Nervously, Caleb fumbled with the straps to the baby carrier. He ran a hand through his long hair, exhaled a breath and tried his best to calm himself. "Just get it together." He told himself, "This is a good thing...I think."
He looked down at the pup in the carrier. Rylan was oblivious to what had just transpired. He was happily chewing on his foot as he looked up at Caleb, a wide smile on his face as a bit of slobber rolled down his chin. He giggled then extended his foot as if to say, "Hey! Look what I just found!"
Caleb smiled back at him. "Silly pup." He whispered, rubbing a finger gently over the soft tuft of hair on the top of his child's head. "The only thing you have to worry about is when you get your next feeding or diaper change. If only my life were that simple."
Caleb sighed, then succeeded on strapping the pup in securely to the back seat of Quinton's jeep. When he was sure that the pup was safely tucked away with his favorite toy, a stuffed wolf, and his Binky, Caleb climbed into the back driver's side seat of the jeep and waited for Quinton...his mate.
Caleb could barely believe what he'd agreed to. Everything seemed to have happened so fast and there hadn't really been time to think. His options were only to go back to Silver Moon or agree to mate Quinton and stay in Black River. He'd agreed to the mating without hesitation.
Of course he knew the mating was on paper only. He didn't really think he'd be expected to fulfill his omega duties. At least, not as far as the bedroom was concerned. Certainly Quinton wouldn't think that Caleb ready for that. He barely knew the man, let alone the fact that he was still mourning. The entire thing was absurd but Caleb knew he'd be willing to do just about anything to stay in Black River.
He could be a good mate to Quinton he supposed. With the exception of the actual mating. He could cook and clean. Skills that every omega were taught from a very young age. It was regularly beat into them that their purpose was to serve their alpha. Make the alpha happy, no matter the cost.
Caleb knew that Black River didn't hold their omega's to such standards. They viewed them as people rather than property but the council evidently didn't have the same views. Anyway, it hardly mattered. Caleb was safe. For now. He just hoped that on their three month review he could prove to the council that he was a safe and happily mated omega. That's the only way they would allow him to stay. Though he had to wonder if Kavanagh had ulterior motives. From the look Quinton had given the man, Caleb wondered if he didn't think the same thing.
Caleb turned and glanced behind him to see Quinton and Zev standing a few feet from the jeep, talking. After the short and notably official ceremony, councilman Kavanagh had requested Zev stay behind to talk.
It didn't escape Caleb that the two men shared the same last name or that the younger of the two bore a striking resemblance to the elder. He suspected they were father and son, despite the dynamic between them being somewhat uneasy. Caleb couldn't deny the tension he felt between them. The way Zev had straightened himself up, clenching his jaw as the older Kavanagh approached him, told Caleb that there was some hostility in their relationship.
He couldn't guess as to what had happened between them but he suspected it had something to do with Zev disappointing the man in someway, judging from the look on the elders face as his eyes scanned his son. Caleb knew that look all to well. The look that said 'You are a disgrace and I'm ashamed to be your father.' It was a look that Caleb had gotten from his own father on a near daily basis.
Whatever the conversation that Quinton and Zev were engaged in seemed to be done because both men were now walking back towards the jeep. Caleb turned around quickly as Zev came up along the drivers side and Quinton took the passenger seat. Caleb cast his eyes to the floor and pretended to be focused on something other than the two alphas. He knew it was silly. He'd have to face Quin sooner rather than later but at the moment he didn't know how to act or what to say.
Everything about his future was now so uncertain. Really, he had no idea what was going to happen once they reached Black River, or how he was supposed to act around his new Alpha who, as of now, was also his new mate. What was really expected of him? Would things change now that they were mated, or would it be business as usual? They really should have taken more time to discuss things before agreeing to a mating but time was not on their side.
One thing that Caleb was fairly certain of was that, no matter what he and Quinton eventually agreed upon, the council expected the arrangement to be a traditional mating that would, in time, yield pups for Quinton. Caleb winced at the thought. It wasn't that Quinton was unattractive. Quite the opposite actually. He and Rhys shared the same rugged handsomeness and brooding dark eyes. Body wise they were similar as well, though Quinton was slightly larger than his younger brother had been, he was still lean and muscular with broad shoulders and a solid build.
In all honesty, Quinton was perfect mate material. Not only was he handsome and strong, but he was also kind. Caleb knew that Quinton would make some omega very happy one day. Caleb just couldn't be that omega. His heart still belonged to Rhys. That wouldn't change anytime soon. His focus now had to be on protecting and caring for his son. He didn't have the time or the desire to entertain thoughts of love and he certainly wasn't ready to open his heart to another. He didn't know if he'd ever be ready for that. Caleb only hoped that Quinton understood that and would respect his feelings.
Once the men were seated and buckled in, Zev started the jeep and pulled out onto the main road. Rhylan gurgled and cooed and lost his Binky more than once, but he didn't fuss for which Caleb was grateful. About ten minutes later, the jostling of the jeep had rocked the pup to sleep and Caleb could finally lean back against his seat and relax some. It had been a tiring day, to say the least.
***
Caleb closed his eyes and sighed a breath of relief. Quinton turned around to glance at him. He seemed so young, so innocent, but at the same time there was an aged look about him that seemed so out of place in someone so young. He'd been through so much in his short life. Much more than anyone his age should have had to go through. It made Quinton's heart ache to think of all the pain and suffering that Caleb had had to endure at the hands of his former pack. Then to lose Rhys the way he had. It was a testament to the young man's strength that he hadn't broken down by now.
Quinton knew he'd made the right decision in agreeing to the mating. Even if it wasn't the right time, it was for the right reasons. Maybe not the same reasons that Kavanagh had for forcing them into it. That was another matter that Quinton would have to address sooner rather than later. With Hollister up their asses so to speak, they'd have to play along until Caleb was officially a Black River member. As far as Quinton was concerned he was, but if Hollister's reports failed to tell Kavanagh what he wanted to hear, Caleb could be taken away and forced to honor the contract his father had made with Seth Bowden.
Quinton wasn't about to let that happen. No matter what, they had to appear to be a happily mated couple. Caleb, as well as Rylan's, futures depended on that. They depended on Quinton, and he wasn't going to let them down. First things first though. He had to find a way to make the transition for Caleb as easy as possible. He couldn't begin to imagine what was going through the boys mind at the moment. He seemed okay but Quinton knew enough about him by now to know that Caleb tended to internalize things. He would never openly complain. He'd been taught to keep his thoughts and feelings to himself and always do what was expected of him.
Well, that was something Quinton hoped would change with time. In Black River, Caleb wasn't expected to cater to the needs of others while neglecting his own needs. There many things that Caleb would have to get used to now that he was going to be living permanently in Black River. Also, as Quinton's mate. There were things that Quinton would have to get used to as well. He hadn't had a room mate since Rhys was a pup. Rhys stayed at the pack house when he was home but that had been so seldom lately that Quinton practically lived alone. Now he was going to be host not only to Caleb, but to his pup as well.
