Page 17
This was why he loathed alphas. Even if he weren’t on the run from him, Theodore would have still used some sort of suppressor and worn a Coureque neck barrier. He didn’t need some alpha-hole laying claim to him and taking all his choices away. Omega or not, he was a person, damn it.
He had a degree, and patients, and his own thoughts and feelings. In no way was he eager for some bat-crap mate claim to ruin all that. Oh no, his patients … would this insolent brute let him go to the clinic tomorrow?
Technically they were closed for appointments on Sunday and Monday, but he had a room of surgery patients that needed to be checked on. Margarette had explained they typically did surgeries on Wednesdays or Thursdays, but since their regular appointments were backed up, they’d shuffled things around.
Gerald and his sister were spending the night at the clinic to keep an eye on the dog the alpha had mowed over. But Theodore should still go into the clinic and do rounds. If he didn’t show, maybe Gerald would raise the alarm, and someone would find Theodore—eventually. Hopefully before the alpha lost his patience and got violent.
Theodore didn’t have his laptop or phone, so he couldn’t call Gerald or emergency services for help. Would their enforcers come to his rescue? This alpha was one of them, so probably not.
A knock came at the door. Theodore jerked upright and crammed himself in the corner, curling his legs up to his chest and clutching his neck with his hands. The door creaked open, and the alpha poked his head in. If Theodore didn’t know any better, he’d say he looked bashful with his eyes downcast and a red flush painting his cheeks.
“I, umm, I forgot your backpack in the car.” The alpha set the bag down, then frowned at the full plate of food. Rather than commenting on the plate, he sat at the small desk chair and said, “Your cell phone is in there in case you need to call anyone. The ah, clinic is closed tomorrow, right?” Theodore didn’t answer. He simply glared until the alpha continued to babble.
“Right, so, I mentioned before that I’m an enforcer. I haven’t always lived in Elk Cove. I have a decent amount of experience: small towns, cities. I was actually deployed a few times. Once during the Canadian invasion of Mexico in ’52 during the War for the North American Union. So, I’m fairly confident I can keep you safe no matter who’s looking for you, but your pistol is in there. You probably feel better being armed yourself. I get that, just um … don’t shoot me okay?”
Theodore glared. He’d shoot the imbecile if he darned well thought he needed to.
“Ah, so … you can, you know, walk around. There’re movies, some novels, just don’t go outside alone. The bathrooms and pantry are stocked, but if there’s anything specific you want or need, let me know. I don’t want you to feel confined.”
“Why would I feel like that?” Theodore snapped. “Because you kidnapped me!”
“I didn’t—okay, I did, but if you’re running from traffickers, it’s going to be a lot easier for me to keep you safe here than at that cabin. And like I said, I have alpha neighbors, some that share a wall. They’ll help keep you safe too.”
Theodore narrowed his eyes. Once an alpha scented their mate, they were typically overbearing morons who only thought with their genitalia. They’d attack and posture at any alpha that got near their omega. This wasn’t adding up.
“Why are you being so … logical right now?” Theodore asked. “Aside from the kidnapping, that is.”
“My best guess is the suppressor you’re taking,” the alpha said. “It’s not normal over-the-counter suppressor, is it? Yeah, that’s what I thought. I know you’re my mate, but I can’t scent you properly. You’re taking the suppressors to hide from the traffickers, aren’t you? And the alpha birth control?”
Theodore turned away from the alpha.
“Isn’t that dangerous?” the alpha asked. “I mean, there have to be some negative side effects for an omega taking alpha pills.”
“What’s it to you?” Theodore snapped. “You just want me to stop taking them so you can scent me and get your alpha dick on.”
The alpha frowned. “I won’t lie, it would be nice to be able to scent you, but I can’t force you to stop using them. That’s not even what this is about—I would never force you to mate with me—omegas have the right to reject—you’re hurting yourself.”
“And what, you’d rather be the one to do that?”
The alpha sighed and rubbed his brow line. “Okay, let’s try a different approach.”
“A different approach?!” Theodore screeched. “You kidnapped me! All I know is some wolf alpha—who apparently is battle-hardened—has stalked me, broke into my home, attacked me, and kidnapped me. I don’t even know your name. And you’re dense enough to just now think you need a different approach?”
Chapter ten
Royce
Well fuck.
When Doc laid it out like that, he had a point. The suppressors may have held off his mating frenzy, but that didn’t mean Royce was going about any of this properly. Someone seriously needed to teach a class on this shit.
The only things he’d ever been taught were survival and tactical skills. It was drilled into you day and night to be good, behave, protect your home, and cherish your omega. But no one had thought to give them any fucking specifics.
Well, maybe your parents were the ones who were supposed to do that when you started puberty, and Royce had missed out on those lessons growing up in the group homes.
Now he was crashing and burning. Meanwhile, the doctor was curled into a ball on his spare bed, looking both terrified and livid. Sitting in this proximity, Royce had the first chance to really look at him. He had pouting lips. His eyes were a warm and vivid brown with flecks of green. His skin was a cool olive; his thick black hair was impeccably combed and looked like it would be soft to the touch.
Royce wanted to know what the doctor would look like with mussed hair and flushed skin, his glasses askew, and those pouty lips kiss-swollen. He shook that image from his thoughts before he could get carried away.
