Page 130 of Omega's Flight

"Morning." Cas pulled him down for a quick kiss, but Raleigh refused the cuddle. "I thought we were waiting to tell them."

"Can't an omega change their mind?" Raleigh flirted a little with lowered eyelashes and a hint of a smile, then sobered. "She woke up early and found us. I suppose it was a silly idea anyway. If we keep hiding it, it's just going to make it worse later." A gloom seemed to settle over him, something Cas hated to see.

Then cheer him up. ”I can't say I'm upset about being able to sleep in and not climb out through the window—" Cas poked Raleigh with one foot when the omega laughed at him. "—but the timing with Degan probably isn't going to be great."

"No," Raleigh said regretfully and slumped over to lie partly on top of Cas. "Lysoonka, I'm not looking forward to that."

"I think, in this case, maybe I should be there? When you tell him, I mean? Spell it out to him that we’re keeping company?“ He was worried that Degan might lose sight of proper alpha behavior and do something they'd all regret. "I want to be certain you're safe and I don't have a good handle on him yet."

"I know." Raleigh sighed. "I wish it could have just kept going the way we were, you know? You and me and the pups and just...living our lives."

He hadn't expected to get agreement out of the stubborn omega that quickly, but he'd take it in a snap. "Well, I suppose you could climb back into bed," Cas said suggestively and wiggled some toes against what he hoped was Raleigh's butt.

Raleigh jumped and shook his head. "I'm making pancakes and sausage rounds, they'll burn if I stay in here with you. No, really, I'm hungry, and so is Pip," he said reprovingly when Cas shrugged breakfast off as not important and tried to pull him back into bed. "Get up and get dressed, alpha." He dropped another kiss on Cas's cheek and whisked himself away before Cas could get a good grip on him.

"Well, damn." So much for a lazy morning. Cas climbed out of bed and got dressed, then followed the enticing aromas sneaking around the corner from the kitchen. "That a new recipe?" He slid his arms around Raleigh's waist from behind and kissed the side of his neck before going to get his mug out of the cupboard for tea.

"For the sausages?" Raleigh asked, poking at them with a spatula. "Just added a few different spices and some vegetables. Jason and I are playing with ideas. Macy's decided that since wolves are carnivores and she's part wolf, that she doesn't need to eat vegetables anymore. Except carrots. For some reason, they're the exception."

"I like carrots," Pip offered from her seat at the table.

"So do I," Cas told her. Her stuffed wolf was sitting in the fourth chair and he reached past her to pat the toy, then patted her too, making her laugh.

"Hey, Cas," she began in a sly voice.

"Pip," Raleigh said in a warning tone.

Pip giggled. "Abel says you like jokes."

"Pip, one more lawyer joke out of you and I'm going to eat your pancakes," Raleigh threatened, pointing his spatula at his daughter.

She pouted, but not seriously. Raleigh humphed in suspicious satisfaction and turned back to the stove.

Cas stuck his tongue out at her, and she giggled.

The front door creaked and thumped, and the sound of puppy feet filled the air. "Papa, we're home!" Henry shouted. He barrelled into the kitchen and straight into his bearer's legs. "Gotcha!" he yelled and grinned, laughing.

"Aaaaah!" Raleigh threw his hands up in the air. "The monster's got me!"

Henry growled and pretended to bite his bearer's thigh.

"Morning," said a deep voice from the entrance of the kitchen.

The hair on the back of Cas's neck stood up and he knew who it was before he turned

Degan.

Cas spun slowly in his chair, taking note of Pip's sudden change of expression. "Come here, Pip," he said softly and was gratified when she slid off her chair to come climb into his lap. It was, maybe, an assholish thing to do, and probably wouldn't make Raleigh's situation any easier, but two alphas fighting for territory or a mate was far, far older than this modern sensibility. Bred in the bone, his paternal grandfather had described it, and at the moment, Cas could believe it.

Degan eyes bore into his. Cas forced himself to stay relaxed in his chair, claiming his territory and the omega behind him. He understood from talking to Raleigh that he would have to share the pups, but damned if he wanted Degan to think he had any more rights than Cas was willing to give him.

Unfortunately, Raleigh's old mate seemed to have the same idea. He took an aggressive step forward, his hands curled in fists and a low growl falling from his lips.

"No, Da!" Ann protested and tried to push him out of the kitchen. "Don't fight!" She started to cry and the part of Cas that had nothing to do with the civilized, smartass lawyer rose up within him. Carefully, he set Pip on her chair, pressed his forehead to hers for a moment in a silent promise not to let anyone get hurt, then stood up with the intention of putting Degan in his place.

Except Raleigh got there first.

"Stop that right now!" He stormed over to Degan and took Ann away. "Go sit at your spot at the table, hon. We're having pancakes." He shrugged off Degan's grab for his wrist with a quick twist of his arm and got her out of the way before rounding on Degan, wearing the fury of a thousand shifters. "Living room. Now. Or you can go back to Jackson-Jellystone."