Page 32 of Saving His Omega
“That’s right. I feared Blake would give the game away, but I think his reaction helped sell the story.” He shrugged. “In any event, Garth agreed because he knew the alternative was a fight then and there. Plus, I figured the possibility of Victor siring a servient probably didn’t enter their minds.”
Tripp ran his hand over Grace’s head. The pup was down for the count now and soon the fur would disappear. “You’re right about that. Victor always talked about the pup as his son. None of the dominants liked it when a female was whelped. I don’t think any of them considered if they all sired sons the way they wanted, there wouldn’t be enough females in the pack to mate with.”
“Well, if Garth is anything to go by, they’re all morons.” He squeezed his mate briefly while stifling a yawn. “Let’s follow our pup’s example and get some sleep. We’ve all had a hard day.”
Tripp closed his eyes. “Yes, Graham. That’s a good idea…” Just like that, the omega was out.
Burrowing deeper into the pillows, Graham happily followed.
****
“I can’t believe you kept this a secret from me.” Tripp laid his pup, bundled in the blanket he’d crocheted for her, into the cradle Blake had just delivered. He ran his fingers over the smooth wood. “It’s beautiful, Blake. It’s going to be the first place all my pups are going to sleep.”
His brother blushed and hung his head where he sat cross-legged on the floor. “It’s not much. I wanted to stencil flowers on the sides but didn’t have time.”
Tripp settled himself on the bed once more. He was still sore from the whelping and tired from the effort to nurse and care for Grace. Having time to rest while the pup slept was something he took advantage of.
They were staying in Graham’s old room until their home was finished. Tripp would have preferred returning to the room they’d had in the longhouse, but his mate had insisted on this arrangement instead. He wanted Carol easily available to help Tripp, and of course, Tripp had submitted to his mate on the matter. There would be times to argue with the man over something important. Being coddled wasn’t one of them. Still, he was determined to do as much for himself as he could. In this pack, he didn’t feel like a helpless omega, and that new confidence meant everything to him.
A sudden flood of emotion swept over him. “I was so scared for you.” With just the two of them in the room, it was easy for him to finally speak frankly.
Blake rested his chin on his hand. “I know you were. I was, too, but I was tired of running from the past. Whatever was going to be my fate, at least I knew you were safe. Until you told your mate everything,” he added with a stern look. “What were you thinking, Tripp? Things could have ended badly for you.”
“Graham was never going to let me be hurt. And I was so angry at him—at everyone—that my life would have been worse if I hadn’t let the truth out. Knowing what had really happened while everyone else didn’t would have eaten away at me. I’m truly at peace now for the first time in my life. Are you?” He held out his hand over the cradle.
His brother took it, squeezed, then let go. “Yes. I really am.”
“Our sire will accept Elijah’s gifts and send a beta back here to demand more, I expect. He’ll be disappointed about the pup, but more goods will soothe that hurt, I’m sure.”
“He’s greedy and shortsighted,” Blake agreed with a nod. “I’m not sure that Garth will deliver Graham’s offer, though.”
Tripp furrowed his brows. “Why not?”
Blake shrugged. “From what little time I spent with him, I got the impression that he’s not quite as dumb a gamma as we might have thought. I bet he and the others decide to tell only half the truth of what happened.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m thinking maybe they’ll tell our sire that I’m dead, that you’re re-mated, and that Elijah had me killed so that I wouldn’t bring trouble to this pack. All those goods is fair payment for a breeding omega, and who cares about a murderous sigma? I got my comeuppance, and even though our sire didn’t get the satisfaction of dealing with me himself, he got a bunch of great stuff.” Blake shrugged again. “That’s what I would think to do and I’m only a dumb sigma.”
Tripp snorted. “No one would ever call you ‘dumb’. Look how well you took care of me in the human world. Graham has said that’s really impressive.”
“Maybe.” Blake shot him a smile before lowering his gaze and staring at the rug underneath him. “I could be wrong. Garth and the others might be too scared of getting caught in a lie. Graham might be mistaken, too, about our sire accepting a possible new dominant pup. They could still come here looking for vengeance.” He looked at Tripp again. “I’m not going to risk bringing more trouble to your safe home.”
Alarm shot through Tripp. He sat up. “What do you mean? You’re not leaving us.” He made it a declaration because the thought of losing his brother again was intolerable.
Blake sprang to his feet and walked around the cradle to sit on the bed. “Not until the spring and I’m not going far.” He grimaced. “I’ve talked to the alpha and Graham about this and they’ve agreed to have Draco take me to the Rogue Pack.”
“Why? What’s there that isn’t here?” He worked to keep his voice low so as not to wake Grace when all he wanted to do was shout. His bubble of happiness hadn’t lasted more than a couple of days.
“Misfits. Shifters who don’t belong anywhere else. It’s kind of the Rogue’s thing, you know? Alpha Lorcan founded his pack as a refuge for strays, like himself. Anyone who doesn’t have a pack to stay in is welcome.”
“But that’s not you. The Green Mountain Pack has welcomed us both. There’s no need for you to seek out a safe place.”
Blake closed his eyes on a nod before looking Tripp in the eye with the kind of fierce determination he’d seen before. “This is a home for me, yes. I don’t want to turn it into a battle ground for my sake. Not only is the risk of lost lives too great, a big fight might catch the attention of the nearby humans. That would be terrible for everyone. The Rogues are more isolated. Humans have no idea they exist. Any fighting would be unnoticed and that pack is a tough bunch of shifters. They’ve had to defend their territory already and are always ready for war.”
Tripp wrapped his arms around his knees. “So you’re okay with bringing trouble to their pack but not this one just because I’m here?”
“I’m hoping I won’t bring trouble to any pack. And yes, protecting you and Grace is the most important thing for me.” He looked down at the pup and grinned. “And anyway, it’s settled. Alpha Lorcan has agreed I can join them next spring. He’s still looking to add to their numbers and he said a skilled sigma is always welcome.”
