Page 74 of Generation Omega: Claimed
Mental note: My inner omega is scary and also correct. I won’t ever again whine about my plentiful cock treasures.
When you reach the plane, silently ask Gideon to support you, pretend to sleep, and learn about your pack. That’s the first lesson, coldly evaluate what you have. Love isn’t enough—it never was—and you must see the truth before it’s too late.
And here I am, learning more about Ethan’s love than I ever knew. Ethan just commanded Gideon to kill his own bonded alpha and accepted the need for Ory to bite him—all for me. Guilt is my new companion for deceiving him like this, but my inner omega battles me whenever I consider caving, until there is no choice.
“Ethan,” I whisper. “I’m here. I’ve been here. I heard everything.”
Without hesitation, he helps me to stand, and now I’m facing them, the three who were fooled and the fourth who doesn’t know why I asked for this.
Ethan just stares at me, while Jameson snaps, “What the hell? I couldn’t hear your thoughts—what’s going on?”
Ory silently moves toward me, claiming the space beside me like a knight would for his queen.
“I’m not going to explain everything right now. Just know, I have a new teacher, one with a wealth of experience. Now, about Kazimir…”
Have you got anything for me? I push that question at my omega, whose presence is more distant.
My vision doesn’t travel like the legacy’s does. I don’t know whether Kazimir is true or not, but how you face this is one of the…
Her words vanish, but more than that, she vanishes, dragged back to wherever she resides between heats. I’ll work out what to do about that later.
Gideon’s voice is a gentle rumble. “Baby girl, we need to make a decision, one way or the other. This plane isn’t far from its destination, so…”
I turn and crane my neck to look directly into Ory’s eyes. “Nothing personal, but I need Mackenzie.”
After a tight nod, Ory’s signature, stoic expression transforms, and Mackenzie’s lovely smile appears. There’s mirth in his eyes, sexy mirth that is, and I know without asking what he’s thinking about, or really, remembering from my saucy thoughts in the car.
I take his hand and lead him away from the others, all processing our situation in their own ways. Gideon is earnest. Jameson is suspicious. And Ethan is wracked with uncertainty about everything but his love for me.
At my urging, Mackenzie sits on a chair at the table and allows me to climb onto his lap, facing him. I admit it—flowy, wrap dresses are certainly handy when straddling enormous men. Once I’m in place, Ethan, Gideon, and Jameson move closer, standing behind Mackenzie where I can see them.
“How can I help, lass?”
“Do you know what’s going on?”
“Enough, yes.”
“Okay, here’s what I think. If Kazimir is a traitor, we’re very likely doomed, but if he’s not and we accuse him…” I meet Ethan’s stormy gaze. “… if we take you from Kazimir without evidence or a chance to explain, that’s an ending. It’s like I said,my bond with Kazimir runs through you. Without you and your connection to him, he’s lost to us.”
The image is in my mind again, what our pack is meant to be. It resembles a Christmas photo we might send one day, though no one is wearing ridiculous sweaters—which I will absolutely insist upon if we live long enough to reach the holidays. We look like a family. I’m in the center, with Jameson standing behind me, his arms around me, hands connected in front of me. Gideon and Mackenzie are on one side of me, and Ethan, Kazimir, and Thatcher are on the other.
It’s not crystal clear, but it feels real, like a promise of what’s to come. But if the origin omega is correct, someone is missing, another alpha. I can’t fathom who else might belong with us or why there’s no space for him in this hazy picture. Then, as grim reality hits, I remember what else she said—that I’d only have another alpha if the pack survives long enough.
“Till…”
I refocus on Ethan. “Sorry, I…” I gasp when I realize what I haven’t shared, something none of them would know since they can’t hear my thoughts when the legacy speaks to me. “There’s a part of the omega prophecy that was concealed—I almost forgot.” I glance at Jameson’s hard mask of displeasure and dare to wink at him. “Knotty trust exercises can be very distracting.”
Jameson’s lasso gives a jerk, and I know for certain I’m getting spanked…again. No complaints here.
“The prophecy,” Gideon presses, reeling me back like a good first alpha.
The legacy is clearly helping, because I recall every word. “A true pack shares one beating heart, the omega’s. Only a fiercely courageous omega with a heart born of both darkness and light, welcoming and exacting in equal measure, unfailingly discerning and yet infinitely forgiving, will be able to sustain apack. Without a worthy and wise heart, the omega will spoil the pack for the protection of all.”
“That’s fucking gibberish,” Jameson mutters, but Gideon shakes his head.
“No, that’s you, baby girl—to aT.”
My love, gratitude, and trust reach Gideon. “Let’s hope so.”
