“Shi has a way with words, huh?” Abbott says, amusement in his tone. “Good night everyone.”
My cock has a hard time settling down, but I manage to fall asleep a few minutes later.
ABBOTT
Bellamy looks a little nervous as he walks into the art school next to me. Could he go alone? Maybe, but I need to make sure everything is above board here.
I will not be lax in my protection of my omega to give him a sense of privacy. Ineedthis, and Bellamy seems fine with it.
My finger links in his nonchalantly to give myself an anchor. I don’t know why this is so hard for me. Actually, that’s a lie. We just dismantled a scheme to kidnap him back into fucking sex trafficking.
Yes, I’m going to be on edge.
“Hello, may I help you?” the woman at the reception desk asks.
“I’m Beau Duvall’s new apprentice,” Bellamy says, head held high and making great eye contact. “He’s expecting me.”
Fuck yes he is.
“Oh yes,” she says brightly. “My name is Sheila. I’ll go tell him you’re here.”
Once she leaves, I lean toward Bellamy. “You have your phone, and can message or call me for anything,” I remind him.
His bag is against his hip, and holds his favorite paint brushes, lunch, a refillable water bottle, and a smoothie. His appetite is slowly growing, and since he’ll be here all day, I want to make sure he’ll be able to snack as he works.
“I do,” he drawls, lips twitching as his body presses against mine.
I think the puppy pile in our pack bed helped to break the ice. Or maybe it was my fucking Winter’s face while the pack made her come? Either way, it’s nice to see him showing affection.
“Bellamy,” Beau greets him with a smile, his eyes moving to see me as well. “Mr. Tremaine. Would you like a tour, sir?”
Ah, so he knows exactly why I’m here. True alphas don’t simply drop their omegas off and walk away. Our protective natures won’t allow us to.
Too much shit has happened to Bellamy for me to not ensure he’s safe here.
“Yes, please,” I say, my lips curving into a decent suggestion of a smile. I don’t want to appear too friendly. Beau and I aren’t friends, but I appreciate that he understands his place in society.
I’m not being shitty, this is simply the way things are. If I’m too nice, the threat no longer serves its purpose.
Beau walks me through the art school, showing high end classrooms, good lighting, and an outdoor courtyard for the students to enjoy.
“Artists often forget to come up for air,” Beau explains. “We have a bell that goes off once every two hours for them to stretch, eat, etc. However, this is not an invitation to misunderstand why that exists. They can take as many breaks as is necessary. I’ve had students work themselves into passing out, and that’s why the bell system now exists.”
Bellamy nods as if it makes perfect sense, so I let it be.
“This is your space,” Beau says. It’s a small room on the second floor of the building. There’s good sunlight shining through the windows, an easel set up, a desk, and art supplies. “I have several commissions for you to choose from. This isn’t a test, Bellamy. Any one of the options is a good one, because there must be soul in art.”
“I can choose?” Bellamy asks, surprised. “I figured I’d just be assigned something.”
I continue to listen to them while I walk around the small room, my hand in my pocket to find the surveillance device I have there. I want eyes and ears on my omega as much as possible. To say I’m paranoid is an understatement.
How am I to allow my omega to fly if I’m having a meltdown the entire time? No, it just won’t do. I meant it when I told Bellamy and Winter that I won’t control them. They’re free to live their lives, make their own decisions, even if they’re not what I’d choose.
Leaning against a wall, I press my fingers against it at a height that will allow me to see all angles of the room. I brought several in case I needed them. Shi will make sure the camera is working, and it’s so small, no one will notice it either.
“Do you have any questions for me, Mr. Tremaine?” Beau asks, turning to me.
Happy with the fact that the camera won’t fall when I step away from the wall, I shake my head.
