Abel's Omega(Gay Paranomal MM Mpreg Romance) (Mercy Hills Pack Book 2)

by Ann-Katrin Byrde

  I answered. “Hello, love.”

  “And hello to you. What about Donovan? I don’t think there’s any of those in the pack.”

  We’d been talking baby names, trying to come to a consensus on a boy’s name and a girl’s. “I’ll check the database.” It wasn’t a bad name. Better than anything he’d suggested up to this point. “I like it.” I was pretty sure I was having a boy, just from the way he squirmed inside me. Even now, when quarters were getting tighter in there—my poor bladder!—he seemed to enjoy calisthenics and stretches.

  As if he were listening in on my thoughts, he began a long, slow stretch that distorted my belly, pushing the left side out like a small mountain.

  “When are you going to be home again?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  “Good. I miss you.” I opened the fridge to look for more apples. “How is it going?”

  “Good, I think. Here, anyway. Anything you want brought back?”

  “Just you.” I set the apples on the counter. “Have you thought of a girl’s name?”

  “I still like Octavia.”

  I laughed. “We’re going to have to flip a coin for it, I think.”

  “Well, you know,” he said, his voice dropping a half an octave. “I’m sure there are ways you can talk me around to Rhiannon.”

  I laughed and started slicing the apples. “You’d have to be home for me to do that,” I told him.

  “Maybe you should see if someone will take the pups tomorrow night then.” If it was possible to leer through the phone, he did it, and I felt a blush burn up my cheeks.

  Voices in the background grew louder. I heard Abel’s voice, the words muffled, then he was back. “I have to go. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

  “Love you,” I said.

  “I love you too. Take care of yourself, okay?”

  “I will.”

  We went back and forth a few more times before we finally ended the call, and I could finish putting our snack together.

  I had one more thing left to do before I got Noah up. On a slip of paper inside one of my novels, I’d kept a small list of names that I hadn’t shown Abel. While Fan finished the last of his apple, I took the phone and that piece of paper back to my bedroom and sat on the bed, contemplating the names on it. Omega names, just in case. I didn’t think this baby was omega, and I hadn’t spoken to Abel about it. He hadn’t mentioned anything either, but I’d already had one—I couldn’t guarantee I wouldn’t have another.

  Tiny chirps from Fan’s and Noah’s room spurred me on. I dialed the number for the population registry.

  When they answered, I said, “Hi, it’s Bax again. Can you check another name?”

  When we were done, I put the list of names away. Maybe I wouldn’t need them.

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE

  One thing Abel had managed was to get the pack council meeting held on neutral ground. There’d been some talk of having it in Montana Border, since they were supposed to be the aggrieved party. Buffalo Gap had pointed out that he could complain as well, and that this was something that was important to all the Alphas, not just Montana Border.

  Lincoln, Nebraska held the only non-pack building that met all the regulations to house more than four shifters at once. Before the council had made the decision to have the packs send a tithe to cover the cost a central building, any meetings that required the presence of all the Alphas had been held at different pack enclaves, each one hosting in turn. Which would have been fine, except it was a huge expense for a poor pack’s Alpha to travel all the way across the county when the meeting was far, and even more expensive to host it themselves. Lincoln was pretty central, and had been surprisingly easy to work with while having the building built.

  Abel, Quin, Mac, and Duke had come with him. Quin and Mac because they were intimately involved in how this turned out, Duke because that bratty little omega cousin of Mac’s was driving him to drink and pick fights. He needed a few days away from having Bram’s harem of devoted alphas being shoved in his face. Abel suppressed a sigh at that thought. Bax had suggested that Bram was going through an ‘almost adult’ stage and, being an omega, he’d be expecting to mate soon after. He’d also added, in a smaller but no less frustrated voice, that having Bax there, only a couple of years older, with four pups already and another on the way, might be part of the problem. Abel thought he understood some of it now, the different socialization of the omegas. He’d become more aware of the messages that were sent Bram’s way, and Jason’s, and all the Buffalo Gap omegas, and how they were different from the ones that alphas and betas got.

