Ten
“And you can stay in here for now, until we get your nest reset.”
I was so close to stepping into the room. So close to having a lockable door between me and all the alphaholes that are now under the impression that they can control my life. “No thank you on the used nest offer.”
I spin and walk into the room, but they ruin the peace by, you guessed it, opening their gods damn mouths.
“Does being a difficult omega run in the family? Because I’ve got to say, you and your sister are more alike than I originally thought. I thought omegas liked nests.”
To be fair, it’s mostly Moon that’s ruining everything at the moment, but when I narrow my eyes at the rest of them, I decide they are just as guilty as he is, I just can’t prove it.
“Compare me to that bitch again and I will fucking stab you in the thigh with the dullest-tined fork I can find. You get me? I definitely don’t have the medical training to avoid any important arteries, either.
“You some kind of omega expert? You think you know what we need?” I close in on him, enjoying the slight underpainting of panic hiding behind his eyes and cocky face that I’m trying to pretend I don’t want to sit on.
“If you want to stand here high and mighty and tell me what I need right now, then you should know, alpha, that nests are the most personal thing an omega can assemble, and offering an omega that’s been through nothing but trauma, a previously-fucked-in and desecrated nest that belonged to the very woman that thrilled in stealing her scent matches from her and rubbing it in her face, then there’s nothing I can do to fix you, you dumb shit.
Talk to me with fucking respect or don’t talk to me at all.
I prefer that option anyway if we’re voting. ”
Somebody snickers at my tongue lashing, but I’m quick to suss them out as well.
I stalk towards the alpha that’s been hanging out at the back of the pack all day, with his big, wavy shoulder length rockstar hair and stupid leather jacket, smelling like black teakwood and sophistication, and make him my next target. “Find me funny, alpha?”
He clears his throat but doesn’t change position. He’s leaning against the door jamb, arms crossed like he never got enough hugs as a child.
“I’ve nearly died, got kidnapped, poked, and prodded, and now I’m being subjected to cruel and unusual punishment in the form of listening to all of you stupid fucks talk to me like you know what’s best for me.
If you want to laugh, laugh at the situation you clearly superior beings have gotten yourself into, because I am not an easy omega to try and tame. ”
“Gotta love an omega that talks dirty,” the soon-to-be-dead man says. I’m pretty sure his name is Monet, but I’m not bothering with names until they learn to play nice.
“Hmm.” I take one step backwards, scanning his body, and then inspiration strikes.
Kneecap, meet alpha dick.
I may be frail and sickly, but the density on my kneecap is just as strong as ever. Gods it’s empowering to watch a whole ass alpha crumple to the ground. “Dirty enough for you?”
The white-haired tattooed giant with the novelty abs carefully steers me backwards, creating distance between me and his packmate. “I want you to know, Fable, that seeing you hand them all their asses is the greatest pleasure I’ve ever known.”
I quirk an eyebrow and meet his face over my shoulder. “Wow. You must be terrible in bed.”
I duck out of his hold and into the room I was offered, staring at Anderson until he walks in with me. Then I lock that fucking door with as much anger as I can muster. The second I’m behind the partition, I nearly collapse into his arms.
“That was impressive, Omega. You ready to be soft for me?”
I nod, letting all the irritation drain and stay in the hallway. “Please don’t give me a reason to ever knee you in the balls, I feel like you have a really nice pair.”
He laughs a warm, rich sound as he carries me into the bathroom. “I don’t know about that, but they’ve always been good to me. Guess I’ll get some feedback from you later, when we’ve reached that point in our relationship.”
“So now we’re in a relationship?” I tease without opening my eyes.
He turns on the shower one-handed and then sets me on the counter of the attached bathroom, framing my hips with his hands. “I’ve only been a vampire for a few months, I know I don’t deserve you. Won’t stop me from taking care of you though. I think I’m on track to becoming parasitic.”
