Page 10 of An Omega for Christmas

Matthew looked uncomfortable and Grey allowed his eyes to travel over the omega's slight frame. His dark blue robe was hanging off the omega, revealing a creamy expanse of skin nearMatthew's throat that Grey wanted to kiss and bite. He wanted to stake his claim on the omega. He knew that would be one way to keep Matthew safe from Kelvin, but now probably wasn't the time to present that option.

"Just stay here for now, that's all I ask. We can work out all the other stuff, but I need to phone one of my betas to get them up to speed, okay?" Grey didn't want to let Matthew out of his sight but he knew he had to deal with this new problem and he didn't want to cause the omega any further anxiety especially when he was in heat.

"I don't want your pack knowing about me." Matthew placed his hands on the table and Grey could see how badly the omega was shaking.

"They're going to find out about you sooner or later. They'll be able to scent you. Telling them about you will keep you safer, trust me, Matthew. Just stay here with me and let me deal with this."

Matthew stared at Grey for a long moment, his hazel eyes looking troubled. "Kelvin threatened to kill you if I came here. I should go. I'm already causing you trouble."

"You'll never be trouble, not for me, and I can handle Kelvin Patrick." Grey picked up his phone. "Besides, no one should be alone at Christmas."

Chapter Seven

Grey filled Meredith, his most trusted beta, in on the situation. She'd confirmed what he'd already thought - Matthew's scent had already been picked up and the rest of the pack was starting to ask questions. There had been no contact from Kelvin and Grey was taking that as a bad sign. Kelvin was an Alpha, and was obviously still hung up on Matthew, and there was no way an Alpha would give up so easily. Kelvin wouldn't rest until Matthew was driven away completely, but Grey couldn't understand why. Kelvin had ended things with Matthew, and had even found another mate, but it appeared that the Alpha was still obsessed with Matthew, as though he saw him as some kind of threat. That didn't make any kind of sense to Grey. Omegas were way down the food chain, prized only for their breeding abilities to most shifters. Grey had never really given the matter of omegas a lot of thought, partly because omegas were so rare and he'd never come across one before he'd met Matthew even though his pack was pretty progressive and was largely made up of shifters who society had seen fit to label as outcasts. He knew that his pack would welcome Matthew as his mate with open arms, regardless of the fact that he couldn't provide them with an heir. The pack didn't really go in for old fashioned traditions and Grey, for one, was glad of it. His pack would just be content that their Alpha had finally found his mate, but Grey knew it was going to be difficult to convince Matthew of that fact.

Grey walked back into the kitchen and busied himself opening a bottle of wine whilst he thought things over. He glanced Matthew's way, but the omega stayed where he was, huddled by the fire, his face turned to the flames. Grey ached with longing as he watched Matthew, staring into the glowing fire, lost in hisown thoughts. The omega's face was flawless and Matthew was more beautiful than any man he'd ever seen, including Jon. The familiar feelings of loss rose within Grey when he thought of his former lover, but they weren't as intense, or as painful, and he wondered if that had something to do with the omega sat in his living room.

"I've spoken to Meredith, my beta. She's going to set up a meeting with Kelvin. The pack is aware of your presence and is keen to meet you but there's no rush. I'll meet with Kelvin tomorrow and deal with his threats, and afterward, I'd like to spend Christmas with you, just the two of us, so we can get to know one another."

"And you think Kelvin's going to listen to you?" Matthew turned to face Grey and he could see the streaks of spent tears on the omega's cheeks.

"I'm more powerful than Kelvin will ever be. He's difficult but he's all talk and he'll fall into line or be dealt with." Grey handed Matthew a glass of wine and Matthew stared at him for a long moment before he nodded, a small look of relief crossing his face.

"So, do you have any Christmas decorations?" Matthew took the wine that Grey offered to him, clutching it in his hands. He sipped the ruby red liquid, the flickering light of the fire picking out the hard planes of his cheekbones, his small white teeth worrying his pouty, pale pink bottom lip and making Grey ache in longing. He'd never thought that he would feel that ache again, but this time the ache seemed more pronounced, full of need, and full of such heated want, that he thought he was going to burn alive from the feeling. He'd thought that if desire ever entered his life again, then he would feel some kind ofguilt because of the love he had shared with Jon, but there was nothing. All he knew was Matthew and the burning desire he felt for the omega sitting in his living room.

"You're miles away."

Matthew's soft voice drifted through Grey's thoughts and he snapped back to the present with a start. "Sorry, just..." The words died on his lips when he saw the robe Matthew was wearing had parted slightly, revealing his long lean thigh. Grey swallowed hard and picked up his glass.

"So, do you?" Matthew asked, tugging at the edge of the robe and regarding Grey through heavy lidded eyes, framed by thick black lashes.

"Do I what?" Grey suddenly felt confused.

"Do you have any decorations, or a tree?" Matthew's soft pink lips tweaked up into a hopeful smile that tugged at Grey's heart.

"Yeah. I got a tree delivered a couple days ago but it's still in the garage, and there's a box of decorations and lights and stuff in there somewhere."

"Well, if I'm going to stay here, maybe we should put it up. Make it a proper Christmas." Matthew's eyes sparkled and Grey thought that he saw something that looked like hope there. Grey's need to make Matthew happy was almost painful and mixed with the lonely ache he felt constantly, the feeling seemed to intensify in his gut.

"Sure, why not. We could get them out tomorrow." Grey took another drink of wine.

"I want to do it now." Matthew smiled at him, and it was the first full on smile that Grey had seen from him and Christ, it was adorable and sexy as hell, lighting up his beautiful face leaving Grey powerless in his desire for the omega.

"Okay, but I warn you, it's a big tree."

"Well, it's lucky I've got a big, strong Alpha to bring it inside then, isn't it?" Matthew blushed when Grey looked his way and grinned. The Alpha reached for Matthew's hand and led to the connecting door to the garage, some of the tensions finally easing between them.

Grey flicked on the garage light and they both stood staring at the tree in stunned silence. It was barely three foot tall and the branches were pitiful. Grey stood back and looked at it again, as though staring at it would somehow make the tree grow and become the majestic, lush tree he had picked out at the tree place, the tree he'd actually paid for.

"This isn't what I ordered."

Matthew finally let out the laugh that he had been trying to hold in. He pressed his hand to his stomach as laughter bubbled out of him. "Didn't you check when it got delivered?" He wiped his eyes and Grey glared at him, which only served to amuse Matthew more.

"No, I didn't check. I wasn't even in when it was dropped off. I ordered it on a whim and then lost the Christmas spirit immediately after."

"Why?"

Grey turned to Matthew and collided with his searching gaze and immediately felt trapped. "It just felt stupid trying to keep traditions going on my own. A bit pointless really, I guess."