Consider The Lilies (Broken Omegas #5)

The Next Morning

Yuki

C rossing my arms, I glance at the front door again, waiting patiently for someone to knock. It’s only eight fifty in the morning, but Dr. Pearson said he’d be here by nine. The beta had better not be late.

Trying like hell not to fidget, I let my gaze drift to the wall. I take in the flat gray stones that adorn the entryway. Most of the house has been updated with smooth white walls made of plaster, but this part of the house still has the original stonework. I’ve overheard a few people complain that our home looks like a dungeon, but I don’t give a shit.

I like it.

The antique grandfather clock in the corner ticks with each swing of the pendulum. Eight fifty-one.

Restless, I smooth my hand over my hair, feeling every bump in my braid. I check that my hair tie is still in place, then I slip my hand over the buttons on my black blouse, making sure the right amount of cleavage is showing.

“Is Pearson not here yet?” Bear stomps down the long staircase. He’s freshly showered, his black hair still wet on the ends. I scan his outfit, taking in his navy polo and gray slacks. It’s an odd choice. The alpha never wears anything other than t-shirts and jeans. When he reaches the bottom step, I notice the dark circles under his eyes and his puffy cheeks.

He must have been up all night.

“You look like shit,” I say, and the alpha glares at me. I smile at his pissy attitude, then check the clock again. Eight fifty-two.

“Hey. I want to talk to you before the doc gets here.” Bear pulls in a deep breath, crossing his arms. He does this whenever he wants to talk about something serious. “Be honest. How pissed are you?” He steadies his feet, ready for me to give it to him.

I’ve been waiting for him to ask me this since we spoke last night. He rambled for a solid hour about how sorry he was for claiming this goddamn omega and how he didn’t have a choice.

I just listened. I didn’t know what to say, and I honestly still don’t.

It’s all so out of character for the alpha. Bear isn’t emotional or sentimental. He doesn’t believe in true love or fated mates, and he’s always sworn the mindless pull other alphas claim to feel for omegas is bullshit. But it seems his feelings have changed. And now our pack’s entire dynamic could be at risk.

“You need to prepare yourself to lose that omega,” I say. “Stanley has said time and time again that he doesn’t want to add anyone else to our pack.”

Bear nods at his feet. “I know.”

“And both of you have always been pretty against getting an omega .” I’m unable to hide the bitter edge in my tone. “Omegas change alphas,” I remind him of our many conversations on the matter. He nods again, not arguing with me. “They make our kind docile, taking away most alphas’ ambitions and replacing them with the mindless need to breed. Is that what you want?”

“No,” Bear says firmly. “I love our pack. I love you and Stanley, and the balance we’ve created.” He takes a step toward me, forcing me to tip my head up to look him in the eye. “I know that most alpha packs have a lot of issues, but I really am very happy with our little family.”

I want to believe him, but his actions say otherwise. “Then why fuck it all up for a little omega pussy?”

Bear’s mouth pulls into a lopsided grin. “He’s a male.” He shrugs. “No pussy.”

A sharp laugh leaps from my throat, and I check the time again. Five minutes to go. “Everyone makes fun of female alphas.” I give Bear a pointed look. “But it’s the men who will destroy everything around them for the promise of a few drops of slick.”

Bear’s mouth pulls into a tight line. For a moment, I think he might argue with me, but then he sighs hard and simply nods. “Yup. I really fucked up.” He looks so sad, his dark brown eyes pulling in the corners.

“I gotta be honest,” I say simply, pushing my hands into my pockets, “I don’t get it.”

“Look,” Bear gives me an irritated look, “I get that an omega’s pheromones really only affect she-alphas when they're in heat, but I don’t get how you can be so oblivious to how amazing he is.”

He’s right. An omega’s natural aroma doesn't affect my body the same way as a male. Now, when they’re in heat, I’ve heard she-alphas can be just as vicious as males, but I’ve never been around an omega like that, so I really have no idea. But even if I were, I can’t believe that I’d go nuts for the submissive creatures. I prefer the rough touch of my own kind—forcing a powerful alpha to submit to me is downright thrilling. Or, when I’m with Stanley, and I submit to him…it’s a high like no other.

