Page 6 of Such a Shy Omega (His Alpha Desires #8)

Erik

“Alpha Jonas, your station has opened.”

One of the males who had been sitting with us stood up, picking up a bag from the floor next to him. “On my way.”

I watched with interest to see where he would go.

Jonas was another new face for me, not an owner but a member who, from the conversation they were all having, was here several nights a week.

We’d been joined by a couple of other omegas as well, but they seemed content to sit with their alphas and take part in the conversation for now.

“St. Andrew’s cross,” Liam said. “And he’s a master with the cat o’ nine tails.”

“And just about anything impact.” Talon walked up just then. The fire master was familiar to me. He’d been an early investor in the club. “He’s worth observing if you are interested.”

“I am, thanks.” And it didn’t hurt that I could stay here on the comfortable sofa to do that, since the cross was only a dozen or so feet away. “Nice to see you, Talon.”

“You, too. I thought you might have lost interest in visiting us.” He sat down on one of the upholstered chairs opposite me. “Or maybe found your mate who was keeping you occupied.”

“If only.” I lifted my glass and took a sip, the smooth whiskey warm on my palate. “I am starting to think there isn’t a mate in the cards for me.”

“Don’t give up hope.” Talon’s gaze followed Jonas’ approach to the St. Andrew’s cross. “See the omega waiting for him?”

“Yes.”

“He is his mate. Just neither of them knows it yet.”

“But you do?”

He chuckled, joined by the others still sitting with us. “We all do.”

Jonas met the omega and helped him undress before binding him to the cross.

They didn’t seem to speak much, which meant, they had either worked out the scene earlier in the evening or had been together often enough that they already had an agreement in place.

But there was no sign of any other kind of relationship.

“Don’t let them fool you like they’ve fooled themselves.” Liam grinned. “But enough of that. They have to get it resolved eventually. So, what’s kept you away for so long that I haven’t had a chance to meet you before?”

“Work,” Jabez put in helpfully. “And I think he needs to come see me for a checkup.”

“I’m not sick,” I protested, weakly. “But thanks.”

“My wolf is picking up a lot of stress.” Jabez reached for my arm and placed two fingers on my wrist. “Not good. Come see me. And between now and then, consider where you can work on stress relief.” He winked. “This place has a lot of options for that.”

Everyone always talked about how the omegas/subs released stress in the various scenes, but while alphas/doms had to maintain a level of control, our kinks filled needs in us as well.

After a scene, I always slept like a baby.

And that was with random single omegas. Watching Jonas with the omega he apparently hadn’t realized was his mate, I could see a level of connection between the two of them that many of the others on the floor did not reveal.

Some members were mated, others came here to find others who shared their interests.

Still others brought a guest with them for a scene.

“How does he not see it?”

Jabez shrugged. “In theory, the second mates meet, it’s like lightning and they know, but not all of us have that experience.

And sometimes, we have a past that makes it harder to see.

A loss…” He waved his hand as if to hide his own pain, which had to have at least some place in his big, kind heart.

“But even then, Fate can surprise us.” As it had him when he met his mate who had a past as well.

“I hope he figures it out soon.” So they could begin their life together, a gift from Fate not every shifter received.

“Hey, you were asking about an omega earlier, yourself,” Jabez said. “Talon should know who he is if he works here.”

“Good point.” Liam nodded in agreement. “I’m curious myself, now. Hired any new omegas lately, Talon?”

“In fact, I have. Heath. A trainee in lighting and sound. No experience but eager to learn.”

“Tech stuff?” My interest rose even higher.

“We’ve also, unfortunately, just lost our tech director and will be hiring to fill that position. Want the job?”

They all laughed. Imagine bigshot corporate me as a tech director.

Ridiculous.

And yet, a part of me perked up at the idea. Working an ordinary job, dealing with lighting and sound boards. And if this was the same omega? Even better.