Consider The Lilies (Broken Omegas #5)

Waking Up

Stefan

“ G ood morning, Mr. Kane,” an unknown voice startles me, and I jerk awake.

“Alpha?” I whisper into the dark room, wondering where Jack is.

“Mr. Stanley had an early meeting to attend.” A woman moves next to the bed, opening the big black curtains. Light pours into the room, making everything way too bright. It takes my eyes a second to adjust, but when I finally look up at the woman, I realize I recognize her. She was here the morning I saw the doctor. I don’t remember much about her, other than she was here, and then she was gone.

“How do you know my name?” I ask, finally able to see the beta’s face. She looks to be in her thirties. Or maybe even early forties. I don’t know. I’m not good at guessing people’s ages.

“Ms. Lucy told me.” She pulls the puffy blanket off me, but I cling to the sheet, not wanting her to see me naked. “Come on.” The beta gives me a friendly smile. “I have orders to get you ready for the day.”

Keeping the sheet pressed to my chest, I slowly sit, and the skin along my belly feels weird. I look down, realizing I have Jack’s dried cum all over me. It’s everywhere—my chest and stomach, and even on my inner thighs. How did it get there?

She holds out a hand to help me up, but I shy away from her.

I know a beta’s sense of smell isn’t nearly as strong as an alpha’s or omega’s, but I can’t help but wonder if she knows what we did last night. She has to. I bet everyone knows. After all, we’re sleeping in the same bed.

“Um…” I can’t remember her name. “Ma’am?

“Jessica.” She gives me a friendly smile. “My name is Jessica. I’m Mr. Stanley’s personal maid.” She steps to one side and holds out her hand, silently telling me to get up. “He’s instructed me to help you with whatever you might need. Can I get you anything before we clean you?”

I don’t even know what to say to that. It feels weird to tell someone what I want when I’m perfectly capable of doing things on my own.

“Can I go to the bathroom?” I ask as I shimmy to the edge of the bed. I keep the sheet around me the best I can, but it shifts as I move, exposing my legs.

“Of course.” Jessica reaches out, going for the top of my sheet, but I lean away from her, wrapping even more of the thin fabric around my chest and legs.

“Good morning.” The bedroom door opens, and Lucy steps inside. She’s wearing the same uniform as yesterday, but she has on black tights today.

I don’t know why, but the sight of the sweet beta sends a wash of relief over me. I think I’d rather she helped me in the bathroom rather than Jessica. Not that I have anything against Jessica. I just know Lucy a little better.

“I was about to help Mr. Kane into the bath, but he’s a little reluctant to get out of bed.” Jessica gives Lucy a tight smile. They share a look, and I can’t help but wonder what it means. Hopefully, they don’t think I’m being intentionally difficult.

“Can I help?” Lucy’s bright blue eyes move from Jessica to me. “Would that be okay?”

I nod, gripping the sheet as if my life depends on it.

Lucy holds out her hand, helping me stand up. “Jessica, will you get Mr. Kane something to wear?”

The brown-haired beta nods once as Lucy leads me across the room and into the bathroom. The second we’re inside, I marvel once again at its size. Is every room in this house so ridiculously big? I wish I had been allowed to see more of this place yesterday.

“Bath or a shower?” Lucy asks as she grabs a puffy white towel from a cabinet next to the shower. I stare at the closet not far behind her, allowing myself to really look at the shoes this time. They’re all so shiny and expensive-looking. I bet everything else in that closet is just as nice. Jack seems to love fancy things…well, everything but me. I’m definitely not fancy.

“Stefan?” Lucy says my name, and I realize I’ve spaced out.

“A bath would be nice.” I look at the two bathtubs on the other side of the room.

“Of course.” Lucy smiles wide. She walks past me and turns on the water in the smaller tub. I want to sit in the really big one, but I’m not brave enough to ask. “Come and feel the temperature.” She sticks her hand under the faucet.

I shimmy to her as fast as I can, but the sheet is twisted around my legs, keeping me from walking properly. “That feels good,” I say before my hand even touches the water, but it’s too warm, and I’m too embarrassed to say it now.

Lucy smiles as if pleased, then she glances around the room, clearly looking for something. “You need scentless shampoo,” she says to herself, thinking out loud. “I’ll be right back.” She touches my arm, and it takes everything in me not to snuggle up against her. She just has the best energy.

The second Lucy steps out of the bathroom, I move as fast as I can. I jerk the sheet off me, then climb into the bathtub. I hiss when my feet touch the hot water, but I ignore it, forcing myself to sit. My skin burns, and I fumble as I reach for the faucet. I quickly turn one of the knobs, praying I won’t make it too cold. Then I hug my knees up to my chest, waiting for Lucy to return.

“Do you want bubbles?” The pretty beta walks into the room with two bottles—one is white, and the other is a soft baby pink—and a plastic cup.

“Like a bubble bath?” I hope that’s what she means.

“Yes.” She holds the pink bottle up.

I should say no. Grown men don’t take bubble baths. “I haven’t had a bubble bath since I was a kid.”

