In Bed
Stefan
I ’m thankful the she-alpha is gone.
I feel like a freak everyone has come to gawk at.
A part of me wishes I had seen the doctor last night when my mind was still a mess. Then I wouldn't be forced to remember any of this. But it might be better to be able to think clearly. For example, I now know what to call Mister. The she-alpha called him Jack. I don’t think that’s what he told me to call him last night—that part is still fuzzy—but I’ll stick to calling him alpha just in case.
The doctor packs away his things, and I curl a little tighter, my muscles aching. My hips kind of hurt, and so does my upper back. It must be the bed. I’ve been sleeping on the ground for the last two years, so my body isn’t used to it. But it does feel amazing on my skin. The sheets smell so good, and it’s warm. I snuggle my cheek against the pillow, loving the velvety texture and faint scent of tea leaves and spices.
Tea leaves!
That’s what Jack smells like—black tea leaves and oranges. It’s earthy and comforting with a touch of sweetness, just like the woods.
“I’m going to draw a bit of blood,” the doctor warns me as he pulls my arm out of the blanket. I watch as he cleans my skin then pushes a tiny needle into the bend of my elbow. It pinches, and I hiss.
An anxious sound pushes from Jack, and I finally allow myself to look at him. At last, my head is clear of all those horrible drugs, letting me focus. And I have to admit, Jack doesn’t look like the monster I saw last night.
He’s still big—not as big as that bearded alpha—but big enough that I don’t want to anger him. His brown hair isn’t styled anymore. It’s messy, falling over his forehead, and the scars on his arms and chest aren’t bubbling. They’re normal, slim silver lines. It’s obvious they’re from years of fighting, so they’re still scary, but not like last night.
“That’s good.” The doctor hums as he places little drops of my blood onto a card. Jack leans over his shoulder, looking at the results.
Jack asks the doctor about getting me a few more inhalers for my asthma. Not interested in the medical stuff, I glance around the room.
The fancy chandelier overhead illuminates the whole room with crisp, bright light. The walls are still a deep crimson, and the blanket is black, but I can clearly see the furniture now. The desk and bookshelf across the room are a deep chocolate-brown color, and the carpet is a fluffy bright red. There’s even a sitting area on the far side of the room, with a plush gray couch and two matching gray armchairs.
“When was your last heat?” the doctor asks, and my face goes red once again.
I don’t want to answer, but I don’t want to be yelled at either. “I’ve never had one,” I whisper.
The doctor’s eyes go wide before looking at Jack. They share a tense look, and the urge to cry slams into me.
Mari never had a heat either. Could it be genetic? Are we broken? What happens if my heat never starts? I have so many questions, but I’m too scared to ask them.
“He says he’s eighteen,” Jack’s voice drops to an angry growl. “Could he be lying?”
“Not at all,” the doctor says as if it’s no big deal. “Male omegas mature at a different rate than females, but they’re just as sensitive. If he was living in a stressful environment, then it would affect his heat.” He holds up the card. “His hormone levels are good, and I’m confident his body will start responding soon. He simply needs a push to start his cycle.”
Jack nods, clearly relieved.
“Ten cc’s of an accelerant should help him along.” The doctor digs in his bag, pulling out a small red bottle. “I’ll also leave a few oral stimulants. Between the two, he should go into heat in a few days’ time. But let me caution you,” he looks up at Jack, “it’s going to hit him fast and hard. You’ll need to be here to tend to the boy when it happens.”
Jack pulls in a deep breath as his jaw juts forward. He looks angry again.
“I know you’re a busy man,” the doctor says as he pushes a needle into the bottle, “but if you want to keep this omega, you’ll need to be near.”
“Understood.” Jack’s dark eyes fall on my face, and I shy away from him. I feel like such a disappointment.
“We can't forget the vitamins.” The doctor pulls one more bottle out of his bag. This one is white with a ton of tiny words scribbled on the side. “Two a day. Every day.”
Jack nods, tossing both bottles into his bedside drawer.
“This will pinch a bit.” The doctor fills a needle with medicine before stabbing it into my upper arm. I groan as the burning sensation spreads down my arm and across my chest.
The urge to vomit slams into me and I breathe deeply through my mouth.
“Do you remember your omega relations classes from high school?” the doctor asks Jack and the alpha’s expression shifts. He looks annoyed.
“It’s been almost twenty years since high school,” he says flatly. “I don’t remember shit.”
The doctor nods as if that’s understandable. “Lots of touching. Scenting. Make sure he eats frequently. Lots of protein. He should put on weight pretty quickly. Omegas store fat much easier than alphas do,” he quickly adds. “Let his body heal, and his hormones will quickly follow.”
“And you’re sure I can fuck him?” Jack asks, and I pull the blanket over my head. I want to die. “His body isn’t reacting. I don’t want to hurt him.”
