Page 21

21

BOAZ

Alpha was on vacation, something I couldn’t recall him doing previously, and I was the temporary head of the pack.

As expected it was a lot of paperwork, negotiations, and handling rivalries from other packs. But I made sure to get out with Josh and my men and crack some heads and read the riot act to pack members.

Keane’s bump wasn’t huge yet, but he had blossomed in recent weeks. As he worked from home, he reasoned he wouldn’t need to take paternity leave until just before the baby came.

We’d gone back and forth on whether he would work after the birth, and he’d agreed to cut back on his clients and work part-time, only doing the remote tasks. Rhodes and Maynard said we’d both be exhausted and to take as much time off as possible.

But as I was the stand-in Alpha, my days were long, and we had dinner together at headquarters or used a video chat and ate together in our respective locations.

As I ate my stir-fried noodles, I mused how Keane would fit in when he was the Alpha Omega.

“What?” He froze with a fork halfway to his mouth. “Is that a thing? I didn’t grow up in a pack.”

I dropped my chopsticks, trying to figure out how he had never been aware the Alpha’s mate played a role in a pack or den. But our Alpha was a widower, his mate having passed away in a car accident some years ago. So Keane hadn’t witnessed an omega in the role.

“Is that like a president’s spouse? Or a queen’s consort? They walk five steps behind and smile and nod at everyone but never accomplish anything?”

“Not at all. The Alpha Omega runs charities, organizes fundraising, and makes sure the pack is a cohesive unit.”

Keane rolled his eyes. “But has no power of his own.” He harrumphed and went back to eating.

How did I approach this? My mate didn’t appear to recognize that this was the role he would step into.

“You can make the role whatever you want when you take it on.”

“Me? But I have a job I enjoy, and we’ll have a child or maybe children. I can’t be the Omega Whatever.”

I let it go because Alpha was only in his 50s. He wouldn’t retire—or gods forbid, die—for decades. And I was busy carrying the burden of the pack while my mate was growing our baby.

One month after I assumed the temporary role, Alpha returned with a tan and a jaunty disposition. Odd. He was always so dour, and he rarely smiled, but now he almost skipped around his office.

Maynard was at headquarters one afternoon because Alpha had a job for him. Not as a pack member but his other role as a hitman. He emerged from the meeting convinced that Alpha was going to make a big announcement.

“He hasn’t mentioned anything to me.”

Maynard gave me a look but said nothing.

“Boaz.” That was more like the Alpha I knew, his voice booming from the office open door.

I scurried in, and my gaze rested on a framed photo on Alpha’s desk. He picked it up and ran a finger over it, and his face softened.

“I’m retiring.”

“What?” Shoot, I’d never screeched at Alpha, but he didn’t glare or yell back. “Why? What are you going to do?”

He handed me the photo. “I’ve been given a second chance, Boaz.”

Second chance? At what? No, he couldn’t go anywhere because that would leave me in the hot seat. It was my dream to become Alpha, but not yet. I wasn’t ready. He had to be joking.

Does Alpha joke? My beast wasn’t following the ins and outs of the conversation.

“I met someone while I was on holiday.”

This didn’t sound good. He was talking about affairs of the heart. I wanted him to stop, and I was tempted to slap a hand over his mouth.

“I mated again. The universe has blessed me with another mate.”

“But why retire? You could still head the pack and be a loving mate.”

“I want to devote the rest of my life to being with my new mate.”

What could I say to that?

But he hadn’t confirmed that I was his successor. That entailed calling a meeting of the pack council. This was the prize I’d been working toward all my adult life, and instead of running toward it, I was backing away.

“This is your future, Boaz. I’ve arranged a meeting of the council this evening.”

I had to get home and tell Keane. If he was against it, I’d give it up. It’d be hard, especially as the new Alpha would choose his Betas and I probably wouldn’t be included.

I could join my brothers in the private sector, but that future looked pretty bleak. I wasn’t a computer guy. I hated wearing a suit, and I was hopeless at selling anything.

Alpha gave me an hour to speak to Keane. I called him from the car and said I was on my way with some big news.

“You’re not pregnant, are you?" he quipped.

“Very funny.”

“So spill. What’s the news?” My mate was sprawled on the sofa, a bowl of cherries resting on his belly.

I filled him in, and he didn’t say anything until I was done.

“Do I have to give up my life for the pack?”

“Not at all. You can work and make the Alpha Omega role your own. There are no rules.” He’d have to be more visible than he was now which was… Ummm, I doubt he’d visited headquarters, and he’d never been to any pack functions.

“Maybe we could start a daycare. Many omegas work, and paying for childcare is expensive.”

I latched onto that idea. It’d be popular with everyone, and we had a lot of unused space at headquarters, especially on the first floor. “That’s perfect.

“So, is that a yes? We accept the positions of Alpha and Alpha Omega?”

Keane’s blank expression was puzzling. “Were you seriously willing to give up your dream?”

“Ummm, yes.” Was that a trick question?

My mate beckoned me closer. “You were willing to do that for me?” He grabbed my collar and wiped his tears with it.

“Of course. I’d give up everything for you and our little one. I cradled his bump and kissed it. The baby kicked a response.

“What’s our little one saying? I can’t speak baby-kicking-from-the-womb.”

“Let me interpret.” Keane ruffled my hair. “I love you, Papa.”

Now it was my turn to cry. “Where are the tissues when you need them?”

We snuggled on the sofa, and I explained I had to give Alpha my answer.

“Tell him yes. But first, let me clarify, will I have to declare a lot of buildings open and make speeches?”

“No. Why would you do that? When the daycare opens, you might have to say a few words.”

“Will I have to walk among adoring crowds, receiving gifts and asking meaningless questions?”

“Hardly.” Who did that? Sounded awful.

“What about a crown and a long cloak?”

I gave him a look. Was he jerking me around? I didn’t know anyone who waltzed around town wearing a crown. Kids playing dress up, perhaps.

“The pack doesn’t own any crowns.”

“Then I accept the role of Alpha Omega. Sounds like a hoot. But I have one request.”

I kissed his brow. “Anything, my love.”

“Next time there are bad dudes who have to be killed, I want in on it. You’re aware how my cat can pounce on people from a height, based on the incident at the docks. This Alpha Omega enjoys breaking bad guys’ bones.”

Memories surfaced of him clawing a guy’s face until it resembled a piece of meat.

“Absolutely.” We’d make a great team. “But you can’t participate in a kill if you’re pregnant.”

“Deal. Better give Alpha the good news.”

I couldn’t tell my brothers or parents until Alpha had informed the council, but as usual, they were pissed at me when they found out. Four of them were at the door later that night. Maynard was on the phone while pacing the floor with his daughter who was teething.

“You! The Alpha? Do we get any perks for being your brothers?” Lake asked

“No.”

My one-word answer was met with groans.

“No and again no. Besides, none of you work for the pack. You are pack, but you have your own jobs and lives.”

“I’m signing Luna up for the daycare.” Maynard said his goodbyes before I could remind him I’d been Alpha for about an hour.

“We should celebrate.” Thiago hauled me to my feet.

“The only celebrating I’m doing is making tea and going to bed with my mate. You go and have fun.”

I begged them not to get into trouble because I didn’t want to be roused from my bed.

“We’ll do our best, old man.” Ezra winked.

“Shame we don’t have a cake.” Keane studied me over the top of his tea cup.

Oh no, not bakery talk.