But we can’t overstep the boundaries, the lines in the sand set out by our designations. We could easily push her into something she’s not ready for purely through using biology, and that’s not something I would accept. My pack wouldn’t either, but I’m a little worried that Nate might accidentally push this omega into something she isn’t ready for without even meaning to.
“I think we need some advice,” I offer. “I could call the Center.”
Nate frowns. “Why?”
Hesitating, I glance at Axel. He’s staring down into his beer.
“We don’t know this omega, Nate,” I explain. “Not really. If she’s on her own, she’s not part of the Center set-up, and with everything that’s happened in the last few years, I just want to make sure we’re doing the right thing by her.”
And I need to protect my pack.
Nate rolls his eyes at me. “You’re always so sensible, Cade. Let’s just go with it and see what happens.”
I battle the urge to rub the headache that’s forming between my eyes, but I don’t force the point as Hudson walks in with a cold beer in his own hands. He collapses into a chair with a sigh.
Nate swivels. “Was she okay?” he asks eagerly. Hudson nods, realizing that all of our attention is on him.
“I asked if she had somewhere to go, and she said yes,” he rumbles, rubbing at his neck. “I don’t know if I completely believed her, but I couldn’t force her to stay. She said she’s coming back tomorrow.”
Nate grins widely. “Excellent.”
“Take it easy,” Hudson warns him. “She’s really fragile, Nate.”
He looks unrepentant. “I can do that.”
When we all look at him askance, he throws up his hands. “Ican!”
Axel snorts a low laugh.
“We could give her the spare room,” Nate blurts. “It’s there to be used.”
Axel and I groan unanimously. “Nate.” I pinch my nose. “We literally just talked about this.”
“I don’t mean right now. I just… she was sleeping outside Axel’s gym a week ago. Do you really think she has somewhere decent? Because I’m not buying it.”
Hudson nods in agreement. “I agree. But, we can’t force her, Nate. I think she’s had more than enough of that in her past.”
Something in his words rub me the wrong way. The others clearly feel the same, Axel leaning forward with his knuckles white around his beer.
“Meaning?” It’s a growl, the tension in the room growing.
“I don’t know.” Hud shrugs, but I can see the frustration in his face. “But it’s not like the world has been especially welcoming to omegas, is it?”
Can’t disagree on that one. It’s only been five years since omegas were locked up, forcibly used as breeding machines for the beta population to tackle the decimation of their birth rate. Nobody knows why betas are no longer able to have children, but it’s the omegas who have suffered the most.
My throat tightens at what she might have experienced. I don’t think she was part of the OC, though. Omegas generally don’t awaken until late teens, so it’s unlikely she would have been dragged into that hellhole.
Something to be grateful for, at least.
“She’s not ready for that,” I tell Nate. “And you will not mention it, Nate.”
Nate humphs, but nods reluctantly.
Hudson looks at me. “I like her, Cade. I think you will, too.”
“You need to meet her tomorrow,” Nate urges. “We could have lunch downstairs. Nothing wrong with that, right?”
I think it over. My pack are obviously very keen to get to know Gabrielle better. Axel is nodding, clearly on board with the idea. It’s looking more and more like Gabrielle could be a more permanent fixture in our lives, if she agrees.
