Chapter 13 Rowan
I was on a soft cloud floating through pitch black. It was silent and peaceful until awareness filtered through me. An overwhelming thirst disturbed my comfortable sleep. I needed water desperately. Cracking my heavy eyelids open, I tried to focus on my surroundings.
Where was I?
Memories flooded me, and I gasped, trying to sit up. I remembered the glowing eyes, the hospital, the exam, and Captain Cade. The thought of his name stirred a new feeling between my legs, causing me to squeeze them shut.
Oh my God, I think I had gone into heat.
My face reddened, and my heart dropped into my stomach as I remembered all the mortifying things I had begged Cade to do to me.
I probably repulsed him, but it wasn’t like I had control over my body and words.
The pain was so intense, and the need to fill my empty core, like nothing I had ever experienced.
Why did I care what Cade thought about me anyway?
I didn’t know what happened after that. I vaguely remembered the doctor suggesting sedation, so I assumed he had knocked me out again, but I didn’t know for how long.
Based on my matted mess of hair and cracked dry lips, I assumed it had been a long time.
I needed water; I needed a shower, and I needed to pee.
But first, I needed to figure out where I was.
I wasn’t on a hospital bed anymore. In fact, I didn't think I was in the Medical Wing at all. The room wasn’t sterile and cold, but warm and comfortable.
I was lying in a massive wooden bed that had a simple sheer canopy attached to its posts overhead.
There was a soft burgundy rug on the floor, and a few nondescript pictures hung on the walls.
Several blankets made from different soft fabrics wrapped around me.
I rubbed my body against them, loving the feeling on my skin.
Mouthwatering smells suddenly enveloped me.
Raising the blankets to my face, I realized each one had a different powerful scent.
Whiskey, pine, oakmoss, and cinnamon invaded my nose.
Overstimulation caused my core to throb.
During my sedation, what transformations had taken place within my body?
I knew the suppressants had long left my system.
Was this what it truly felt like to be an omega?
My heightened senses, sensitive and intense, caused me to whimper and moan. My skin craved the sensation of the cozy fabrics, and my nose ached for the scents marked on them. I rubbed against the bedding, trying to bury myself in the warm blankets and coat myself with the delicious fragrances.
Movement in the room drew my attention to a brown leather armchair where Cade sat, leaning forward.
He was watching me hungrily, rubbing his thumb against his lip.
I turned red thinking about how I had just been whimpering and rubbing myself against my bedding.
Why was he watching me so intently it made my skin crawl?
“Welcome back, Rowan. How did you sleep?” his deep baritone voice questioned from across the room.
“Like the dead Cade, but that's what sedatives are for. To keep helpless women passed out so you can kidnap and have your way with them, am I right?” I bit back.
I didn’t care about hiding my lack of submission anymore, and I would no longer be saying "sir" and "please."
“I see you have your spark back. Ryker said he suspected your submissive nature was a ruse. How are you feeling?”
I briefly wondered who Ryker was.
I could smell Cade so strongly now, and it clouded my mind.
He wasn’t purring, but his scent alone calmed me.
It was like whiskey. Smooth, malty, and woody, with a subtle sweetness.
My mouth watered, and as angry as I was, I wanted to be closer to him.
I wanted to inhale his scent and bury my nose in the crook of his neck.
What the hell was happening to me?
It wasn’t normal to have urges to smell people’s necks.
My head was swimming. My rational brain battled against my body’s new omega instincts. An intense fullness in my bladder complemented the ache between my legs, reminding me of my urgent need to pee. I debated arguing with Cade more, but first, I had needs to attend to.
“I’m really thirsty, Cade, and I, uh… need to pee. Badly.”
He considered my request before standing abruptly and walking out of the room, returning a moment later with a large glass of ice water.
Condensation coated the frosted glass, and a juicy drop of water trickled down the side, tempting me to drink it.
I licked my chapped lips. Cade held the cup out for me, but just as I went to take it, he pulled the glass out of my reach.
“What do you say, Rowan?” his calm, deep voice chided me as he took a long sip of the chilled water and wiped his bottom lip with his thumb.
I stared for a moment, my eyes burning holes through him. I wanted to scream and throw something at his head, but I was so thirsty.
“Pleaseeee, Cade,” I said in a saccharine voice.
“Lose the attitude and refer to me as Captain Cade or sir. You can try again now.”
He took another long sip of the ice water. There was hardly any left, and my thirst screamed at me to give him what he wanted. I did my best to summon my submissive persona.
“Please, sir,” I said, asking again with my head bowed in submission, not making eye contact with him.
He took a few steps forward and put a big, calloused hand around the base of my throat. It slowly traveled up the column of my neck, sending shivers down my spine, until it reached my chin, which he tilted up so our eyes met.
“Good girl, Rowan.”
His words shot straight to my clit and made it pulse as he held the cold glass to my lips and tipped it forward. I gulped the water down greedily, not entirely satisfied when the liquid was gone.
“Please, may I have some more sir, I’m still very thirsty,” I said sweetly, hoping he might refill the glass of water.
“You learn quickly.”
As much as I hated him, a small part of me preened under his praise. My instincts urged me to make Cade happy, while my rational mind told me to scream and throw things at the control freak who was part of the plot to kidnap me.
