“So, Gabriel,” Dustin began after we started eating, “how’s the mate searchgoing?”
I wanted to laugh. Not because it was funny - quite the opposite - but because of the awkward ridiculousness of this situation. He might as well have asked,How’s the not-getting-yourself-killedgoing?
“It’s not really going,” I said with a smallgrimace.
Dustin swallowed hisfood. “Oh.”
“You’ve been looking, though, haven’t you?” Otis asked with an encouragingsmile.
The truth was that I hadn’t. At all. As always in our pack, there was a surplus of alphas and never enough omegas. It wasn’t a big pack in the first place, so I knew all the available alpha suitors, and to be honest, none of them appealed to me. None of them were my type, and I sure as hell couldn’t see myself getting busy with one, having a pup or two, and settling down with that guy for the rest ofmylife.
“I still have time,” I said. As the words came out, they soundeddefensive.
Otis and Dustin exchangedglances.
“I don’t mean to be rude,” Dustin began, with all the gracelessness of an alpha who meant well but was telling me something I obviously already knew, “but the breeding season ends in two nights. The moon is nearly waned todarkness.”
Another Stoneheart pack superstition. Breeding season ended on the first new moon beforesummer.
“I’m aware,” I saidstiffly.
Otis frowned, then gently put his hand on top of mine. “Gabriel… I don’t mean to pry, but this isserious.”
Thanks, Otis. I had nofreakingidea.
“I know,” I said, myvoicefirm.
“What’s stopping you from choosing an alpha? Surely you would have no problem with that. You’re a handsome young omega,”Dustinsaid.
I was in no mood for his compliments. I was getting increasingly sick of thisconversation.
“In fact,” Dustin continued, not sensing the tension radiating off me in waves, “I have a few friends who would love to have an omega of their own. I could let them know, ifyou’dlike.”
“I’m not something to behad,” I spat, harsher than I intended. Both Otis and Dustin lookedshocked.
“Sorry,” I muttered, “but I’m not interested in being owned like an object just because of the organs I wasbornwith.”
Otis looked down at the table. Dustin blinked inconfusion.
“Come on, Gabriel,” Otis said, trying to smile but failing. “It’s not like that. This is for the good ofthepack.”
That made my skincrawl.
“Is it?” I askedharshly.
“Those are the rules,” Otis continued, parroting the words of the pack elders. “Mating and keeping the population up are necessary for our survival here. The rules are for oursafety.”
“So me deciding not to pop a baby out is jeopardizing the safety of the pack?” Ishotback.
Otis’ eyes widened. “This is the way things have always been, Gabriel. We can’t do anythingaboutit.”
Dustin put his hand firmly down on the table. “Gabriel, calm down. I know you’re scared because it’s so close to the new moon, but you still have plenty of timetomate.”
“I don’twantto mate!” Isnapped.
Otis’ jaw dropped. Dustin stared at me as if I just admitted I was thedevil.
“I don’t want to mate, okay? I don’t want to get knocked up by some random alpha I barely know just because the elders decreed it so!” I continued, gesturingwildly.
