Page 16 of Tending Our Omega (Saved by the Alpha Pack #1)

Seth

Something clicked within our pack bond. At first, I called James to make sure everything was okay, since he had gone to check on Romi, but he answered, saying they would be at our house any minute.

When they walked in, I found out why I felt a change. Romi was marked.

A bite mark was fully healed on the side of her neck, and my wolf went nuts inside me, thinking it was automatically his turn. Animal.

“Where’s Heath?” James asked me, but my eyes never left my omega. Her cheeks were flushed, and her smell was everything sweet and calming in the world.

“Upstairs.”

James would have to tell Heath everything that happened. He was the alpha of our pack, and usually that would mean he would knot and mark her first. Good thing Heath didn’t have an inflated ego. He bounded up the stairs after kissing Romi on the cheek.

“Romi, come here, please.” I opened my arms. It would be the first time I’d held her, but I felt like she needed it. So did I. I had to make sure she was okay.

She walked over, and I pressed two fingers to her mark. She flinched and lowered her gaze. No way my omega would be afraid of me. “Are you mad?” Her voice was only a bit above a whisper.

“Mad? No. I’m so happy you and James are bonded. He didn’t push you into anything, did he? Just because you were having a mini heat doesn’t mean he should press.”

Already, I was planning the goriest ways to murder James if he was anything but gentlemanly to our girl.

“No. Not at all. He was kind to me. Totally consented.”

“Come here.” I folded her up in my arms. She smelled like her and now like James. I had to admit to a tiny streak of jealousy inside me but, more than anything, I was happy for them. Happy for my omega. As long as she was content, I would endure just about anything.

“Are you hungry? Thirsty? Do you have to go get Maddox?”

“No. He’s with Gram-Gram. I don’t have to go back to work tonight.” She paused and bit down on her bottom lip. “I am hungry.”

A purr erupted from me. “Thank you for telling me what your needs are. We have a ton to eat. Let’s find you something. I could eat, too.”

We walked into the kitchen, her hand in mine. We found some chicken salad, imitation crab salad, cheese, and other goodies, and soon she had a snack tray fit for a queen.

“Seth?” she asked, taking a bite of cheese. “Is this weird?”

“You mean you and James being bonded?” No use mincing words. That was a way to get feelings hurt.

“Yes. I thought you and Heath would be upset with me. You said you weren’t mad but…”

I leaned against the island right in front of her. She put her palm against my chest, and my heart fluttered overtime. Every touch from my omega was precious, and I hoped to never lose that honeymoon feeling. “I’m not.”

“What about you and me?”

Knowing she was thinking about the two of us together did things to me. We hadn’t said the words out loud until now, but it was good to know I was on her mind.

“You and I have time. We will mate and bond when the time is right.” I leaned in closer, letting my lips skim across the shell of her ear. “And when I do take you for the first time, you’ll hardly be able to walk afterward. I plan on keeping you in your nest for at least a week.”

Her legs must’ve heard me because her knees buckled at that moment.

I caught her and carried her to the couch, where I brought out some of the blankets and pillows we’d bought but decided to keep here for her.

She nuzzled one but grabbed my hoodie from the other side of the couch and pressed it to her nose.

“The blankets are great, but this is my favorite.”

“You can have my things anytime you want them. For your nest. Wear them. Carry them around. I don’t care. As long as it brings you comfort.”

She sighed. “These blankets are for my nest, but I don’t know the first thing about a nest or how to make one. It does sound wonderful, though.”

“There are videos.” I brought the food over, along with our drinks. “All kinds of them. We could get some books, too, if you like. You can shop online, but I think the general consensus is that you shop in person so you can touch everything.”

“It makes me sound so picky. Like a brat. Maybe I’m a brat for even wanting that.”

I crowded her, until my nose touched hers then kissed her lips, quickly. “I’m not gonna put up with you talking about my mate and my omega like that. Alphas don’t tolerate an omega talking shit about themselves. Good ones, that is. Now, say three things you like about yourself.”

“What?” She laughed but, to me, this was no laughing matter. The time when she put herself down in her mind or in private or even in front of other people was coming to a close. I set my intentions on it.

“Say three nice things about yourself to negate the bad one. You’ll be my good girl and tell me. There are so many incredible things about you, Romi. I’m only asking for three.”

She shuddered and perfumed the entire room. The boys should be coming down any minute, it was that powerful. “I am hardworking. I am a good mom. And…I have nice eyes.”

“You have beautiful eyes, but that will do. Mmm.” I nuzzled her neck. “So obedient for me. I’ll have to remember that for later. Does it turn you on to be called a good girl? Are you slick thinking about the ways I would praise you?”

“I—” She didn’t get to finish her sentence, but I didn’t need to hear the words. She soaked up my praise like a dry sponge. Noted.

“What movie are we watching?” Heath came down the stairs with James, took a seat on the other side of Romi, and James sat on the floor next to her feet.

“We haven’t decided yet.”

Our alpha whispered something in Romi’s ear and whatever it was, she nodded. Her scent was all vanilla and amber and warmth. The kind of warmth from the fire on a cold winter’s day.

This was where she belonged. Between all of us. We were missing Maddox, but one thing at a time.