  What to do about it, though, he didn’t quite know, but Bax seemed content to make those decisions and just pass them along to Abel to implement and Abel was never more grateful for a mate that was willing to shoulder some of his burdens.

  Of course, after tomorrow, all those responsibilities might change.

  They dropped their bags inside the Mercy Hills suite, put away the food they’d brought with them, and sat down for a planning session.

  “You’re certain of Buffalo Gap, Las Padros, Salma Wood, and Green Moon? Can Buffalo Gap even vote in this?” Mac asked.

  Abel nodded. “I haven’t heard, but I’d guess not. And I’m certain that Montana Border, Jordan Bay, and Perseguir will vote for whatever they think will hurt me, which is our only ace in the hole. As for the rest of them, I have my doubts about Winter Moon and Salma Wood, if only because we haven’t had much to do with them lately. White River is definitely on the fence, and I can’t get a straight answer out of Honisloonz.”

  Duke doodled on a pad of paper, his mind definitely elsewhere.

  “Well, unless someone abstains,” Mac said, “we’ll know for sure by the end of tomorrow.”

  Quin grunted and stared down at hands.

  Abel wondered if he shouldn’t have brought Bax after all, though with Bax so heavily pregnant, he wasn’t sure if it would be a slap in the face to the other Alphas, or a distraction. But Bax had a way of soothing tempers in negotiation and finding some solution that suited everyone involved. Or at least convinced them that they were suited. “Okay, so we have tonight to do a last bit of campaigning. Who wants to take a last lunge at which packs?”

  “You don’t want to handle them all yourself?” Quin asked with innocently lowered eyelids.

  Abel scratched at his beard and grinned at Quin ruefully. “Nope. Damn, but I’ll be glad to have this over with.”

  Quin quirked an eyebrow at him. “I’m hoping you get to keep your job.”

  “No you’re not. You love bossing people around.”

  Quin shrugged and got up to go mess around in the kitchen. Over the sound of clanking pots, he said, “Let’s eat before we go do our social duty.”

  Abel kicked Duke under the table. “Go give him a hand and stop moping. Once we get back, I’ll set the Omega Pack on him for you.”

  Quin barked a laugh from the kitchen. “I dare you to tell Bax you call them that.”

  “You wait until you have your own,” Abel yelled back and waited for a response.

  Dead silence was what he got and he left the table to go see what was up with Quin. Mac and Duke considerately moved over to the barred window and pretended to admire the trees in the yard outside.

  “What’s up?” Abel asked, getting out vegetables to chop while Quin patted a pile of ground beef into patties.

  “Let’s just drop the mate thing, okay? I wouldn’t be much of one.”

  “Can’t be any worse than me.”

  “Hmmph.” But Quin didn’t seem to get the joke. If anything, it seemed to send him off to some other, unhappier place.

  Abel put a hand on Quin’s shoulder. “You know we can talk any time, right? You don’t have to keep whatever it was inside.”

  Quin laughed, but it was a sour, ugly noise. “You don’t want to hear about it. No need for both of us having nightmares.” He threw the first of the patties into the frying pan. “You want to stick the fr
ies in the oven for me?” But the tone of his voice closed the topic of what was bothering him for conversation, at least for now.

  Abel obediently loaded a couple of pans with frozen french fries and shoved them into the oven, turning it on to heat up with them in there. He would have preferred tackling Quin’s problems tonight instead of heading out into the uncertainty, but Quin’s expression had closed down again, so Abel set that on the back burner. Something else to deal with when they got home.

  Though he kind of wondered whether this plan of his had been a bad idea, given the stress it was going to place on Quin. He left Quin to brood in the kitchen, and joined Mac and Duke at the window, wishing it was already tomorrow evening.

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-SIX

  They gathered for the meeting in the big conference room at the end of the building. The Alphas were seated around a long oval table, with Logan of White River standing at the head, and an empty seat at the far end.

