Page 122 of Omega's Heart

Mom leaned in and accepted the scent, then offered hers before stepping away to allow the rest of the family to come greet Kaden properly as a son of the house. I breathed a sigh of relief and shuffled in place, waiting for him to be done, because that’s what I was—done. Such a long day and still so much left to do.

Kaden left me to work his way through my family and I got up to check on the dishes of food, even though there was still more here than we could eat in two days.

As I checked the thermal pot of coffee to see if needed to be refilled, I felt someone at my side. Assuming it was one of the other omegas, I joked, “Mom made all my favorite snacks—I might not fit in that mating tunic tomorrow if I don’t develop some more willpower.”

“I’m sure you’ll do fine,” Veronica said, and I dropped the carafe in shock.

We both reached for it at the same time, making the spill even worse. “I’d better go get some rags,” I said in a fevered panic. Like I needed this on top of everything else.

“There’s some here,” she said in that calm, quiet tone and passed a few over to me. “The table cloth should be soaked right away.”

“Uh huh.” Silently, we mopped up what we could while I tried to discreetly catch either Bax’s or Holland’s eye, with absolutely no success. Bax was huddled with my mother over an old photo album, listening to her stories and laughing along with them. Holland had his back to me in the middle of what looked like an animated discussion with two of my cousins, the baby squirming in his lap. Kaden was…where was Kaden? Oh, my brothers had better not be out there trying to get him smoked up. I’d kill them, omega or not.

“You did a good job back there,” Veronica said. “Standing up for Kaden.”

“Thank you,” I replied, polite but not warm. I wasn’t going to give her an opening to pick at me again.

“I hadn’t expected such strength in an omega.”

I grunted and started to move plates and bowls so I could strip the table cloth off.

“You feel very strongly for him.”

“I love him. And he loves me.”

She nodded and then disappeared, just when I could have used an extra hand to help getting the stained cloth off the table. I snorted in disbelief and turned back to my work.

“What are you doing cleaning up?” Kaden’s soft words alerted me to his presence just before his hands slid around my waist.

“I spilled the coffee. I’m trying to get the table cloth off.”

“I came to ask if you wanted to go for a walk.” He began helping me move things back and forth as I rolled the tablecloth up.

“I’d love to. It’s been a long day.” I glanced over my shoulder and made sure one of my sister’s little meat pies ‘fell’ off the table into Hunter’s waiting jaws.

Kaden chuckled. “He’s going to get fat.”

I poked him gently in the side. “What makes you think that isn’t my plan for you too?”

He only grinned and moved another set of plates for me.

Of course, it wasn’t so easy as that. It was almost like my family had radar where Kaden and I being within arm’s reach of each other was concerned. We were soon surrounded and separated again. Someone else took over salvaging the tablecloth and then I was whirled away on another round of social obligations.

I caught sight of my betrothed after what felt like an hour, sending him as pleading a look as I could manage. His eyes met mine and lit up with the challenge of rescuing me.

In bits and pieces, I witnessed him work his way rapidly through the rest of my immediate family, exchanging a few low-voiced words with my brothers before coming back to take my hand. “Want to go for that walk?” he said, a little too casual.

“Sure,” I breathed, as ready as him to get out of there. I’d gotten used to the freedom of Mercy Hills, little by little. Here, I felt constricted, like I couldn’t breathe. Except when he was near. “I’ll show you the creek.”

“I’d like that.” He nodded to my parents and led me unceremoniously out of the garden, Hunter on our heels, and into the dark of the sky and the light of the gibbous moon above us. I was sure there’d be talk, but I didn’t care. Let them see that at least one alpha desired me.

As if he’d read my mind, he hurried me along the path until we were out of sight of the garden and pushed me up against the side of a house. “I’m sorry for that,” he said before his mouth met mine.

“Umm,” was all I had to say in response, being more interested in his lips and the possessive way his hands gripped my waist. Besides, I really didn’t know what he was apologizing for—seemed to me that he’d done all right for himself back there.

He pulled away just enough that I could see him in the moonlight. “I’d meant to be more conciliatory.”

“We’re a family of alphas. And one omega. I don’t think we can even spell conciliatory.” I kissed him again. “I’m sorry too. I should have prepared them better for your injuries. I don’t really think about them anymore and I forgot it would be new to them. You aren’t mad? I didn’t think so, but you’re pretty good at hiding things.”