“You’d be able to eat a lot easier if you sat at the table.” Bullet’s amused tones had Cord’s face flushing. “Excuse me, Billy, if you wouldn’t mind. I’ll help this old fart…”
“I’m not old.” Cord glared at his best friend as he quickly pushed himself to his feet. “From memory, you’re six months older than me.”
“But now you’re on your feet, we can make the formal introductions,” Tristan said with a wide grin. “Billy, this alpha is Cord, friend of Bullet. Bullet has vouched for Cord, and that endorsement has been verified by my brother Anthony and Cece’s father. Cord, I’m proud to introduce you to one of my two closest friends, Billy.”
There was a moment when Cord hesitated. The traditional introduction, something he’d been taught from when he was still a teenager was basically correct in its format, and yet it was different, too. For one thing, it was one omega introducing another, which was highly unusual. For another, there was no mention of Billy’s family name, which was usually important in alpha and omega relations.
Cord, Bullet, and their other team members didn’t use surnames. Cord was the name he was allocated, and he knew it was the same with Bullet. The single use of a name in such a way indicated that the men were respected and worked in a government capacity – something most people accepted.
But none of that mattered when Billy hesitantly held out his hand. Cord took it – he was compelled to. There was no way he could leave the sweet omega hanging that way, and the moment Billy’s hand touched his palm, Cord was hooked. If he’d been a fish, he’d already be flapping on a plate and happy about it. He stepped closer, thrilled at how Billy’s cute nose was working and how an almost glazed expression filled those lovely dark eyes as Billy took in his scent.
Cord’s wolf was being a nuisance, but his presence helped Cord to sense Billy’s wolf, too. The wolf was shyly confident – a combination Cord hadn’t come across before, but the best he could describe it was that the wolf knew his worth, but he was cautious in his efforts to protect his human.
You don’t have to anymore.Cord had no idea if his thought would even register from one wolf to another, but Billy’s smile widened slightly, which gave Cord hope it had worked. Now, if he could just…
An annoying and definitely fake cough coming from his left broke through Cord’s thoughts.
“I believe the hosting staff are hoping you’d sit down now,” Bullet murmured. “Billy, your friends and I will be just at the table over there if you need us.”
“Thank you.” But as Billy was still looking at Cord, studying his face so intently, Cord wasn’t sure his omega had even heard his friend. But the reminder was a timely slap around the face. Billy had come for a date, which meant sitting down and finding a way to make conversation, even when every cell in his body demanded Cord find someplace where he could have Billy to himself in private.
“I can eat quickly.” Billy’s voice was barely a whisper, but Cord heard it as the screaming declaration it was. They were on thesame page. Billy wanted to be with him. For the first time ever, Cord felt like an alpha – the true example of what an alpha should be. Yes, he’d always been strong, confident, and someone who would readily protect others if needed. But in that moment he had his person – his omega – and that young wolf was looking for his guidance.
“I got us a table,” he said, aware his voice was lower than usual, but some things could not be helped. His body was already preparing for an inevitable claim – the way his heart pounded, his lungs expanding, the blood rushing south…We eat first.Because that’s what an omega deserved. They deserved to have an alpha who could control themselves long enough to sit down and make polite conversation.This next hour is going to be torture.“Let me show you to your seat.”
Keeping hold of Billy’s hand, Cord evaded the parcels he’d tripped over, making sure Billy was comfortable. He didn’t let go of Billy’s hand,and no one can make me,he thought firmly, taking the seat next to his mate. “What do you like to eat?”Look at me, making conversation.
/~/~/~/~/
Billy was living in the fantasy world omegas dreamed of from the moment they learned the difference between alpha, betas, and omega forms. He’d learned about it at school about the same time he tested positive as an omega – a test result that changed the course of his life at home. His parents, an alpha mother and a beta father, had been horrified he was a male omega, and Billy’s life was hell for the next four years until he turned eighteen when his parents celebrated his birthday by kicking him out of the family home.
But even though his life was hard, his omega friends had things a lot easier, and for those four intervening years between fourteen and eighteen years old, school was Billy’s happy place. He lovedto learn, and coding caught his attention from the very start. But during break times, lunch times, and free class time, he was like any other omega. Teenage omegas gossiped, dreamed, and drooled over alphas from afar, because anything else wasn’t seemly.
The single biggest topic Billy and his friends dreamed about was alpha datesand now I’m actually on one, and the only one I’ll ever have.Billy could barely contain his excitement. From the moment he’d taken in Cord’s scent, he knew his life was going to change, and while he couldn’t be as confident as his friends about his happiness going forward, because his brain wasn’t wired that way, he was as cautiously optimistic as his life experiences allowed.
And that meant starting with what to order. “I’ve never been to this restaurant before,” he said, glancing up to see his alpha was watching him. “Did they give us a menu, or do you have a preference for something in particular?”
“Menu, menu.” Cord broke his gaze, hurriedly looking over the table. “Yes. Yes. We have one here.” He handed the folded card to Billy as if giving him a gift. “Your friend Cece said this was a medium-high range restaurant, but the food smells coming from the kitchen are good, don’t you think?”
“All I can smell is you.” Billy quickly opened the menu, feeling his cheeks heat up. “There’s a lot here,” he said, taking in headings like entrees, starters, soups, mains, and desserts and the long list of options under every header. “Were you very hungry?”
“There’s a platter here.” Cord leaned over him, pointing at the item on the menu. Billy didn’t even see where Cord was pointing, he was so overcome with the need to snuggle. “We could share that, and have a main each, if you like. Do you like steak?”
Billy managed to make a nod. “Sounds good.” He cleared his throat and then chuckled self-consciously. “I’m sure you’ve noticed that I’m not very experienced with the dating side of things.”
Cord’s smile widened as though he was pleased with Billy’s admission. “In the past, I have rarely dated,” he admitted. “I’ve never taken an omega on a date before. My partners in the past…” he broke off and suddenly had a coughing fit that required a full glass of water. “I’m so sorry,” he gasped when he got his coughing under control, “that is really bad form. One should never mention previous dates when they’re enjoying their first date with their intended mate. I’m truly sorry. Please forgive me.”
Billy frowned, trying to work out if the coughing and the apology were connected, or if it was just a coincidence. But then his eyes widened. Leaning closer to Cord, he muttered, “Did your wolf just get cross with you? Is that why you were coughing?”
Cord nodded, his lips pressed firmly together. Glancing around, he added quietly, “My wolf never liked the last person I dated, and… can I just say my wolf’s instincts were right and leave it at that?”
“We’ll learn about each other over time,” Billy offered, not really sure what he could say. “The good, the bad, and the ugly, so the saying goes. Always assuming your wolf is happy you’re with me, of course.”
“Happy?” Cord chuckled. “He wants to come out, strut his stuff, and throw a freaking party. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but one of the waiting staff keeps glaring in your direction, and my wolf wants to take a chunk out of his attitude so badly. You have no idea how hard it is to hold him back.”
Billy already knew who that would be without looking. “Slender guy, looks like a model, with amazing black curls held back by a velvet bow?”
“That’s him. Do you know the guy?”
