I nodded. “Yes, Alpha. I’ve been keeping safe all along. I’ll be fine.”
He looked away, shoulders tense. When he turned back towards me, his lips were pressed together in a thin line. He didn’t lookpleased. His Adam’s apple bobbed. The fabric of his shirt rustled as he slid his hand into his pocket.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly, scrunching up his face in a grimace. “I hate this, but…”
He started to pull his hand out of his pocket, then hesitated. I frowned, wondering what was about to happen. What could be bothering him so?
I watched the splendid muscles of his chest stretch the fabric of his shirt, right in front of my face, as he breathed in seeming to come to a decision. I was distracted by the way the fabric stretched tight over his nipples and I didn’t see when he pulled his hand out of his pocket.
“It’s entirely up to you,” he murmured, not meeting my eyes. “But this might keep you safe, if you chose to wear it.”
My eyes flicked to his hand, widening when I saw what he was holding.
“I’m sorry,” he said again. “You don’t have to wear it. But Zarbius told his crew not to touch the omega wearing it. I’d told him I wanted to be exclusive. But like I said, it’s up to you. It’s all I can offer to help keep you safe while I’m gone.” His jaw snapped shut after this rambling, an unhappy look casting a shadow over his handsome face.
“It’s not to insult or demean you,” his whispered words sounded so regretful, I felt sorry for him.
I looked at the object in his hand. A collar. Not a fancy one either. Not a new one. There were creases where the leather was cracked and peeling. There might have been dog hair caught in the buckle. Or maybe it was wolf hair. Or not. It didn’t matter.All I could think of was ‘exclusive’, the word running through my head over and over.
“Would you want to?” I dared a quick look at him through the straggly strands of my overlong fringe, knowing I could hide if I didn’t like his answer.
“Want to what?”
“Be exclusive… with me?”
“Of course. Yes! If you want that too.”
“Then yes, I’ll wear it, if you put it on.” The corner of my mouth curved up in a small, private grin. I’m sure there was a little sparkle in my eye, and even if he couldn’t see it, I couldfeelit. Icouldnurture that kernel of hope, after all.
I offered him my neck and Agelius leaned forward, his fingers warm where they brushed against my skin. The cool of the metal buckle contrasted sharply with the warmth of his touch. The collar itself was soft enough, and it wasn’t heavy. It fit snuggly around my neck – enough to remind me it was there, and whose I was, but not so tight it was uncomfortable.
Agelius smiled his wide smile, his perfect white teeth dazzling me. Was there anything not perfect about this man?
“Thank you,” he said. Then with a sigh, pulled me off the bed into his arms, cradling me close, his body hot against mine. I could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my chest, felt the warmth of his breath on my head.
Today there were worse things than being an omega.
Chapter 19
AGELIUS
Tosca, though shy and self-effacing, had a very high sex drive once he let himself go. Whether or not he truly believed I wanted him as my omega, he seemed to have decided that he was going to make the most of the situation. He was loud in the bedroom, and I had to keep reminding him to make it sound like he wasn’t enjoying himself, and that I was hurting him.
He even got right into that, lying on the bed cursing me and screaming and begging for mercy, even as I sucked his cock or fucked his hole until he was on the point of coming, his cheeky grin showing me how much he enjoyed our little subterfuge.
When we were done, I walked him back to the omega house. He limped bravely beside me, the little scoundrel, really playing up the injuries I’d supposedly given him. His acting skills were a little too good, and the omegas that opened the door for him, were all wide-eyes and worry lines. He turned to me and flashed me the briefest of grins before turning back and staggering into the omega house.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sharkey hanging around, talking to a couple of betas. They were leaning against the shedwhere Irian had previously been held captive, and occasionally cast glances in my direction. As Tosca disappeared into the safety of the omega house and the door closed behind him, I snarled, in a voice loud enough to carry to a shifter’s sensitive ears, “You better do better next time or it’ll go even worse for you!”, thumping my fist on the door for emphasis, before stalking over to Sharkey.
“Come on. Let’s go,” I told him.
Sharkey smirked, knowingly. “Having trouble with your worthless omega?”
I ignored his attitude, and asked, “Where do we dump our clothes?”
Sharkey made a strange grunting sound, probably annoyed he wasn’t getting a rise out of me. Pushing away from the corrugated iron shed wall, he flicked his head to the door. “In there.”
“Come on then. Let’s do this.”
