Page 31 of Generation Omega: Claimed (Originverse #3)

TILLIE

When I return to myself, I’m surrounded with gratitude and love from Ory and his omega, and I’m snuggling with Mackenzie.

I don’t feel any worse for wear, except I’m profoundly aware that Ory chose an interesting spot for his bite.

I didn’t give any rules, so I guess my breast is a perfectly acceptable place for a bondmark.

Discovering that the first alpha is a boob guy is priceless—clearly, mankind hasn’t changed all that much since the dawn of the omegaverse.

Lass, are you well? Mackenzie knows I’m doing just fine—I’m practically purring—but he’s giddy about hearing my thoughts and speaking directly into my mind.

I sigh dramatically. It’s just terrible being an omega. That’s what I answer, unable to even pretend I mean it.

When I open my eyes, I find Mackenzie staring down at me, studying my face like he’s never seen it before.

I reach for his thoughts and receive them.

His pleasure arrives first, followed by how beautiful he thinks I am, and how wonderful it was to share his garden with me while our bodies were on loan to the omegaverse’s first couple.

“That really happened, didn’t it?” I whisper, sharing the most memorable details about our time in his inner garden. I remember everything so clearly, the garden like nothing I’ve ever seen or imagined—more like something out of a movie created by amazing artists using sophisticated computers.

“It did happen. It’s where I go when I’m not in control. It’s heaven, and the fragrance is yours.”

I nod. I knew it instantly. “Mackenzie, show me more about your life. Our introduction was cut short. I saw your sister and some hulking friends of yours, but I want to see everything.”

Mackenzie strokes my cheek so tenderly as he opens his past to me, taking me on a guided tour of his life.

He told me the truth, but experiencing his loneliness, grief, and shame is harder than I imagined it would be.

Even now, there’s a hint of worry that his lack of experience in love is somehow a weakness.

No, Mackenzie—I say that right into his head and urge my heart to send that message directly to his heart. Your love is an undiscovered vein of gold.

Darn it. I need better words. I’m not a poet. I’d rather show him with my hands in clay or some other medium that will last forever. But since he’s hearing all my frustrated thoughts, I might as well continue.

“Romantic love is messy, and it often costs as much or more than it gives. But your heart and your belief in love are pure. Your heart has never been damaged or broken. You haven’t installed another row of barbed wire after each heartbreak, like the rest of us.

You’ve never been betrayed or experienced the absolute crime of being taken for granted, and you’ve never been left behind when your lover’s heart grew cold.

Honestly, I haven’t experienced all of that, but I’ve seen enough to know exactly how rare you are. ”

I place my hand over his heart. “I’m sorry you felt such loneliness and even invisible as the world seemed to leave you behind. But your pure heart is an incredible gift to me, this pack, and our mission.”

The full picture forms in my thoughts, an image I share, and then I explain to Mackenzie while knowing Ory is listening too.

You are my reflection, Mackenzie, and I’m yours.

You’ll give me the strength and courage to hold my own when alpha sensibilities clash with my omega heart.

That’s why it’s so important that Ory keeps you safe and away from the darkness.

I have five other alphas—plus Ethan—to handle all the violence that comes our way, but I only have you to remind me of the garden we’re meant to create for everyone.

I gasp, panic igniting like a lightning bolt striking dry brush.

“Tillie, what’s wrong? Your thoughts are moving too quickly. I can’t understand.”

The omega legacy arrives to run interference, keeping Mackenzie out of my thoughts.

It’s true. That’s all it says, and I’m living in the quicksand of guilt.

The push of Gideon’s thoughts reaches me. Are you okay?

Meet me in the master suite. I need to talk to you.

Of course.

“Hey,” I say to Mackenzie, whose eyes are brimming with concern. “I know we still have some serious bondmark tending to do, though our alter egos did their part, but…”

“It can wait. Will you tell me what’s wrong? I didn’t do something…”

“No, of course not. It’s about me, but I need to talk to Gideon, so…”

Mackenzie immediately sits up, helping me back into my wrap dress that the feral duo managed not to destroy. Before I leave him, I lean and kiss his lips.

Still kissing him, I think my next thoughts quite strongly. I know we just met, but I want you to know that I love you, and I’m so glad you’re here.

Thanks for being my home, Tillie.

Walking away from Mackenzie is a serious challenge, but I do it, hurrying down the stairs and through the main level, ignoring everyone on my way to the spiral stairs.

I’m still rushing when I enter the master suite where Gideon stands beside the bed, looking imposingly gorgeous—occupational hazard, for sure.

“Baby girl, your thoughts are out of control. I can’t decipher anything, but it’s clear something is wrong.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, attempting to completely stop my thoughts.

When that fails, I consider what I don’t know about how my mental alpha links work.

What’s the range? If I’m with one alpha, can they all hear me?

Is there any way, other than chatting incessantly with the omega legacy, to get some privacy?

I’m too agitated to think, so I try something different. I slip my fingers just beneath my dress, running them over the new bondmark on my breast. Ory, shield Mackenzie for me.

I don’t know whether he heard me, but then a booming voice enters my thoughts. He’s safe. Carry on. Let me know when I should bring him back.

My exhale explodes out, and my shoulders slump.

“Tillie,” Gideon says roughly, “what’s going on?”

My hands are cold and trembling. Gideon extends his hand toward me, and I reach for it, his warmth instantly soothing. But nothing is going to stop my heart from rattling around like it’s caught in a trap.

Before Gideon loses his mind over my erratic behavior, I tug him toward the couch.

He willingly follows, but when I stop, he moves ahead, sitting and reaching for me.