He stuck his thick fingers into the glass and fished out an ice cube.
“Open your mouth,” he directed, as he held the ice cube up to my lips, rubbing it back and forth.
The frozen liquid soothed my chapped lips. I had only opened my mouth a small amount, which was not adequate for Cade because he impatiently demanded, “Wider, Rowan.”
As soon as I parted my lips further, he plunged the ice cube and his thick fingers inside.
“Suck,” he commanded.
I waited for him to remove his fingers so I could follow his command, but he left them in my mouth, waiting.
I realized then that he had wanted me to suck on the ice cube while he held it inside.
It felt so cool and soothing in my dry mouth, so I gave him what he wanted, trying to quench my thirst, sucking hard on his fingers and slurping the melted water.
This seemed to satisfy him, and he pulled his hand out of my mouth abruptly, leaving the ice cube inside.
When he removed his fingers, it made me feel strangely… empty.
“Since you are being so agreeable, I will get you another glass of water once you’ve freshened up and used the restroom. Can you stand up?” he asked, helping to pull back the bedding and swing my limp legs off the side of the bed.
As I was standing, I spotted an empty bowl, a bottle of body wash, and a large yellow sponge on the nightstand. My body went rigid.
Had they washed me while I slept?
Had they touched me without my permission?
Cade noticed my gaze lingering on the objects. He smirked, clearly sensing the fear tightening my posture. “Don’t worry, Rowan,” he said with a low chuckle. “The nurses handled that. None of us have touched you... yet.”
I exhaled, the tension easing from my chest. Relief washed over me, but it left behind faint nerves I couldn’t quite shake.
I was wearing nothing but an oversized white T-shirt, which was undoubtedly his, because of its whiskey scent.
I tried to put weight on my legs, but they had been out of commission for a while, so I stumbled.
Cade caught me around the waist, steadying me against him.
He stood behind me, providing stability, with one of his hands firmly gripping the base of my neck, guiding me to the door.
He steered me out of the room into a simple common area.
There was a living room to the left and a kitchen to the right, with a hallway across the space which I assumed led to more bedrooms. The common area had all the necessities for living somewhat comfortably, such as a cushy black leather couch, a few armchairs, a coffee table, and a large flat screen TV mounted to the wall; however, it was devoid of any personal items. A bunch of men had certainly decorated the apartment, considering there were no decorations at all.
It was tidy though, which was surprising as several single men lived in the quarters.
I wondered who the clean-freak was. Probably drillmaster Cade, although I hadn’t met the other unit members.
Were they all as controlling and neurotic as he was?
“It’s not much, but we won’t be here for long.
Including you, we have five pack members.
Our unit is only stationed in Falcon City while one of our packmates, Killian, recovers.
He suffered an injury on duty and has been receiving medical treatment.
Most of our personal items are still at our permanent station, a base situated near The Border Front. ”
“You’re stationed near The Border Front?!” I asked incredulously, trying not to let fear creep into my voice.
I had never been near the border. It was for military personnel only, highly guarded, and utterly terrifying.
Alphas, betas, omegas and shifters weren’t the only genetic mutations that forever changed the pre-existing world.
Mutated subhuman creatures lurked in the territory beyond our new civilized society and its fortified wall.
Creatures who let their instincts override their humanity.
“We are stationed near The Border Front. It will be your home too, soon enough. Don’t be afraid, Little Omega; we’ll keep you safe.
The Border Front Base is one of the most crucial bases in New Arca.
It has state-of-the-art facilities, including a training center, a medical hospital, and a science laboratory, similar to this base.
Our special unit operates out of that location because of its proximity to The Northern Borderlands.
Most of our covert missions take place at or beyond the border. ”
“You’ve been past the border?! Really? How?! What is it like?” I questioned with morbid curiosity.
When I was young, I found a box hidden in the deepest recess of my father’s closet.
Inside were photographs of grotesque, mutilated creatures, so horrific they etched themselves into my mind and haunted my dreams for months.
My father caught me rifling through it and snatched the box away as fast as he could, his face pale and tight with something like fear. But the damage was already done.
Arca’s propaganda team liked to rally political support and funding for the military using the public’s fear of what lay beyond the wall.
I always thought going past it was a death sentence and didn’t know of anyone who had been north, let alone frequented that lawless, savage territory and survived.
“Yes,” Cade said in a clipped tone, without elaborating or answering questions.
Okay, I guess that was the end of the conversation.
Good talk.
I turned my attention back to the space that, for now, I had to call home.
A wooden dining table sat between the kitchen and living room with four matching chairs.
There was also one odd one out, clearly borrowed from another set.
Had they added that for me? A small thread of relief wove through my chest. At least they didn’t expect me to eat off the floor like some pet.
My thoughts drifted to the bedroom I’d woken up in.
Compared to the stark common space, it was almost cozy.
Someone had tried to make it inviting for me.
The soft, scent-marked blankets and the mismatched chair spoke of a quiet attempt at comfort.
A flicker of a smile brushed my lips as I pictured Cade wandering the military base in search of an extra seat for his new omega.
Maybe not all alphas were monsters. My father hadn’t been.
The door to the apartment creaked open, cutting my thoughts short... and a familiar face stepped inside.