Page 33 of Omega Makes a Family
Oliver makes a small sound and stirs slightly, before his eyes flutter open.
"Already?" he asks with a sleepy smile.
"Yeah," I say as I brush the hair back from his forehead. "Theo made pancakes. You want some?"
"Yes, please," he smiles and purses his lips to ask for a kiss. I lean down and press my lips against his, and we share a soft, tender kiss.
"Mmm, thank you," he whispers as he leans back and looks up at me with a smile. "Now, please help me up. This belly is making things awkward."
"I gotcha." I grin and slip an arm under his shoulders and lift him easily into a sitting position. "How are you feeling today?"
"Better," Oliver says with a nod as he rubs his round belly. "I’m pretty sure the morning sickness is gone now, like the doctor said it might be. I feel like I have a bit more energy today too."
"Good." I smile as I help him to his feet. "Do you feel like trying those pancakes today?"
He's mostly been eating toast and broth the past few days because the smell of cooking food was making him nauseous. Hopefully the worst is over and we can get some more substance into him.
"Yeah, I'm hungry." He nods. "I can eat."
I wrap my arms around his shoulders and nuzzle him affectionately.
"Are you ready for today?" I ask as I help him to his feet. "I know you were nervous about it last night."
"I'm ready," he assures me with a confident nod. "We've been working toward this for months now. I'm not gonna let some nerves stop me."
"I knew you'd be a natural." I smile, leaning down to kiss his forehead. "Now, come on, your breakfast is getting cold."
Chapter 24
Theo
"Clearly, after everything is said and done, there are for more reasons for our packs to be allies than rivals," I explain as I stand in the middle of the small outdoor amphitheater. A remote campground, a few miles from the farm, in a neutral location, had been the logical choice for this meeting. The tall pines shade the amphitheater, and the background sound of the nearby river adds a pleasant atmosphere.
All wolves are more agreeable when you get them outdoors, especially in the woods like this. I'm glad Oliver took my advice when I suggested this spot. So far, it's been working to our advantage.
Before me, the two halves of the amphitheater's seating are filled with wolves from two different packs. One is, of course, Oliver's pack…that is to say, our pack. The other is a neighboring pack that's been feuding with ours for quite some time. No one really remembers why the conflict started, but over the years, a series of transgressions has built up on both sides that have made it difficult for anyone to come to any sort of agreement about anything.
"Certainly, there are plenty of reasons for us to work together," the speaker for the rival pack says as he stands on the opposite side of the stage from me. "But are we to just forget all of the bad blood between our two packs? How can we simply trust that this isn't some ruse to lure us into a false sense of safety?"
I smile slightly at his words. I'm glad Oliver asked me to be the speaker on behalf of our pack. I haven't been able to put my silver tongue to much use lately. It's not like I'm out wooing omegas anymore. But negotiations like this are just like seduction. You tease out the other party, find out what they want, what they crave, and you convince them you can give it to them.
In short, make them want you.
"There's no reason for us to forget the past," I reply. "After all, isn't it the past that's led us to this moment? We've both made mistakes, suffered losses, and endured hardships. Both of our packs have given and received injuries in this conflict over the years. No one will ever forget those. Perhaps our generation will not be the greatest of friends, but together maybe we can build a future where our children are. A future that can only exist if we form a strong alliance that will protect us and provide future safety for all."
"Your words are pretty," the speaker scoffs. "But actions speak louder than words. How do you propose we cement this alliance? What deeds do you offer, or demand, to prove the sincerity of these words?"
"A simple exchange." I smile softly. "One of our own, the brother of our future leader, will go and live among you for a year. In exchange, you'll send us one of yours with equal status. They'll act as ambassadors of our pack and learn your culture and traditions. They'll be the thing that ties our packs together while our fledgling trust is built up."
The speaker furrows his brow and considers my proposal carefully. "We'll deliberate tonight and give you our answer tomorrow," he says after a moment. "But you've given us much to think about. While I make no promises, it seems to me that there may be reason to hope for the future you speak of."
"That's all we could ask," I reply with a slight bow. "Until tomorrow."
The two packs slowly disperse, going their separate ways and filing out of the amphitheater into the woods. I quickly find Oliver and the others.
"You were amazing," Oliver says as he throws his arms around my neck. "I honestly wasn't expecting them to be so open to this. Thank you so much."
"I was just doing what I was asked to do," I say with a smirk, "which was to talk, and I'm pretty good at talking."
