“What?” I splutter in confusion.
“Sex,” he whispers, so quietly that I only just hear him.
Oh. That… that feels like daggers to the heart. A thousand thoughts swarm my mind, chased by every emotion I’ve ever known. It is hard to acknowledge that despite his tendency for cold-blooded murder, he is still a young omega. One I threw into heat, took his virginity and knotted.
My chest hurts and I can’t breathe for a moment.
“I’m not sleeping with you ever again, because you want to kill me. Earlier, was a one-off heat emergency,” I clarify.
I can give him that much at least. I can’t bring myself to tell him that sex with him was incredible but I can’t let him believe he was so terrible at it I never want to go there again.
“Oh,” he says softly.
We lie in silence. The only thing I can hear is his breathing. It’s not slowing down. I know he is exhausted. I’ve told him I’m not going to ravish him again, and it seems like he believes me.
“Go to sleep!” I order.
“I can’t do it on command!” he snaps.
I sigh heavily. That is fair enough and there is not a lot I can do about it. I wait for a long time for him to drift off. Sleep is pulling at me but I can’t submit while he is awake next to me. It wouldn’t be safe.
“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you sleeping?” I ask.
Are the cuffs too tight? Is the position too uncomfortable? It has to be something. It has been a long eventful night, he should be sleeping like the dead.
“It’s so soft,” he says quietly.
“What is?”
“The bed.”
It’s just a perfectly normal bed. If anything, it’s probably a little on the firm side. What on earth is he on about?
“I’ve never been on one before,” he says.
What the fuck? Is that some sort of Hunter macho bullshit? Beds make you weak, so everyone sleeps on the floor? I’ve never heard anything so ridiculous.
With a growl, I uncuff him and shove him off the bed. I throw the duvet at him and then violently beat my pillows into a more comfortable shape. By the time I finish and lie still, I can tell by his breathing that he is fast asleep.
Something about that upsets me but I’m far too tired to ponder it. Instead, I close my eyes and finally let sleep claim me.
Chapter six
CallumandFitzareglaring at each other and I can’t help feeling a little proud. Alpha is an intimidating man. My omega certainly has balls. The thought makes me wince. He is not my anything.
The glare-off continues and I’m glad the three of us are alone in Callum’s workshop. If others were here to witness Fitz’s defiance, Alpha would have to do something about it, and for some reason that thought makes me uncomfortable.
As it is, Alpha can just let Fitz’s refusal to answer any questions about his collar slide. If he wants to. I swallow dryly.
I add my glare to Callum’s, as if I can will Fitz to behave himself. But I find myself caught by his appearance instead. The omega should look ridiculous in my clothes. They are far too big for him. The black tee shirt is like a dress and the sweat pants have been rolled up at his waist and at the end of his legs. I had to fetch his shoes from my car as any of mine would be like clown shoes on him. The sight of his tatty and battered sneakers is jarring, but overall, I think he looks adorable. I like seeing him in my clothes and it’s the most ridiculous thought I have ever had.
“We will take it off and Jake can examine it,” says Callum.
I am the resident magic weaver I suppose, but I don’t really want to have anything to do with the collar. I don’t care what it is, how it works or who created it. I just want it off of Fitz’s neck. The sooner the better. Though at the rate this stand off is going, it’s never going to happen. I’m going to be standing here forever.
It’s shady and quiet in the workshop. Tools hang on the walls and scents of leather, metal and engine oil permeate the air. Beams of sunlight drift in between the wooden slats of the walls. We are a little way from the pack house but faint noises from the pack going about their day still drift over. The main noise is bird song. It would be peaceful if it wasn’t for the increasing tension.
“Kneel and place your head on the anvil,” orders alpha. Seems like he is giving up on his questions. I feel bad for feeling relieved. My loyalty should not be conflicted.
