Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
~Harlow~
Every fiber of my being burns and aches with heat, yet the lust-filled haze gradually lifts and I am finally able to take in my surroundings.
The last thing I remember was seeing Thane standing over me.
Stretching out like a cat, I yawn. My body aches and the fever is still there.
My scent is potent; I am still in the throes of heat.
That, however, isn't what makes me stiffen.
It is the warm bodies pressed against my front and back as I move.
Their heat makes my eyes fly open and I sit up, startled.
Glancing around my surroundings, I find Raidon crammed against my back and Leon tugging me closer as he sleeps.
Horror washes over me as I look down at my bosses.
Oh, please tell me I didn't fuck them. My eyes trail over their clothed bodies before noticing how very damn naked I am. I am as naked as the day I was born. Reaching over, I snatch a pillow, trying to cover up some of my nudity. I’m near tempted to strip Leon out of his shirt, just to cover up, yet the thought of waking him also makes me cringe.
I swallow—my throat feels scratchy and raw.
I look around, trying to figure out where I am.
I’m not back at the shitty apartment I was evicted from, and I’m not behind the dumpster at the plaza where I’d been sleeping.
Or the loading docks at work. Based on the overwhelming smell of my bosses, I have to be at their mansion.
However, I don't remember noticing a room like this last time I was here.
When I manage to move from between the two bodies that are pressed against me, pain washes over me, and I fight the urge to drop back between them so I can keep their skin pressed against mine.
I’m not na?ve. I know Omegas need Alphas to lessen their heat, yet I’m not about to snuggle with my bosses for it.
Especially these assholes, who despise me and all Omegas.
They treat me like I actually did kill Thane's mother, and his pet guinea pig when he was a boy.
His hate for Omegas is unwarranted and unfathomable to me.
As I glance down at Leon, he instantly rolls toward his mate. I step over Raidon, avoiding Leon's rolling body, only to step on someone else. They grunt and quickly move, making me lose my footing, and I stumble backward before landing on them.
"Fuck," Rhen wheezes, as I crash on top of him.
I quickly scramble off, backing away. I wait for his attack, only to realize he is clutching his family jewels, which I must have stepped on.
He glares at me, and I yelp, scrambling for cushions to cover my nakedness.
"Kind of pointless, don't you think? I’ve seen you naked already," he groans, rubbing his crotch and sitting up. He looks over at his sleeping mates and I glance around, wondering where Thane is. Usually, where one is, they all are. Yet I couldn't see him anywhere in the vast room.
"Where am I?" I stammer, moving closer to the outer edge of what appears to be an enormous bed, set into the floor.
"Our Den," Rhen says before lifting a hand over his head and tugging his shirt off. He tosses it to me, and I quickly pull it on, turning as I do, giving him only a slight view of my ass.
This is embarrassing, damn embarrassing; I reek of them and them me. "What happened… We didn't… um…" My eyes dart to Raidon, who is in his briefs, and Leon is still fully dressed.
"No, and you would feel if we did," Rhen answers my question.
I let out a breath of relief. That would have made the workplace awkward.
And Thane would definitely fire me if I had fucked one of his mates.
Well, technically our mates. They just aren't aware of who I really am, especially to them.
Turning, I move to the ledge and start to climb out, when Rhen speaks again.
"Where are you going?"
"Home," I answer. Though I would hardly call the loading docks home. My makeshift little Den behind the shelves isn't nearly as comfy as this place. I would think, however, that me climbing out of the sunken bed would be pretty self-explanatory as an attempt to escape from them.
"Get back in bed. You're still in heat," he growls.
"I'm good. I feel okay," I tell him. I climb out, having to dig my feet into the walls to haul myself up.
Every instinct tells me to go back to them, tells me I need them.
Yet, I can't have them; they aren't mine.
Thane has made that abundantly clear. Besides, I need my job more than I need an Alpha, so I won't risk being fired by giving into temptation.
"Get back in the Den!" Rhen commands. My body feels the jolt of his aura instantly, making me freeze.
"The moment you step out those doors, you will have a target on your back. Until your heat abates, you will remain here," Rhen snarls.
I try to fight his command, when I suddenly feel his hand grip the back of his shirt I'm wearing. The air leaves my lungs in a whoosh as I’m ripped backward, falling onto the soft, cushioned bed with a soft thump.
"Thane said you are to stay here until your heat is over. Therefore, you remain here," Rhen snaps, glaring down at me.
I swallow. So, Thane knows I’m here. I’m sure he’s plotting my murder already. That’s probably where he is: digging my grave.
Rhen rolls away from me, and I look at Raidon.
He’s stirring, and I know he will wake soon.
I can't stay here. It’s one thing to tolerate them at work, but I don't want to spend any more time around them than I have to.
That comes with far too many risks. Like them figuring out who I am; them commanding me; me becoming Leon's personal juice box, or dead.
Yeah, the alternatives sound really fucking appealing.
"Where is Thane?" I ask nervously, and Rhen growls.
"He left because you're here," he tells me, climbing out of the Den. His words make me feel like an intruder, and the harsh tone makes my stomach sink.
"Wait here," he says, storming up the stairs. His feet sound loud in the quiet room. When the door opens, I welcome the draft. Goosebumps raise on my flesh and the cloud of their scents eases a little, although not much, because another wave of heat rushes through me.