“Making you his omega.”
Dylan stumbled, and Freia grabbed him under his arms and helped him up so that he was steady.
“It wouldn’t?”
Freia shook her head, letting go of him long enough to open the bedroom door and then supporting him again as she walked him across the threshold.
“No.” Freia sat him down on the bed and went over to his suitcase to get him something to wear. “Your scent would have been irresistible to him if you were compatible enough to become his omega. From what Steve tells me, he barely paid you any attention until he got it in his head that he was going to use you to punish Marcus and to prevent Steve from leaving.”
She picked out a t-shirt, boxers, and a new pair of pajama bottoms that August had bought him but that he’d never worn, and brought them over.
“Thank you,” Dylan mumbled, pulling on the t-shirt. He put the boxers and pajamas on the bed next to him, not wanting to take off his towel and put them on until he was alone.
Steve’s mother had seen enough of his naked body to last a lifetime. He was grateful that she’d helped him, but he didn’t want to expose himself any more than he already had. If that was irrational, then Dylan didn’t care.
“I’ll be right back with your Gatorade.”
Freia slipped out of the room, and Dylan used the opportunity to unwrap the towel from around his waist and pull on the boxers. He was slow, his fingers clumsy, and there was a throbbing pain in the back of his head that he somehow hadn’t really noticed until he bent down to put on the boxers.
John hadn’t just bitten him. He’d shaken him like a dog shaking a chew toy, and Dylan’s head had been violently knocked into the floor enough times that he probably had a concussion. He reached back and felt his scalp, finding a tender bump at the back of his head.
The way the room kept spinning might not be just because of blood loss. He’d have to tell August that he’d hit his head. He was a doctor, so he’d know what he needed to look out for.
Dylan had just managed to pull on the pajama bottoms when Freia knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Dylan said.
“I have your drink,” Freia said, walking into the bedroom while unscrewing the cap of a blue bottle of Gatorade and handing it to him. Dylan didn’t really drink sports or energy drinks, so he had no idea what kind of flavor blue was. He lifted the bottle to his lips and took a sip.
He’d forgotten how thin Gatorade tasted. The watery flavor wasn’t one he usually liked, but right now it tasted like heaven. He took another gulp, tilting the bottle up and drinking as fast as he could.
“I’ll go get you another one,” Freia said, nodding approvingly at the way he was downing the bottle. “I’ll be right back.”
This time she came back much quicker, and Dylan realized that the last time she’d waited for him to get his clothes on before knocking.
“Thank you,” Dylan said, taking the second bottle. He wasn’t thirsty any more, but he should probably try to drink it.
“Will you be okay by yourself?”
Dylan nodded.
“I’m going to go deal with my ex-husband’s body, and then I’ll go wait in the foyer for Marcus and the pack to come back. Do you want me to explain to Steve and your mates what happened, or would you like to do so yourself?”
Dylan swallowed. “Can you tell them?”
Freia nodded. “I will.” She walked up to the bed and fluffed the pillows. “Try to get some rest. I know it seems awful now, but it will be okay. I promise.”
Dylan nodded, not trusting himself to speak over the lump that had suddenly taken up residence in his throat.
Freia rubbed his back, and then when he didn’t have a breakdown, she nodded to herself and walked out of the room.
Dylan sat on the edge of the mattress, hunched forward and clutching his bottle of Gatorade, and waited for his mates to come home.
49
STEVE
The game of tag was winding down when Steve finally found the time to get a moment alone with his brother. Marcus had climbed up on a bluff, giving him a good view of the lake where the younger alphas had started building a massive snowman. They were being led by their cousin Brock, and Steve reminded himself to introduce Dylan to the movie star before they left. It wouldn’t make up for being kidnapped and forced to join Steve’s pack, but hopefully he’d think it was cool.
