The Omega's Heart (Wilde Creek Four) (11 page)

“Company first,” he whispered, his voice
tinged with amusement.

Damn company.

Jeremiah opened the front door to a young
woman standing on the porch. “Hi Kammie. Do you want to come
in?”

“No, I can’t stay. I need to get back to
cleaning Ren’s apartment.”

Honey frowned. “I didn’t make a mess there,
and I cleaned before the full moon last night.”

“It was great, probably better than it had
looked in years, considering no one ever stayed there. Ren asked me
to do a total clean, washing the windows and steam cleaning and
everything, so that if anyone ever does stay there in the future,
it’s ready. But anyway, the reason I stopped by is because I found
this when I pulled the cushions off the couch.” She held out
Stacy’s diary. Honey hadn’t unpacked her bag yet, so she wasn’t
aware that it wasn’t inside.

The leather-bound cover looked weird, and
Kammie said, “I’m really sorry about that. It went flying when I
tossed the cushions aside and it hit the table just right and split
the binding. I know a place to send it to so it can be rebound. I’d
be happy to pay for it.”

Honey looked down at the diary and noticed
something golden glinting inside the binding.

Jeremiah answered for her, “It’s not a
problem, Kam. Thanks for bringing it over.”

“Anytime. See you later.”

He shut and locked the door, then turned to
her. “What is that?”

“It’s my grandma’s diary. I read it while I
was hanging out at Ren’s place.”

She walked into the kitchen and pulled a
sharp knife from the block on the counter. She slipped the blade
into the edge of the binding and slid it down. The binding split
open, and Honey put the knife down and pulled a necklace from
inside. It was a delicate chain with a tiny diamond heart hanging
from it.

“I’ve seen this before,” she said, laying it
on the counter and flipping through the diary to find the pictures.
When she found the photos of her mom, she saw her wearing the
necklace. Tears stung her eyes and she looked up at Jeremiah,
unable to speak.

“Is that your mom?” he asked softly.

She nodded.

“Aw, sweetheart,” he said, folding her in his
arms and surrounding her with his warmth.

He held her while she cried for the mom she
didn’t remember and the grandma who had been taken too soon. After
the tears eased, Jeremiah put the necklace on her. She picked up
the diary and they walked to the couch and sat.

“I have no memories of my mom. When she left,
my dad got rid of all her photos. Stacy kept them all these years.
She moved into the house when mom left, and raised me. I always
knew my dad was a harsh male who would just as soon kill as forgive
someone who had wronged him, but I never knew that Stacy suspected
he killed my mom, and was going to kill her.”

“Couldn’t she have taken you away if he was
so horrible?”

“He’s not the kind of alpha who respects
human laws. If she’d tried to take me away, he would have found us
both and probably killed her.”

“Do you think your mom is really dead?”

“I don’t know for sure, but I don’t think
she’s alive. I always thought that it was strange that she just
left, and after reading the diary and Stacy’s beliefs about her
leaving, I’m inclined to think she’s really gone.” She blinked at
the tears that stung her eyes again. “I don’t want to think that he
killed my mom and his own mother, but it’s a real possibility. He
won’t let me walk away, even though I found my true mate. I can’t
see him letting my mom — his mate — walk away alive.”

“I’m glad you’re not in his pack
anymore.”

She was, too.

* * * * *

Wednesday evening, she and Jeremiah walked
through the woods to the alphas’ home. Brynn had invited them over
for dinner, and although she was happy to visit with the sweet
human again, she felt like Jeremiah wasn’t happy. She wasn’t sure
why, until they walked into the house and Acksel immediately pulled
him aside and gave him a list of things to do for his and Brynn’s
upcoming wedding. The wedding was set for Valentine’s Day, which
didn’t leave a lot of time for things to get done, since January
was almost over. Jeremiah’s face was carefully blank while Acksel
told him what he expected to be accomplished in the days leading up
to the wedding. The ceremony was taking place at their home for a
small group of pack members and guests, and the reception was
taking place at Luna’s – the entire pack was invited.

She could see that although Jeremiah appeared
to be happy to help out, he really wasn’t. His posture was ramrod
straight, his eyes sharp and glinting with unhappiness. To his
credit, he never let on that he wasn’t pleased, and she was sure
that was born from years of keeping his feelings bottled up. She
recognized his unhappiness, though, and it tore her up.