“Well, then let’s do it.” Lucy gives me a vibrant smile, making the choice for me. I smile back at her, thrilled when she adds the pink liquid to the water. It instantly foams and grows, surrounding me in puffy white clouds of soap.

“I can’t believe Jack has a bubble bath…I mean, Mr. Stanley,” I quickly correct myself and Lucy smiles. I have a feeling she doesn’t care what I call my alphas. “It’s funny to think he’d enjoy this.” I scoop up a handful of frothy white bubbles, blowing them. They float for a second before falling back into the water.

Lucy leans in and whispers, “You'd be surprised what alphas do when they think no one is looking.” She giggles, and I can’t help but laugh too. It’s such a funny thing to imagine. The thought of Jack or Bear—or even Yuki—soaking in a tub full of bubbles is just beyond funny.

They’re all so serious.

“How long have you worked here?” I ask, relaxing my legs when the water reaches my chest. My privates are hidden by the bubbles, keeping me from feeling overly exposed.

“Almost three years.” Lucy sits on the edge of the tub, turning off the water. Her dress rides up slightly, flashing the top of her tights…but they’re not tights. They’re stockings. “I started working in the kitchens,” she says while I stare at the small strip of smooth, creamy skin. She looks like she’d be so soft.

My dick jerks, growing hard. What the heck? I quickly push my hand over it, making sure it’s hidden under the bubbles.

“Tip your head back,” Lucy instructs as she fills the plastic cup with water, then she pours it over my hair. I concentrate hard on the feel of water droplets trickling over my ears, praying my problem will quickly go away.

Maybe talking about something else with help.

“Do you have a mate?” I look up at Lucy’s face, and I swear the freckles on her nose deepen in color.

“I don’t,” she says simply, and I realize I don’t know much about betas. My family didn’t have a beta. I only had three alpha fathers and an omega mother. And then all I had was Mari.

And just like that, the swelling in my privates goes away.

“Betas have mates. Right?” I ask, determined not to dwell on that horrible time in my life.

“Some betas do have mates.” Lucy pours a bit of shampoo into her hand. “But a lot marry other betas. They’re not considered mates because there’s no mating bite.” She lathers up my hair, scratching my scalp in the most wonderful way.

“So only alphas can mate someone?” I ask, and she nods. “That seems unfair.”

Lucy laughs, but it doesn’t feel mean. She’s not making fun of me. “Well, mating is a medical term,” she says. “The process of mating is piercing the gland under the ear.” She taps my neck, and something tingles in my chest. “Omegas have a much larger gland compared to betas—and some betas don’t have one at all,” she quickly adds, “and our glands don’t function the same way as an omega’s,” she says. “But to mate , you have to bite that gland, and only alphas have fangs that go deep enough to safely reach it.”

I nod, taking it all in. “Do you want to get married or be mated one day?”

Lucy pulls in a deep breath. I can’t tell if she’s processing what I just asked, or if she’s offended. I immediately regret asking. It is a really personal question.

“I’m sorry,” I mumble. “You don’t have to answer that.”

“It’s okay,” Lucy says sweetly as she rinses the shampoo out of my hair. “I would love to be mated one day. I think it would be heaven with the right pack.”

I nod, instantly agreeing with her. I think about Jack and Bear, and how kind they’ve both been to me. Jack is still a little scary sometimes, but I think that’s just the way he is. It’s not personal… I hope.

It’s almost funny to think I wasn’t very fond of males only a few days ago, but now, I have two sweet alphas in my life. And one very intimidating she-alpha.

“I don’t think Yuki likes me,” I blurt out, unable to stop myself.

Lucy freezes. She holds a full cup of water mid-air before finally saying, “Yuki is a very guarded alpha.” She pours the warm water over my head, getting the soap from around my ears. “She simply hasn’t had a chance to get to know you yet, but once she does, I know she’ll adore you.” The beta speaks with so much confidence, it’s hard to argue with her.

“Do you really think so?” I ask, hopeful. I hate the idea of anyone hating me. Especially someone in my pack.

“Yes,” Lucy says firmly “Yuki Ito is a very passionate woman. She’s a hard nut to crack, but once you do, she’s filled with nothing but love.”

“Really?” I lean in, wanting to hear more. “How do you know?”

I swear fear flashes in Lucy’s eyes before she reins it in. “I’ve worked here for three years,” she says with a giggle. “I’ve seen her and her two alphas in some very private moments.” The beta reaches into the water, pulling the plug. “Come on. Let’s get you dressed and fed.”

Lucy holds up the towel, keeping it high enough that she can’t see my privates as I step out of the bathtub. I keep my body curled inward as I lean into the soft towel. She wraps it around my shoulders like a cape before leading me into the bedroom.

“Good morning, Bear!” Lucy greets the alpha with a bright smile.

He stands at the foot of the bed, wearing fitted jeans and another polo. This one is a deep heather gray with black stripes on the collar and the ends of his very tight sleeves. I swear his biceps could pop a bowling ball in half.

