"Excuse me, Omega? It's Mona, right?"
"Oh, yes, sorry. Hi. Nice to meet you…"
"Vin."
"Nice to meet you, Vin," I say, smiling. Then I wait. She doesn't say anything else, just anxiously shifts from foot to foot. A man stands behind her, wearing a similar expression. If he wore a hat, he'd be twisting it in his hands. "Do you… uhh… want to ask me something?" I almost sayDo you want a hug?and am glad I don't, because the woman, Vin, nods aggressively.
"I'm so sorry, we really didn't mean to bombard you like this—"
"It's okay—"
"It's just, my husband and I… Well, we've been together for about twenty years now. And we thought… it's just, we expected to get pregnant by now. But you see, it hasn't happened. And neither of us are called to grow our pack, it's just the two of us. And we are happy with that. But now we worry that we'll need to expand our family in order to get pregnant."
I stare dumbly for a minute. Some people glance our way—even the humans nearby can hear what Vin just said. But no one bats an eye. Is she looking for condolences?
And I hate that I'm going there again, but considering how touchy-feely they all are—doesshe want a hug?
When I don't say anything, her husband intercedes. "If we have to grow our pack, we will. We want a child more than anything. Vin and I, we're ready."
Still, I stare. Long enough for Kellen to finally come and rescue me. He throws his arm around me and tucks me close. "They're worried they might need to bring other people into their relationship to conceive," he explains. "Shifter fertility is difficult and sometimes requires multiple partners for success. That's what they mean by growing their pack. And something they'd rather avoid."
Kellen doesn't lower his voice. As awkward as it is to have this conversation in the middle of a busy cafe, I'm grateful when he continues. "Omegas sometimes help couples get pregnant. Maybe you could sit with Vin for a minute. Hold her hand?"
Vin nods again, even more enthusiastically this time. Her partner—Craig—thanks Kellen by slapping his shoulder, then the couple guides me to their table. And right there in the middle of the bustling little cafe, I sit stiffly beside this hopeful, delusional couple and hold their hands.
Delusional, because there's no way this is going to work.
But I feel like an asshole for even thinking that, so I don't voice my concerns. Instead, I let them hold my hands.
And it's weird. And uncomfortable.
For a minute.
Until I start to feel relaxed. A normal kind of relaxed, like after a long but productive day. Curled up on the couch with a movie or a book. My mate rubbing my feet. Food in my belly.
The warmth in my chest, the ember where my omega lives, begins to radiate out of me. And then my hands go a little slack, but the two of them, they're holding me so tight, they probablydon't even notice. But I do. My heart beats slow. And I can't help it, I yawn. My omega is beaming.
And their grips on me soften. Almost as if I've dozed off, I shake off the sleepiness and take in my surroundings.
Just as loud and busy as before. The humans still notice us but aren't paying much attention. But every single wolf in here is staring at the three of us. Some with looks of envy. Some in awe.
And I look at Vin, and her eyes are half-mast. Craig's too. I don't know what's happening. Their grip continues to lessen until the only effort they make, with their hands resting on the table, is to have their fingertips reach out and connect with my skin.
You're feeding them your energy, that's all. It's not a special power. It's just us. It's your omega. We are calm and strong, and giving them the support they need,Beep explains.
Can I pull away?I ask.
Yes. Whatever you might be able to do for them—it's been done.
Are they going to get pregnant now?Oh god, are they going to go home and fuck now? Not that I mind, but I don't really want to be a part of their… lovemaking.
This is so weird.
Beep ignores my panicked tangent and answers my question.I don't know. Possibly. It's not a spell—it's a blessing from the Moon Goddess herself. It's one of the reasons omegas are revered. Remember? When an omega joins a clan, fertility increases. That means for all couples trying to conceive, not just these two. They don't need to hold your hands for the blessing—our mere presence in the clan is enough. I suspect this couple has just been anxious, and your energy made them feel calmer.
I pull my hands away—gently but firmly—and tuck them by my sides. Vin has tears in her eyes. So does Craig.
"Thank you," he whispers.