But either way, I have no use for a submissive omega. They’re too timid and pliable. They’re like putty. There’s no resistance or thrill of a conquest.

Not to mention how fucking emotional they are.

“Stanley isn’t keen on having a packmate that requires constant supervision,” I say. “Hell, in the past, he wouldn't even consider adding a beta to the pack.”

“I know,” Bear says quickly. “And I understand why.” He slips a hand down my arm, trying to assure me. “I wish I could explain how I felt during the auction.” He looks so sad. Like a giant wounded teddy bear. “I needed that omega. And he needs us.” His dark brown eyes hold me. “I could feel it.”

I stare at his face, trying to figure what the hell to say to that. But there’s nothing to say. When a male alpha decides he wants an omega, there’s no stopping him. He’ll destroy anyone and anything in his path, including his packmates. And that scares the shit out of me.

“Well, then,” I let out a long sigh, deciding there’s nothing I can do about it right now, “I guess it is what it is. We’ll just have to make the best of it.”

Bear’s dark brows shoot up, surprised by my answer. “Really? That's it?” His voice lifts with disbelief. “You’ve got nothing else you want to say? You don’t want to curse at me or call me any names? You don’t even want to throw a punch?”

“Not my style.” I shrug, not really having anything else to say on the matter. I trust my pack alpha, and if he thinks he can make this omega work for us, then he will. Otherwise, he’ll get rid of him, and we can go back to normal. “You had better hope that omega is the amazing fuck everyone says males are.”

Bear tilts his head to one side, not understanding.

“If he’s shit in bed, Stanley will dispose of him very quickly,” I say matter-of-factly.

Bear’s whole body tenses, and his jaw ticks. “Stan won’t get rid of him,” he says softly. “It’ll be okay. We’ll get to keep the omega.” But it’s clear the alpha isn’t talking to me. He’s trying to assure himself.

Deep worry slips over me, and I wonder if his rut is coming soon. It would explain his impulsive decision. I should probably let Stanley know.

“Maybe the doctor should look you over too.” I look him up and down. “Check your hormone levels. Maybe even give you a brain scan,” I say flatly. “A head injury would explain so much.”

Bear lets out a pained groan, clearly not in the mood to be teased. “You didn’t see him on that table, Yuki,” he says, his voice shockingly soft. It’s a bizarre tone for him. While Bear isn’t exactly devoid of all emotion, he’s not a sentimental guy. “You didn’t smell his fear mixed with his addictive scent.” He inhales deeply, closing his eyes as if savoring the aroma. “I couldn’t leave him.” He opens his eyes, and they pulse with an unusual fire. “Every instinct inside me refused to leave him.”

“They’re all scared,” I try to reason with the man. “That’s how scavenged omegas are.”

His jaw clenches, knowing exactly what I’m going to say next.

“Those omegas are like orphaned puppies,” I say just like I do every time we discuss going to the Morder. “If you get too close, you’ll end up wanting to adopt them all.”

Bear gives me a pointed look, not pleased with my advice. “Like you’d know,” he says flatly. “You never leave the fucking car.”

“And there’s a reason for that.” I rest my hand on my belt, making sure it’s perfectly centered. While fussing with my clothes, I take another look at what Bear’s wearing. “Why are you all dressed up?” I look at him from head to toe. “Did you trim your beard?” I stare up at the clean edges along the underside of his jaw. “You never trim your beard.” I take a step back so I can admire the whole look. “Are you hoping to impress the omega, or do you have a date?”

Bear laughs, but the sound is way too tense. “Why?” He cocks an eyebrow. “Jealous at the idea of me going out with someone else?”

I roll my eyes, groaning as I turn back to the door. “I feel pity for the poor beta you’ll end up shoving that cock into.” Maybe he is about to start his rut.

“Where the fuck is Pearson?” Bear checks the time on his phone.

