Page 105 of Omega's Heart

Holland nodded. “Not that different from Buffalo Gap, I think. They didn’t put a lot of value on us, but we had our purposes.”

“I wonder if she really understands just what she’s expecting of us,” I mused.

“I don’t think she really cares. What she wanted—still wants, as far as I can tell—is a political dynasty. I think she’d like Quin to repudiate me and mate someone with the kind of connections that would give her strings to pull. I don’t think she ever quite got over not being Alpha’s Mate anymore.” His voice was bitter and I took his hand and squeezed to show that he wasn’t alone in this.

“That’s not going to happen and you know it,” I told him. “Besides, your contacts are a lot more important.” I’d only met Jesse Mutch once, during the shopping trip with Holland to find fabric for my mating suit, but I fully believed Cale’s assertion that the human had a crush on Holland the size of the enclave. Which made the grace with which Holland navigated that trail all the more impressive because the human didn’t really understand proper social interaction. That Holland kept him from making any major missteps was a miracle in itself.

“I don’t think she really puts any importance on the Mutch money because it’s the omegas who’ve brought that into the pack. I also don’t think she’s made the connection between the trusts and the expansion of the enclave because it was all kind of in the works before Jesse ever came on the scene.” He tapped his fingers against the tabletop and sighed. “Of course, we haven’t really talked about the other trusts either.”

A quiet wail crept around the hallway corner and into the kitchen. “I was hoping he’d nap through,” Holland said tiredly. “He’s growing again. I’m lucky to get any sleep at all. It’s all nursing, all the time.”

“I’ll keep an eye on the food if you want.” The wail, as gentle as it was, was like a rope tied around my heart, pulling me toward the baby’s bedroom. I wanted one of my own so badly, one with Kaden’s brown eyes and smart-ass sense of humor.

“The food’s probably okay, but if you want to check on the pups, they’re suspiciously quiet in there. My living room might be an entirely different set of colors by now.”

I chuckled at that as I got up, and we went our separate ways.

Voices echoed along the corridor outside the apartment, getting louder. I made a face and then braced myself for the incoming visit.

After they’d gotten their mother settled into Kaden’s apartment and Kaden had retrieved his leg and proved to her that the wheelchair was a convenience, not a requirement, it was time to face the hunter. Kaden and Quin shared a look, then reluctantly led her down the hall to the Alpha’s apartment.

This was going to be a long old evening.

At least she’d been okay with how clean they kept the apartment, he could breathe easy about that. Felix had been right to be anxious—Kaden had forgotten how…forthright his mother could be. Despite today’s events bringing back memories of his recent trip to Salma.

“You sure this is a good idea?” Quin muttered to him as they paused to open Quin’s door.

“Better than landing her directly in White River. I don’t want a repeat of whatever set Holland off.” And it was telling that both Abel and Cas had politely declined to attend this dinner.

“Neither do I,” Quin muttered and opened the door.

Felix was sitting on the couch with a pup on either side and Hunter stretched over the three of them while they discussed the artistic merits of a picture drawn by one of Quin’s eldest.

“And this is Uncle Jesse and this is his pony,” Agatha was saying as they walked into the room. Without missing a beat, Agatha looked up at Quin. “Can I have a pony?”

“Not here, sweetheart. There isn’t room to keep one,” Quin said gravely.

She pouted, but it was quickly replaced by a grin and a complaint of, “Get off, Hunter! You’re heavy,” as she pushed on the pup’s shoulders.

Felix set the drawing aside, his smile lighting up his face. “Holland’s feeding the baby and Zane’s over in the corner being ferocious.” He gave Hunter a little nudge and their foster pup heaved a sigh like the most put-upon alpha in the world, then slowly dragged himself onto the floor. “Careful with that leg, pup,” Felix reminded him, guiding the steel leg down to the floor.

Hunter stretched and yawned, then padded over to sniff Kaden’s hand.

“I’ll go get Zane,” Felix said. “You two,” he told the older pups, “should go wash up. We’ll be eating soon.”

“I’ll come supervise,” Kaden offered, hoisting Dorian up under his arm like a package. He liked his nieces and nephews, though it made him anxious to get Felix securely mated to him so they could start having their own.

“Nonsense, Kaden,” his mother said in that tone he’d almost forgotten. “That’s an omega’s work. Come sit and tell me more about this job you have with the politician.”

“Mom,” he started, because now she was just being petty. And Salma. But Felix only shook his head and ushered the pups out of the room ahead of him, with a bouncing wolf-shaped toddler right on their heels. “Fine, let’s sit. I’m not giving the job up. There’s too much potential in it.” He slumped on the couch and glared at Quin until his big brother took the seat next to him.

“What potential? All I see is you becoming a target for some anti-shifter nutcase.” His mom took the big armchair that Quin normally sat in, laying her forearms out along the armrests like it was a throne. “If you want political power, you can achieve that in the pack structure. And we certainly need smart Alphas in charge.”

“I’m not interested in pack politics, Mom,” Kaden protested. “It’s pointless, nothing more than chasing our tails in circles. But the job with the senator gets me out in front of humans in a way that paints us as shifters in a good light, and it puts me in touch with the kinds of people that can maybe have an influence in how the packs are treated. I like the idea that I can call someone and talk to them about a pack member that’s getting the run-around on paperwork they need or getting in line to see a specialist because whatever’s wrong with them is beyond what Adelaide can handle here.”

“We really do need more medical personnel,” she agreed.

Quin looked like he was getting a headache.