He made a move to find the fantasy section, but a strong hand on his shoulder stilled him.
Crixen leaned in and said, "30 minutes."
"Okay," he muttered, his attention on his target. The warrior let go and he briskly headed for the books.
He was delighted to find that the library carried the Enchanted Forest Chronicles. He piled the books into his arms and kept an eye out for anything else that might catch his attention. As he walked up and down the aisles, he stacked more books, feeling as if he'd won a lottery. He found a section displaying the latest hottest releases and grabbed as many he could.
"Ten books, no more," Crixen said quietly.
Throwing him a scowl, Reed grabbed another.
"Ten or nothing," he said sternly. "You have no library card and no identification to get one. So, if you want anything, you'll do as I say."
"Fine," he huffed and set his pile of books on the table. The Enchanted Forest Chronicles went right into the check-out stack. As he scrutinized over which books he wanted, the warrior returned to the Librarian's desk. He watched as Crixen handed over some identification and filled out an application.
Why would he go through all that trouble for me? He didn't want to examine that thought right now. He struggled over the last book to add to his 10-limit pile. He decided on a thriller by some famous author he was sure he'd heard of before. The memories of his life before Raze was slowly returning.
"Have you decided?" Crixen inquired.
He nodded, eying the rejected pile. "I should put these back."
"You do that, and I'll check out. Meet me in the SUV," the warrior said, taking the stack of books.
Reed blinked at Crixen wide-eyed as he headed for the desk. The warrior never left him alone. Even at Sanctuary, when he couldn't see him, he knew Crixen was close by. Even if he took the opportunity to run, he wouldn't get far and when he was captured, the consequences would be dire. Solemnly, he returned the rejected books to their proper places.
The drive back to Sanctuary was peaceful. His nose was firmly planted in the first book of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles. Every now and then he snuck a glance at Crixen. The alpha was focused on driving, his steely gaze on the road. The hard lines of his face were loose as if he were relaxed. Reed had to admit that he was handsome.
By the time they got back to Sanctuary, it was evening, the sun sliding into the western sky. Rex was in the backyard, barbecuing while the omegas played in the pool. Crixen commanded some of the other warriors to help bring all the bags up to Reed's room. They obeyed quickly, leaving Reed under the assumption that Crixen was a high-ranking member. Reed had never considered him anything other than his captor, but after today, he couldn't help seeing him in a new light. Of course, Crixen wasn't babysitting him because he found it enjoyable.
When everything was in his room, he started going through the bags, happy to fill his dresser drawers with clothes that were his. Crixen took his seat in the corner and picked up a book. He stayed that way while Reed organized his clothes, endless shopping bags scattering everywhere.
"This doesn't make any sense. How do you kill a wizard with soapy water?" Crixen asked, scowling at the book, his lip curling over his teeth.
"It's fantasy," Reed said.
"It's stupid," he countered and set the book on a table. "Childish and silly."
"So, you're saying that you're boring?"
"I'm realistic." The warrior plopped his boots on the ottoman and leaned against the chair. He closed his eyes and sighed.
Reed stared at the alpha. He'd grown used to having him around and waking up next to him. He was annoying but had become a permanent fixture in Reed's life. He hadn't needed to take me shopping or to the library. As he ran his eyes all over the warrior's buff form, he accepted that Crixen hadn't been cruel to him in the way Raze had. In fact, he'd been quite kind. He was living in a damned mansion, was provided three delicious meals a day and had nothing but clean air and sunshine to absorb. Compared to the last ten years of his life, he had it pretty damned good right now.
And he was a constant ass to the warrior.
Scanning all the empty bags, full drawers and scattered books, Reed figured he should be thankful. Things could absolutely be worse. He could still be a victim of Raze, subjected to his whim and made to sleep on a cold, hard ground. The warriors had freed him from a miserable existence, but Crixen... he'd taken something from him. He should not feel gratitude.
He's not that bad. The words bounced around his brain, making him scowl. He stole from me!
