Page 194 of Omega's Heart

Bax’s lips curved up in a knowing smile and he winked. “Depends on how much help I get getting them all to bed.”

“That’s my cue,” Cas said. He stood up, finishing the last of his beer, and held his hands out to Raleigh for the baby. “Come on, let’s leave the lovebirds home and see if the Howler will let us get any sleep.”

“Sleep,” Raleigh said, in a voice like someone praying for the Lady to appear before him. “That sounds wonderful.”

Cas kissed his mate’s forehead. “Your wish is my command.” He nodded seriously to Kaden before he and Raleigh disappeared around the front of the house to collect the pups.

“We should gather ours up too,” Holland told Quin. “Lonnie fell asleep already.”

“You want to grab him, I’ll gather the rest of them,” Quin offered.

“I’ll be right out.” Holland kissed his cheek before heading back inside.

“Do you want a drive up to the building?” Kaden asked Quin, taking Felix’s hand and falling into step beside his brother.

“Where would you put us all? Tie us to the hood?” Quin joked. “You two go home and enjoy your last few months of sleeping all night.” He nudged Kaden’s shoulder, then started shouting for the pups.

They came racing across the rough grass, Hunter right in the middle of them all. He barked when he saw them and his stride lengthened, pulling ahead of the rest of the little pack. Kaden crouched to greet him—their foster pup was wild with excitement when he got to them, jumping up to plaster Kaden with kisses, then running circles around Felix, leaning into his legs but much more careful of his omega foster bearer than he had been of Kaden.

“Let’s go home, Hunter,” Felix said. “Cuddles, okay?”

Hunter barked and fell into place between them, bouncing with happiness.

About halfway home, Felix reached across the width of the car and put a hand on Kaden’s thigh. “I talked to Holland about Buffalo Gap.”

“I thought we were going to wait on that until I had a chance to talk to Quin?”

“The time seemed right. And I think it was better to do it with Bax and Raleigh there. It wasn’t just my voice.”

It was frustrating, but that rabbit was out of its bolthole. And probably didn’t make much of a difference, in the end. “What did he say?”

“Not much. I think he’s upset, but he doesn’t know what he wants to do about it yet. He is sending money, a lot. He thought it was going to some of the unmated omegas in the pack.”

“I don’t think it is, though.”

Felix sighed. “Me neither. That was a really nice deck, wasn’t it?”

“The barbecue wasn’t cheap either.”

They were quiet for a moment, then Felix said, “Why do I feel like I want to cry right now?”

Kaden stared out into the narrow cone of light thrown by their headlights. “Because it’s shitty, and he doesn’t deserve to be treated the way they do. No one does.” He picked up Felix’s hand and squeezed. “I thank the Lord and Lady every day that you had the parents you had. If that had been you…” He stopped to take a breath. There weren’t any words for how angry it made him to think of Felix being treated that way. “I want to get them something really nice for Christmas.”

Felix chuckled. “I think we’re giving them something earlier than that.” He pulled Kaden’s hand over and spread it against the side of his belly. “Now that he’s started, he just won’t stop.”

Kaden turned the car into the parking lot at the garage and let it idle, while their pup pummeled and stretched beneath his palm. “He?”

“He,” Felix confirmed. “I’m sure of it.”

Hunter whined and pawed at them from his spot in the back seat.

“Yeah, okay, Hunter, come on then. We’ll take you home.” Kaden leaned over to steal a kiss from his mate. “Let’s go.”

As they walked down the path to the pack building, Felix said, “I’m sorry I talked to Holland before checking with you.”

“No, don’t worry about that. It was the right thing to do. He’s got to make up his own mind how he wants to handle it, we can’t be doing it for him.” They turned in through the doors and Hunter raced ahead to push the button for the elevator. “I hope this doesn’t blow up in our faces.”

“I think we’ll be okay,” Felix said in an odd tone. “I think Holland’s got this all in hand.” Inside the elevator, Kaden suddenly found himself with a very cozy armful of omega. “I know we have to spend some time with Hunter, but I’d like him to sleep in his own bed tonight,” Felix breathed in Kaden’s ear.