“Good morning.” He gives Lucy a little bow of his head before turning to me. “How did you sleep, Stefan?” His voice is so soft, almost a rumbling purr. I love it.

“Very well.” I duck my head as the memory of my shameful dream hits me full force. Honestly, the dream was a little scary, but what Jack and I did after I woke up wasn’t. Would Bear want to do that too?

My stomach flutters as I realize that I kind of hope he does.

“I brought you something.” Bear’s brown eyes sparkle.

I perk at that, excited. “What?”

The big alpha steps to one side, revealing a stack of blankets and a few large pillows. “Nesting materials.”

My mouth falls open as deep emotion grips me. “I’ve never had a nest before.” I move to the bed, staring down at the blankets. There are four of them. Two are black with one side covered in fur and the other side a smooth-looking velvet. Then there’s a blue throw and a patchwork quilt. The quilt looks incredibly thick and soft.

“Touch them,” Bear encourages me.

I slip my hand out from behind my towel, letting it rest against the top blanket. The black fur is unbelievably soft. My fingers drift, skimming each wonderful blanket one at a time. “I…uh…” My voice cracks, and I suddenly feel very overwhelmed. “Thank you.” I look up at the alpha, wishing like crazy I could hug him. “This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.”

Bear smiles, ducking his head, and my heart practically bursts.

I can’t believe I’ve been gifted such an amazing pack. They’ve all taken such wonderful care of me. It’s a little weird to find such kind alphas—and not at all what my sister prepared me for—but I’m happy… and the guilt is eating me alive.

“Stefan?” Lucy slips her hand across my back. “Are you okay, omega? You look sad.”

I swallow hard and nod, unable to fight my overwhelming emotions any longer. “I don’t deserve any of this.” I look up at Bear. “I don’t deserve your kindness.”

Deep lines settle between his dark brows, and anger flashes in his eyes. “You deserve this and so much more,” he says firmly.

“Sit down.” Lucy pushes the nesting materials out of the way. I let her guide me onto the bed, then she sits next to me. “Talk to me, omega,” she says in her sweet voice, fixing my towel so it covers the top of my bare legs. “What happened?”

I open my mouth, but I can’t bring myself to say it.

The fact is, it’s my fault Mari is dead. I was too weak and pathetic to save her. If I were stronger and fought harder, she’d still be alive. But instead, I’m sitting on a soft bed, next to a stack of plush blankets, and she’s rotting at the bottom of a cliff.

“I’m just a little overwhelmed,” I finally say. “You’ve all been so nice to me, and I feel like I haven’t done anything to deserve it.”

Lucy quickly grabs my hand, forcing me to look her in the eyes. “You deserve every nice thing that happens to you,” she says with an unexpected fire in her voice.

Bear growls in agreement as he crosses his arms over his impressive chest. He looks like a warrior standing guard over the two of us, but you can’t protect someone against their spiraling thoughts.

“Omegas live hard lives,” Lucy says. “Your kind have barely any rights compared to other dynamics, you’re easily manipulated by that awful alpha voice, and you get ripped away from your families and shipped off to institutions the second you turn sixteen.” Her voice rises with anger, and she squeezes my hand. “The very least an omega can have is a loving family that gives them nice things from time to time.” She gives me a firm look, almost as if daring me to disagree with her.

“Trust me,” Bear says with a sympathetic look. “Don’t argue. There’s no fighting the women in this house.” Then he sinks to his knees right in front of us. He places his hand over Lucy’s, squeezing my hand through hers. I can’t help but smile at the creative way he’s found to reassure me without actually touching me. “Let us take care of you, Stef,” he says gently, and my cheeks warm at the nickname. It feels familiar. Sweet.

I look up into Bear’s handsome face, and the urge to touch his black beard moves through me. It looks so soft.

“How about we get you dressed?” Lucy leans into my side, and my lungs are filled with her wonderful fresh scent. Salty and sweet.

“Yes, please,” I say as my stomach rumbles.

Lucy laughs at the sound. “Let me see where Jessica put your clothes, and we’ll get you fed.”

“I saw her place something in the bathroom,” Bear says.

Lucy stands, moving across the room. I watch carefully as she slips into the bathroom. Then I take my chance and quickly stand. I press a quick kiss on Bear’s cheek. His beard is unbelievably soft against my lips, and it takes everything in me to lean away from him.

“Thank you,” I say, “for the blankets.”

The alpha’s big chest rises and falls as if filled with excitement, and his face brightens, giving me a wonderful smile. “You are going to get me in trouble,” he whispers like he wants nothing more.

“You were right!” Lucy breezes back into the room, holding another pair of boxers and a white t-shirt in her hand. “They were next to the sink.” She plops onto the bed, laying out my clothes.

I can’t help but stare at the flash of her stockings. My privates tingle once again, followed quickly by a weird cramp that grips my belly, and I flash hot.

“I’ll wait in the hallway so you can get dressed. Please don’t forget your inhaler.” Bear gives me a little bow before turning on his heel.

I nod, waiting for the alpha to shut the door behind him.

“Okay.” Lucy holds up the pair of navy-blue boxers. “Drop the towel.”