Page 39 of Omega's Flight

"Sure." Cas turned and made his way around the foot of my bed. As he passed, he put a hand on my ankle and squeezed it gently. "You're in good hands. You don't need to worry."

"Thank you," I told him as he left, and wondered why the room seemed so much colder now without him.

C H A P T E R 2 8

C as found Abel at the edge of the clearing, laughing as he watched Quin and Holland bounce through a dance with what looked to Cas like every pup in the enclave but was probably just their immediate relatives.

"Was wondering where you got to," Abel commented, raising his voice to be heard above the musicians. "How's the new guy?"

Cas leaned in. He hated shouting over noise. "Bax wants you to bring him a change of clothes and the books from his top drawer."

It was like watching night fall. Abel's amusement bled away and the man who had once been Alpha of Mercy Hills reappeared, the weight of responsibility tightening the muscles of his face and shoulders. "What happened?"

"He's losing the baby."

Abel sucked in a sharp breath. "All right, I'll go. You stay here and make sure Quin plays his part."

"What part is that?" Cas accepted the mug of beer that Abel handed him and took his brother's place.

"Jungle gym, I think. Once the dancing is over." Abel nudged him. "He's enjoying himself, when Holland can convince him that the paperwork isn't breeding like bunnies up there."

"It is, though."

"You know it, and I know it. Don't remind him."

Cas toasted him with the mug and took the obligatory sip. "Happy Midwinter."

"Happy Midwinter to you too." He grimaced and glanced up at the main building. "Poor fellow."

"Yeah." Cas gazed moodily out over the dancing pups. "He's got bruises on his stomach."

Abel froze. "Oh, Bax is going to be pissed." He waved at Cas and disappeared into the night.

The dance ended a few minutes later. Holland was the first one to notice him—Quin was covered in pups. Quite literally. Cas lost count at seven as his brother lumbered across the grass in the wake of his mate.

"Cas!" Holland cried and offered him a hug. "Are things going better up there?"

"No. Bax sent me down to tell Abel to bring him some things from home."

Holland's laughing enthusiasm faded and in that instant, Cas saw the price his packbrother was paying for being Alpha's Mate. A wave of guilt rolled over him—now he'd ruined what was probably the one carefree night Holland had had all month.

"I'd better go up." Holland turned and put a hand on his mate's chest, leaning in to whisper in his ear. Cas watched the tension start to return to his brother's shoulders, but then Holland kissed him and nuzzled against his cheek, turning the corners of Quin's mouth up. Holland kissed him again before he left, his stride determined but heavy with the expectation of loss.

Cas examined his brother. "You've picked up a few pups," he commented laconically and reached out to poke Macy in the side. She giggled and squealed at him, but refused to give up her hold on her Alpha.

"I don't plan to keep them." Quin turned his head and looked down at Noah, hanging monkey-like from his neck. "What do you think you're doing?" he mock-growled, then licked the little boy's face.

"Aaaaargh!" Noah yelled and dropped to the ground. "Gross!" He wiped his hands down his face and glared at his Alpha. "We don't lick people. Not when we're human."

"I'm your Alpha. I can do what I want."

"I'm telling Dabi! Come on, Bea." Noah nodded his head firmly and stalked off. His sister let go of her grip on Quin's belt and, giggling, followed him off into the crowd. The rest of the pups, seeing the possibility for more mischief, dropped off Quin like fleas off a wet rabbit and disappeared after them.

"What are they doing out of the puppy enclosure, anyway?" Cas asked, walking beside his brother in the direction of the drinks.

"Beatrice is probably to blame. Or Noah. He's a lot like our packbrother, and less easy to intimidate than his stepsire." Quin accepted a mug of warmed, mulled cider with a quiet word of thanks and took a drink. "Mine aren't innocent in this either, but they're at least smart enough not to tease the Alpha." His eyes gleamed with amusement, though, and he seemed more relaxed than Cas had ever seen him, standing at the edge of the clearing with his drink in hand and greeting his packmembers as they passed. "How are the accounts coming?"

"Pretty much caught up. I have a few adjustments to file that won't make much of a difference, but now that I've got everything in order, it should be easier going forward. We're going to need to find a tax lawyer that's passed the bar, though, for a couple of things that the government is being stubborn about." How many different ways could you send in the same paperwork and how many times could you be asked to send that paperwork and proof in? It was ridiculous.