“I’m so stupid,” he mumbled. “Nothing even happened to me. I just got so scared over nothing. I’m pathetic.”
I growled. “No, you’re not. You were just trying to defend yourself and your pup. You have nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Worse things have happened to other omegas,” he muttered. “And they get through it just fine. Like that Charlie guy. He had Gunner going crazy looking for him. Hell, he even sent that alpha to trespass here and try to kidnap him. And look at Charlie - he’s still kind and generous. Nothing like that’s happened to me. I’m just some random omega nobody cares about. I don’t even see anyone chasing after me.”
“That’s enough,” I said, my tone gentle but firm. “You’re wrong when you say nobody cares about you.”
Mason slowly turned to look me in the eyes.
“I care about you,” I told him. “Charlie and Flint do, too. And in this pack, we’re all a family. I told you that. I bet Shadow cares for you, too, even though he only met you for two minutes.”
He lowered his gaze. “Thanks.”
“I mean it,” I growled affectionately. “I’m not just blowing steam.”
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “I’ve never heard that before. Who says that?”
I grinned. “I do.”
“You’re funny, Jericho,” he mumbled. “But… I guess I’m glad that you’re the one who found me in that trap.”
I smiled at him. “I’m glad I set the trap and caught you in it, then. Well, even though it wasn’t exactly intended foryouspecifically. Oh - and by the way? If any Scarlet Ridge idiotsdocome here looking for you, don’t doubt the fact that we’d all rip them to shreds for you.”
Mason blinked in surprise. “You’d really fight them?”
“Of course.” I puffed up my chest. “I know I don’t look like much, but I’m scrappy. I’ll tear off some Scarlet Ridge alpha faces, just for you.”
Mason chuckled, and my chest felt warm.
“Thanks,” he said. “Although, to be honest, I don’t think it’s ever gonna happen. But I appreciate the thought anyway.”
“You’re welcome.”
Mason sighed, less heavy than before. “Sorry for making a scene.”
“No worries. You’re fine,” I told him as we both stood from the bench. “Do you wanna head back to the house, or are you okay to continue?”
He shook his head. “I’m okay. I might be a pregnant omega, but I’m notthatsensitive.”
I let Mason take the lead. Down the street, we passed the movie theatre and a few other boutique stores. I noticed there was more of a sparkle in his eyes this time. I’m just glad he was in a better mood than before. It was good of him to tell his problems to somebody instead of just bottling them up.
Suddenly Mason stopped. He peered up at the storefront - only this place wasn’t a store. It was the pack community kitchen.
“What’s this place?” Mason asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
“It’s sort of like a food bank for the pack,” I explained. “Basically, everyone pitches in to donate food, if they can. Me and Flint are part of a hunting guild, so we donate meat, for example. It’s mostly for new alpha and omega couples who are raising a family, but everyone’s welcome to partake. No one goes hungry in this pack.”
Mason stared at the building in awe, as if he was seeing a unicorn or something.
“That’s… amazing,” he said slowly.
It had never struck me as strange before. I’d always taken the food bank for granted, since it had always been here since I was a pup, and because I even donated food to it myself. But I realized they probably didn’t have anything like it in Scarlet Ridge.
“Can we go inside?” Mason asked, like a pup asking if they could go inside a candy store.
“Sure.”
Inside the building were long rows of wooden tables with bench-style seating. At the back and sides were counters with both fresh and packaged foods behind them. Some folks were sitting in the middle, enjoying a meal, and others were lining up at the counters to take home something for their family.