While Brynn chatted happily about the
upcoming wedding over dinner, Honey worried about Jeremiah. Pack
rankings were put into place so that the most efficient males — the
best fighters and trackers — were highly ranked and able to work to
keep the pack safe. Lower ranked males still had responsibilities,
and even the unranked omegas were given a modicum of respect. But
some, like her mate, who were pushed into their roles through fate,
were stuck in a position where they were reduced to running
errands.

“You were quiet through dinner,” Jeremiah
mentioned as they walked back to their home.

“I don’t like how they treat you. You’re a
strong male. You shouldn’t be an omega just because you can’t
shift.”

He chuckled mirthlessly. “It is the way it
is, Honey. I wouldn’t be welcome in any other packs because I can’t
shift. At least our kids have a fighting chance of being accepted
if they’re able to shift. It’s no hardship for me to be in the
pack, because they’re helping to keep you safe.”

She had seen two wolves patrolling around the
night before, when she got up to get a drink.

“What did Acksel ask you to do?”

He exhaled loudly and gave her hand an extra
little squeeze. “Brynn likes cinnamon, so I’m tasked with finding
more of this plant that smells like cinnamon. It’s called Shooting
Star, and it’s hard as hell to find this time of year. It’ll cost a
bundle.”

“Why can’t you just use cinnamon oil to mimic
the smell? You could find some pretty silk flowers and use the oil
to create the scent she likes. It seems crazy to spend money on
flowers just because of the way they smell.”

He hummed. “I hadn’t thought of that. She
wanted cinnamon-scented flowers for the centerpieces.”

“You know what’s neat? Bowls of water with
candles floating in them. I bet you could get cinnamon-scented
floating candles, maybe even flower-shaped ones.”

He looked down at her with a smile. “You’re
very clever, sweetheart.”

She grinned as he opened the back door to
their home and ushered her inside. “It just seems to me that you
can do something equally as pretty for the centerpieces without
spending a crazy amount of money. Why cinnamon, anyway?”

“It’s her favorite scent.”

“I guess we all have a favorite.”

“What’s yours?”

She licked her lips. “You.”

He chuckled in surprise. “Me?” His arms went
around her and he pulled her against his body.

She rubbed her cheek against his chest and
inhaled. “I followed your scent in the woods. You smell
amazing.”

“You never did rub yourself all over me,” he
added with a chuckle.

“I can do that now if you’d like.” She
blinked up at him innocently, but his smirk told her that he didn’t
buy the act.

Just as he lowered his head to kiss her, his
phone rang. With a short growl, he pulled it from his pocket and
answered, “Kincaid. Oh, hi Alfonse. Sure, I’d be happy to. You can
meet my mate, too. See you in a few minutes.”

“I thought we were going to rub against each
other?”

He tucked the phone into his pocket and
sighed, rubbing his cheek against hers. “We will in a little bit.
Alfonse is an elderly wolf in the pack. His furnace keeps going out
and he can’t get it started without some help. It’s too cold for
him to go the night without heat, and he’s not lucky enough to have
a fireplace in his house. It’ll just take a few minutes.”

“I’d love to go with you.”

It didn’t take long to climb into his truck
and drive to Alfonse’s. The small home was in what Jeremiah called
the ‘retiree development,’ where some of the older wolves had
congregated. Wolves aged like humans; although they didn’t get
common illnesses and diseases, their bodies did wear out. Arthritis
and bone and muscle problems were prevalent in the elderly. Stacy
had just started having joint pain before she died. A few more
years and she probably would’ve had trouble shifting. Shifting
could heal a lot of injuries, but it couldn’t stop time.

Jeremiah held her elbow as they walked up the
slick sidewalk. “I need to salt the sidewalk. It’s dangerous to
have it iced up.”

“Do you do the shoveling?”

“Adam and I do most of it. There aren’t a lot
of omega males in our pack that aren’t elderly. Females tend to do
the inside stuff like cleaning and cooking for those that need it,
which leaves the outside stuff to the males.”

She looked up at him as he knocked on the
front door. “I don’t see why able-bodied males can’t do their own
yard work.”

His brow arched. “Your pack is the same,
isn’t it?”

