Chapter 9
“Do you feel any different now you’re mated?”
Blake snorted at James as the two of them packed up all of Blake’s stuff in his apartment. “Yes and no. Subconsciously, I’m aware that I’m now a mated omega. I can also feel my alphas through my bond if they happen to experience any sort of intense emotion, but otherwise I don’t feel much of a difference. We were bonded last night, so I still felt the overwhelming desire to be with them twenty-four-seven. They must be feeling the same thing. It wasn’t debilitating or anything like that, though. I can function just fine, and so can they.”
“Huh.”
He stopped putting things in the box and faced James. “What?”
James shrugged. “I’ve always wondered if the bond will be so much more powerful between an alpha and an omega.”
Blake rolled his eyes. “It will be stronger between an alpha-omega pairing compared to an alpha-beta pairing. We learned that in high school, James. Why are you asking about it anyway?”
James didn’t respond for a while, so Blake ignored his best friend in favor of continuing with the packing. Since his lease on the apartment was on a monthly basis, he didn’t have to worry about contracts. All he had to do was clean the apartment and return the keys. He’d always been a neat and clean person, so he didn’t have to worry about the final inspection before the management refunded his deposit.
“Do you think Tony will want an omega mate?” James inquired all of a sudden.
Blake stared at James. “I don’t know. Have you talked to him?”
“I wanted to do that so many times, but I was terrified of hearing the reply.”
“Why? Are you concerned Tony will stop loving you? Your alpha loves you, you moron. I like Tony, but his love for you borders on obsession. I could never be happy with an alpha like Tony. He’s too…too clingy. He calls or sends you text messages at least once every twenty minutes. He puts his arms around your waist every time we hang out together. He’s always tense when the three of us are in a bar, a diner, or anywhere else outside of your house because he doesn’t like the scents of so many other alphas and betas anywhere near you. He’s so into you his eyes are practically glued to you most of the time. I think it’s creepy.”
James sighed. “You’re right. Maybe I’m just being stupid.”
“No, you’re not. You love him just as much. The two of you are made for each other. The kind of relationship you share with him would never work for me, though.”
“He thinks you’re pretty,” James teased.
Blake laughed. “Alphas are biologically programmed to admire omegas, and vice-versa, but it doesn’t mean that alphas and omegas all want to fuck one another. Scents and looks are just part and parcel of the basic level of attraction between those two secondary gender designations.”
“True,” James conceded. “But I’m unable to get pregnant.”
Blake shook his head. “So, that’s the crux of your insecurity. You’re an idiot. Talk to Tony. You have to figure things out together.”
“We’ve touched on the subject once or twice. The only thing we’ve agreed on is not to add another alpha to our bond, but that’s mainly because Tony is too much of an alpha. I’ll go crazy if two alphas start asserting their dominance over each other. The fights will drive me insane.”
Blake snorted, but he wasn’t disagreeing. “For real. Just for your information, an alpha female’s chances of pregnancy is nearly zero, and when they’re pregnant, the possibility of a miscarriage is more than ninety-five percent. If you yearn to have children of your own, the two of you may want to consider adding a beta female or an omega of either primary gender to your bond.”
James nodded. “I’ll have another chat with Tony.”
“You do that. Anyway, I’m done with the final box.”
“That’s it?”
“Of course. I’m not a hoarder. You know that. I always donate anything that I don’t use. If it’s damaged, it belongs in the trash.”
“But your life is so…so…compact. All of your belongings, including your clothes, can be put in one huge suitcase and two large boxes. Most people our age own a whole lot more than these,” James remarked while gesturing at the boxes and suitcase. “What about the furniture? Kitchen appliances?”
“I’m going to donate everything else. I contacted a charity earlier this morning. The person I spoke to on the phone promised that someone would stop by at three o’clock to pick everything up. We have about ten minutes before he or she arrives.”
“Cool. So, what’s it like being mated to Kee and Mase? Lovemaking and breakfast in bed?” James asked before winking at him.
Blake became flustered as the memory of the things he and his mates did that morning appeared in his mind. The three of them had started the day with a round of lovemaking, which was followed by two hours at the gym and a nice, warm shower. After that, they soaked for about half an hour in the hot tub before breakfast. Blake had been concerned about the diner, but Mason reassured him the duty manager could handle everything.
“It’s wonderful.”
“Judging by the faraway look in your eyes, it must be much better than that.”
“I don’t kiss and tell, asshole.”
“Whatever, ass-breath. I’ll stop prying,” James retorted. “I’m delighted you’re mated, though.”
“Yeah?”
“Uh-huh. You’re no longer as miserable and bitchy as you were in the past.”
He gave James the middle finger. Blake was about to say something when he heard someone knocking on the apartment door. He answered it in a hurry. He noticed several people standing outside. They informed him they were from the charity, so he led them into the apartment. He pointed at all of his furniture and anything else that he could donate.
