Page 26 of A Hal for my Heart

“Thank you.” I scratched the back of my neck, suddenly self-conscious. “I, uhm… I didn’t think it would feel like this,” I admitted.

“Like what?” Adrian asked, while Gus eyed me with understanding.

I tucked my hands into my pockets. “Like I don’t know what to do with myself when I’m not with him.”

Sympathy flooded Gus’ eyes. “The withdrawal will be over soon. Then you’ll be together all the time.”

I shook my head. “Briar isn’t going through withdrawal. He, uhm… he seems to need me more than ever. That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about.”

Gus looked at me, surprised. “Well, I’ve never heard of that before, but good for you,” he chuckled. “Withdrawals are the worst.”

“I think Briar is different from other omegas,” I said. “I think… I think he needs to be with his alpha all the time.” I smiled. “I mean, I don’t mind. Not one bit. I’m already going crazy over being away from him, too, but he needed to sleep.”

Gus nodded, then seemed to contemplate something. “Did you…? You know, did you…?” My best friend looked like he was ready to sink into a hole in the ground.

“Breed him?” I shook my head, sadness filling me. “No. There was no time to discuss it since Briar’s heat came out of nowhere, and I wanted to make sure he didn’t regret it afterward.”

Gus shrugged. “So maybe that’s why he seeks your closeness. Because you have…” Gus’ face was flaming red by now, the blush reaching all the way to the tips of his ears. I decided to put my best friend out of his misery.

“Unfinished business? Maybe.” I had a feeling that wasn’t the entire explanation, but I didn’t want to disclose Briar’s curse. Not yet anyway. Not until I’d talked to Briar about telling Seb and Elias. I thought it was important that he told them, because it wasn’t his fault and nothing he should be ashamed of. Besides, I wasn’t entirely sure the whole curse thing wasn’t a big pile of horse shit anyway. Or maybe I just had super alpha powers.

“Anyway,” Adrian smiled. “This is amazing news, Hal. You’ve found your omega. I couldn’t be happier for you. Briar is one of the kindest souls I know. I have a feeling the two of you will be very happy together.” Something flashed in his eyes, something that looked a lot like longing.

Gus eyed Adrian, a small smirk playing along his lips. “Perhaps we are all blessed. Perhaps you, too, will soon find your omega. If you haven’t already.”

Adrian shrugged, then opened his mouth like he wanted to say something. At that moment, Gus’ omega brother Corin came walking into the stables, carrying a large basket filled with carrots and apples. Adrian’s face lit up like sunlight as he rushed toward Corin.

“Why are you carrying these all by yourself?” Adrian fussed as he struggled to get the basket out of Corin’s hands. Corin blushed, then leaned in and whispered something in Adrian’s ear.

Gus and I exchanged a knowing glance. Adrian was so smitten with Corin that it was obvious to everyone except himself.

“But why didn’t you ask me for help?” Adrian admonished, but his voice was overspilling with tenderness. Corin leaned in and whispered something again.

Adrian frowned, then smiled. “Now, why would helping you be a bother? What did I tell you, Cor? You are never a bother.” Corin shook his head, and then they headed toward the back of the stables to feed the carrots and apples to the horses.

“Cor?” I snorted. “Oh boy, there must be something in the water around here.”

“Oh, absolutely!” Gus’ chest shook with laughter.

“Is Corin still only talking to you and Adrian?”

Gus nodded, sadness appearing in his eyes. “Yes. I think the trauma of being separated from me just hit him in a different way than it hit me.” Gus and Corin were twins and shared a special bond that had been severed when Gus was sent away as a teen to work at Lord Willoughby’s farm.

“It’s good that he has Adrian, too, then. I mean, with you being so busy with the babies.”

“It is. So, what did you want to talk to me about?”

“I just… I wanted to get your advice on how to be the best alpha I can be for Briar. You’re the only one I know who has found their omega, and—what?” I frowned at Gus when he burst into laughter.

“Gods, here I thought you were the brighter one between the two of us.” Gus shook his head, then started wiping his eyes, his chest still heaving with laughter.

“What’s so damn funny?” I hissed, crossing my arms over my chest.

“You are!” Gus gasped. “I mean, you’re his alpha, right?”

I nodded, not sure where he was going with this. “Yes.” Pride instantly invaded my chest. I was Briar’s alpha. He was mine.

Gus held out his hands. “So there you have it. By being his alpha, you cannot do anything wrong. It’s impossible. Only you know what your omega truly needs. You have a bond now. It’s unbreakable, but it’s also instinctive. He knows what you need from him, just like you know what he needs from you. You can’t fail at this, Hal. You were born to be his alpha, like he was born to be your omega. It’s as simple as that.”