I trace his jawline, his stubble tickling my palms. I’ve always dreamt of what it would be like to have a pack, but those daydreams never involved guys that couldn’t decide if they hated me or loved me. Anderson is so simple to read though, and it’s refreshing.
Beyond the fact that I know he’s a scent match for me as well, and the fact that there’s no negative connotations to his safe woodsy scent, there’s nothing he’s said or done so far that has me retreating. “I think I might be okay with that.”
“Are you going to be okay staying in this house? Honestly? If you want, I can sneak you out when they all fall asleep. Find a way to get back to Trash Haven and my family will protect you in a heartbeat. I’ve got 15 brothers-in-law; I think you’d be pretty damn safe with them.
Plus, I’d be there. I’d like to think that’s a selling point. ”
I shake my head, smiling at the genuine offer. “Your sister was the one there earlier, right? I couldn’t do that to her. I kind of like the idea of forcing these guys to drop everything in their lives and figure shit out for me.”
He leans his forehead against mine, and my eyelashes flutter shut like the helpless omega I can’t be around anyone else. “You going to let them try to win you over?”
I shrug, taking off my top. That shower is definitely mine.
I hold eye contact as I unhook my ill-fitting bra from the front, giving Anderson even more points when he keeps his eyes trained on mine.
His scent spikes and I know for a fact he wants me, but he continues to make me feel worthy of the respect I know I deserve.
“Undecided. Depends on how hard they try, I guess. No definite plans other than they have a warm comfy house I can sleep in and food to feed me and medical care to help me get strong again. When I’m back on my feet, I guess we’ll see where we are.
I don’t really have high hopes that they’ll make me happy, but supposedly miracles happen every day. ”
He snorts, stepping back to pull his own shirt off. He cocks an eyebrow, daring me to say something, but I’m definitely not doing that.
He goes to unsnap his pants, and I have to admit I’m curious. Yes, okay, it’s a double standard, being impressed when he doesn’t immediately look at my nudity only to turn around and drool over his, but I feel like omegas are supposed to be a little hypocritical.
“See something you like?” he asks as he drops all of his clothing to the floor.
“That line, really? Haven’t exactly seen any of these in person before,” I say, indicating towards his junk. His oddly pretty junk.
He takes that in stride, nodding like he already figured that part out. He tests the water temp on his wrist, looks sideways at me, and then cranks the heat up more while muttering to himself under his breath.
When Anderson extends his hand to invite me closer, I don’t stop to wonder why I’m not uncomfortable being naked with somebody I just met.
My omega has been given an alpha she not only tolerates but feels safe with and she’s all in.
It’s such a relief to not have to suppress my behaviors, to just feel an urge to hold him and be allowed to do that.
I know I probably smell quite pungent after everything I’ve been through in the last few days, and I know I’m on a fast countdown to needing to get in bed and sleep again, but I want to hug this alpha, so I do.
I make sure Anderson isn’t pulling away or flinching as I press myself against him, measuring his scent and how rigid his muscles go to make sure I’m not putting him in an uncomfortable situation, but his hands immediately fall to my back, pulling me against him.
It’s almost like he needs the affection as much as I do.
“I can’t lie to you and tell you this isn’t weird, because it is, and it’s probably going to be that way for a while because of my history with your sister, but I want you to know here and now,” and he gently pinches my chin and tilts my head up so he can see into my eyes, “that if I’d met you first, she wouldn’t have even registered on my radar.
Then again, I wouldn’t be a vampire right now either, I suppose… ”
I squeeze him tighter for what he’s lost.
Anderson notices the gooseflesh rising on my body, so he lifts me and carries me into the shower, gently setting me back on my feet, giving me the lions’ share of the steamy water.
“Don’t go feeling sorry for me either, that your sister turned me.
I’m an adult. I went into that relationship with my eyes wide open.
I should have known better than to mess with what I thought was an omega vampire. ”
It’s like knives in my gut imagining my sister with any of these alphas, even if I’m not sure I can stomach being with the rest at this point in time.
I still have questions I need answered so there’s transparency here, though.