  “Abel of Mercy Hills,” Logan intoned. “Take your place at the end of the table, please.” He stood quietly while Abel moved to stand behind his seat. “Mercy Hills, you have been charged with theft of an omega of power, the like of which hasn’t been seen in a century. You are charged with hiding the truth of this omega from the rest of the pack to keep his power for yourself. You are also charged with aiding and abetting another pack member to steal another omega of power by unsanctioned mating. For these crimes, you will be judged, and your peers will determine what penalty or restitution you must make. Do you agree to this?”

  “I do,” Abel said solemnly, and sat down.

  The meeting went on for what seemed like forever, or maybe Abel was just tired. He’d gone from pack to pack last night, arguing his case—or appearing to. It was a delicate operation, convincing them not to throw him in that brier patch. But if all went as they’d planned, he’d be removed as Alpha, and Quin would be instated today in his place. Quin would have a purpose in life, and Abel would have time for his family.

  They had Montana Border tell his story, long, involved, and nothing at all like Abel remembered, though the basic facts were the same. They questioned Abel about those same events, then broke for lunch before they went through the witnesses from both packs. Buffalo Gap was called to tell his story, though since he was happy to have Bax mated off, his situation wasn’t considered so deeply.

  They broke up at around three in the afternoon to allow the nine packs that weren’t involved in the dispute to discuss the issue and come to a consensus on what, if any, penalty Abel needed to pay. The Mercy Hills pack went back to their rooms, where Abel paced and resisted the urge to call Bax and pour out all his worries into his capable hands.

  A knock on the door set them all on alert. Mac nodded to Quin and went to the door, leaving Duke to cover Abel.

  But when Mac carefully opened the door, it was Bax’s uncle in the hallway. “Can I come in?” he asked. He was careful of his body language as he looked past Mac to meet Abel’s eyes.

  “Alpha?” Mac asked, without taking his eyes off the shifters in the hallway.

  Abel shrugged tiredly. “Let him in. He’s not the enemy.”

  Mac did as he was told, checking the hallway before he closed the door. Quinn nodded in approval, and followed the Buffalo Gap Alpha into the apartment.

  Mitchel slumped down into a chair. “That was exhausting. I don’t know if I was any help, but I talked to a few of the other Alphas and tried to slant things your direction.”

  “Thank you.” Abel accepted a cup of coffee from Duke and passed it over to Mitchel. “I appreciate your help. And I know Bax will be grateful.” He took a seat on the chair opposite Mitchel’s.

  “How is my nephew?” Mitchel sipped from his cup.

  Abel smiled. “Complaining about being fat and tired and hungry all the time. Not much longer to go.”

  “No. And the pups?”

  “Excited. Fan’s looking forward to the new baby. Noah’s walking now and getting into everything. Teca had a boyfriend, but then he didn’t want to wear princess dresses so she dumped him.”

  That made Mitchel laugh. “And the house? How’s that coming? You were having it wired the last we spoke.”

  “Just about ready to move in. Actually, if we didn’t mind moving in before it’s painted, we could do it tomorrow.” He paused to consider that. “I might just to do it too. The new Alpha’s going to need a place to sleep that’s better than my couch.” He shot a glance at Quin, who shook his head.

  “You wouldn’t believe some of the places I’ve slept,” he said, and went over to stand by the window.

  Mitchel eyed them both sharply. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but have you thought about your next steps if this doesn’t work?”

  “Yes,” Abel told him. “But the less said about that probably the better.” He was tired of talking about it, tired of thinking about it. “You may be coughing up for a couple of matings soon.” They passed the better part of the next couple of hours talking about the Buffalo Gap omegas and the trials of being Alpha before Mitchel got to his feet and said, “Likely best if they don’t find us canoodling here before the verdict. Time to eat anyway, if my stomach’s right.” He stuck out a hand and Abel rose to shake it. “I’ll see you when they’ve decided, I imagine.”

  Abel nodded and walked him to the door.

