Redeeming the Lost (A Comforter's Tale)

Chapter 4

We had barely entered the dining area before an Omega appeared, as if by magic, to take me from Mazie, who was still in wolf form. Anabel jumped slightly at his sudden presence, although from her lack of questions, she must have already known that an Omega's passive stance ability could make them hard to notice.

A sense of faint calm rippled out from him, possibly to reassure the visiting pack members whom he had unwittingly startled. His passive stance ability may have been so strong that he often didn't know he was using it, but his calming skills could barely be felt by those around him.

Two other Omegas in our pack had decent calming abilities, although no Omega could match a Comforter in that area. Their skills usually lay elsewhere, with tricks to remain unnoticed, detect anything wrong in food or water, sense where everyone was, among other talents I lacked.

"Do you want to eat with them?" he asked me via the mindlink for privacy.

"Yes, please."

He waited while Mazie shifted, then passed me back to her. "I'll bring her chair over to whatever table you pick."

"Thank you," Mazie replied. "We'll be along the back wall."

I echoed her words. "Thanks!"

He smiled at me before going to locate my chair, wherever it had gone this time. As much as the Omegas tried to do things for me, sometimes other pack members beat them to it. Possibly because the people who frequently helped me rarely ended up on the receiving end of my version of fun.

The dining area was already half-full as people took advantage of the buffet table heaped with food, courtesy of whichever cooking group was on rotation. My mouth watered as I sniffed the air. Mashed potatoes, turkey, corn, some sort of bread, and banana crème pie.

A booster seat for Darren and my chair were already sitting beside an empty table, so someone else must have seen us enter and asked the Omega where he wanted the chairs placed. I never did find out who had modified my chair for me, but the seat was level with the table. A soft towel was usually spread across the cushion, likely to make cleaning up easier since I was restricted to my paws, teeth, and tongue.

As Mazie put me on my chair, Mary asked, "I can grab a plate for you, Julie. What do you want?"

"Thank you! A bunch of that turkey, some potatoes, and a big slice of pie!" I really didn't care who ate the corn, as long as it wasn't me.

They returned shortly with their food, and Mary set mine along the edge of the table that my chair touched. I wagged my tail in glee, trying to decide what to eat first. My plate may have held less than Darren's, but there was too much here for me to eat all of it. I settled for grabbing a strip of turkey and chewing on it while watching Mazie cut up her son's food.

We had almost finished eating when I felt ripples of frustration and tiredness along the edges of my senses. Tilting my head, I focused on the two who had just come within my sensing range. I didn't need to be a genius to know they would come looking for me.

Ignoring the last of my potatoes and turkey, I began delicately licking the yummy banana crème pie, savoring it while ensuring it would be a mere memory by the time the two showed up.

In the end, I even had time to lick my paws clean. It was times like this that I wished my location sensing ability was stronger. I felt the Beta's aura reach me, and I perked my ears attentively as I turned to look at the weary man in the doorway.

"If it helps, I'm done eating."

Relief flickered briefly across his mind. "Are you sure you don't mind me interrupting your visit? Nix didn't ask, but I know he is hoping to make some headway on the rest of his work."