"
Quin looked over at Raleigh. "You ready?"
