One. Two. Three.
Anything to keep from slipping under again.
You’re safe now.”
Safe. I didn’t know what to do with that word.
Omegas were never safe. Not from the Alphas that ruled the world. I learned that lesson a few years ago.
I stayed under the water until the shaking eased enough that I could breathe without feeling like I was going to break apart. Slowly, carefully, I pushed myself upright.
I had to move. Evander said to meet him in the kitchen.
Orders I could follow.
Because orders were easier than trying to figure out what to do on my own.
I turned off the water, listening to the sudden silence settle around me like a weight. My hands were still trembling, but I managed to dry off, dress in a set of clothes that were set on the counter and leave the bathroom.
One breath. One step. One moment at a time.
I could come back to myself later.
Right now, I just had to stay present enough to walk down the hall. Stay present enough to follow orders and be whatever type of Omega this Alpha wanted.
If he wanted me on my knees sucking his cock for hours, then I happily would. If he wanted me to spread out on his dinner table while he ate food, then so be it. If he wanted me bent over the couch while he tore release from me, then I’d drift away while he did so.
But I would take it. Because there was nothing else but to do as the Alpha wanted.
It’s what years oflearningwere for. Years of training to be the perfect, obedient little Omega to make any Alpha happy at any given time.
And I hated the entire idea of it.
It made my skin crawl as though a million little bugs were crawling all over me.
The hallway felt too long. Every step towards the kitchen made my heartbeat louder, like my body was warning me I was walking into something I wasn’t prepared for. The clothes felt strange against my skin, soft and smooth. Nothing like the stiffuniforms I used to wear. I couldn’t help but tug at the hem of the shirt, trying to make it sit right, trying to makemefit right.
I stopped just outside the kitchen, toes curling against the floor as I tried to steady myself. I didn’t know if I was supposed to announce myself or wait. Or was I standing in a corner until I told otherwise.
I didn’t know the rules, and that was the worst part.
The Alpha stood at the counter, back turned, doing something with a pan. The smell of food drifted through the air. It made my stomach twist in a way I didn’t understand.
He turned slightly, just enough to see me from the corner of his eyes. His expression softened. Like he was relieved, I followed his orders.
“Hey,” he said quietly. “You made it.”
I swallowed hard, unsure what to do with the words. I stepped inside, slow and careful, keeping close to the wall. My hands stayed clasped in front of me, fingers digging into each other to keep them from shaking.
I didn’t know where to stand, or even where to kneel. The Alpha noticed, of course he did. He sat the pan aside and wiped his hands on a towel, turning fully towards me.
“You can sit,” he nodded towards the round table. “Anywhere you want.”
Anywhere.
The word hit me like a physical thing.
I hesitated, waiting for the catch, the correction, the real instruction. When none came, I moved to the nearest chair and perched on the edge of it, spine straight, hands folded tight in my lap.