He let the T-shirt in his hand flutter to the bed and turned to Crixen. He was a big and strong alpha, his bulk stretching the black long sleeve the warriors normally wore. He had a lot of muscle under that cloth, the rise and fall of his body like endless hills and valleys that Reed suddenly wanted to explore. He'd despised serving Raze but Crixen was different. He could serve him and would likely enjoy it.
The fact that he wanted to, sealed the deal.
Biting his lip, he approached and slid to his knees in front of Crixen. He seemed not to notice. With a shaky hand, Reed skimmed his palm up the alpha's thigh, the denim warm from his body heat.
Crixen jerked awake and glared at him. "What are you doing?"
Reed didn't say anything. His actions should speak for themselves. He pushed his hand further north until he hit the significant bulge in the male's pants. Crixen shot up and growled. "I've no patience for your games. Are you done putting your shit away?"
He wasn't sure why the alpha wasn't cooperating. Seeing his opportunity, Reed pushed his hand under Crixen's shirt, feeling nothing but rock-hard abs and smooth, hot skin.
"I told you--" His words ended in a surprised rush of breath.
That was exactly what Reed was looking for. He pressed his face into the alpha's crotch and licked along his length, cloaked in denim. It was a promise of intent. He found that he really wanted to please this alpha.
"I said no!" Crixen snarled and pushed Reed away. His eyes were on fire, the rage and disapproval hitting Reed hard.
He fell on his ass, but the blow was nothing compared to the chill that gripped his heart. Disapproval from an alpha was a hard thing to digest. He cloaked his hurt with anger, scowling at the male, though it was hard to hold his eyes. He grabbed the book Crixen had been reading and rushed for the bathroom.
Chapter 6
Crixen cursed under his breath. As Reed slammed the bathroom door behind him, he'd realized too late what he'd done.
Reed had been trying to show gratitude in the only way he knew how. The heartbreaking look he'd given him when he'd fallen back on his behind was enough the shatter Crixen's armor and penetrate his heart. It was nice to know he still had one. This troublesome omega had awoken something within him that had been slumbering for over a century and it was throwing him off balance.
I shouldn't have pushed him. There was a million different things he could have done. He should have pulled Reed to his feet and explain that offering sexual favors wasn't necessary.
Dragging a hand through his hair, he knocked on the door. "I'm hungry. Let's go downstairs and get something to eat. I bet Rex has cooked up a masterpiece."
"Don't let me stop you," Reed said, his voice cracking.
Balling his fists, Crixen looked around for something to hit. He was angry with himself for not realizing sooner that Reed was trying to thank him. Having never dealt with a situation like this before, he returned to his chair in the corner and mulled over what to do. The obvious answer was to apologize and explain that Reed was not required to offer blowjobs in exchange for goods and services. He'd never apologized for anything, however and was unsure of how to go about it. That and his pride got in the way.
As time passed and Reed remained sequestered in the bathroom, Crixen pondered hard and deep. He'd been so concerned about the omega's intentions and rehabilitation, that he hadn't considered what Reed had gone through. It didn't take a genius to guess at what an omega might h
ave to do to survive in a wildblood pack. Angry with himself for not seeing the obvious, Crixen paced back and forth, wishing Reed would come out so he could explain his actions, and assure Reed that living here would be nothing like living under Raze's rule.
Truth was, he wasn't good at this stuff. He'd buried his emotions long ago under the Band-aid of hunting and murdering shifter-kind's enemies. Emotions tended to compromise and in his line of work, he needed to be hard and cold.
But something leaked through a crack and squeezed his heart. He needed Reed to know he was safe here and was not obligated to do anything.
Crixen tried the knob, surprised to find that it wasn't locked. He peeked in and found Reed lying in the bathtub, holding an open book against his chest as if it were precious. He was sleeping soundly, his breath steady and even. His brows were knitted, suggesting he wasn't at peace.
