Page 28 of Omega's Heart

It was Holland. “How was the morning?”

“It was good. I made him breakfast, but then your mate came and they left to tour the enclave.”

“Good. I was just talking to Quin, he and Cas and Kaden want to talk about some things but they can’t do it with Pip and Madoc around. Could we borrow you to watch them for an hour? Give the alphas a chance to get something done without interruptions?”

“Oh, sure, of course! Here?”

Holland laughed. “Would you mind going to Raleigh’s? I can get someone to drive you down, Degan might be going that way for lunch.”

“I don’t mind walking.”

“Let me check with Degan first, it’s a distance and I don’t think you’ve been there yet, have you? You missed out on Madoc’s birth in all the rush.”

“True, but I’ve been to Bax’s.” I’d only met Raleigh at the park and once at Holland’s since Lonnie was born. Raleigh seemed nice, but we hadn’t had much time to get to know each other. Thinking back, I could see how Pip might make it hard to get any kind of alpha business done. Even if I did find her hilarious.

“Okay, that settles it. I’ll call Degan and get him to pick you up. He lives just two houses down from Cas anyway, so it’s not an inconvenience, but I’m sure he’d appreciate it if you could meet him at the front doors of the pack building.”

“I can do that.” I glanced over at the stew bubbling away on the stove. “Uh, do I need to bring something for their lunch?”

Holland laughed, a surprisingly merry sound from someone so sober. “Oh, I’m sure they can feed themselves. Raleigh keeps a well-stocked kitchen. And don’t let them talk you into doing all the lunch work. They’re adults.”

I didn’t mind, though. “Should I head downstairs then?”

“Please. I’ll call Degan right now.”

As soon as the call ended, I dropped the dumpling batter into the stew pot and covered it, setting the burner on low so it would be ready for supper. Probably should leave a note for Julius. I scrounged a pen and a piece of paper from Cale, who promised to eat something while I was gone, and stuck the note to the refrigerator where I could be sure Julius would see it.

Then I made myself stop procrastinating, washed my face and checked to make sure I was tidy, then took the elevator downstairs to meet this Degan.

C H A P T E R 1 9

Q uin tossed his phone on the coffee table. “Holland’s sending Felix down to watch the pups.” He glanced over at Cas. “Degan’s bringing him down.”

Cas made a face, then shrugged. “It’s fine.”

Kaden looked back and forth between them, then asked bluntly, “No love lost between you, I take it?”

Cas grinned sourly at him. “Degan is Raleigh’s first mate. He lives two houses down from us.” His eyes flicked up toward the top of the stairs and his shoulders relaxed a little.

What to make of that? “Okay.”

Cas shook his head and stood up. “Let’s move this out to the kitchen and I’ll see what’s in the fridge for food.”

“You’re willing to risk your life on Cas’s cooking?” Kaden asked Quin in a low voice as they migrated into the crowded little room. He still had the baby, but he was finding he didn’t mind. If he didn’t turn out to be a total failure as an alpha now, maybe he’d go looking for someone to give him one of these himself. He was at that age, assuming he could find someone who didn’t mind the missing bits and the slightly off-center humor the whole ordeal had left him with.

Cas stuck his head in the refrigerator and the clink of glass hitting glass echoed out into the room. “Oh, he left a casserole. I love you, Raleigh.” He came back out holding a dish in his hands with a piece of paper taped to the top of it. “Pre-heat the oven to three-fifty and put this in for an hour.” He stared down at the dish and frowned.

Kaden couldn’t resist. “It’s okay if you don’t know how to work an oven, little brother. The Army’s here.”

Quin actually rolled his eyes at him, and Kaden wondered with amusement who’d taught him that little gesture.

Cas ignored him. “I’ll put this on, I guess. I wish I’d realized it needed so much time.” He did just that, then started to rummage in the cupboards. “Henry, I swear I’ll get you new goldfish.” He came back to the table with a bowl and box of store brand crackers shaped like bright orange fish. “I’m starving.” He dumped the box out into the bowl and put it on the table. “Sorry, guys. Most of the food here is for the pups. There’s almost no adult food in the house, except for the vegetables.”

“Don’t want that,” Kaden said.

Cas came to get the baby and Kaden’s shoulder felt empty after. Then again, of the four brothers, he’d always been the one more interested in finding a mate and settling down, raising the next generation of shifters. The Army had been a detour that wasn’t supposed to last so long.

“I’m going to settle him down in his cradle now that he’s quiet,” Cas said. He disappeared into the living room, coming back shortly after with empty arms to fall into one of the kitchen chairs and dig into the bowl of crackers. “So, Quin’s mate is head of the omega council here. They deal with anything to do with the omegas, have their own funding out of the Mutch money. We’re in the middle of advising their board on which pack should be the next to have access to these funds.”