Page 101 of The Other Omega

“We are alone, my heart,” Alaric said. “There’s no shame in needing your Alpha or scent-marking him before he leaves your home.”

I looked back at him. “Is that what I did?”

His mouth brushed the side of my neck. “You've given me a great deal to remember today. I'm very pleased.”

My face grew hot, but I stayed tucked against him while I got my breathing back under control, one hand resting on his chest. “So, have you all been awake long? You look like you've been up for hours already.”

“We have. Our days begin early.”

“I think I'm going to struggle a bit with your morning routine.”

“You don't need to keep our hours, my heart.”

“But I want to. How else will I see you? I have a feeling you're all very busy.”

Lucien poured me some tea without looking up from what he was reading and passed the cup over. I thanked him and took a sip. It was sweet, herbal and exactly what I needed.

“I think breakfast should be our thing.”

Leon looked towards me. “Our thing?”

“A Pack tradition. Breakfast together whenever it's reasonable. That way we make sure we spend some time together every day.” I leaned to see around one of the serving dishes. “Are those peaches?”

Nobody answered, and when I looked up, all five of them were watching me. “What?”

“Breakfast together,” Alaric repeated.

“Yes, whenever it's reasonable. I'm not expecting Caius to abandon a military emergency because I've got peaches.”

Caius passed me the bowl without comment, and I gave him a quick smile.

“You're establishing a Pack tradition,” Lucien said.

“Our second,” Leon added.

“Well, yes. If we're going to make this mating thing work, we need to actually spend time together, don't we? I'm not going to sit in my room all day avoiding you. That's not what I want from my husbands.” I stopped with a piece of peach halfway to my mouth. “Mates. I mean mates.”

Nobody rushed to correct me, but the silence still made me wonder whether I'd said too much. “I want us to be close and enjoy being together. All the little things, you know? The whole thing.”

I reached for my tea and suddenly found the cup very interesting. Maybe I was trying to do too much too quickly, but then all five bonds hit me with the same strong wave of approval. Their faces were still completely serious, and I had to hide a smile behind my cup. That was a relief.

“So, what do you all do?” I asked. “I know the titles. They're very impressive, by the way, but they don't actually tell me what you do all day.”

Alaric set down his cup. “As High Commander, I oversee the Army and Guard, the border garrisons, military academies and strategic commands.”

“So when something terrible happens anywhere in High Mountain, eventually someone puts it on your desk.”

“In matters of defence, yes.”

That sounded exhausting, but Alaric looked as calm as ever. “When do you have time to do anything else?”

“I make time.”

“Well, it's probably a good thing I don't have a job at the minute, then.” I touched his cheek. “I can give you my time whenever you've got some to spare.”

“You would?”

“Of course. I'm not expecting you to do all the work.” I picked up another slice of peach and turned towards Caius. “And you're Commander of the First Legion?”