  The next knock on the door didn’t come until nearly nine that night. It was one of the shifters from White River. “You’re wanted, Mercy Hills,” he said flatly, then walked away without waiting for a reply.

  It was quite possibly the longest walk over the shortest distance that Abel had ever made. When he entered the meeting room at the end of the long corridor, all eyes turned to him and he felt his hackles rise in instinctive response.

  Logan, from White River, stood up from his chair. “Mercy Hills, the council has come to a decision.”

  Abel steeled himself to impassivity, but his heart raced like it hadn’t since he’d fought for Bax in the spring. In a way, this was the same thing, only the fight was mental, and emotional, and political instead of physical. “I stand to hear the council’s decision.” He moved to his seat at the end of the long table, his packmates clustered around him, and stared down the table at these men who would now decide the future of him and his.

  Logan nodded and picked up a sheet of paper in front of him. “Abel Mercy Hills, in the wisdom of the council, it has been decided that the lives of these omegas have been disrupted enough. Evidence has been given that their omega natures have bonded them to the men who took them, and that it would be unwarranted cruelty to separate them as long as they are well cared for, which it appears they are. Therefore, it is the decision of the council, in view of the fact that it was your position as Alpha in Mercy Hills which allowed, and indeed encouraged this theft, that you shall be stripped of your position as Alpha, and that your position shall be claimed by another alpha of power and ability.”

  Abel bowed his head at the verdict. Was that a wink he’d caught from Logan? He’d been entirely unsure of the man when they’d stopped for the night on their way from Montana Border to Buffalo Gap. But another glance up suprised a small smile on the man’s face, and he had to fight to keep an answering smile from appearing on his own.

  Montana Border spoke up. “A pack cannot be left without an Alpha. Who can we put in place until we have an appropriate replacement? And, given the seriousness of the issue here, I would suggest we open the competition to alphas of all the packs, not just Mercy Hills.” He sat back with a satisfied smile.

  “I will stand as replacement,” Quin grumbled as he stepped forward to stand next to Abel. “And I will stand as competitor as well.” He grinned at Montana Border, more a showing of fangs than a friendly gesture. “I welcome the opportunity to prove my worth.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-SEVEN

  Abel called me as he came through the gates. “Get your stuff, gorgeous, we’re moving!”

  “What? Wait, it’s not finished!
The furniture’s in storage.” I went to the kitchen to heat up the meal I’d set aside for him at supper.

  “Don’t care! Besides, the new Alpha needs the apartment. Oh, and I might have called ahead and used up a bunch of favors to get everything set up for us.”

  I heard everything he said, but the only thing that stuck was the second sentence. My heart sank. “We lost?” I fell onto a chair, knocking one of the pups’ plastic tumbers onto the floor. “Abel—”

  “It’s okay, it all worked out. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you—I wanted any stories going back to the other packs to seem realistic. I wanted them to kick me out—I can’t be Alpha, and run GoodDog, and be a good father and mate. And doing it this way convinced Montana Border that they’d won. But this is the part I think you’ll like the best.”

  “What?” I said, my head spinning wildly. Had we won? Was it over?

  “With your uncle’s help, I got an agreement out of them that if another True Omega appears, that the packs have to court him or her, and the mating is non-binding, at least for the omega.” His voice dropped. “I know it’s not everything. It’s not something that would have helped Usher, but it’s a start, right?”

  “Oh, Abel.” I had no words at all for how much I loved him. “Get up here.”

  “Go get the omegas to help you pack. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  We hung up, and I raced out the door to the omegas’ apartment.

  When Abel showed up ten minutes later, the apartment was in an uproar. Suitcases and bags lay scattered on the floor and on beds, drawers open in dressers, and toys crammed into boxes and bags. He strode through the door and swept me up into a fierce kiss. The omegas hooted in delight, and the pups ran to climb up his legs and beg for hugs. He laughed and patted my belly, then crouched to hug the pups. “You guys ready to move into the new house?”