With a sigh, Crixen scooped him up and took him back into the bedroom. He couldn't help studying the omega, noting the soft planes of his face and the light spattering of freckles across his nose. The full lips of his mouth was curious to Crixen in a way he'd never experienced before. His encounter with arousal had been confined to slipping his blades into his enemies' bodies.
He set Reed in the bed, pulled his shoes off and whipped the blanket over him. He left the room quietly, not wanting to wake him up. The moment he was out of the bedroom, Crixen realized he was aroused, his cock semi erect. What the fuck? Closing his eyes, he focused on his energy, his wolf's fur brushing against the back of his skin. His balance returned and he descended the stairs.
As he headed toward the back of the mansion, a plan formed in his mind. The kitchen was littered with plates and condiments and food half-eaten, all scattered about.
He spotted an omega standing by the counter and inquired, "Have you seen Cullan or Loren?"
"They're out back, the last I saw. There is still plenty of ribs to go around if you want any," he said, his gaze lowered. Crixen was used to the submission. Most omegas seemed to fear him, and he supposed he hadn't given them reason not to. Reed was the only one that dared look him in the eyes, a fact that his beast found strangely enticing.
Crixen nodded to him and burst outside. The backyard was a disaster. Rex was happily barbecuing away in his pink apron, the guy looking like he was in fucking heaven. Most of the omegas that had been in the pool were now enjoying their dinner.
He spotted Loren sitting next to Cullan on a set of lawn chairs. He navigated garbage and strewn clothes and floating pool devices, the donut squeaking as he accidently stepped on it. "I need to speak to you two in private."
"Uh oh," Cullan said as he got up, looking bashful.
"It will be cleaned up by morning," Loren said, collecting some garbage into a pile. "I promise. It's always like this in the summer. We make a mess, but in the morning we clean everything up together better than the day it was before."
"I don't care about that," he said, avoiding a splash.
"No swimming for an hour after you eat!" Cullan yelled.
"That's an old wives' tale," the omega shouted back.
Crixen had to hand it to the alpha for putting up with this nonsense. If it were him, he'd dish out a bit of discipline. But that was why he'd chosen this alpha for the position of running Sanctuary. Despite Cullan's skill at killing, he was remarkably kind and gentle. Some of the omegas in Sanctuary had been through rough times. That and he didn't think he'd ever be able to peel Cullan away from Loren. He was surprised the alpha hadn't taken him to mate yet. Perhaps, he saw himself as a big brother considering it was him that found the omega all those years ago, emaciated and injured.
Cullan led him around the side to a private area.
"It's the nice weather," Cullan said with a chuckle. "Heightens everyone's mood."
Crixen steamrolled over him, wanting to get to the heart of the matter. "I've rethought the situation with our guest. He needs a friend, not an interrogator. Someone that might understand what he went through. I don't think I need to tell you what living with an alpha wildblood pack might have been like for him."
"Shit," Cullan murmured and rubbed the back of his neck. "It's not something I like to think about."
"A support system," Loren clarified, looking far too cheery.
"Exactly." A shout drew his attention and he lowered his tone. "Which is why I'm relinquishing him to you. Do with him, what you will."
The two gaped at each other. Cullan inquired, "So, you no longer consider him a threat?"
Oh, he's a threat alright. To me. "Threat, no? But watch him closely none the less."
"You still don't know who he is or if he has any family?" Loren asked softly, his gaze dimming. "He didn't learn to speak on his own. He obviously came from somewhere."
"The Magistrate is still working on that."
"Well," Loren said. "He'll always have a place here if he needs it. I know someone who can help, who as you say, may know what he went through. I'll go find him!"
The omega was gone before Crixen could say something. He looked to Cullan who seemed amused. "Is he always like that?"
"Yeah, he has a habit of outshining the sun," he said, his lips arching up into a private smile as he watched the omega race away. Oh, that was no big-brotherly love.
"Cullan, are you smitten with him?" Crixen asked plainly.
"What?" He hardened his expression and cleared his throat. "No, of course not."
