"How are you not hungry, Omega?" I ask, trying to keep my tone far away from accusatory. Honestly, I should give a hundred shits less about her food intake right now, but I'm practically vibrating with the need to take care of this infuriating woman.
Then she does the one thing that I cannotstand—she shrugs.
"Bullshit!" I hiss and stand to pace. "Your health fucking matters. Do you want to die so badly that you'll do anything to make it happen? What iswrongwith you?"
In the back of my mind, I knew not to sayanyof that but I did anyway, and I'm about to figure out what this tiny omega looks like when she'spissed.
Twenty-Nine
Vivian
What is wrong with me? What is wrong with me?
So many things, I want to tell him. So many things that if he knew he'd probably stop trying so damn hard to fix me. That's what he's doing...Trying to fix me. He doesn't like what he sees so he's trying to bend me to what he believes is normal.
My upper lip twitches and my right ear pops. I know what's coming, and judging by the wide-eyed look on Riot's face he knows too.
Climbing to my feet, I match his posture—stiff and ready to fight. The pain in my ribs and head doesn't exist. All I know is anger and total bafflement.
Who isheto say those things to me? I'm just trying to fucking survive as well as I know how without my pack here to help me.
Vibrations in my chest tell me I'm growling, and my face feels warm as tears coat my cheeks. I feel like I'm falling apart at the seams, unable to control myself. The trembling of his tether seeps into my bones until I feel like I'm seething with frustration.
He's full and I accepted it. Why can't he just accept the fucking fact that I'm not hungry either? I can't speak to him and I don't know him.
To question the most basic parts of me, then point out howwrongI am makes me want to curl into a ball and sink into the bonds of my mates so I can feelsomethinggood.
Yet, here I am, overwhelmed with the need to stand off with a man I barely know. I can give the guards a dead stare and ignore them enough to keep my dignity and sanity, but Riot's testing me.
Why is he testing me?
"Okay, Firefly..." he whispers, coming close to me even as a drop of drool slips from my canine. "I'm sorry."
A hiss slips through my lips, chilling my teeth and gums. Tiny pinpricks of pain scatter across my palms, and my neck cracks.
"You're hurting yourself," Riot murmurs, voice tight, staring down at my hands. "Please stop."
Why does he care so much if I'm hurting myself? If he would just leave me alone to be the total fuck up of an omega everyone believes I am, then he wouldn't be so upset all the damn time.
"I'm not upset," he says.Is he reading my mind?"I'm scared, alright? My only goal in my whole life is to protect people. For the first time, I'm completely failing my only fucking job."
Anguish slams into me from behind, and I find myself taking a step toward him. My lip drops to cover my teeth, and somehow Riot and I manage to take a deep breath at the same time.
For a moment, I feel his tether hug my bicep. I've refused to let him go just as he's refused to let me endure this hell on my own.
"Come here, little Omega," he whispers, dropping down onto his ass near the bars.
The calming wash of my deep breath paired with the nickname that makes me want to break down and sob, sends me to my knees a foot away from him. He seems better now, making it easier to let the anger slip away.
"I'm sorry I said those things." Riot looks pained, and guilt immediately sits heavy in my chest. This is hard for him too, yet here I am snapping and snarling at my only ally—the only person who cares enough to feed me and make sure I'm alive.
"I don't think anything is wrong with you," he continues and drags a hand through his greasy black hair. "Idowonder why you're mute, where your pack is, why you aren't eating, and seem to match my energy. But those are questions for another time, huh?"
All I can do is nod. His comment about matching energies is interesting, though. Is it possible his feelings are influencing me through the bond? Or is his dominance so strong and near that it's sending my omega into a tizzy every time he has a moment of heightened emotions.
"I want to know your name."
Shocked, I look up at him and realize I was zoning out at the ground and catch sight of my bare stomach. I've since lost the will to shield my bare body and shoulders in this place, but I do blush each time I remember I'm only in a bra and jeans.
