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I nod, "Yeah, we've talked about it before. Conceptually anyway. Let's talk about it tonight with them. Don't worry, Im. You'll have everything you've ever wanted. So will we."
She picks up her lunch again, then says wryly, "You never wanted an omega."
I wince, "Ah, I'm never gonna live that down, am I?"
She shrugs, "It's okay. It was all three of you. In the end, I'm the one with the baggage. Speaking of which, I can't wait until that stupid party is over."
"Yeah. I've been trying not to think about it. Melanie got us ID tags and snagged some uniforms from the catering company she works for, the one you hired for the party. I'll be glad when it's over. Speaking of, do you need to go back home tonight?"
She sighs, "I do. Just a couple of days left. Hopefully."
"After the party, no matter how it turns out, it's over, Imogen. You promised."
If she's surprised by my sudden ferocity, she doesn't act it. "I know. And I do. Promise. I'm ready to get on with our lives."
On that note, we finish lunch, then I can finally take her on a date. Before we leave the office, I pull her onto my lap, digging an envelope out of my pocket, handing it over.
She eyes me suspiciously but takes the gift.
"This is my courting present for you. I'm so fucking happy you're with us, Imogen. I've never met anyone like you. You're so kind and sweet, gentle and thoughtful, but a little wild inside, like you can't wait to start living and experiencing life. I can't wait to do all kinds of fun cool shit with you."
Imogen wraps me in a hug, squeezing me tight. "I feel the same way, Cass." She threads her fingers through my hair, which I left down, and I almost fucking purr when she scratches the back of my head.
With a peck on my cheek, she turns to her present eagerly.
"Don't get too excited. It's nothing fancy." It really isn't. I didn't know what to buy her. She already has so many things.
She pulls the contents of the envelope out and looks at it, confused.
"It's umm… cooking classes. For two. I thought you and I could go together, like a date night. I think it's, like, once a week for a month. But there's another thing here." I pull another piece of paper out of the envelope. "This is from the three of us, but the guys didn't mind me giving it to you. It's a cabin, I mean, it's no fancy resort, but it's really nice. Up in the mountains, near a waterfall. There's some hiking and shit nearby. Anyway, we thought we could go up there for a few days once everything was settled. It's not fancy or anything—"
I try to remind her we don't carry the kind of wealth she's used to but she cuts me off with an abrupt kiss, which turns punishing. Suddenly she's in my lap, legs squeezing my hips.
I'm still hard from last night.
"I love this. So much. So, so, so much. Hey! Maybe we could take bartending classes together, too? Oh, well, nevermind, that's silly, you already know how to—"
"I'd love to."
"I love this idea, Cass. No one's ever done something like this for me before. That you were so thoughtful, thinking of something I'd enjoy or want, not just…" she sniffs and looks away. "It's just really amazing and shows how much you think of me as a person. And I love it."
And I love you, I want to say, but don't. The timing doesn't feel right, but goddamn do I feel it. More and more every day.
She bites her red lips, brows furrowing. "It's hard to tell sometimes what's in my nature as an omega and what I was raised to expect from the OFA, and I really hope I don't make you feel things have to be a certain way based on how I was raised. I'm trying to separate the two, so I wasn't expecting anything, but your courting gifts… My omega is really happy, Cass. I'm really sorry if you felt pressured to…"
I squeeze her hand. "Stop. We did this because we wanted to. You're not as much of an OFA omega as you think you are, Imogen. You gotta stop being so hard on yourself."
She sighs, "I know. It's really hard. You spend your whole life being taught things are a certain way…"
"You know, Phe's alphas never gave her a courting gift."
She gasps, scandalized. "They didn't?" I can't help but laugh. Shaking my head, I say, "No. I mean, they did eventually. Their excuse was their courtship was kinda backwards. Phe likes to bring it up to get more presents from them, so they've made it up to her in spades. My point is, Constantine was like, the OFA's fucking poster boys for how a pack should act. And even they didn't do things conventionally. It's okay if you feel shit out as you go. We won't judge you if you misstep because there are no rules. This is not an OFA courtship. It's you and us. Imogen and Dante."
She smiles sadly, but softens against my chest so I can hold her and breathe her in. I don't know how long the OFA will have a grip on her emotions. They fucking traumatized her, and I'm not sure she's really fully aware of the fact.
Eventually, we put her gifts away, but before heading on our actual date, I snag Imogen by the waist, pressing her against the door on our way out. "Do me a favor, yeah? Put these on before we go?"
Imogen's eyes widen, but she nods, snatching the panties out of my hand. She disappears for a few minutes, then returns with a blush staining her cheeks. We head to my truck, and the sun is finally setting enough to head to the drive-in.
