Page 3 of My Omega's Miracle

I snort. That was mostly bullshit. If he didn’t like it, he could have changed it anytime in the past few decades since he’s been Alpha. Me taking over wasn’t a surprise. I had been training for this role my entire life. And me being single wasn’t a surprise either. I hadn’t had a serious relationship ever. It was hard to date within the pack when I knew every detail about every person here. My father had been lucky to find his fated mate early in his life.

“I’ve put together some food for you,” my mother said, when we finally made our way through the house. The cooler sat by the door. “Just a few things, things that are easy to reheat. I wish you’d tell me where you were going so I’d know what else you might need.”

Knowing my mother, she’d probably packed the huge cooler full of all my favorite things, and I was grateful for it. “I’ll be fine, Mama, I promise.”

“I know you will.” She came over and wrapped me in a hug, and I hugged her back.

“You are going to make a fantastic Alpha—the best this pack has ever seen.”

I smiled. “Are you sure? Dad’s been pretty great.” Despite our differences regarding my mating—or lack thereof—my father was a good Alpha. The best. And I wasn’t biased, that was the genuine opinion of others. I would take over a pack that was in good shape, good morale. All I had to do was not screw it up.

My chest constricted. Sure, that sounded easy, but what if I ruined everything? I was already not starting on the right foot, entering a loveless mating, with the elders annoyed with me for not rolling over and taking their orders.

“You’ll do great.” She patted my cheek, making me feel like I was back to being an eight-year-old looking up to her instead of towering over her by at least a foot.

“Thanks, Mama.” I slung my bag over my shoulder and hefted the big cooler into my arms. Then I exited the house.

By the time I returned, my mother and father would have moved out of the main house as part of the transition from my father to me as Alpha. They had chosen a small house on the outskirts of the pack where it would be quiet. I would be in this large pack house all by myself—well, plus my mate, whoever they may be.

My father didn’t even look up from where he sat on the porch, reading over reports his Betas had given him about the pack’s finances.

“I’ll be back in a week,” I said over my shoulder.

He grunted a response. My mom gave me one last hug and a kiss on the cheek and sent me on my way.

I tossed my bag into the back of my truck and was about to climb in when my best friend and second-in-command—or would be once I took over—approached.

“Heading out?” Troy said.

I nodded.

“You still think this is for the best?”

I nodded again.

“You promise you’re going to come back, though, right? You’re not going to abandon us?”

I shot him a glare. He held up his hands. “I know, I know. But don’t tell me it didn’t cross your mind.”

I had to smile at that, even if just for a second. “You know I would never do that to the pack.”

“Your dad asked for my help in compiling a list of potential mates for you. Do you have a preference?”

I groaned. “This is ridiculous.”

“I know. I don’t like it either, but it is what it is. You can’t change it until the damage is already done.”

“I don’t have a preference. My preference would be to stay single, to find my fated mate and start a family the normal way, not the arranged way.”

“I know a lot of the elders want Benjamin on the list. He’s the name everybody seems to throw out.”

I growled low in my throat. That was one omega I would not be taking as a mate. Oh, Benjamin was fantastic, wonderful even, but I knew for a fact that he carried a torch for my second-in-command—and my second-in-command reciprocated.

“That won’t happen, Troy. I wouldn’t.”

“If the council insists—”

“They won’t,” I said firmly. “What kind of alpha would I be if I betrayed you like that?”