Page 19 of Omega's Heart

“I can’t believe they’re letting you take college courses.” Julius’s voice sounded almost worshipful. Then again, if there was a life that could be considered the total opposite of Julius’s, it was Cale’s.

“Need ‘em, bud, if I’m getting into medical school. And doing them distance for now saves the pack a ton of money.” Cale took a bite and closed his eyes in what looked like ecstasy. “This is really good, Jules.”

Julius just nodded in agreement and went on with his lunch.

“What are you planning for the afternoon, Julius?” I asked when we’d finished eating. We all knew what Cale’s plan was—more schoolwork.

“I have a shift in the library, then I’m going to make biscuits and barbecued meatballs and rice for supper, if that sounds okay to you.” He finished the last bite and sat looking at his plate. “If you have any clothes you want washed, I’ll take them down with me.”

“No, thanks, I’m fine.” Julius did more laundry than I thought we had clothes between the three of us. I didn’t know where he found it. But it was a nice feeling to always come home to a clean house and clean laundry and a hot meal on the table. It must be what alphas felt, especially if they mated an omega. Maybe that’s why the rich alphas wanted us so badly.

Well, most of us.

I took my empty plate into the kitchen and went to the bathroom to scrub some more of the paint off me. There didn’t seem to be a point to changing my clothes—I was painting again this afternoon— but I couldn’t go see my Alpha’s Mate with the rest of me looking like a spotted owl.

Holland didn’t have an office of his own. When I’d asked where it was, I’d been told that Holland preferred to work out of his apartment so he could keep the younger pups with him. So rather than going to an office, I walked down the hall and knocked on the door to the Alpha’s apartment.

A baby’s cries leaked out through walls and I was wondering whether I should leave and come back later when the door opened, revealing Holland, his shirt half off and milk leaving a huge damp patch one side of his chest. “Come in,” he said and opened the door wider. “Sorry, he’s not feeling well. I think it’s something I’m eating.” He collapsed gracefully into a rocking chair set next to the window and gestured to an armchair nearby. “Sit down. I’m just going to get him started again.” He tipped the baby sideways and guided him toward his chest. The baby bawled, little arms flailing, then the sound suddenly died as the baby began to suck. Holland sighed in relief, then smiled over at me. “I didn’t mean to meet you in all my mess. Nursing’s not going well.” He did look tired, and stressed, but not a bit of it showed in his voice or in the careful curve of his arms as he held the baby close.

“I’ve been around babies before. You’ve tried the usual problem foods?”

Holland nodded and pushed off against the floor to start the chair moving. “It’s none of those. I’ve got a few more that I can try, but I’m kind of hoping he’s starting to grow out of it now. He’s not nearly as fussy as he used to be.”

“I can make up some dill water for him if you want.”

“Thank you.” He patted the baby’s back in a slow, mesmerizing rhythm. “That would be appreciated. But I actually asked you here to see if you could do Quin and me a huge favor.”

“Of course!” Like I’d say no to my Alpha’s Mate. “What can I help with?”

“It’s a bit delicate,” Holland told me. “You see, Quin’s brother Kaden is coming here tomorrow. He was Army—is still Army, really, if I understand Quin—but he’s out on medical leave and probably not going back. There was an explosion, or an attack—they won’t give us the details. But he’s lost part of his left hand, his left leg below the knee, and most of his hearing in his left ear. He’s going to need some help getting used to the place, and we don’t know for sure how easy it’s going to be for him to get around. Quin’s pricing concrete and asphalt right now to see if we can make a few real roads like the humans have, but—” The sentence broke off and he shrugged slightly. “I thought having an omega around might be easier on him. And if he needs help with anything, you’re strong enough to give him the assistance he needs. Plus, I think, subtle enough that you won’t bruise his alpha ego doing it.” He crooked a smile in my direction. “But it might mean holding off on any coursework you were thinking about taking. You can say no if you don’t want your plans upset and we’ll sort something out. I’m sorry for the short notice, it’s all been a little crazy here.”

Okay, this wasn’t exactly what I’d been expecting he’d ask. “I’m honored,” I said carefully. “And I don’t mind about the coursework. I haven’t really figured out what I’d want to do anyway. But I don’t have any medical training.”

Holland shook his head, then sat up and set the baby upright on his thigh. “Burps, little boy,” he muttered and began to rub and pat at the baby’s back. “Medical we can handle,” he said abruptly and it took me a moment to realize he was talking to me again. “It’s reintegrating with the pack. He’s been gone almost eighteen years and now he’s coming back and nothing is going to be the same. I want someone strong and even-tempered to help him make the transition. Keep house for him a little—Quin says he’ll be tired a lot for the first while, so anything we can do to take the extra strain off him will help. And mostly to be a friendly face and someone to talk to.” He smiled cheerfully at me, but I hadn’t been bigger than most of the alphas around me for most of my life for nothing.

“And if he needs physical help, I’m big enough to handle it?” I was assuming he was probably as tall as his brothers, probably the same build.

“If you could,” Holland said gratefully. The baby burped loudly and spit up all over the hand that was holding him upright. Holland’s expression went from cheerful to dismayed to resigned and he reached for the burping rag and began to awkwardly wipe off his hand.

I jumped out of my chair to grab the rag and finished up the job, much easier for me than for him trying to reach around the baby’s body.

“Maybe I should try feeding him smaller meals,” he mused and set the baby on a blanket on the floor. “Yeah, you don’t seem too bothered, do you?” he said to the baby, then looked up at me and reached for the rag. “Thank you.”

“It wasn’t a problem.” I hesitated, then figured I’d better ask. “Are you sure you want a stranger looking after him? I mean, I’m still White River. None of that’s been decided.”

He smiled and some subtle shift of expression made me realize that, baby or not, I was here talking to the Alpha’s Mate of Mercy Hills. “I’ve been watching you since you arrived, trying to figure out how and where you’d best fit into the pack. Quin and I both agree that of all the choices, you are the most logical, for any number of reasons. I have every faith in your ability to do the job, but if you’re not comfortable as an omega looking after an alpha in their private home, I’ll find someone else. No one is forced to do things they’re truly uncomfortable with here.” His voice took on a fierce undertone on the last words, like he was making the point not just to me, but to himself and to some unknown person in his past.

I thought quietly about it for a moment, though not for too long. It didn’t do to keep the Alpha’s Mate waiting. “I’m honored,” I told him. “I’ll do my best.”

“I wouldn’t have asked you if I was worried you wouldn’t.” Holland stood up and I scrambled to my feet. “Felix, I do really appreciate this. He’s still in pain. You’re probably going to need all your patience with him. Please, if it gets to be too much, let me know and we’ll figure out some other way to help him recover.”

This put a new spin on the job. In Winter River, we didn’t send too many of our young alphas out to serve in any of the armed forces, but that didn’t mean we didn’t send any. I’d seen some of them come back no different than when they’d left. And then I’d seen others...

I wondered which I’d be getting tomorrow. Then I glanced over at Holland, thinking about how he’d opened his pack to any omega who wanted to come and how welcome he’d made me feel.

Naw, everything would be all right.

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