Page 82 of Omega's Heart

“It was best for both of us. Help me with the chair?” A distraction was just what Garrick needed.

“Yeah, sure.” Garrick got out of the car and pulled out the chair, setting it in front of Kaden and fighting with the mechanics of it. Kaden gave it a kick with his good leg and winched himself around to sit in it. “Thank you.”

“I’ll get your suitcase. You’ve got your tickets?”

“Checked in online, just need to use the kiosk.” Kaden rolled out of the way of the car’s door and closed it behind him. “You don’t have to stay.”

Garrick slammed the trunk of the car and set Kaden’s bag on the ground beside him. “I can go if you want. But I can’t look at another law book today.” He stared down at the bag for a moment, then burst out, “I wish I was going with you!”

“How much longer will you be here?”

Garrick shrugged moodily and fell into step beside Kaden as he rolled toward the building doors. “Probably not too much longer. I’m not even working on the case itself now, just the sentencing part.” He twitched and his hand started to go to his pocket, where a thin buzzing announced the presence of his phone.

“You can get that if you want.”

Garrick shook his head, his mouth a thin, stern line. “No, there are no emergencies left in this case. It can wait.”

Lysoon, Kaden was not looking forward to making this report to Holland. Garrick looked like shit, but he scented even worse. Brittle, like putty pulled too many ways. “You want Cas to come out and take some of the load off you?”

Garrick’s eyes widened and his stride checked, then he caught himself and took a couple of extra long steps to catch back up to Kaden’s chair. “Thanks, but no. It would be a waste of time, at this point. There’s not that much work left, it’s just the waiting. And the not knowing.” He sighed. “Maybe I should come home for a bit.”

“Hard, isn’t it? Giving up?” Kaden said as they wove through the entrance. “You know, you can’t help anyone else if you drive yourself into a collapse.”

“I know,” Garrick said with a soft laugh. “Laine keeps telling me that.” He sighed and followed Kaden down toward domestic flights.

They passed the rest of the time before Kaden had to go through security drinking coffee and talking about the upcoming mating, but the weight of expectation still hung over Kaden’s shoulders like an unwelcome squadmate.

The announcement came over the speakers and, as soon as he’d said goodbye and watched Garrick disappear into the flowing crowd of humans, Kaden pushed it all away in favor of thoughts of his betrothed waiting for him only a few hours and a flight away.

C H A P T E R 4 9

U pon arriving at the enclave, Kaden dutifully made his report to his Alpha’s Mate, then dropped in on Quin to let him know he needed to go hug his mate for a little while, until Holland could pull himself back together. His duty done, he made his escape back to his apartment and the less taxing company of his betrothed.

After a meal that tasted like he’d gone to the Moonlands—hospital food hadn’t gotten any better in the past few months—Kaden relaxed on the couch, his newly—hopefully—fixed leg propped up on a pillow to keep the swelling down. Felix sat at the far end with a pad of paper, the top page covered with two long columns of names.

“Can you think of anyone else we should invite?” Felix asked, frowning at the page.

“No. I think we got all the important ones.” Kaden reached out with his whole leg and poked Felix in the thigh. “You sure you’re okay with Mom coming to it?”

“I’m sure we’ll be fine,” his future mate said with maddening calm.

Kaden opened his mouth to say he wasn’t sure, then changed his mind out of a sense of self-preservation and instead told his mate, “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. If she gives you any trouble, send her to me.”

“We’ll be fine.” Felix looked up from his list and smiled. “But thank you.”

It was tempting to interrupt the planning for some marital practice, but there was something enjoyable about just lying there and watching Felix sort their lives into neat little lists. Maybe Felix would be the exception to the rule and Kaden’s mother would find herself sorted onto a list too.

He hoped it would be one that would let them keep up the relationship.

Kaden’s phone rang, with Quin’s ringtone. Felix looked up at him expectantly as Kaden picked up the call, obviously hoping for word on the attempt to get the variance for Julius to come to White River approved.

“Hey,” Kaden grunted into the phone.

“Well, your omega got his way. The paperwork for Julius came through right at the end of the day. I’ll leave it to you to decide how to tell him.” Quin sounded tired and frustrated. “And Mom called.”

“What did she want?”

“I don’t know. About ten words in, my brain shuts down.” In the background, Kaden could hear keyboard keys clicking and he realized that Quin was back in the office.