Page 192 of Omega's Heart

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K aden couldn’t miss Felix’s sigh of relief when the Alpha’s Head of Security dropped them off at the airport.

“Thank you,” Kaden told him. “You’re a trooper. Let’s get checked in and drop the luggage off and I’ll buy you lunch.”

“You’re sweet,” Felix said.

“Shhh,” Kaden whispered, casting faux-nervous glances about them. “Don’t let anyone hear you say that. My reputation!”

Felix laughed and some of the disappointment that had colored his demeanor since the barbecue at Buffalo Gap faded. “I promise, I’ll always pretend to be suitably subservient when anyone’s around.”

Even though he knew his mate was joking, the words left a sour taste in Kaden’s mouth. “You know that doesn’t interest me in the least, right? Just because your job right now is to look after me and Hunter doesn’t mean I expect you to scurry around in my wake, jumping whenever I say to.”

Felix kicked him gently in his flesh and blood ankle. “Hurry up, or you won’t have time to buy me lunch.” Suiting actions to words, he gathered up his luggage and headed for the doors to the airport, leaving Kaden scrambling through his laughter and relief to catch up.

Once they were settled in the little cafe that seemed to be the only restaurant in the airport with food in front of them, Kaden felt free to really talk to his mate.

Starting with an apology, though it wasn’t him that owed it. “I’m sorry they were shits about Holland’s gift.”

Felix’s face went stony and he stabbed at his fries with a fork. “I don’t understand why pictures of your grandpups wouldn’t be something a grandparent would be excited about.”

“You know they don’t deserve him. He’s much better to them than they are to him.” He’d been appalled and embarrassed on behalf of the Alpha, and angry on behalf of Holland. The Mercy Hills Alpha and his Mate had sent framed pictures of their little family, pictures drawn by the older of the two pups, and had made little plaques with the hand and foot and paw prints of the two youngest, all carefully packed and beautifully wrapped. There were some pieces of jewelry as well, packmade but not inexpensive. And Holland’s parents, who had every reason to be proud of their son, had glanced at the contents of the box, then set them aside as if they were the cheapest junk to be found at any random thrift shop. Kaden had thought at first that maybe they just weren’t an emotional pair when it came to family, but Felix had tried to draw them out a little about the gifts and had been shut down hard enough that Kaden had snapped at their hosts without thinking.

The atmosphere had been strained for the rest of the evening and Kaden had called it quits early, falsely claiming an early flight the next day. In public, he’d done his best to regain the ground he figured he’d lost, keeping his manner polite and genial and never letting anything but low-key approval show on his face until they were safely in the privacy of their room. Privately, he damned Mitchel to the Barrens for putting him in this impossible situation.

Felix decimated another fry, then shook his head. “I honestly don’t understand it. At all.”

“Then don’t bother trying. That’s not what we’re supposed to be doing, anyway. We just have to try to predict what they might do if we do decide to recommend them.”

His mate made a face and went back to his meal.

The burgers were good, if greasy. At least Felix’s appetite didn’t seem to have suffered. Kaden watched with amusement as the food on Felix’s plate disappeared like magic. Amused, he pushed his plate closer to the middle of the table, silently offering to share. “We should have gotten you a bigger burger.”

“I didn’t think I was that hungry. The pup must be growing again.” Felix twisted in his chair to give the menu on the wall a predatory scan. “Do we have time for something else?”

Kaden pulled out a twenty and pushed it across the table to his mate. “Get whatever you want. And whatever he wants too.”

Felix laughed and took a bite of Kaden’s hamburger. “Do you want something too?” he asked when he’d finished chewing.

“I’m fine. I’ll browse off your plate if you promise not to eat me too.”

“No promises,” Felix said, but he winked as he headed back for the counter.

Kaden picked at his fries and let the contentment that Felix always seemed to bring with him flow over his bones. Time enough to worry when they were back in Mercy Hills and the consequences of this trip had to be dealt with.

They only stayed one night in Mercy Hills, stopping just long enough for Kaden to check on the progress of their house and make a few tweaks to the plans. And to corner his brothers for a drink and a serious conversation in Abel’s back yard while the pups played out front.

He let them get a couple of beers in before he brought up the worries preying on his peace of mind.

“I think I owe your mates an apology,” Kaden said in preamble.

Abel froze with his beer halfway to his mouth.

“Put your eyes back in your head,” Quin told him. “This is Kaden, not Cas.”

“Hey!” Cas protested weakly, then took a drink. “So, what’s this apology for?”

“I thought Salma was kind of backward when it came to omegas. That jewel on your arm shit they preach. But your pack father,” Kaden pointed at Quin with his beer bottle. “I swear to the Moonlands, Felix just up and fucking disappeared when he stepped onto Buffalo Gap lands.”