Chapter 15

She was lying in the room next to me, and I normally wouldn’t care much; this isn’t the first person that Mother decided she wanted to ‘save’ that slept in that room. But it was the first person who openly killed someone. The Xiomara I knew was a tough girl. I would give her that. No, she wasn’t a coward despite what Xavier and Gideon say. Especially that delicious detail of her taking a life. Not any life but the life of her abusive father. I wanted to pick her brain, but would she allow that?

Honestly, probably not. She hadn’t left the guest bedroom since she got here. Mother has taken soup and light foods into the room, but I had yet to actually see her since the last day of school. But I would probably do anything to hear how she did it and what was the thing that set her off. I would love to see how the event changed her if it even did.

There had been times when I’d thought about killing someone. Not out of frustration or anger but curiosity. But I never really planned it out before. Nor did I want to do it on a whim. There were too many variables to consider. Plus, I didn’t want to kill someone indirectly. Oh no, the knowledge of me ending the life of someone wasn’t what I was only interested in. I was far more interested in how they pass. Would I choose a method that would keep them screaming for hours? Would I decide to find the perfect herb to entice them to stay awake during the entire process? Or would I make it quick?

Catching myself licking my lips, I re-focused my thoughts on the girl behind the door. She was the closest thing I had to my little daydreams. She was in my reach, and it was troubling how much I needed to constantly control the urges to enter her room unannounced. Like now.

Could I go in with the pretense of a summer assignment question? Ah, but I doubt she has had the time to think about that yet.

Maybe I could ask if she needs anything. It had been a few hours since Mother entered, so perhaps I could offer her a form of entertainment. A book in my collection might be of interest.

Just as I was about to give in and knock on her door to offer her something, I heard the sound of her whimpering, and pleasure crept up my spine as I smirked. What a perfect excuse, a nightmare. Maybe it would be about the incident, and I could ask her more about it. What a thoughtful gesture.

Opening the door without knocking, the first thing I noticed was that the blinds and curtains were completely shut making it practically pitch black. The second thing I noticed was she was curled underneath the covers in a lump. The third and last thing I noticed was the uneaten breakfast sitting on the nightstand.

I strolled into the room slowly, taking my time walking to the lamp next to the bed. Turning it on, I sat at the edge of the bed so I could reach over and gently stroke her shoulder.

She jumped back slightly, violently pushed the covers over her face, and took in the sight of me. Her face relaxed slightly once she realized it was me before hardening. But what was more interesting was the scent that greeted me full force when she did uncover herself.

Lily of the Valley and vanilla.

I didn’t even know my eyes were closed until she cleared her throat. With unabashed ease, my eyelids lifted to a mere sliver, and I favored her with a smug grin. Her face heated gradually until it turned a cherry red, and she started squirming.

She took the pillow she wasn’t laying on and slammed it in my face.

“What are you doing in here?” She asked, her voice full of heat and steel.

Chuckling, I said, “I heard you having a nightmare. I wanted to wake you up, and I thought you might want something to read or to get some fresh air.”

Taking another deep breath, not even trying to hide that I did. “I didn’t know you were an omega.”

She smelled delicious, but the grey undertone to her skin caught my attention—at least my alpha’s attention. Frowning, my alpha did not like her complexion in the slightest. It demanded sunshine, food, and water.

“If I had it my way, no one would know now,” she grumbled. She tried to cover her face with the blanket again, but I wasn’t ready to leave her alone just yet, and my alpha was right: She needed care. I tugged the blanket out of her grip, ignoring her squawk. Rocking off the bed, I scooped her up and brought her with me. Adjusting my grip on her so I was holding her thighs, and back, I tucked her head under my chin.

My alpha was practically purring at holding such a sweet omega so close like this.

“Stop! What are you doing?” she screamed, trying to get me to let go of her by squirming and pushing me away.

“You need air. You can nest again once you’ve scented the great outdoors. You also need to eat. Don’t try to tell me you don’t; I’ve seen the uneaten breakfast tray. It’s almost lunch anyway.”

I’m glad Mother wasn’t home because I don’t think she would ever let me forget that I held an omega like a brute. Opening the door to the back patio, I was glad the sun was out. The summer heat hadn’t quite set in yet so there was a cool breeze that countered the warm sun. I set her on the bench swing, taking care to wrap her in a throw blanket Mother had forgotten to take in the night prior.

“Stay here. I’ll be right back,” I said, but she was already lost in thought, staring in the distance into the garden.

Navigating the kitchen, I thought grilled cheese and lemon water would be a good snack for me and an easy meal for her.

When I was finished putting everything together, I headed back outside to see her in the same position with the same expression. Frowning, I put the food and drink on the coffee table in front of the bench and sat beside her.

Instinct had me moving to bring her to sit on my lap while I rubbed my face over the side of her face and neck. She gave a little protest but almost immediately melted into me, causing a rumbling purr to soothe her further.

No other omega had ever made me this protective before, at least no omega outside of my mother. Never mind protection; I didn’t think I ever noticed someone like this before. Deep within me I also knew that I probably won’t notice someone else after this either.

I thought I would always reject the idea of having a mate, a rutting partner perhaps, but never would I have thought I would take a mate willingly. But purring as I rocked this little slip of a girl, my arms tightened around her. She was a strong little thing. She took no shit, she was brilliant, and she killed.

I wanted to ruin her just as much as I wanted her to burrow deep within me and grow roots. I wanted to wind her up and watch her go. I wanted her thighs to squeeze my head in place as I made her come hard on my fingers and into my mouth. Above all, I wanted to smell what her scent did when she was happy.

It was at this moment that I realized that even though this was the first time I’d actually seen her, I wanted her, and I wanted her to want me.

“Come, I need you to eat something,” I said, moving her so she would still be glued to my side but in an upright position so she wouldn’t choke on her food. I reached for a sandwich piece before bringing it to her mouth, watching her accept the food from my hands and take a bite. She made no move to grab the food either, and the pleasure emitting from my alpha would have made me come if I was already hard. Shifting in my seat, I sat entranced as her little pink mouth wrapped around the corner of the sandwich, taking another bite.

While she was chewing, I placed the sandwich back on the plate and grabbed the iced lemon water. Bringing the straw to her lips, I couldn’t stop the groan from leaving as I watched her swallow mouthful after mouthful of the chilled beverage.

Oh yeah, I’m so fucked.