Jasper

He had to have seen it wrong. Wes couldn't have postured at him.

Jasper chopped up the veggies with a bit too much aggression. Listening to the steady thunk of the knife against the wood counter. 

An image of Milo being bent over the surface flashed into his mind. His Omega’s face tilted towards him. Dark eyes twinkling with amusement. 

Jasper felt a stirring in his thin sleep pants.

Jasper sleepily watched 'dream Milo' until his Omega's ebony eyes turned into sparkling blue ones.

Dark, tousled hair became blonde and slicked back. 

Why am I imagining Wes?

Jasper harshly blinked away the image of the other Omega. 

Ever since the pale man had fluttered his wings at him, Jasper had been off.

Wes probably didn’t know he was essentially telling Jasper that he wanted to be fucked. This was all just a big misunderstanding. 

Jasper scooped up the veggies into a bowl and meandered outside.

Milo and Wes were on the makeshift porch, chairs pulled close to each other. Wes muttered something that sent Milo cackling.

Jasper's eyes trailed along his Omega’s long, tan throat. As if sensing the attention, Milo’s crinkled eyes met his own. The pure joy and affection held in that dark gaze sent Jasper reeling.

It was still shocking, the knowledge that this gorgeous, wild creature chose him.

Chose to be with his grumpy ass.

“Is that for us?” Jasper turned slightly at Wes’ quiet question. The tall, pale Omega was unabashedly bathing his snow-white wings in the afternoon sun. Jasper quickly looked away.

“Yeah, thought you guys might want a snack.” He popped the bowl onto the side table, intent on getting as far away from Wes as possible. 

“Thank you, Jasper.” 

Jasper mentally kicked himself as he once again looked over at the dove-like Omega.

As long as he doesn't, oh shit…

Jasper felt like banging his head on a wall as Wes started fluttering his wings, soft inner feathers fluffing up. The movement stirred up a light breeze, which sent Wes’ blueberry scent wafting over.

A sudden crunch had Jasper’s head whipping towards Milo.

“You okay, Alpha? You're acting odd” Milo asked, mouth full of crunchy cucumber. 

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just out of it today.” 

Milo raised a dark brow. “If you say so. I’m gonna go use the washroom. Do you mind keeping Wes company?”

Before Jasper could answer, Milo was strolling back inside. 

Jasper felt his heart squeeze. Did Milo understand what Wes was doing? Did Wes even understand what his actions meant? 

Wood squeaked as Wes rose from the old porch chair. 

Jasper felt like running. The beast side of him roared at him to go to his Omega.

Jasper needed to tell Milo what was happening.

A thin hand with long fingers gently wrapped around his wide wrist. The soft hands felt different from Milo’s callused ones. 

Jasper shivered. 

“Jasper, I’ve been thinking a lot over these past few days.” 

Shit.

“I know, your biology determined Milo be your mate, but…”

Fuck.

“I have feelings for you, and I want you to be my Alpha. Not Milo’s.”

Jasper felt cold and sweaty at the same time.

“Listen, Wes, I can’t I’m with Milo.”

“The only reason you're with Milo is that your biology told you to be. What do you want Jasper?”

Jasper knew he shouldn’t even consider it. He loved Milo. Yet, Jasper imagined a world where Wes was his biologically compatible mate. Would he question it? Would he leave Wes for Milo or would he accept biology?

"I... don't know."

Jasper felt lost. Did he even have a choice in his relationship?

The Alpha looked into Wes’ eyes, really looked at them. For the first time, he noticed how they lacked Milo’s quiet amusement. 

Wes’s thin mouth was missing Milo’s cute little smirk. 

Even Wes’s button nose wasn't the same as Milo’s slightly crooked one. Crooked from getting into a bar fight with a Beta over Omega rights. The crude story had made Jasper boom with laughter and filled him with endless pride for his Omega.

Jasper couldn’t imagine a world without Milo. 

Milo, who was never afraid of him.

Milo, who was as wild-hearted as him.

Milo, who smelled like coming home. 

Biology or not, he would always choose Milo.

What the fuck was he thinking? He needed to let Wes down gently. Enough was enough.

Jasper met Wes's hopeful eyes, but a sharp sniffle drew him away.  

Jasper looked upwards toward the open cabin window, where he met Milo’s red-rimmed eyes.

Oh fuck.