Page 18 of Golden Omega

I couldn’t let him leave like this. My wolf was having fits.

Running to the door, I called after him, “Are you free for lunch?”

Chapter Sixteen

Altan

She asked me out. Yelled it from the store into the street where I was walking.

Our omega asked me out for lunch.

And then I had to go to work and try to focus on cases that were mostly instances of wrong place wrong time and “get your damned foot off the accelerator so hard.”

Court took for-damn-ever.

Finally, around eleven, I tore off my tie and made my way to the sandwich spot. There weren’t very many places to eat in Pleasant, but I was glad she hadn’t chosen the diner. I would be worthless the rest of the day after a burger or something equally as hearty from there.

When I arrived, Hema was already there and had secured a table for us. A table for two.

What a lucky bastard I was.

I sat across from her and found she’d ordered us two peach iced teas, a specialty of this place. “Thank you for ordering this. How has your day been?”

She bit down on her bottom lip. “Interesting. Some people came in for flowers, but mostly I made a fool out of myself and now everyone knows we’re on a date.”

I snorted. “Are you realizing that Pleasant gossip is passed on like a bad rash?”

“I’m getting the gist. I’m nervous,” she blurted right before the waitress came over. Our omega shook her head. “Forget I said that.”

“Nonsense. Let’s order, and then I’m asking all about it.” We got sandwiches, and I took a note of her order. An Italian sandwich on basil-and-tomato focaccia with extra cheese and fries on the side. Lots of ketchup.

“Have I done something to make you nervous?”

She shrugged. “Not you specifically. Alphas in general.”

“Want to share with me why?”

She twisted her mouth up in the cutest pout. “My pack before. There were alphas and regular shifters there. But when my designation became clear…they said there was no place for an omega at that time.”

Her jaw ground back and forth. “Whatever it was, you didn’t deserve it. Whatever they did to hurt you makes me want to pummel them but it was about them, not you.”

“I didn’t even tell you what they did.”

“It may be a conversation for another time. Maybe in a more private space.” Several patrons, people I knew and some I didn’t, were listening in. We were the latest couple or pack dating, and they all wanted the scoop, but I had to protect her from the gossip as best I could.

Some was normal and preventing it would be impossible, but this telling of her past could wait. “Oh. Thanks. I’m not used to all the ears.”

“Mostly they are eager to know you better and they would be happy if… Well, if we were together, but some things should stay private, don’t you think?”

She nodded. “Well, tell me about you and Sovann and Orin. How did you meet? How long have you been a pack?”

“We met right after college but before I went to law school. We were at a graduation social. We met and hit it off, and our wolves formed the bond. It clicked. We belonged together. As a pack. I love them. They are my family.”

She nodded and dug into her sandwich wholeheartedly. Lettuce was sacrificed to the plate. She had oil on the corner of her mouth. Adorable omega. She didn’t take delicate bites meant for a rabbit. The woman was committed.

I could watch her eat all day.

Maybe that was creepy.