“Please tell me she at least made you happy occasionally? I’m not sure I could tolerate it if you were mesmerized by her and miserable the entire time. ”
He shakes his head, reaching over my head to reach for a shampoo bottle. I tip my head back and feel no qualms about baring my throat for him so he can wash my hair for me. I think I could get used to being this type of omega if he’s involved.
Andrson presses a gentle, lingering kiss to the column of my neck before massaging the shampoo into my scalp.
“I think I was happy for periods. Mostly though, I was in it because it was exciting. I don’t even think I really fell for her as a person because I’m not so sure she ever even showed me she was capable of being one.
My sister had just shacked up with my best friends, and I was feeling kind of some way about it, I guess.
Or maybe I met Winslow first, I don’t even remember any more.
“The point is that I was bored with my life, listless in that tiny ass town, and I was looking for a way out. I’ve lived in Trash Haven my entire life, barely travelled out of it. I went looking for something or someone that would shake up the safe life I was leading, and I found it.”
He tips my head back and rinses my scalp, then immediately goes for the conditioner like he actually knows what he’s doing. I don’t need to know why.
“Maybe the goddess only brought your sister into my life though because she wanted me to find you. Does that freak you out? Thinking that the goddess wanted us together?”
I shake my head. “Scent matches are proof to me that the goddess wants good things for us. It’s the people down here that mess it up.
I have no idea what would have happened to me if I met those guys before Winslow did.
Do you…do you think they’d have been good to me?
They’re so jaded by my sister, and I completely get that, but they’re…
I don’t know, mean? For lack of a better term.
Why should I bother with alphas that aren’t kind?
After Winslow…kindness is all I really want in life. ”
“Are you comfortable with me talking to them for you? I feel like I don’t have a real claim here, no reason to really be here aside from the fact that you’re requesting me to be for now, and if you wake up later and are ready to kick me to the curb, then that’s your prerogative; but I feel this… connection to you.
“I’m not too familiar with vampire customs. I have a sort-of friend that helped me through my transition and tried to fill me in on the basics, but there’s so much to understand. I know about the hierarchy though, that turned vamps are the lowest on the ladder, especially newly turned ones like me.
“I know you’re a natural vampire, and that being an omega makes you incredibly special, but if it were up to me? I would ignore all the rules saying I can’t so much as talk to you because our statuses are different.”
He starts washing my body, and I appreciate that he goes about it in an almost clinical manner, making me relax into his soapy hands as they run over and in all of me, using a washcloth to get my skin soft and clean.
“What would you do then, if no one was telling you how you were able to interact with me?”
He’s behind me, scrubbing one spot on my shoulder blade needlessly, deep in thought.
He lifts his head up though and his eyes instantly warm.
“With the risk of scaring you off, I’d tell you my alpha thinks you’re mine, and that I’m not leaving.
I’d tell you I intend to court you and spoil you rotten and then when the time was right, bond you and make a go at being your alpha for real. ”
I start to sway, but he’s there to stabilize me. He makes quick work of lifting me up, wrapping me up in a towel and getting me in bed, where he works on carefully towel drying my hair and braiding it out of my face for me.
He catches me staring and winks. “Sister. She used to have really long hair, and she promised that girls dig guys that can do hair. I hope I’m not proving her wrong?”
I shake my head no and snuggle in, sleep coming for me like a train.
The guys stuffed me earlier with a sandwich full of so much meat that the bread was bursting, and with all the adrenaline for the day running out and finally feeling safe and comfy for the first time maybe ever, sleep is too inviting.
Before I pass out completely though, I reach out a hand and link it with Anderson’s. “Maybe you should ask me anyway.”
He stills, pressing a kiss to my hand. “Ask what, Fable?”
I open one eye just enough to make sure he hears me. “If you can court me. Last I checked, it’s my decision.”
“Is that something you want?”
“Ask me and find out,” I joke, a smile on my face as I drift off.
“Can I court you, Fable?”
“Duh,” I say ineloquently, fading into unconsciousness.