“I want her.” I raise my hand to run through my hair, trying to find the right words. “I want her as our Omega.”
I let that settle. Come what may. I’m mentally preparing myself for potential arguments or pushback. We’ve never really had this conversation, and at this point, I’m starting to think we may end up being an Omega-less pack.
But their response is almost immediate.
Charlie shoots up with a firm and serious, “Yes.”
And Jake, though I can feel the sudden rush of longing through the bond, says a little more reservedly, “Fuck, me too. But I don’t think she’ll have me.” And the pain in that statement is heady.
“So it looks like we need to learn how to woo an Omega,” I say with a half smile I can’t seem to keep off my face.
Fuck, the elation that’s threatening to make me laugh out loud at the idea of courting her is almost impossible to keep inside. My Alpha is practically preening, already planning how to provide for her, protect her, claim her. The flow of emotions and instinct is overwhelming.
“There’s just one problem. Well, one really big problem, at least, among a sea of other little ones,” Charlie says, his expression going serious.
“What?” I ask, because now that the decision’s made, there isn’t anything that will keep me from having her… if she wants us.
“Caleb,” he says matter-of-factly.
Well. Except maybe that.
Her brother. It’s been almost six months since I’ve seen him. We’ve all been on the road, and Caleb is often on location with Horses of Hope. But Charlie is right. Even if he wasn’t his best friend, the town is small. The courtesy of talking to him is the minimum we should do.
But fuck if I’m asking for permission. That lies in Willa’s hands only. She’s the one who chooses. Not her brother, not anyone else. Her.
“We’ll deal with Caleb when the time comes,” I say firmly. “Right now, we need to focus on Willa.”
Charlie nods slowly, but I can see the conflict in his eyes. Loyalty to his best friend warring with what his Alpha wants.
“There’s more,” Jake says quietly, staring into his coffee. “She doesn’t trust easily. And she’s got reason not to.”
“What do you mean?” I lean forward, my Alpha immediately alert to any threat to our Omega.
“When we were together before—when I fucked it all up—she told me some things. About growing up on the circuit. About men who thought her designation meant they could…” He trails off, jaw clenching. “Let’s just say she’s learned the hard way that Alphas can’t always be trusted.”
The protective rage that surges through me is immediate and visceral. “Who?”
“I don’t know specifics. She didn’t give names. But I got the impression it wasn’t just one incident.” Jake looks up, and there’s guilt written all over his face. “And then I proved her right by walking away when she needed me most.”
“You were a kid,” Charlie says, and there’s no judgment in his voice. Just understanding.
“So was she.”
“You're right, though, Caleb and Willa didn’t have an easy go of it with their father or the pack they grew up in.”
We sit in silence for a moment, each of us processing what this means. We’re not just courting an Omega. We’re trying to win the trust of a woman who’s been hurt, who’s learned to protect herself by keeping everyone at arm’s length.
“Then we prove we’re different,” I say finally. “We show her that we’re not going anywhere. That we can be trusted. That we’re worthy of her.”
“And if she doesn’t want us?” Charlie asks.
“Then we respect that.” The words taste like ash, but I mean them. “We don’t corner her. We don’t pressure her. We give her space to choose.”
My Alpha howls in protest, but I shut him down. This isn’t about what we want. It’s about what’s best for her.
“There’s one more thing,” I add, remembering the arena yesterday. “I got the feeling she’s dealing with something.Someone. I saw her and Felton yesterday. I couldn’t tell what was being said, but I sure as fuck know it wasn’t professional.”
“Mark Felton?” Charlie says immediately, his expression darkening. “I fucking hate that guy. He was always sniffing around her when we were kids.” He stops talking, getting a faraway look on his face that quickly morphs into anger. I can only assume that whatever he’s thinking isn’t good.
