Page 21 of Admiring His Omega (Hobson Hills Omegas #12)

H ours later, Mal slid into the booth at Zoe’s bakery, Honey Buns. “I want coffee and pastries right now.”

“You can have a sip of my coffee, weirdo.” Cain kissed the top of his head. “How about orange juice?”

“And herbal tea,” Mal negotiated. “Plus the pastries.”

“Done.”

John had stayed behind with Van, Mark, and the girls.

Jasper would arrive in a few hours to help out.

There would be no trials since the girls had confessed, only sentencings.

The sheriff and, surprisingly, the county prosecutor had both promised to talk to the judge and put in a good word for the teens.

They wanted it to done and over, for the girls and for the town.

Eugene Scott had done some horrible things.

Paula had killed Eugene Scott. She had shot him with his own gun.

After he assaulted Bianca, Paula comforted her, then agreed to go back to the clearing to find Bianca’s phone.

According to Paula, Eugene was there, stumbling around and angry.

He yelled at Paula and ran toward her. Paula had told them how she picked up his gun and closed her eyes before firing toward him.

She had hit him straight in the chest. After that, the teen had run away, dropping the gun in the process.

Sheriff McKenzie had told them Paula’s version of events matched up with the evidence. The county prosecutor had agreed that there was ample evidence of self-defense, so he had chosen not to pursue manslaughter charges. The only problem now was that both girls had not gone to the police.

“Those girls.” Mal groaned and rubbed his eyes.

They should have gone straight to Sheriff McKenzie.

If not that, then Van should have made Bianca go to the police when they found her beaten and bruised.

Paula would have never gone back to the clearing, and fucking Eugene Scott would be rotting in a jail cell.

Hell, if he was passing out blame, then he needed to acknowledge that he should have asked more questions.

“Would of, should of,” he mumbled, fighting a yawn. Now, both teenagers faced the charge of obstruction of justice. Yes, it was better than manslaughter, but it could still be a felony if the judge decided it was.

“Did you hear about those girls that killed Eugene Scott?” an older woman asked her companion at the table next to his. “What is wrong with the younger generation now-a-days?”

Mal growled, ready to yell at the gossips.

“Enough of that,” Zoe told them, refilling their drinks. “We don’t know the whole story. What we do know is that Eugene was a bastard.”

“Well, that’s true,” the woman said, patting her mouth with a napkin. “It’s just so shocking.”

“Violence always is.” Zoe looked sad. “Those poor girls are probably a mess right now. They did the right thing in confessing, but I bet they’re scared.”

The elderly woman winced, looking slightly guilty. “I should make a casserole for their families. I bet they don’t have the time or energy to stay fed.”

“Good idea.” Zoe smiled. “I believe I’ll bring coffee and breakfast sandwiches to the station right now. I hear they’ve been there all night.”

Mal sniffled. All it took sometimes was one person deciding not to fuel hateful gossip. Bianca and Paula didn’t need the town’s gossips speculating about them. He was glad he had only pranked Zoe twice over the years. She was good people.

Cain sat down with their food, and Zoe turned to smile at them. “Is this the man I’ve been hearing all about, Cain?”

Cain yawned. “Meet Mal. Mal, this is Zoe. Wait, I’m sure you already know about her.”

“Zoe owns the bakery and is married to Gib. She’s the granddaughter of Gramps Wilson, the daughter of Barry and Jamie, and the sister of Abel and Ernie.

She likes martinis and has a pet rabbit.

” Mal sighed. “That’s all I really know.

I need to give her more of my time. She deserves custom designed pranks. ”

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re the one that posed gingerbread cookies in my kitchen.” She glared at him. “Did you have to have them decapitating one of their own? It was disturbing, especially the girl cookie crying over the headless body.”

“Generic.” Mal shook his head, slightly embarrassed. “If I knew more about you, I could have done so much better.”

“You’re as bad as my brothers.” She rolled her eyes and walked away.”

Joy built as Mal brushed tears from his eyes. “Did you hear that? She sees me as family already. I can’t wait for Grandpa David and Gramps Wilson to make the announcement.”

Cain watched him, eyes darkening. “I love you so much.”

The buzz of people filling the bakery disappeared until only the alpha of his heart was there. “I love you too. Are you sure about doing this? It’s not too late for you to duck out.”

Cain snorted a laugh. “It is way too late for that. You already have my heart. There is no possibility of me leaving now.”

