Page 118 of Carmichael's Omega

"I didn't think Lily ever would," I mutter. I don't think Lily ever would.

"You were how old?"

"Nine."

The Beta nods with a frown. "Not the clearest memories."

"Clear enough. There had to be a reason,no? If mypapáwasn't faithful?"

Teague's frown deepens. "I've heard that your father weathered the loss of his mate well. You think it's because he was a cheater?"

I clench my jaw. "I know he was," I confirm gutturally. All those years of blaming Lily...

"Well, fuck," The Beta expells a breath.

I take a deep breath. "Cassie was devastated when I Marked Mattie first. She..." I shake the thought of my fragile female off. I can castrate myself later. "I can't imagine her being so fucking angry to kill someone."

The Beta smiles again with a bone-chilling flash of canines. "You know who does kill people? Me, punk."

Just like that, the pleasantries are over.

---

29 - Not Normal At All

Matthew

There are a thousand tiny rabbits kicking my face. One of them has taken up residence in my mouth, causing acute xerostomia. I would have my omega-wolf hunt them, but he's sleeping. My eyes are dry, too. I can barely open them.

I can hear a steady ringing that, at first, I think is my ears. When it stops and then starts again, I realize it's my phone. Blinking my eyes wearily until the grit is diminished enough to be able to see, I glance at the screen and feel my heart dip.

Lyall's calling me.

I sit up too quickly and feel nausea roll through me. Groaning, I hit 'answer,' but I can't force my tongue to say words. My wolf is dead to the world, not even twitching in his unconscious state.

"Mattie?" Lyall calls for me twice, then a third time before I can manage a soft grunt of acknowledgment.

"Thank the goddess," he says with relief. "Are you alright, Mattie? Where are you?"

"Marked," I wheeze out.

"You're where?" he asks.

"Marked. Carmichael Marked me," I manage.

There's utter silence from my phone, but I hear a soft moan next to me.

"Cassie!" I breathe her name in horror. I didn't notice that she was next to me because her body temperature is low, and she's as still as a corpse. I nudge her with my nose, inhaling her scent. Her omega-wolf, the tiny, dainty thing, is out like a light, just like my wolf.

I huddle over her and whisper her name again. Her eyelashes flutter, and her lips form my name, but other than that, she doesn't move.

"Mattie?" Lyall's voice comes through the phone sharply. "Did Carmichael Reyes Mark you?" he asks in disbelief.

"Yes," I croak out.

"And Cassie?"

"Yes," Cassie murmurs next to me.

---