Chapter 47
Chapter Forty-Seven
~Thane~
I watch as Rhen runs his fingers up her spine, waiting for his knot to go down so he can pull out of her. "You wore a condom?" I ask him. He glares, which startles me.
"Yes, Thane," he says, looking down at her. The way he says my name is cold. I tilt my head, watching him, but he doesn't lift his eyes to meet my gaze. Instead, he buries his face in her neck.
Her scent grows weaker, the heat abated.
I watch Raidon place a blanket over her when goosebumps prickle her exposed flesh, before lying beside her.
Rhen rolls on his side, crushing her petite body between them to keep her warm.
Leon moves away and sits on the edge of the pitted Den, his chin resting on his hand as he watches them.
"We can't keep her," I tell them, feeling their longing loud and clear. They want her; they want her to stay.
"Do you not feel the pull to her?" Raidon asks, but he’s looking at Rhen, not me.
I swallow. I feel strange sparks when I touch her. The same ones I feel whenever I touch my mates. But she isn't our mate.
"It doesn't matter what I feel toward her. No Omegas," I tell them.
Rhen growls, and I can feel his sadness. It’s natural for them to want an Omega, but I know it’s only her heat and pheromones that are making us feel this way about her. Leon snarls, getting to his feet. I try to grab his arm as he passes by me, but he pulls away.
"You need to get over Harlow. She isn't here, yet you insist on punishing us," Leon snarls before stomping up the steps and leaving the Den. I sigh and turn back to my other two mates.
"She can stay until we find her a safe place to live, but that's it," I tell them.
"Leon's right, Thane. It’s about time you got over Harlow. We want an Omega. I know you think it's because she was in heat and it’s fucking with us, but packs need Omegas," Rhen says, sweeping her hair from her face.
"Not our pack," I growl.
"It's not just your decision," Raidon says, challenging me. I look to see if he truly wants to fight me on this. They never challenge my decisions, but I can tell they are willing to—for her.
"We don't even know her," I growl.
"She’s an Omega, and they are rare. What does her past matter? I know we could convince her to stay," Rhen says.
"She hates us," I snap at him.
"Because you're a dick to her. She needs an Alpha, and she knows it. With us, she would have four. She would be safe and looked after. Who wouldn't want that?" Raidon asks.
"Harlow didn't," I snarl at him before leaving.
She isn't ours. After Harlow, we all agreed that no Omega would ever join our pack.
How is it possible that only a few weeks around this one would make them change their minds?
I head to my room, passing Leon's on the way.
His door is open, so I pop my head in. I find him on the floor beside his bed with a blood bag in his hands.
"Get out," he snaps, lifting his gaze to mine.
"Leon, we have talked about this."
"No, you talked about it. We never agreed. You made the decision for us and we just accepted it," he growls at me.
He’s wrong. We had all agreed, or so I thought. Am I in denial? Did I just assume they agreed with my decision? They definitely never spoke differently about the choice. Yet, acceptance and agreement are two different things.
"Leon, I—"
"I said get out," Leon growls. I raise my brows at his tone and press my lips in a line. Leon is the youngest of our pack and the most challenging when it comes to keeping him in line. He loves pressing my buttons, just so I will punish him.
Yet this isn't his playful, cheeky side. He’s angry and doesn't want me near him. I swallow and nod, leaving him be. I close his door behind me and move toward my bedroom, which is next to his. Sitting in my room, it suddenly feels cold and lonely in here.
After a few minutes, the silence becomes deafening.
The feelings of hurt coming through our bond is agonizing, so I get dressed and head to the office.
Once again, I don't remember the drive and only become aware of my surroundings when I see the security car pass where I sit in my car in the underground lot. He’s getting ready to close up the building.
I see him pull up behind my car and I climb out.
"What's up?" I ask, wondering what he wants.
"I was actually about to call you,” he says, rolling down his window. “We found something while doing rounds at the loading dock."
My brows furrow in confusion.
"Hop in. I’ll take you around back. We checked the security footage too, and there’s something you might want to see," my security guard tells me. I sigh, retrieving my phone and keys before locking my car.
I climb into the security car with him. He drives slowly, checking the doors as we go and switching the elevators off, before driving out to the loading docks.
He parks just inside the roller doors, and I see another of my security guards in the loft upstairs, looking behind shelving units with a flashlight.
"We found a can of de-scenter in the bin, which we thought was odd since no Omegas work here, except your assistant," he tells me.
"It might be hers. She was back here accepting a dry cleaning delivery for me a few days ago," I tell him.
"Well, we thought the same thing, but then we checked the cameras…" he pauses, and I look at him over the top of the car we just climbed out of.
"She’s been sneaking in after closing. We also found a Den," he tells me. I follow him to the storage room.
"We’ve been looking around, but no sign of her tonight.
According to the security footage, she hasn't snuck in for a couple of days. Do you want me to call the police?" he asks, and I shake my head, before heading into the storage room. It’s faded, but I can still make out her scent. Most likely because I spent the night with her, so I’m accustomed to it.
"No, I will handle it," I tell him.
"Are you sure? I checked the logs. She didn’t show up for work today or yesterday," he tells me, and I growl.
"Yes, because she’s at my house," I tell him, stopping next to a shelf. I sniff the air and look behind it to find the makeshift Den he mentioned.
"Help me move this aside," I tell him. We drag it out far enough that we can both fit in the tight space. There’s one blanket and a few clothes that she used to make her Den, also a backpack. I rummage through it, discovering her wallet and a diary. There’s no cash in there, just some train and bus tickets.
Her fake ID is in the wallet, along with 5 cents.
I chuck it back in the bag before rummaging through the blanket and clothes to find an empty noodle cup and an unopened can of baked beans. Sighing, I start stuffing everything into the bag when I pick up her diary. It is well worn.
My security officer clears his throat. "Boss, I think we need to notify someone.
An Omega can't live on the streets," he says, and I glance at him over my shoulder.
I watch his nostrils flare at her faint scent in the air.
He picks up the blanket and sniffs it. I snatch it away from him, stuffing it in the bag with her diary.
"You do and I will fire you. No one is to know about this," I tell him.
"But what about her situation? I don't mind taking her in, my Alpha won't—"
I freeze, a threatening growl escapes me involuntarily, and he bumps into the shelving.
"I told you. She is at my house. You will not touch my fucking Omega!" I growl, rising to my feet. He holds his hands up in surrender.
"Sorry. I don't mean… I didn't realize you meant she’s yours," he stammers, and I realize what I just said.
Fuck!