Page 10 of A Home for Tyler (Omegas of Animals #14)

Dimitri

I needed to feed my mate. And there was nothing in this place worthy of passing his sweet, kiss-swollen lips.

So, I’d driven back to Animals to find something better.

Watching my Tyler eat made me stand up a little straighter and thrust out my chest. It was the least I could do as a provider, but I vowed I would do better and soon.

I had some money in the bank, savings and my severance, but they would not last forever, and I would need to do something more long-term soon.

I still didn’t think going back to a big-city job was the answer.

Not good for either of our animals, but I needed another solution before I could offer him the support he would need.

And now he couldn’t even eat breakfast because he had to go find out what was going on that had a tenant screaming. Why hadn’t he jumped at the opportunity to move to Animals? They were offering us everything we needed to get started on our own. Jobs, a place to live, three meals a day.

Never having to be responsible for anyone but myself before, I had to think differently about the life I’d been trying to figure out. With the apartment sublet, my expenses were way down, so I’d thought I had some time to consider.

But I wanted to make a home for my omega. Wanted him out of the fleabag he was living in before it broke him. And Animals could at least give us what we needed while we decided if we wanted to be elsewhere or doing other things.

Tyler came back looking a little the worse for wear, but he had taken the time to wash his hands and face. He plopped down next to me and picked up the omelet box. “That’s dealt with.”

“Anything bad?”

“No, just the first calamity of the day. Bob’s faucet malfunctioned. I turned the water off under the sink and will order a replacement online right now.” He tapped at his phone screen then set it down. “Can I have that omelet again?”

“All right.” I passed him his breakfast and leaned back on my elbows while he ate. Between us we managed to eat most of what I’d made. “I could have asked for the cooks to give me food they’d made, but I wanted to cook for you myself.”

I collected the to-go boxes the chefs at Animals had provided me and stuffed them in the trash. “So, what’s next?”

“The plan?” He tilted his head, adorably puzzled. “Well, I don’t know what you’re going to do but I have a sewer line to clear and some electrical work to do. Among other things.”

“Are you qualified, I mean, no offense or implication that you don’t have skills, but those things sound dangerous.”

“I do have some skills, and I watch a lot of YouTube videos.”

“Omega…”

“It’s my job, but I’m careful.”

“All right, then. Lead on, omega. I also have some skills. Sort of.” The primary skill I planned to use was making sure he didn’t do anything likely to electrocute him. “What do we do first?”

He pulled out his phone, a new but cheap model, and brought up a list. “Plugged toilet in number seven.”

I followed him behind the check-in desk where he retrieved a tool box and a ballcap.

Donning the hat, he headed outside and down the row of rooms until we reached the one with the broken faucet.

He rapped on the door and called, “Mr. Anders? It’s Tyler here to fix your faucet.

” and when nobody answered, he unlocked it.

“This is one of our resident tenants, but he’s not usually home during the day.

Still, we always knock. No telling what we might walk in on if we didn’t. ”

“Doesn’t sound appealing at all.”

My mate seemed to know what he was doing, but I hovered outside the bathroom, insisting he tell me if I could help with anything.

“I’ve got this.” He used a closet auger to unclog the toilet and held up the end when it came back. “Can you believe this?”

“A towel? How was there a towel in the toilet?”

“It happens at least once a week around here. I don’t know how or why, but I just have to deal with it. Part of the job.”

Not much of a job, if anyone asked me, but nobody had.

“Well, let me get rid of it for you at least.” I carried the towel out and came back in to find Tyler working on an electrical outlet.

He had me go out and turn off the breaker then used a tester before unscrewing the switch.

While he was calm and seemed like he knew just what he was doing.

But my fingers twitched, wanting to provide unwanted and probably unneeded help.

We went from task to another, me helping out as much as possible and wishing I could do more. I didn’t want to push the Animals idea, but he was working twenty-four/seven from what I was seeing. For very little money.

As dinnertime approached I decided to go back to Animals and make some dinner to share with my mate.

I wasn’t able to cook it myself, this time, because the kitchen was too busy to have an amateur underfoot.

But my mate was going to be in for a treat with the selections they sent with me, so I was sure he wouldn’t mind.

Plus, he’d been telling me all day that I should relax because it was his job; I should just sit and be company for him.

Before I left the club I considered seeking out Karma.

I’d only been here a couple of days and had begun to understand why everyone sought her out for just about everything.

She couldn’t cross the main floor without being stopped two or three times for advice on topics work related or otherwise.

And when she ate in the kitchen, she was the center of attention.

The employees and their families flocked to her like butterflies to a colorful flower.

And they always left her side looking happy and relaxed.

I could use a little of that, but I didn’t want to use her.

“I thought you were with your mate.” While I’d been deciding whether to approach her, she’d found me instead. “Everything all right? Are you taking him all that food?” She gestured to the four big containers I held.”

“Yes, I probably should pay for it.”

“Didn’t we tell you the kitchen was open for our people and their families? You should probably go back and get more.”

I laughed, her generosity and kindness lifting my mood instantly.

She was supposedly a human, in fact the reason humans were allowed to come here was because she and a friend or two had snuck in years ago.

Warren had taken one look at her and Fate and his bear told him he’d found his mate. “This is plenty. There’s even dessert.”

“Oh good. I think we had those giant cookies that Robert makes. Did you get some of those?”

“And pie and cobbler. I really did take a lot.”

“Good. Until you learn what your mate likes best, you have to offer him a selection.” She giggled, like the sound of bells. “And if he’s like me, a selection will be what he likes best.”

“Are you talking about sweets?” Warren arrived, as he so often did when Karma was present. My cousin was more than smitten with his beautiful, kind mate. “Because Karma is the reason we offer so many of them.”

“And they do very well, Warren.” She offered him a stern stare that turned into another giggle. “I was just going to ask your cousin when he and his mate will be moving in and starting work.”

Warren hugged her close to his side. “I’ll ask. When?”

“He doesn’t seem to want to, which I can’t understand because everything at that motel is awful. We are mated now.”

“Congratulations,” Karma said, echoed by her mate.

“Thank you. So, why didn’t he just grab his backpack and hop in the car, wiping the dust of that place off his shoes?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know, but maybe be a little patient and everything will work out.”

I expected something more precise like a magical phrase that would change Tyler’s mind, but Karma couldn’t always fix everything, I supposed.”

Warren walked me out to the car, parked just outside the kitchen door, and rested a hand on my shoulder, stopping me from getting in.

“Just one thing, Cousin. Don’t assume what Karma said was a platitude.

She doesn’t do those. And she’s always right.

” He grinned. “Sometimes it drives me just a little nuts, but she is. Now, go feed your mate.”