“He’s got another minute or two,” I say, glancing back at the grandfather clock.

A soft knock echoes through the entryway one second before the clock chimes. It’s nine o’clock. Right on time. I step forward and open the heavy wooden door. It creaks, the old hinges needing more oil. Houses like this always need something. It’s a never-ending project.

“Ms. Ito,” Dr. Pearson greets me, then Bear. “Mr. Cosner.” He gives us a little bow, making his thinning gray hair slip across his forehead. “Mr. Stanley texted me last night about an omega.” He lifts the large bag slung over his shoulder, handing it to me. It’s very heavy. So heavy, I’m surprised the old beta was able to carry it up to the house.

“We just got a new omega.” Bear moves to the staircase, his impatience very obvious. I don’t know why he’s so eager to get upstairs. We both know Stanley won’t let him in the room during the exam. Hell, he’s lucky he didn’t kick him out of the damn house for what he did.

I step to one side, silently inviting the doctor inside. He bows again as he passes me, leaving behind a scent of cotton balls and a weird sterile aroma.

Bear leads the way up the stairs and through the house. We cut down several long corridors, into the private part of the house. The ceiling overhead changes from long beams with antique chandeliers to more modern white walls with ornate molding. I turn right, heading toward the west wing. All of our bedrooms are in different areas of the house. As alphas, we need space from one another and the freedom to fuck whoever we want without the risk of pissing each other off. But I can’t help but wonder if adding this omega to the pack might change that desire.

It has to. Right?

Bear knocks on Stanley’s bedroom door, and it instantly flies open.

Jessica, Stan’s maid, stands in the doorway. The beta looks a little awkward, almost like she doesn’t want to be here. Her dark eyes move from Bear to me, then to the doctor. “Mr. Stanley?” She turns, and her braided mousy-brown hair throws off a violent sheen. The beta always puts so much gel on her part, making her hair unbelievably stiff. “Mr. Cosner is here.”

Stanley suddenly appears, making Jessica rush to get out of his way. The alpha’s big body fills the doorframe as his gaze drifts over me. He scans my face before checking out my tits. But then he shifts his attention to Bear, and his eyes narrow. “What are you doing here?” he snarls, crossing his arms over his broad chest. His dark blue pajama pants hang loose on his hips, giving everyone a wonderful view of the outline of his limp cock. Even soft, Stanley has a massive dick. The man is a show-er.

“I only wanted to make sure the doctor found the right room,” Bear says before taking a careful step back. “I know my orders.”

“Good,” Stanley snaps. He clearly hasn’t had his morning cigarette yet. “Now, get the fuck out of here and go help Darius.”

I can see it in the bearded alpha’s tense expression—he wants to argue, but he also knows better. Stanley is forgiving when he wants to be, but he’s not someone you want to test your limits with.

“Let me know if you need anything,” Bear says politely, pretending to be unaffected by Stanley’s order. Then he turns to me. “I’ll catch up with you later.”

I give him a simple nod.

“This way.” Stanley disappears into his bedroom. Dr. Pearson slowly shuffles forward, and I follow him, not making it more than a few feet before I stop in my tracks.

The aroma in the room is insane. The floral sweet scent of omega saturates the air. I can make out notes of jasmine and primrose, laced with something sugary-sweet. Maybe honey?

Bear was right. He smells good. Too fucking good.

Last night, in the car, all I could smell was Stanley’s rage and Bear’s worry mixed with excitement. But now, I can see what Bear meant by the omega’s “addictive” aroma.

Stanley touches a lump on the center of the bed, waking the still-sleeping omega. “Stefan,” he says in a shockingly soft voice. “Wake up, omega.”

Stefan? That’s a decent name. Some of the omegas we’ve found have had the dumbest fucking names: Coco, Roxxi, Cinnamon. I often wonder what their parents were thinking.

