Page 5 of The Omega

He was a mean and tough Alpha like anyone who took care of these hills would be.

And he also had a soft spot for me.

I knew I was his burden. A little runt he hadn’t wanted. But he’d made the mistake of falling for my mom despite her situation, so he still looked out for me.

Plus, he’d saved my hide more times than I could remember. I had no intention of disobeying him.

It didn’t mean I wanted to be in his debt, though.

I cranked the window down as he shifted, letting in the cold air as I checked my phone. Still no signal.

“Where’re you headed, kiddo?” Alpha Journey rested his hairy forearms on the open window.

“I’ve got to make a call.” I motioned to the phone I’d dropped onto the seat.

“You didn’t get service set up at your place.” Alpha Journey leaned back. Worry furrowed his bushy eyebrows as he looked the truck over.

I internally cringed, hoping he wouldn’t see that I needed air in the tires or that the check oil light was on. It would be a whole thing.

But I was great at distraction.

“No, sir.” I smiled with all my teeth. “I won’t be here for much longer, so I didn’t want to go through all the trouble.”

Journey sighed as he scratched his beard. “Speaking of trouble, those hot-shot TV people ruffled a few feathers when they stopped off at the diner this morning. Maybe it isn’t a good idea for you to go into town just yet until the talk settles.”

I kept smiling as I nodded, feeling a stone sink into my stomach. You would’ve thought I’d be used to it by now. All the rumors and the colorful adjectives the pack called me. Slut. Freak. Gold Digger. Goody Two-Paws.

I’d heard it all, but I’d been able to sneak by for the most part. Being the littlest wolf in the pack had its perks, but going to the show had been the turning point that I didn’t think I’d be able to come back from.

When I was here, at least I was one of them. Morganton Pack might’ve been mean, but it was still pack. They took care of their own. Alpha Journey’s nephew was welcomed home with his mate, but as a female, I’d be joining my mate’s pack.

I was never supposed to come back here. But I might as well be the outsider now. Not that anyone was fighting for me to stay.

Except Alpha Journey, of course.

He didn’t deserve this fate.

“You’ve been marking up these woods since they left?” I still smiled even as I felt the tears burning behind my eyes.

“Just doing my job. Running patrols,” he hummed as his tough exterior cracked just a bit.

“You know that you don’t have to worry about me.” I was wasting breath when I said it, but it still had to be said.

“I ain’t worried.” Journey stunk like an outhouse when he lied. “What did those human boys want, anyway?”

I sighed as I rested my head back against the seat. “I had to record an interview for them to air on the show before I make my grand re-entrance.” I left out the part where I was terrified they were going to get me killed. He’d put a stop to the whole thing if he knew the truth.

“You think you’ll find what you’re looking for this time?” There was an old pain in his voice that I only picked up on because I knew him.

I rested my hand on his arm instinctually, knowing my touch would soothe him like only an Omega could do.

It’s why I’d ended up wearing gloves through high school. Freak. I shook off the thoughts.

“I sure hope so,” I said. “But I won’t know unless I can call my friend Aspen.”

“That Aspen girl who mated with Ranger McCaw?” Alpha Journey growled. “The one who let you take the poison meant for her?”

I flushed at the memory. “It didn’t happen quite like that. I offered to bring her the cupcakes and I might’ve stolen a teeny little taste on the way.”