“You are a good mate.” He kisses my lips.
“Yes,” I nod firmly. “I am.” Then I turn back to my pancakes, flipping them beforethey can burn.
“I don’t want you to feel neglected.” Cass’s hands linger on my waist.
“And I don’t,” I say honestly.
Cass exhales slowly behind me and presses his forehead to the back of my shoulder for a moment, like he’s letting that answer settle. His grip loosens, thumbs brushing my sides in a quiet, reassuring sweep.
“Plus,” I add gently, “it’s important for omegas to bond with their alphas. Especially in the beginning. Tansy needs time with you guys more than she needs?—”
“No.” Cass cuts me off. His fingers slide under my chin, forcing me to look away from the stove and up into his dark blue eyes.He looks angry.“You are as much a part of this pack as any alpha,” he says, voice steady and unmistakably serious. His brow knits as he holds my gaze. “Ineverwant to hear you say you’re less important. Do you understand?”
Thick emotion squeezes my throat, and I blink. “Okay.”
"I mean it, Beck," Cass’s tone drops to that dark, possessive register that makes my knees weak. "You’re sleeping with Tansy and me tonight.” He releases my chin right as his other hand lands in a sharp, stinging slap against my ass, making my body jerk forward slightly. “No arguments.”
I gasp, the spatula clattering against the pan. “Hey!”
But Cass doesn’t even apologize. The brute just kisses my shoulder before smiling down at me.
I grin despite myself. “Go away before I burn everything.”
The alpha gives my waist a quick squeeze, then he steps back. “I’ll set the table,” he murmurs, then he starts rummaging through the cabinets.
I plate the pancakes, then add the last of the batter to my pan when Grason shuffles into the room. He’s barefoot and rumpled in the most adorable way. All he’s wearing is apair of pajama pants that sit low on his hips, giving me a full view of his impressive chest. He looks half feral, curls sticking out in every direction like he lost a fight with a pillow.
“Morning,” Cass says as he makes his way toward the little dinette. He has his cane steady in one hand and a stack of plates topped with silverware balanced in the other.
Grason grunts something that might qualify as a greeting as he looks around the room, his brow pinching like he’s looking for someone. “Where’s Tansy?” He turns back to me.
“Funny you should ask that,” I say, flipping the pancakes a little too early, making raw batter smear across the pan, but I don’t care. "So I slept in Warren’s bed last night.” A wild grin spreads across my face. "I went to sleep all alone, but when I woke up, Warren and Tansy were tangled around each other, sound asleep, and,” I pause for dramatic effect, “they were completely naked.”
Cass turns toward me, his mouth slightly open with surprise. But it’s a good surprise. After all, Tansy has bonded with the whole pack…except me. But, despite what Cass says, that doesn’t really matter. Omegas need a physical connection with their alphas to feel loved and settled. They need an emotional bond with their betas, and I’m pretty confident she and I have become fast friends.
“Good for them.” Grason lets out a low laugh, but then his smile shifts, turning a little wicked. “Wait…” he steps up next to me, glancing at the pancakes, then at my face, “Did they fuck right there in bed with you? Because Warren’s pretty loud when he comes. How the hell did that not wake you up?”
Cass snorts loudly, then shakes his head as he turns back to setting the table.
“Stop it,” I scold Grason, but the jerkwad doesn’t let up.
"That’s…wow, Beck," he says, leaning against the counter. "Sleeping through an alpha rutting an omega is crazy impressive. You must have been completely dead to the world."
"I guess I was just exhausted," I plate the last of the pancakes. They aren’t as golden brown as the rest, but they’ll still get eaten. "Or maybe they tried to be quiet because they’re polite." I look him up and down. “Unlike you.”
That makes Grason smile even wider.
“Grab the bacon, please.” I pick up the plate, then pass the tall alpha.
I set the platter down on the table and reach for my chair, but Cass beats me to it. He pulls it out smoothly. I give him a sweet smile and sit, feeling stupidly pleased as he nudges the chair in behind me.
Grason’s just about to drop into the seat across from us when footsteps sound in the hallway.
I look up in time to see Warren and Tansy step into the kitchen together.
They pause for half a second in the doorway, like they’re orienting themselves to the room.
Tansy is swallowed up in one of Warren’s old hoodies, dark and oversized, the sleeves hanging past her hands. Her dark red curls are everywhere, loose and unruly, like she didn’t bother taming them at all before coming out.
