Page 205 of Omega's Heart

Neither of them seemed particularly damaged at the end of it and I decided I’d ask Kaden about it all later. The whole thing seemed like a particularly alpha-ish interaction, anyway—Quin and the human trying to beat each other up while causing the least permanent damage possible.

Times like this, I was convinced I’d never understand alphas.

Holland led Quin over to the back bumper of the car after Salem and his alpha drove off with Quin’s old… well, I couldn’t exactly call him a friend. Acquaintance? Except they knew each other a lot better than acquaintances tended to.

“Let’s give those two a moment,” Kaden suggested and laced his fingers through mine. “You tired yet?”

“Not too bad. It’s cooler now.” It was—with the disappearance of the sun, the temperatures had also started to fall into something that was more comfortable for a boy raised in the foothills of the mountains outside Denver. “How are you doing?”

“I’m fine.” He led me away from the car, giving Quin and Holland some privacy.

“Were you expecting that?” I asked, glancing over my shoulder at the other pair. Holland was carefully dabbing at the blood on Quin’s face, Quin’s hands on Holland’s waist in a possessive gesture. “I get that Quin doesn’t like that Oscar fellow, but why did he punch him?” It seemed crazy to antagonize the human that was going to be responsible for the safety of two shifters, soon to be three. I wondered whether Salem or I would be the first to have our pup.

“Marines,” Kaden said lightly. “Who knows what goes on inside their heads.” He paused to look up at the stars. “It’s pretty here. Quiet.”

I stepped in closer to him, slid my arm around his waist. “Are you thinking about before?” The Army.

He let his hand rest on the nape of my neck, fingers playing restlessly about against my skin. “A little, maybe. Here is better.”

I thought he found a little peace with me, here in this quiet night, so I held him and let the night breeze flow around us, bringing us the baked, harsh scent of dry land and scrub. After a few minutes, he began to hum, a tune I didn’t recognize. It didn’t matter—he only hummed when he was happy. I smiled and leaned my forehead against his, eyes closed so I could listen to his dear voice fill the space around us with the sound of his contentment.

After a time, I heard my mate sigh, and the gentle music disappeared. “You’re okay keeping in touch with the omega?” His voice was low, as if he didn’t want to break the peace of the night.

“Of course.” My voice was equally soft. “He seems nice enough. I think he’s a little uncertain of us.”

Kaden nodded. “Not surprising. The alpha didn’t smell like he was moon mad, but he didn’t smell right either.”

“No, I know. You said Abel would give him an email address?”

“He will. I should text him right now, while Holland’s patching Quin up.” He pulled out his phone and typed away briefly, then put it away again. He seemed hesitant, and his arm tightened around my waist like one of us needed that comfort.

“What’s wrong?” I asked gently and hugged him back.

“I hate to ask this.” He took a breath and looked up at the stars again. “I need to see anything that the omega send to you. Emails, texts, whatever. As soon as you get them. Me or Quin. And whatever you’re sending to him.”

“Why?” I demanded, a little harsher than it really needed, but he’d startled me and I didn’t like the implications.

His mouth tightened until his lips were nothing more than a thin, sharp line in his face. “This is black ops, love. It’s the kind of stuff that scares me. I…” He broke off and ran his hand over his face. “Anything to do with them can go bad really quick. I don’t care what you say to each other, really, except I don’t want that crew getting their fangs in us, even a little bit.” His arm tightened around me and his eyes were more serious than I’d ever seen. “It’s not that I don’t trust you. Not that at all. But I’m not going to tell you all the reasons Quin and I have for being wary of this situation.”

“Should we not have done it, then?” I asked, guilt burning up inside me. I’d told him we should do this; I was at least as responsible for anything that happened after.

“Absolutely. There was never another option,” he said without hesitation. “Damage control, though, right?” He smiled and ran his thumb over my lower lip. “You were right, we had to do it. I couldn’t have lived with myself if I’d left him behind. But I also have you and you.” He moved his hand to the curve of my belly and the slow flex of our pup within. “Forgive me if I’m a little nervy at the moment. I don’t want to be the alphahole.”

I laughed, wondering who’d dropped that term when he was within earshot. “I like your kind of alpha,” I confessed and snuggled up against him. “So, are we going right back to Nevada Ashes, or staying in the city tonight?”

“City, I think,” he mused. “We’re probably too late to see a show, but maybe a walk on the strip? You can get your picture taken with a showgirl.”

“My mother would love that,” I said dryly, but she just might. Mom was funny that way. “Do you think they’re ready to go?”

He glanced over my shoulder. “I think if we don’t interrupt them now, we’re going to have to find a way to pass another hour,” he said and smirked.

I turned my head to find Quin and Holland in the middle of a deep, deep kiss that could only lead one place. “I think you’re right, mate.”

“Watch this,” he whispered, struggling not to laugh, then left me to stroll back toward the car. “Ah, get a room!” he shouted at my packbrothers.

Holland lifted his head and stared at Kaden for a moment, then at me chuckling behind him. “For once,” he said, “The Army comes up with a good plan.” He smiled wide and joyful, then pulled Quin up to his feet and shoved him in the direction of the driver’s seat. “You heard the alpha.”

Quin grabbed Holland and kissed him again, hard, then let him go to stroll toward the car. “Better hurry, little brother, or I’m leaving you behind.”