But at least the omegas didn't seem to have a problem with her. That was something.
"Good," Gail said, sliding Cassidy's teacup across the table. "That little shit has been asking to be knocked down a peg or two for a while now."
"Oh, you would have loved it, Gail," Mia said, her eyes lighting up with humor. "The poor thing didn't last two seconds. And he didn't wake up until we were about to lock up the bar."
Really?
Cassidy held back a smile at the news, but immediately suffered a stab of guilt. Still, she knew better than anyone how alpha law and society worked. If the young alpha had wanted to stay upright, he should have never gotten in the bigger alpha's way.
"So, you can tell me to mind my own business, but we are all dying to know," Gail said, her tone making it clear she was changing the subject. "How are things…working out…between you and Samson?"
There wasn't any doubt what the older omega was talking about. Cassidy picked up her teacup, hoping to hide her blush. She took a long sip…
…and sputtered half of it across the table. Red-faced and wide-eyed, she forced herself to swallow the rest. Then she stared over at Gail.
"Is…is this bourbon?"
Laughter lit up the omega's eyes. "Mostly," she admitted. "But there is some tea in there. Earl Grey."
Cassidy gaped as she looked around at the other giggling women at the table. The supposedly timid, docile, and subservient omegas.
"Are you all drinking this?"
"Oh God, no," Mia said. "Paige is still nursing, and I won't be able to drink until long after the pup comes. That's why Gail always makes two pots of "tea" on Tuesdays."
Cassidy blinked. Obviously, she didn't know much about omegas. No one did. There were very few around to study, but she was beginning to think that everything she thought she knew might be wrong.
"Don't think that just because you stained my tablecloth, you get to change the subject," Gail said.
"Was he able to knot you?" Mia asked, leaning forward.
"Have you given him the claiming bite?" Paige added.
Cassidy took another gulp of her "tea", this time knowing full well what was inside the cup. Maybe that wasn't the greatest idea.
After all, the last time she'd downed alpha liquor, she'd ended up in a whole bunch of trouble. But something told her there was no way she was getting through this conversation without a little support.
"Yes," she said, looking at Mia. And then sliding her gaze over to Paige. "And no."
"I knew it," Mia said, sounding victorious. "I've always said you two were destined to be together."
"So, are you planning on claiming him?" Gail asked.
Cassidy frowned, her brows pulling down hard over the bridge of her nose. She had never thought about it. In her mind, the claiming was something between alphas and omegas. After all, only an omega could initiate the bite.
Just like only an omega can coax a knot, she thought.
"I'm not sure," Cassidy answered honestly.
The bite was a sign, not just to each other, but to the community that a couple had entered a permanent bond, one that required the deepest respect. Unlike wedding vows in the beta world, the promise of a claiming bite couldn't be broken.
"Why?" Paige asked, gently smoothing back the hair of the baby in her arms.
Cassidy felt a stab of pain at the sweet sight. That little pup was one reason. She'd probably never be able to have one of those with Samson.
She might love him. She might even be able to coax his knot, but that didn't make her an omega.
And the terrible truth was there might come a time when a real omega came along. One whose nature would come alive at his touch.
It might not be intentional. Hell, it probably wouldn't be. But biology wouldn't care. They would bond, and she would…
"Cassidy," Mia said, reaching for her hand. "Please know you can tell us anything. We're all friends here."
"It's true," Gail said. "If we didn't look out for each other, who would?"
Mia was right. There was no point holding back her fears. After all, it wasn't like she had any reason to act professionally anymore. She didn't have a profession.
"It's just…" she began nervously. "I mean, you all know that I'll never be Samson's real mate."
"What do you mean, 'real mate'?" Mia asked.
"I mean, it doesn't matter how much we love each other," she said. "If Samson ever meets an unclaimed omega in the future, if they ever touch…"
Cassidy couldn't bring herself to say the rest of it. Even thinking about it hurt her heart too much.
Gail sighed. "So, that's what you're afraid of."
"Yeah, sorry," Mia said, shaking her head. "That's not going to happen."
Cassidy blinked. "You can't know that."
"Well, I can't know if he'll ever meet an unclaimed omega," she admitted. "But I know for sure he wouldn't bring out her nature or bond with her."
"How can you know that?"
Mia rolled her eyes, making it seem like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "He's knotted you. A beta. That means that someone up above wants the two of you together," she said.
Cassidy shot her a skeptical look. "You think God has something to do with this?"
"I don't know about that," Gail said gently, "but I do know that once an alpha is claimed, there is no other for him. The bond is set. He would be yours forever, and you would be his. And that would be true no matter who came along—alpha, beta, or omega."
Cassidy found herself smiling a little. "I think you have more faith in Samson's fidelity than I do."
The women exchanged looks.
"Are you serious?" Mia asked. "I've been watching you two for months. Samson has never looked at anyone the way he looks at you. He hasn't even hooked up with one of Nicky's girls since the day he met you."
"He hasn't?"
That