Uh huh. "In any case, I'm taking my leave. If anything eventful happens, call."
"Forgive me, High Guard," Cullan started. "But you only just realized that Reed needed a softer hand?"
Blowing out a big breath, Crixen shook his head. "I'm good at killing shit, not soothing emotional wounds."
The alpha nodded in understanding. "Don't worry. He will be fine."
Crixen said nothing as he headed toward the car barn. He needed to get back to normality. Everything had been perfect before Reed had walked into his life and stirred shit up. Returning to the Magistrate's Keep would do him good, he had no doubt.
Chapter 7
Reed frowned as he left his bedroom dressed in his new clothes. The fresh cloth was nice against his skin, and the rock band T-shirt made him feel a little more like himself. He looked down the halls of the mansion, surprised by the silence of the place. The past few days had been nothing but pool parties and barbecues.
"The omega makes a splash, then throws a summer bash..."
Balancing his stack of books, he headed down the grand staircase. The television in the parlor was dark, and the couches empty. He guessed the omegas had slept outside again. He set the books on a table in the foyer and tiptoed into the parlor, afraid to shatter the strange silence of the place. It was utterly empty. The sound of clinking kitchen utensils drew him in.
Rex was at the counter, pouring over a notebook. When he noticed Reed, he smiled. "You're up earlier than usual."
"You're always up it seems," Reed said, looking around. The counter next to the sink was loaded with recently washed dishes drying on towels. "Did you wash dishes all night or something?"
The alpha chuckled. "Something like that. I like quiet mornings like these, though they're becoming rare. Gives me time to get my recipes together."
"For your bakery?"
"Yep." After a long moment, Rex asked, "Are you okay? You look lost."
"I'm just wondering where my shadow went?"
"Did you try asking Wendy?" Rex abandoned his notebook and erected his spine. "Crixen has returned to the Magistrate's Keep. You're now under the supervision of Cullan and Loren. He didn't tell you?"
"So... he's gone?" He frowned at his own words. He'd gotten so used to waking up with the warrior and eating with him. Heck, they practically bathed together. The alpha's absence was... life-altering especially since he had begun to find a balance to his new life. He should be glad Crixen was gone, but... he wasn't, and he didn't know how to feel about that.
"For now. He comes and goes when he wishes,"
Rex said, stroking his chin as he opened the notebook again. "Mostly he sits in the barracks dishing out orders. You won't see him again anytime soon, so don't worry."
"He lives at the Magistrate's Keep?" he rasped, his throat suddenly dry. The one permanent fixture in his life had suddenly been yanked out. Who would he purposely annoy and pester now?
Rex chuckled. "He didn't tell you that he is High Guard, either, huh?"
"Is that title supposed to mean something to me?"
"High Guard is the highest position in the Ro'an. He literally commands the entire organization," Rex said.
Reed figured the alpha was in a top position judging by the way he liked to order the other warriors around, but he never imagined Crixen was the leader of the damned Ro'an. He should hate him all the more, but all Reed felt was... abandonment.
Stop it. Crixen is an asshole. Glancing behind him, he considered his words. "He said when I was done reading my books, I could return them for new ones."
"You're done already?" Rex inquired. "That was fast. I can take you if you'd like. Or, I'm sure Loren wouldn't mind."
"Oh, okay..." He was so conflicted by the strange thoughts running through his mind. A big part of him rejoiced at the warrior's absence, but another part wept. He didn't understand it. He tried reasoning that Crixen was no different than any other alpha, and only a step above Raze, but that little voice in his head was having none of it.
He saved me from Raze. He gave me a nice place to live... He bought me clothes and borrowed books for me...
Rex made a sound of contemplation and stroked his chin. "But that doesn't seem to make you happy."
"What?" He'd been so lost in his thoughts, he hadn't realized that he was standing in the middle of the kitchen with a blank look on his face.
To Take and Hold(Omegaverse Shifter Romance) (shifter fever Book 2) Page 3