I climb onto his lap and allow my stress to release as our hearts pound together, his heart slowing mine like it did in the auditorium when all of this began—back when I had just one alpha somewhere in the world.

Now, I have two bonded alphas. I shudder at where all of this is going.

“Baby girl, please …”

I sit up so I can meet his uneasy gaze. For a second, I can’t speak. My lip quivers, and a few defiant tears race toward my chin.

“Oh, Gideon, I’m so sorry.”

His famous eyebrows demand answers before his words reach me. “What do you have to be sorry for? Tillie, what’s going on?”

I point toward the ceiling. “I just bonded Mackenzie. I’m sure you know that, and then we let Ory and his omega have some time together.”

He’s nodding, having experienced that with me, as he experiences everything with me.

“I know the role that Mackenzie is supposed to play in our pack—he’s beautiful, so perfect.”

Gideon swallows like my pain and fears are physically harming him.

“Gideon, I…” My breaths are halting, but I force myself to continue. “… I’m the greatest danger to our pack.”

“What?!”

“It’s true. The second I realized what Mackenzie’s purpose is, I also saw what your role is meant to be…

” I don’t hide my grimace—not even a mask could conceal it.

“… and also glimmers of Thatcher’s role, and Kazimir, even Jameson.

I saw these powerful hints of what all our pack puzzle pieces are supposed to form. ”

My hand covers my heart, as though providing protection during this self-intervention.

“I couldn’t see it before Mackenzie, but now, I can’t unsee it.

I’m risking everything. I’m risking Mackenzie , the man who willingly stepped aside to finally find his home in this world.

I’m his home—this pack is his home. And I’m threatening his life and his future by not acknowledging your role, alpha . ”

Gideon’s jaw clenches, his face seeming to be made of marble. I feel him probing my thoughts, and instead of launching an idea army, I relax and allow him into my soul, sharing all my guilt and the full truth my words still haven’t revealed.

I’m not trusting you to take care of me, alpha, and I’m sorry.

I’m terrified to have Thatcher in my head—terrified of what he will do with that power.

Will he try to erase my love for Ethan? Will he punish me for my fantasies?

Will he be jealous? Violent? Will I ever be free to think without his judgment?

The harsh reality reaches us both, as I remind him of my parents’ belittling attacks on me.

That’s what Thatcher represents to me. I trust Gideon with my life—I thought that was true, but I see now that I’m using my doubts to clip Gideon’s wings, denying him the right to lead.

Worse, he’s letting me. Gideon thinks if he just shows me how much he loves me that I will eventually surrender to his leadership.

Maybe he’s right, but we don’t have time for that.

I bury my face against Gideon’s neck as sobs take me.

I’m so sorry, but I’m also so frightened to give up the walls that allowed me to survive my life.

Being bonded by Thatcher is like drinking fucking poison—like if my parents had gotten into my head, or the secret space in my closet where I hid from them.

Thatcher’s vile, condescending nature could destroy me.

That’s still true, but what’s not is actually believing Gideon would let that happen.

This is a test—I feel that in my bones. We’re being tested as a pack.

Thatcher’s purpose here isn’t his legendary omegaverse expertise, at least not yet.

Thatcher is here because he’s the giant boulder we’re crashing against that will determine whether this pack forms or fails.

Gideon won’t let Thatcher to hurt me. Ory will tear the guy’s head off and stick it on a pole. But even more tragic, without Gideon or Ory intervening, Mackenzie will embrace violence and end Thatcher, ruining his pure heart forever.

Gideon rubs my back as he allows me to work through all of it, not shoving his thoughts at me like Thatcher would. This man—my first alpha—is more than capable of serving his role in this pack, of leading us, but for him to do that, I must surrender, trust, and support him.

When my frantic emotions ease and I’m breathing almost normally, he finally speaks again, his words rumbling through me. “You know what this means?”

I nod, not even wanting to hear him say it.

“You’ve had a big day already. I want you to rest for a bit, and then…”

I know—please, don’t say it.

“I have to say it, baby girl, because I’m your alpha.”

Surrender really blows—just saying.

Gideon chuckles darkly. “I know, but think of it this way. You are about to be the first fully bonded omega in centuries, and I will protect you and lead our pack. This wasn’t your fault—it was mine.

So, I don’t want to hear another word about you blaming yourself.

I don’t know how this is going to go with alphas-a-plenty in your head, but we’ll work it out.

We will work through everything that comes. We’re pack—that’s what we do.”

“Yes, alpha.”

Gideon stands and carries me to the bed, settling us both there.

He’s spooning me within an inch of my life, and I know why without being told.

He misses me—he misses us. He’s probably remembering our time in his penthouse just like I am, when everything seemed simpler.

It wasn’t. It was always going to end up like this, but that illusion was tough to beat, when it was just Gideon and me and a new life before us.

It’s about to be so crowded in my head. Three more bites. Three more bondmarks to tend. Three more members of my audience, and three more bossy alphas who think they know how I’m supposed to live my omega life.

Gideon’s purr emerges, and I can’t keep my eyes open as sleep lures me away from reality.

But reality refuses to be denied. I wake suddenly, a scream torn from me at the sharp pain in my heart.

I search for the knife, because I can’t imagine anything else causing this agony ripping through me. But there’s no knife.

“Baby girl, I’ve got you. What’s happening?”

Gideon’s terror shocks me, but it shouldn’t. He doesn’t feel it—he doesn’t know. I only know because I’ve been here before, and it defies understanding how I could be here again. I hear the hostile voices reaching us from the main level. Chaos. Fury. Devastation.

My torment is too overwhelming for me to even know which of them did it—which of my alphas abandoned me.