Clearing my throat, I think fast.
“We have a stock of uniforms in the staff room,” I offer.
The omega bites her lip, her face lighting up briefly before her hands drop to her hoodie. I take in the familiar logo, with a lightness in my chest. She’s wearing Axel’s clothes.
And he gave her his favorite sweatshirt.
“Laundry facilities too,” I add, stepping into the kitchen. Her fingers clench around the little duffle bag she’s carrying.
I lead her through the kitchen into the offices, ignoring the eyes on us from my team. Nobody says anything, but the questioning silence feels heavy all the same. Veronica in particular is eyeing me where she sits with a wide-eyed Ella.
Her shoulders are hunched when I turn around.
“They’re a good bunch,” I say quietly. I’ve worked very hard to build a team I can trust. “But if you get any trouble, you let me know.”
Taking her into the staff area, I point out the break room, the cloakroom where we keep the uniforms, and the laundry area. She absorbs the information quietly, head cocked, hands fiddling with the edge of her dark braid.
I throw my hand towards the back of the corridor. “Shower’s over there.”
Blue eyes dart to me, the longing there clear enough to grit my teeth.
“Lots of us use it. There’s a lock on the door, and you’ll find different lotions, conditioner, whatever you need. We all leave things there, so just help yourself.”
Pointing her towards the cloakroom, I jab my finger towards my own office. “Take whatever uniform might fit you, and don’t rush. I’ll be in here, just walk on in. Okay? I mean it. Take your time.”
I emphasize the last few words as I take a step away. The omega just stares at me, and I pause awkwardly. I’ve never dealt with a situation quite like this one. What I’dreallylike to do is take her upstairs, cook her a hot meal, run her a hot, bubbly bath, get her some more of our clothes and make sure she gets some rest. The dark circles under her eyes and her overall condition tell me more than enough about how much rest she’s had recently. Very little, if any at all.
I think she’d probably run screaming though. I massage the ache in my chest with my knuckles. Man, alpha instincts are something else. Having never spent any time around omegas before, it feels like getting hit over the head with something heavy. The physicalneedto soothe her is unsettling.
“You okay? Need something else?” My voice croaks.
She clears her throat.
“Gabrielle,” she whispers. “That’s my name.”
“Gabrielle.”
Tasting the word on my tongue, I nod. It suits her. “Nice to meet you,” I offer with a small smile. I keep my hand to myself, giving her space.
She nods at me, her face drawn and tired as she takes a hesitant step towards the cloakroom, glancing back at me.
“Go on,” I urge. “Whatever you need. We’ve got plenty of supplies and we’re always ordering more.”
I watch as she ducks into the room, the door closing softly behind her.
I’m barely a few steps down the hall before a stifled sound rubs me the wrong way, my back drawing ramrod straight. Frowning, I turn around and retrace my steps, listening carefully.
The quiet sobbing is muffled, and my heart thumps against my chest as I retrace my steps and knock quietly on the door.
There’s no answer.
I wait for approximately half a second before my hand flashes to the handle and I ease it open.
Gabrielle looks up at me from where she sits in the middle of the hard-wearing carpet, her face tear-stained and full lips trembling as she frantically tries to wipe under her eyes. The bag of food sits in her lap.
“So-sorry,” she hiccups. “I was just – just—,”
A lump appears in my throat as I take her in. Crossing the floor between us, I sink down on my haunches in front of her.
