The next time I spoke to Jacob was online a week after my trip to the bar and Cassius broke the sphere.
He knew my impatience well and did not start off with small talk.
“How’s Cassius?”
Jacob was trusted. I could admit things to him I couldn’t say to others. Right now, I was in my bedroom with the door closed. Cassius was down in the game room. I had utmost privacy.
“This past week we’ve been settling in. He likes to cook.”
“That means you’re not living on takeout as much? Good for you. It’s healthier.”
“He’s doing well. More relaxed. The first night tensions are gone.”
“Glad to hear it. How about you? How are you doing having him around? You aren’t used to this sort of thing.”
“We both like gaming.”
“Do you talk?”
“Sometimes. We’ve had discussions.”
“Emotional?”
“More at first. But yes.” My chest felt tight. I mentioned going to the bar after our last session and coming home drunk. “But I haven’t done anything like that since,” I added.
“You’re smart. You understand more than you think. It’s hard, I know.”
I didn’t respond.
“Do you have specific concerns?”
I had worries. “Yes.”
“Do you want to go over them?”
“I don’t know what the future looks like. It’s uncomfortable.”
“You’re the alpha.”
“So? He’s been through hell. I don’t want to add to it.”
“You took him away from that. Now he lives with you. That’s a big deal. And yes, your future is in flux because of it. Specifically, because you are alpha and omega.”
I blurted out my topmost worry. “What do I do when he goes into heat?”
Jacob’s eyebrows jumped into his bangs. He cleared his throat. “That’s a major question. If he’s been hurt before and would not enjoy that part of his life with you, you would probably need to leave. Omegas are capable of taking care of themselves while in heat.”
“He said his heats are painful.”
Surprise flattened Jacob’s features. “How so?”
“I never asked.”
“This is a subject you need to discuss with him, not me. Is it difficult for you to bring it up?”
“Very.”
“Why?”