“It’ll be good for the boy,” the doctor says confidently, “but I do recommend lots of lube until he starts slicking.”
There’s that word again. Slick . I know my body is supposed to create it, but how does it get out of me? Does it come out like pee? Or more like sweat?
I hate that I don’t know these things.
“And you’ll want to quit smoking,” Dr. Pearson says, and Jack makes an angry noise. “Omegas are very sensitive to all those chemicals. Even smelling it on your clothes isn’t good for them.”
“Thank you, Pearson,” Jack says, and I hear their footsteps. I risk a peek, lowering the blanket just enough to see the pair next to the door. Jack shakes the doctor’s hand and the beta bows. Then he’s gone, leaving me all alone with Jack.
Scared he’s going to want to touch my privates again, I bring my knees up, trying to shield that part of me.
Go away, I chant inside my head. Leave me alone. Leave me alone.
“Omega.” The blanket is ripped off me, baring every bit of my naked body to the alpha. He looms over me, his dark gaze slipping over my body. He licks his lips as he stares at my bottom. “How the hell did I end up with an omega who hasn’t even touched himself ?”
I’m sure he means something other than bathing, so I keep my mouth shut.
“Omegas really are built different than alphas,” he says, like it’s a joke. He walks across the room, leaving me naked on the center of the bed. “By the time I was your age, I had experienced multiple partners. Men. Women. Alphas and betas.” He opens a door, disappearing into what I assume is a bathroom or a closet, or maybe it’s a bathroom with a closet inside. “How anyone can remain as naive as you are, is beyond me,” he yells from the other room.
I scowl, wanting to tell him I’m not naive. I know plenty of things…just not things having to do with the bedroom. But I guess that’s all that matters to alphas. Maybe this is why Mari warned me to stay away from them—they don’t know anything useful.
“Are you hungry?” Jack asks as he steps back into the room. He changed rather quickly, now wearing a white linen button-up with short sleeves and a pair of tight black slacks.
“Yes, please,” I say, but I’m too scared to move.
“Good.” He places a pair of boxers and a long-sleeved gray shirt on the bed. “These will be too big, but they’ll have to do for now.”
Moving slowly, I push my stiff body off the bed. The shirt swallows me up, falling past my knees and covering my hands. The green-and-black plaid boxers don’t fit much better. They’re loose, hanging off my hips. I’m worried they’ll fall off when I move, but at least the shirt will hide anything if they do.
Jack patiently waits for me next to the bedroom door. Once I’m ready, his eyes trail over my face and down my body. I shift, uncomfortable under his gaze. “Do you need to use the bathroom?” He motions to a door on the other side of the room.
“No.” I stand in front of him, waiting for him to open the door.
The corner of his mouth twitches, and he closes the space between us. I want to back up, but there’s nowhere to go.
“Give me a kiss.” His voice is deeper than before. It makes me shiver despite how warm I am.
I know I can’t refuse. It’ll just anger him—and honestly, the kiss last night wasn’t bad—so I lift up onto my tiptoes and press my mouth to his. Thinking the kiss is over, I slowly lower myself, but Jack follows me, keeping his lips firmly on mine.
The alpha lets out a hungry growl as his hands travel up the full length of my arms. He grips my upper arms hard, holding me to him. I can’t help but notice how much nicer he smells this morning. That gross smoky smell is gone, and now all I can smell is earthy warmth and bright citrus.
“Do you taste as good as you smell?” Jack rumbles against my lips.
“I…uh…” But before I can say anything else, he shocks me by slipping his tongue into my mouth and licking me. It’s a weird sensation. His tongue and mouth are slippery and hot against mine. And he tastes surprisingly good. Warm and spicy with a hint of oranges.
Jack’s hands move, curling around my back and down to my bottom. He squeezes one of my cheeks, making me squeak. It feels kind of wrong like we shouldn’t be doing this. Like it’s inappropriate or forbidden.
“Fuck,” Jack snarls into my mouth as he grips my throat. His scent seems to intensify, and something hard presses against my stomach. All at once, a deep ache cuts through my belly, and I flash hot.
“Please,” I whimper through the kiss.
Jack groans, squeezing my neck ever so gently. It makes my face heat. “Goddammit, you taste amazing.” He breaks the kiss, looking down at me with so much intensity. “You might actually be worth all of this trouble.” He pulls me a little closer by the throat, and I whimper again. The sound makes him smile.
“Come.” He releases me, then turns and opens the bedroom door.
It takes me a few seconds to regain my senses, and I end up having to run to catch up with the alpha. I don’t know how he can strut around like nothing just happened.
We quietly walk down the hallway, cutting one way then another. Soon the hardwood floors change from glossy and sleek to older and worn. The walls are no longer smooth and white, but they’re made of stone.
Are we in a castle?
“Good morning, Mr. Stanley,” an older beta bows as we enter a long dining room.
