Page 59 of The Omega

“Okay. It’s alright. I’ll let the heat come naturally,” I was speaking more to myself than to her.

But Penelope wasn’t going to let this go. “You can come with me back to Denver. We’ll get you set up at the heat clinic.”

“Alone?” I blurted out.

Not again, my wolf whined.

Penelope’s cheeks flushed as she stood taller. “I couldn’t live with myself if something else happened to you. If I don’t think your mates are treating you well, I can step in and—”

“Please don’t,” I growled, wishing I’d never asked her here. “I can handle this myself.”

“It’s a strength, not a weakness, to ask for help,” she said.

“I’ve never needed your help before,” I snapped.

She flinched as if I’d slapped her, lowering her eyes before meeting mine again. “You’ve got a little Alpha in you, Omega.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. That was the first time I’d ever heard something so silly. “It’s probably because I’m not a real Omega.”

“How can you say that?” Penelope gasped.

I was suddenly so bone tired that I didn’t have the energy to soothe her worries. “Not all of us have the luxury of being a true Omega.”

To be so prim and proper. Cared for and loved.

Maybe this was always going to be my fate.

A little growl slipped from Penelope’s pink lips. “Not all Omegas are born on silk sheets.”

I saw it then. The truth of her statement. A glimpse into her world. I felt her emotions stirring something in mine. The anger. The pride.

Ashamed, I lowered my gaze and gave her a truth in return. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I don’t know who I truly am. It’s never been safe to be me.”

“Oh sweetie.” Her voice caught, and she couldn’t help but reach out, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. “You never had to be alone. Omegas stick together. You could’ve asked for help.”

“But I couldn’t.” My bottom lip trembled. “It’s not like you helped her.”

“No, don’t think that,” she soothed as her calming magic washed over me. “Your mom chose to walk away from us. Please don’t make the same mistake. Tell me what you need and we’ll make it happen.”

I took a deep breath, getting ahold of myself. “I need my mates to help me through this heat and then I’ll figure out what comes next. But I don’t know how to get them to stop fighting.”

“It’ll come naturally,” she said. “I know that’s hard to believe with what you’ve been through, but you’re still an Omega. You were born to bring peace.”

“Maybe.” I blew out a heavy breath. “If only they’d listen for two seconds.”

“You leave that to me,” Penelope spoke with an authority that made my wolf’s ears twitch. “I know how to speak to Alphas.”

“You do?” I arched an eyebrow as my wolf bared her fangs and started a territorial growl.

“Relax.” Penelope smiled as she snuck in another touch, soothing my beast. “I didn’t mean your Alphas. I meant mine. They’re waiting in the parking lot for me to finish up here. It’ll be good for them to stretch their legs.”

22

Atlas

Dorian snarled at the human medic who dared get too close to the door, sending him scurrying away, and I couldn’t say that I blamed him. But instead of joining in the Alpha pissing contest, I sat on the chair outside the medical door with my head hung in shame.

Neither of you deserves her.