“What if Jasper dumped his alpha and wanted to be with you?”

“Too late. I have you and there is absolutely no one better.”

“Hmm.” Mal felt inordinately happy to hear him say that. He thought he had gotten over those doubts months ago. “What about the kids? It would be overwhelming for anyone.” Mal patted his extended baby bump. “You only have responsibility toward one of the three kids I come with.”

“Sorry, but I already love Bianca and Teddy too.” He shook his head. “Besides, what would Uncle Ron think of me if I didn’t love all the kids?”

“This is true.” Mal reached for his hand. “You’re really sure?”

“One hundred percent.” Cain watched him for a moment. “Are you sure? I’m not like your first love. Rick is fun and easy-going.”

Mal shook his head, fighting a smile. No, Cain wasn’t like Rick, and the love he felt for his alpha was different than the unrequited painful love that had sent Mal running after graduation.

Love that was returned was so much better.

It felt like a circle of fondness, care, and adoration, ever cycling between them.

He loved Cain’s serious nature as much as he loved his willingness to follow Mal into trouble.

The way he made Mal feel about himself was just as important.

Mal had three kids now. The responsibility would have sent past him into spirals.

Now, he was scared, but determined. That was because Cain hadn’t even hesitated to believe in him.

He hadn’t told Mal that he wasn’t ready for a child.

He hadn’t pointed out that Mal still lived a nomadic life in an RV.

He had only shrugged and said alright. If it was what Mal wanted, then it would happen.

“I want to live the rest of my life with you by my side,” Mal told Cain. “Maybe we didn’t have a traditional start to our relationship, but that’s just how the Reeds do things.”

Cain moved over to his side of the booth and pulled Mal into his arms. “Our love story is a damn good one to add to the Reed family history.”

“It is.” Mal settled his head on top of Cain’s.

They stayed in each other’s arms while they ate their breakfast and fought yawns. An hour later, John slid in front of them, looking ten years younger.

“Jasper arrived early,” he told them, grinning.

“The sheriff pulled some strings to get the judge there immediately. Thirty minutes with them both, and the girls were sentenced to a year of community service. They have to remain in Maine during that time, but otherwise, they are free to return home and be the kids they are meant to be.”

Mal whooped loudly, startling the other customers. Then he leaned against Cain and closed his eyes. “Just a little nap, then we’ll go get Teddy and the critters. Just ten minutes, okay?”

Hours later, Mal woke to the sound of pages slowly turning. He lay in the most comfortable bed he had ever been in. The cool sheets were light gray, and the fluffy comforter was a calm pattern of blue, white and gray stripes. The bed itself was large, easily a California king size.

Best of all was the purring bundle of fur tucked against his abdomen. Truffle enjoyed communing with the monster baby, and Mal would never object because the purring always calmed the baby.

Mal sniffed, then rubbed his eyes before sitting up.

Even though he had never been there, he knew that he was in the new room he would share with Cain.

The walls were a faint greyish white while the furniture was handmade of white oak.

Harper’s work , he thought, smiling. The room was big with a large window seat.

Next to the window seat were two very comfortable looking reading chairs.

He smiled at the man sitting with a book in one of those chairs. “Grandpa Lucas.”

Lucas looked up, brown face brightening when his dark eyes fell on Mal. “You’re finally awake, son. You didn’t even rouse when that alpha of yours carried you in here.”

Mal shifted and climbed out of bed, careful not to disturb Truffle. “I don’t even remember getting home. Having kids is hard, Grandpa Lucas.”

The large man stood and pulled him into a hug. “It really is. You started with a teenager too. That’s even worse.” Lucas gave him a mischievous look. “You look really happy, Mal. Tired, yes, but also happy.”

Mal stretched his body and grinned. “That would be because of Cain. Have you met him?”

Lucas nodded and gently settled Mal into a chair before draping a soft, knitted blanket over him.

“I have.” He sat in the other chair, looking delighted.

“I have to say I was expecting another Rick, but your Cain is very different. He has such a calm presence and serious demeanor. He hasn’t let anyone else hold Teddy since everyone arrived home. ”

Grandpa Lucas was the only one in the family that knew about Mal’s feelings for Rick. He knew all of Mal’s secrets.

“Don’t let Cain fool you.” Mal smirked. “He helps me with my pranks all the time.”