It’s an impressive space with a high ceiling that has a beam running through it and a large iron chandelier. The table is very long with three place settings and an arrangement of colorful flowers in the center. It’s all so grand, I imagine a king would dine here, surrounded by all his knights and noblemen.
“Sit.” Jack points to a chair next to him as he takes his place at the head of the table.
“I hope you slept well, sir.” A pretty red-haired beta pours him a cup of hot brown liquid. It’s not tea. It must be coffee. I’ve never had it, but I remember my parents drank it when I was little.
“He will have the same breakfast as me,” Jack says to her.
She smiles and nods, giving a pointed look to another member of the staff standing across the room. He nods at her, then vanishes through a small archway next to him.
“Would you like some coffee?” The redhead steps up next to me, holding a black kettle. She’s so lovely. Her shiny hair is pulled back into a bun at the base of her neck. Her eyes are a stunning color of blue, and her cheeks are dusted with freckles of every shape and size. She’s wearing a simple black dress that falls to her knees with sleeves that go down to her elbows. It’s the same dress the other female betas are wearing. The men all wear black suits, buttoned up with matching skinny black ties. It seems a bit formal for serving breakfast.
“Sir?” the pretty beta addresses me, trying to re-capture my attention. “Coffee?”
“I…uh…” I look from her to Jack, not sure if I’m allowed to drink it. He narrows his eyes at me, clearly annoyed I haven’t answered yet.
“He’ll have juice,” Jack says in a sharp tone. Yup. He’s mad.
“Of course.” She bows. “I’ll bring it right away.”
“Lucy,” Jack stops her before she can vanish. “Bring him some fruit too.” His dark eyes slip over my face. “You look like you need all the vitamin C you can get.”
Soon, the pretty beta—Lucy—returns. She’s followed by two other betas, both of them carrying large silver trays.
“Your orange juice, sir.” She places a short glass in front of me. Then she leans down and says, “I added a splash of pineapple juice to it. I hope you like it.” She smiles at me like we’re old friends, and I can’t help but smile too.
I eagerly pick up the glass and take a small sip. The sweet liquid spreads across my tongue, the rush of sugar immediately hitting my veins. “This is amazing,” I gasp, taking another quick sip. While it’s not exactly the same, the flavor reminds me of the kiss Jack gave me upstairs. Just the thought of it makes my cheeks grow hot once again.
Lucy’s smile crinkles the edges of her blue eyes. “I’m glad.” She steps to one side, allowing the two betas to set the trays down—one in front of Jack, and one in front of me.
The amount of food set before me is downright intimidating. There’s a large steak, three shiny eggs, a heap of cubed potatoes, and a big bowl of diced fruit—I recognize the grapes and apples, but there are tiny cubes of something orange I’ve never had before.
“This is a lot,” I whisper in awe. It would take Mari and I a year to collect this much food, but this alpha has it all right here at his fingertips. I turn and look at his striking profile. He’s oblivious to my gaze, cutting up his steak.
I know alphas are scary. Mari always said they were. She’d remind me constantly that they were vicious and violent and couldn’t be trusted. But it seems this alpha is different.
Jack still scares me, but he’s also been so kind to me. He’s given me food and clothes, and he held me all night, keeping me warm.
While I still very much like girls, I think I would be okay with being his mate. It’s been nice so far.
“Omega,” Jack barks, and I jump, startled by his harsh tone. “Eat.”
I pick up my knife and fork, digging in. It’s so hard not to eat like an animal, but I’m starving. I haven’t had a proper meal in days. And even then, it was a handful of berries and a few bites of a small fish Mari had caught.
Taking small, measured bites, I try everything. The meat tastes better than anything we cooked in the woods, and the potatoes are crisp along the edges and soft inside. The fruit is divine, especially the orange cubes. But I avoid the eggs. While I’ve eaten many raw bird eggs over the last two years, I prefer them mixed up. These are somehow both cooked and raw at the same time. The white part is solid, but the yolk jiggles when I poke it with my fork. It’s too weird.
All too quickly, my stomach begins to ache, and I put my fork down.
“Eat more,” Jack says firmly.
“I can’t.” I place a hand over my stomach. I already feel like I’m going to burst.
Jack’s eyes narrow at my barely touched plate. I ate everything I could, but I’ve hardly put a dent in it.
“You are grossly malnourished,” he says so loudly that I flinch. “You need to gain weight.” He leans over, grabbing my forearm. “Omegas shouldn’t bruise like this.” He pulls my sleeve down, revealing dark purple marks on my wrist.
My mouth falls open with shock, and he releases me. I look at my other wrist too, taking in the ugly splotches. They’re clearly from last night. Jack was so strong, forcing my arms above my head as he looked at every forbidden inch of me.
A rush of something… confusing …slips over me. It feels like excitement, but it makes my stomach flex in an almost uncomfortable way.
“Eat,” Jack says again, and I pick up my fork, eager to please him.