Page 5 of Saving His Omega
Fated mate.
Yeah. He’d been mostly open to the idea given how his equally rational alpha had lost his Gods-damned mind at the first sight of Wren. Elijah had put his need for his mate over any other consideration. Moreover, the primitive omega strived hard every day to fit into his new pack. Their love and devotion to one another was joyful to behold and it was a more compelling tale about finding the one true shifter for oneself than even the example set by Graydon and Ethan. The fact that the Strongblood alpha, with his close ties to nature, had lost his mind from the moment he’d clapped eyes on Ethan didn’t really signify. Old-fashioned shifters stuck to the views of the past. Modern ones like the Green Mountain Pack members were supposed to rise above that and conform to a way of life that allowed better integration with humans when the time came. And that time would come. He was certain of that.
The fact that some deeply imbedded part of him could take over his beta brain was disturbing. And yet, as he stared down at the pretty boy by his side, he couldn’t muster up any effort to fight against his needs. He wanted Tripp more than his next breath and in a few short hours, he would have him.
A waving hand caught his attention as they passed the weaving shed. Graham changed course. “Come and meet my mother.”
The omega stiffened briefly. Because of their hands being clasped together, Graham could feel every emotion and most of the boy’s reactions weren’t happy ones. It was as if he expected at any moment to be confronted by something frightening. Graham’s wolf growled lowly with fury. This omega’s past must have been horrific for the boy to be this damaged. Graham resolved to make it up to him as best he could once they were mated.
He shoved aside his anger and forced a grin on his face. “Mom, this is Tripp. We’re, ah, going to be mated tonight.” Whenever he’d thought of his eventually mating, he had pictured a courtship and a celebration by the pack. The stark haste of this situation embarrassed him on some level, as he stood before his mother while holding hands with an already breeding omega.
His mother must have sensed his unease because she smiled broadly and came out to hug first him, then a startled Tripp. “As if this is news to me.” She stepped back. “It’s all anyone can talk about. Not much work is getting done this afternoon.”
“Tripp, this is my mother, Carol. She is the head crafts sigma.”
“Ma’am.” Tripp’s voice was barely a whisper and his gaze remained fixed on the ground.
His mother focused her attention on Tripp. “Welcome to our pack and our family, Tripp. Graham’s father and I are delighted by his mating, and having a grandpup coming so soon? It’s wonderful. My mate looks forward to formally meeting you at supper.” She swiped at tears forming at the corner of her eyes.
Graham had always loved and appreciated his parents. The way they were accepting Tripp and another dominant’s pup into their lives with such obvious ease almost made him want to cry himself from gratitude. Not that he’d doubted their kindness, but the sheer speed with which their son’s life was changing would have justified any apprehension they might have felt. He sensed no hesitation in his mother and his father always followed her lead in family matters, so he wasn’t worried about Tripp meeting the man.
Tripp didn’t say anything, although he huddled closer to Graham’s side. The omega’s seeming trust in him was a good sign. Even though the boy tended to flinch at sudden movements, he wasn’t so damaged by his past that he and his wolf didn’t recognize the protection Graham afforded them. It made him hopeful that they would be able to settle into their new lives without a lot of effort and drama.
“Well, I should get back to work.” His mother backed away. “Be sure to show Tripp what his brother is doing.” She shot Graham a stern look that always meant she was giving him an order, hierarchy be damned.
“Thanks, Mom. That’s our next stop.” With what he hoped was a reassuring squeeze of his hand, Graham headed for the woodworking barn where he spied Blake. It was past time for them to have a little talk about Tripp’s future.
Chapter Three
Like all of the places in the pack where sigmas toiled, there was a flurry of activity, although there was more than the usual amount of men standing around and talking. As he and Tripp approached, even those who had appeared to be occupied made no effort to hide their curiosity. He knew these men and understood they meant no harm, but their sudden focus on Tripp made the omega tense to a degree that alarmed Graham. Releasing Tripp’s hand, he drew him closer to his side and wrapped his free arm around the boy’s waist. The omega relaxed a fraction but didn’t truly release his tension until his brother came out of the barn.
“Blake.” Tripp said the name under his breath.
Graham had to mentally, as well as physically, pry his body away from the omega’s. “It’s okay. You can go talk to him.”
Tripp went to his brother as fast as his short legs and big belly would permit. Blake, though, had already started toward him and chewed up the ground between them. He enveloped Tripp in his arms and hugged him as close as the unborn pup would allow. Over Tripp’s shoulder, however, Blake stared at Graham. There was question in his gaze, as well as apprehension. A conversation before the mating was in order.
Graham caught up with them and stuck his hands in his front pockets to keep from grabbing the omega back into his possession. “How’s it going, Blake?”
The sigma broke the hug, although he stayed close to his brother. “Everything’s great, sir. Thank you. I’ve been offered a job making furniture if I don’t want to work the fields.” He shrugged. “I’m happy to do whatever’s best for the pack.”
“Blake’s a wonderful woodworker.” As usual, Tripp spoke in a low tone and his gaze never strayed from the ground. “He made lots of money doing it in the human world.”
The timid, fearful omega was not as much so when it came to his brother, apparently.
Blake put his hand on Tripp’s shoulder, a tight smile on his face. “I did what I had to do to take care of Tripp, but I’m really good with whatever the alpha wants me to do.”
Both of these wayward shifters were trying hard to protect one another and not make waves in their new pack. Graham was responsible for both of them now that they were part of his family.
He gave what he hoped was a reassuring nod to Blake. “Elijah likes everyone in the pack to reach their best potential. I’m sure if you want to continue making furniture that we can sell to the humans, the head sigma will place you there.”
“Thank you, Beta. Albert said as much to me after we discussed my skills.”
“That’s all settled then.” Graham paused and looked around. He waved at a young sigma, who was Draco’s younger brother. “Brent.”
The young man, barely out of puphood, came loping over. “Yes, Beta?”
“Take Tripp back to the longhouse and find him a place to lie down. He needs to rest before supper.” Although it was an excuse to give Blake and him privacy, it was also true that the omega had been on his feet for a while. Putting them up and taking a nap would do him a world of good. The night was going to be a stressful one.
