Page 90 of Omega's Heart

He made a face and laughed as he walked through the door to his mate’s office.

C H A P T E R 5 4

T heir first weekend with the new foster pup involved a lot more adjustment than Kaden had anticipated. Particularly around meals. This morning, for example. Kaden was sipping at his coffee, one eye focused on Hunter in his seat across the table from him. “Don’t even think about it,” he warned him.

Hunter rolled his eyes up plaintively, then glanced down at his own plate—already licked clean —before going back to staring at the last few bites on Kaden’s.

“Hunter, go wash up,” Felix scolded him.

Hunter whined and jumped down, padding off to the bathroom, Felix right behind him. Kaden suppressed a snort of amusement and picked up his fork, intent on finishing his breakfast before Hunter guilted him out of any more mouthfuls. Though for Felix’s fried potatoes, he’d gladly be a selfish asshole.

Kaden had just finished the last forkful when Hunter trotted back out into the living room. He went right to the door and sat, watching Kaden expectantly.

Felix came out a moment later. “He’s getting better about brushing his teeth.”

In truth, Kaden was astonished at the strides the pup had made, just in the three days that Felix had been working with him. Felix certainly had a knack, if not something more. “You’re an excellent bearer,” Kaden told him. “What are your plans for the day?”

“We’re working on my mating tunic.”

Kaden raised his eyebrows. “Any hints?”

Felix blushed and shook his head. “No. It’s a surprise.”

“I can’t wait to see it.” Kaden downed the last of his coffee and, with a sigh of regret for the end of his convalescence, he grabbed Felix’s hand and pulled him down for a quick kiss. “I have to go,” he whispered.

“Behave,” Felix whispered back, his mouth curved in a contented smile.

Hunter barked.

They both laughed and then Felix kissed him again. “He really wants to go outside.”

“And I’m going to be late.”

“I’ll walk you down.”

Kaden grabbed his briefcase and set it on his lap. He caught Felix’s glance and patted it. “Got it right here.” There were some differences between a Salma style mating and a White River style mating, apparently. Kaden didn’t care—he hadn’t paid any attention during the matings he’d attended in Salma anyway, so it wouldn’t make any difference to him.

But Felix had insisted he look over what they usually did in White River and change what he wanted to be different.

“You marked the parts you really like, right?” It would be just like his future mate to not say a word and lose out on some phrase or moment that meant the world to him.

“We can talk about it when you get back tonight,” Felix promised while completely avoiding the question.

“Hmph,” Kaden grumbled, but he’d pin his future mate down after work. Shame it was only going to be verbally. He glanced over at the dog waiting impatiently by the door and shrugged. “All right, I’m coming.”

Felix titled his head to one side, amused. “He’s certainly getting us trained.”

Kaden made a noise of disgust and rolled toward the door. “You know, I’m supposed to be the alpha here.”

“I know,” Felix said in a soothing tone and he scooted ahead of Kaden to get the door. “And while you’re off doing your alpha things, I’m going to put together my mating outfit.” He made a sound that was almost a giggle and cast Kaden one of those sidelong glances that made Kaden wish he could just stay home and flirt with his betrothed all day.

For someone who claimed to not have much experience with it, Felix sure knew how to push all of Kaden’s buttons. “I can see I’m going to have my work cut out for me in this mating,” he said with a laugh.

“Of course.” They slipped out into the hallway, Hunter padding along behind them with the thud, thud, thud, tink of his stride.

Kaden glanced at the dog and tried scenting, though he wasn’t really sure if the smells were the same in dogs. “You’ll be careful around him?”

“I will. I know he’s got some bad memories, just like you and Quin.” They stopped at the elevator and Felix crouched down beside him. “He’s our foster pup, at least until Harris comes back, but I know I can’t expect him to be like Agatha or Dorian. I’ll help him fit in as much as I can, and help him get healthy again.” Felix put a hand on Kaden’s knee and gazed earnestly up at him. “I guess I feel a little differently about things, after meeting Quin. And you.” He smiled warmly at Kaden. “We can’t go around the world breaking things and not expect to have to fix them after. I don’t know if that makes any sense…”