“Well, sure, but it doesn’t mean I like it or
I think it’s right.”

“It is what it is, sweetheart.”

“You say that too much,” she groused.

He snorted lightly. “I suppose. I’m used to
it.”

Well, she wasn’t.

The door opened and a man bent with age
smiled broadly. “Well, well, looks like my friend found himself a
really pretty little mate. Come in before you catch your death,
although it’s not much warmer in here.”

He was right. It was chilly in the house, so
she opted to keep her coat on. Jeremiah introduced her and Alfonse
to each other and went to fix the furnace.

“I’m sorry to drag you out of your mating
bed,” he said, gesturing to a worn couch.

“It’s no trouble. We just got back from
dinner at the alphas.”

He nodded. “I never thought I’d live to see
humans so easily accepted within the pack.” He looked over his
shoulder to where Jeremiah had disappeared down into the basement.
“He’s had a tough go of things. Smart, strong, kind. The pack
doesn’t see what he is because of
what
he is.”

It was her turn to nod. “I know he’s not
happy.”

“He’s happy when he’s helping people who
appreciate it. The problem is that most pack members take him for
granted. You’ll have to help him put his foot down. He’s allowed to
say no, especially now that he’s mated.” He made a face. “I’m a big
hypocrite. I didn’t realize he had found his mate or I wouldn’t
have called. I could have just as easily called Adam or even
Doc.”

“Doc?”

“He’s an omega by choice, and the pack
doctor. He lives on the other side of town.”

Jeremiah’s footsteps were heard as he came up
the stairs. “I know he didn’t mind coming here, and I’m glad I had
a chance to meet you.”

She stood with Alfonse as he stifled a groan
and his joints creaked and popped. “All fixed, Alfonse,” Jeremiah
said.

Honey kissed Alfonse on the cheek. “Stay
warm.”

“I will. I have thoughts of my dear departed
mate to keep me warm, but the furnace helps, too,” he said,
winking. “Now you turn off that phone, Jeremiah, and take care of
your mate. And don’t forget what I told you, Honey.”

“I won’t. It was nice to meet you.”

She stood on the porch while Jeremiah threw
salt on the sidewalk from a half-full bag that had been tucked into
the corner against the railing. It took only a moment and he
refused to let her help. Then he helped her down the sidewalk and
into his truck.

“So what did he tell you?” Jeremiah asked as
he started the truck and pulled away from the curb.

“That you’re allowed to say no.”

“To you? Never.”

She giggled. “No, to the pack.”

He didn’t say anything for several minutes.
It wasn’t until he pulled to a stop in front of their house that he
turned to look at her. “I don’t know if I can.”

She stroked the back of her knuckles over his
cheek. “Are you afraid that they’ll kick you out if you’re not
accommodating?”

“I never really thought about it, but yes.
I’m not a real wolf, so they keep me around because I’m helpful. If
I stop being helpful, what’s to stop them from telling me to hit
the bricks?”

“I suppose nothing, but Acksel doesn’t seem
like the sort to just toss you out because you’re taking time for
yourself. I think Alfonse is right. You’re a pack member whether
you shift or not, and they shouldn’t be trying to take up all your
time. You have a mate now. Will they ask me to run errands when
we’re together?”

“Why would they do that?”

“I’m omega.”

“It’s different.”

“Because you can’t shift? I call
bullshit.”

He pulled her into a hug and chuckled against
her throat. “I’ve never had anyone stand up for me before.”

She closed her eyes and rested her cheek
against his strong shoulder. “I feel like all we have is each other
now.”

He moved away and kissed her gently. “We’ll
find a balance.”

“Turn off the phone?”

He pulled the phone from his pocket and
pressed the power button. “As my mate wishes.”

“Ooh, really? I have other wishes.”

He smiled. “Do tell.”

Chapter 10

Jeremiah woke up for the third time as Honey
tossed and turned restlessly in her sleep. They’d made love after
they got back from Alfonse’s, and she’d fallen asleep quickly, but
it clearly wasn’t a restful sleep. He didn’t mind being woken up,
but he did mind her not having peace while she slept. He debated
waking her, but he wasn’t sure that was the right thing to do.
Pulling her back against him, he curled his body around hers and
buried his face in her neck, inhaling her sweet scent. She sighed
softly and her body relaxed against his.