Page 92 of Dark Cravings

He chuckled. "No. And that is debatable, for what it's worth.”

I snorted. "Why, then?"

"Because even when you were young, you always demonstrated a remarkable ability to put others before yourself,” he answered. “Both with your sister and the other hunters. That's an incredibly rare trait, especially among our kind."

"Even if it is, I'm certainly not the only one who exhibits it," I said. "If that’s your standard, Eddie would definitely be a better candidate."

"You both have your strengths and weaknesses," he mused. "But now there's the matter of him being an omega."

"That disqualifies him?" I asked doubtfully.

He paused. "It does present certain unique challenges. It makes him a target, for one thing, in a way that you wouldn't be. Then there is the fact that his omega nature will lead him to submit to you instinctively, as an alpha wolf.”

"I might not be a full-blown wolf yet," I mumbled. "And if he could get over the sire bond enough to attack that freak to protect Arrow, I'm sure he can get over that, too."

"Are you making the case for him?" Father Marius asked, clearly amused.

I shrugged. "It's a better case than I could make for myself right now. Especially considering what I came here to ask you.”

"You want me to retire him from the hunt?" When he saw the way I was staring at him, he gave me a knowing smile. "No, I'm not reading your mind. I've known you long enough that isn't necessary."

He had a point. I didn't have to like it, though.

"He's in danger every time he goes out there,” I reasoned.

"Indeed. You all are, for that matter.”

"It's different."

"Why?" he challenged.

I sighed. "Because he's… You know why. You know what he is.”

"We’re not wolves," he countered. "At least, not most of us. Why should it matter if he’s an omega?"

I grimaced at the implication behind his words, even though I knew perfectly well he was right. And maybe I was biased. Hell, I definitely was, if not as an alpha then because of my personal feelings for Eddie, but that didn't mean I was wrong.

"I'm not the only alpha out there. The other alphas will stop at nothing to get him once they realize he's in our possession. When they realize we’re putting an omega in danger by using him to hunt, every pack in the region is going to be whipped into a frenzy."

"Indeed," he said, leaning back in his chair. "It does present an interesting dilemma. However, I'm not sure the wolves finding something offensive is sufficient reason for me not to allow it. Quite the opposite."

I gritted my teeth. "And if it’s offensive to me? If I were personally asking you to retire him?”

"Now, that would be another matter," Father Marius said thoughtfully. "Are you asking?"

I hesitated, because even though I certainly fucking wanted to, it felt like a betrayal to arrange for something like that behind Eddie’s back. Forbidding him directly was one thing, but this…

"I don't know," I admitted. "I'm still trying to figure it out myself."

"Fair enough," said Father Marius. "Might I suggest you let him in on the decision? Especially considering that he is your mate."

I stared blankly at him. "My what?"

Father Marius watched me calmly, seeming very much as if he had no idea why I was so confused. "I thought that was obvious enough."

"Wolves don't imprint," I protested.

"And yet, you are not a wolf," he replied. "Not entirely, at any rate. But all that aside, you did mark him."