The lump shifts, then groans. “What?” Stefan mumbles as he slowly sits up. His blond hair is a mess. His wild curls stick out in all directions and his body sways. He brings his fists up, rubbing both of his eyes hard. The blanket falls down his bare body, and my attention snaps to his chest. His skin is so smooth, and his little nipples are dark and pebbled.

“Where do you want him?” Stanley asks Pearson.

“He can stay in bed,” the doctor says, and Stefan jerks as if not realizing anyone else is in the room.

He whimpers, grabbing the blanket with his fists and jerking it up under his chin. At least he’s modest. The most obedient omegas are bashful and meek, and if I have to make room for this kid in my life, the least he can do is be respectable.

“What time is it?” Big green eyes scan the room, looking at Stanley and the doctor first. Then me.

He looks so young. So lost.

I was nineteen when I met Stanley—only a year older than this omega. While that was barely ten years ago, it still feels like an eternity. Did I ever look that innocent?

“Ms. Ito.” Pearson gives me a pointed look before dropping his gaze to the bag hanging off my shoulder.

Keeping my eyes on the omega, I quickly cross the room, placing the bag on the bed. I can’t stop staring at him. It’s been so long since I was this close to an omega. I forgot how delicate they are. Almost like a stiff breeze could rip them in two.

“Let’s see how you’re doing, young man.” Dr. Pearson puts on a pair of latex gloves, while Stanley and I stand next to the bed, both silently watching.

The exam is the same shit they do at the Morder. Eyes, ears, nose, throat. But then the beta touches Stefan’s hands still fisting the blanket. He has dark bruises on his wrists. Stanley does love to leave marks on his toys.

“I need to examine your penis and entrance,” the doctor says, leaning down to look Stefan in the eyes. “It won’t hurt.”

“Entrance?” The omega’s face scrunches up, and I glance at Stanley.

How does he not know what his entrance is? Especially after last night. But my pack alpha keeps his attention focused squarely on the omega in front of us.

“It’s your anus,” Dr. Pearson says. The second the words leave his mouth, Stefan’s whole face turns bright red as his eyes go wide with horror. “I promise to be quick.”

For a second, it looks like Stefan might scream or cry, but then he shocks me by taking a deep breath and simply closing his eyes. The blanket falls from his hands, landing in his lap, and I can’t help but be impressed.

Most omegas burst into tears at the drop of a hat.

“Lie back,” the doctor says in a gentle voice. Stefan obeys, and I inch a little closer.

“Jessica.” Stanley looks across the room at the beta standing next to the door. She stands a little taller when he addresses her. “Out.”

The beta doesn’t say a word. She turns and leaves, shutting the door quickly behind her.

Pearson grips the edge of the blanket, slowly lowering it. Stefan’s stomach quivers as his hips are uncovered. Without meaning to, my eyes widen with interest as his dick is revealed. I’ve never seen an omega’s cock before. He’s not a bad size. Nothing compared to an alpha, but still decent. And he’s completely smooth. Bare groin, balls, and shaft.

“Raise this knee.” Pearson taps one of Stefan’s legs. The crimson flush in the omega’s cheeks travels down his neck and chest as he does as he’s told.

He seems pretty obedient. That's good. I guess.

“I thought you’d be pissed,” Stanley says.

I shake my head, silently telling him I don’t understand what he means.

He gives a wary look at the doctor, then steps back, indicating I should do the same.

He whispers, “This is a lot.” He tilts his head toward the omega, making his meaning clear. And he’s right, it’s a fucking ton, but there’s nothing I can do about it now. “I thought you’d be pissed at Bear for claiming him and pissed at me for considering keeping him.”

“You’re going to keep him?” My voice rises, clearly shocked by this revelation.

“It’s a possibility.” Stanley looks at me as if I were a fool for not realizing that.

I pull in a calming breath, trying like hell not to yell. “You have always said you don’t want to add anyone else to our pack,” I grit out, unable to hide my anger. “You said that to me just last year.”

Stanley juts his head forward, looking at me as if he doesn’t remember. “Did we talk about adding someone else to our pack?”

