There’s a flip of pleasure in my stomach at his words. I just nod, pushing away the guilt as his face falls.
It’s all quiet for a few minutes as we focus on our food. Dev groans, leaning back in his chair and giving me a thumbs up.
I wasn’t going to say anything tonight. But the tension seems to have settled into a tentative truce, so I’m seizing my chance.
Clearing my throat, I catch Rogue’s attention.
“What’s up?” he asks, settling his green eyes on me. I brace myself, shifting uncomfortably.
“I’ve been thinking...” I say hesitantly.
“Dangerous,” quips Ace. He grins at me tentatively when Dev elbows him in the side. I ignore him and focus on Rogan and Devlin. I know Ace will support me. My heart twinges at the thought.
Rogue raises an eyebrow. “Go on,” he encourages, motioning with his hand for me to get on with it.
Blowing out a breath, I go for it.
“I think we need to look at bringing in another female.”
The table goes silent. Ace turns to look at me with wide eyes, and Devlin and Rogue still in their seats.
“I know things… didn’t end well with Elinor.” I stare down at my plate, clenching my fists and resisting the urge to touch my face. “But I can feel the tension in the pack bond. I don’t want to hold us back anymore.”
The pack immediately let out sounds of protest, and I wave them off.
“You’ve been holding back because of me, and I’mready. I’m not saying I want to jump immediately into a bitemark—” Dev growls at the thought, “—but I want to at least start looking into betas again.”
Ace sits forward, a serious expression on his face.
“I agree with Gabe.”
Sagging in relief, I smile at him, an edge of sadness in my face. Maybe we’ll actually get somewhere productive tonight.
“But I don’t think a beta is a good idea.” Ace’s words are careful and pointed, and he holds my gaze. I suck in a breath as a stab of pain lances through me. I might have started it, but he’s taking this conversation into unchartered territory.
“You can’t be serious.” Devlin’s face twists in horror at Ace’s words.
We all ignore him for the moment. He was always going to react badly at even the suggestion of an omega. I glance at Rogue to gauge his response. He looks deep in thought, his brow furrowed.
“We met two omegas today,” he starts, but Dev interrupts him.
“Are you fucking serious? They were children!”
Rogue is on Devlin in an instant as he snarls, dominance leaking into his voice.
“Will you let me finish? I’m not suggestingthem, you goddamn idiot. I mean that we should look again at the OC. Those girls today didn’t come across as controlling or manipulative, and they weren’t even trained. I think it’s worth at least looking into.”
Dev rubs his throat angrily as Rogue releases him.
“I don’t want an omega here,” he snaps. The scent of anger and frustration cuts through the air like a knife, making the hair on the back of my neck rise.
Frustrated, I lean over to catch his eye. Dev has some deep issues around omegas from his childhood. I don’t want to make him do anything he doesn’t want to do, but the pack is at risk. We need to think of the bigger picture here. Part of me is relieved we’re talking about an omega rather than a beta though. I shoot Ace a side-glance and see him watching me, a furrow between his eyes.
“Can’t we just look into it?” I plead. “Maybe it won’t come to anything. They might not have anyone suitable, and it might not work. We might not even be in the running for an omega. But if we don’t try, then we’ll never know. Youknowthat we need someone, Dev. If not the OC, then who? Ace is right. If I’m completely honest, I don’t want to try another beta. I know that makes me a hypocrite, but that’s where I’m at. I will though, if you’re absolutely set against an omega.”
He looks away at my words, jaw ticking. I quickly finish before he can interrupt. “If we don’t all agree, then they don’t stay. That goes without saying.”
Devlin nods his head slowly in reluctant agreement, rubbing a hand over his face. Ace whoops, an excited grin on his face. My stomach flips with excitement at the possibility. Anomega. Not a beta. Relief forms a lump in my throat.