Frustration burns my insides like acid. “No,” I snap quietly, irritated that we have to have this conversation at all. “But when you brought Bear into our pack five years ago, you said we were done.” I glance at the boy, not sure if he’s listening, but he seems pretty focused on whatever the doctor is doing.

“But when did you ask last year?” Stanley’s voice rises, clearly just as irritated as me.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to remember exactly how the conversation played out. “I don’t know,” I huff. “It was a random conversation we had one night. I asked if you ever thought about expanding our pack, and you said absolutely not.”

Stanley screws up his face, making it clear that he doesn’t remember talking about this last fall. “Look,” he holds his hands up as if trying to get a grip on our conversation, “I get what you’re trying to say.” He rests one hand on my shoulder, and it takes everything in me not to shrug it off. “I’ve always been very against expanding our pack, but this,” he motions to the bed, “has obviously changed things.”

I pull my mouth into a tight line to keep from snarling. “Fine.” I turn back to the bed.

“Yuki,” Stanley squeezes my shoulder, “there’s no need to be pissed yet. There are many ways this could play out.”

I don’t say anything. There’s no point. Bear fucked up, and now I have to live with it.

“Well…” Dr. Pearson pulls the blanket back up Stefan’s body. The omega clings to it, curling himself into a tiny ball. “He’s definitely pure.”

My eyes snap to the pack alpha, confused. Did he not fuck him last night? “Jack?” I say my pack alpha’s first name and he instantly tenses. He hates being addressed by anything other than his last name in front of others. And I get it. He spent his youth living on the streets fighting for respect. He’s earned the right to be addressed however he wants, but right now, I have questions.

“Jack?” I repeat his name and he finally looks at me. “He’s pure?”

“He’s too fragile,” Stanley finally says, understanding my question. “I didn’t want to risk hurting him.”

Shock, followed by deep respect, washes over me. If it had been me, I probably would have fucked him to teach Bear a lesson. I guess this is why Stanley is the pack alpha. He has patience I simply don’t possess.

“He’s not on death’s door,” Pearson says, pulling off his latex gloves. I notice a trace of clear fluid on them, and I sniff the air. Is it lube? Precum? Slick ? Surely I’d be able to smell it if it were slick. “Omegas are stronger than they look,” the doctor continues before leaning in and whispering, “and, honestly, mating him might help him heal faster. Omegas like this, with no family or history, desperately need to bond.”

“You’re sure I can rut him?” Stanley asks, and Stefan makes a tiny noise.

Stanley and I both instinctively look at the omega, waiting for him to speak, but he looks scared. “What’s wrong?” Stanley asks, his voice louder. More normal.

Stefan flinches, mumbling under his breath. I swear I hear him say, “I thought we did last night…” But I can’t really tell.

“You can rut him.” Pearson acts like Stefan didn’t say anything. “Make sure you have lots of lube on hand just in case he’s not slicking.”

I stare at the omega as he pulls the blanket over the bridge of his nose. I feel kind of bad for him. It’s got to be weird to be in a new place, surrounded by strangers while they talk about your body.

“Yuki.” Stanley turns his back so no one else can see his face. “Could I borrow some of your lube?”

“Can’t you get your own?” I ask a little defensively.

“Yeah,” he snaps back, matching my tone. “But you have a fuck ton,” he points out. “It wouldn’t kill you to give up one goddamn bottle.”

I get why he’s asking. I have lots of lube. I even keep little travel packets of the stuff on me at all times.

As a female alpha, I’m tighter and dryer than other women. It’s an old twist of evolution from back when there was an abundance of male omegas. It allowed she-alphas to milk a male’s weeping cock and increase the chance of pregnancy. But that’s not the way the world is anymore. Now, she-alphas tend to date other alphas, and male omegas are practically nonexistent.

But now Stanley wants to borrow my lube to fuck Bear’s goddamn mistake? That pisses me off more than anything else.

“Yuki,” Stanley says, waiting for me to answer. “The lube?”

“No problem,” I say way too forcefully, then I turn and march out of the room.