Chapter Three
Benjamin was surprised the Omega slept, but then some people could sleep anywhere. Lewis had that talent. Sam pulled into the parking lot of the motel as the sun was sinking towards the horizon.
“What now?”
“Go get us a room. Pay cash. I’ll keep an eye on sleeping beauty here.”
Sam nodded, stepping out of the car and heading for the dingy door marked ‘Reception’.
While he was gone, Benjamin took some time to really look at the Omega. There wasn’t all that much to see. The Omega’s face was tucked in the crook of his elbow, his curly brown hair the most visible part of his head. His hands and feet were filthy but unremarkable. He couldn’t see what was under the clothes he wore but not much, he guessed, given the Omega’s slight build. So far, he hadn’t gotten a good look at the Omega’s face or even a glimpse of his eyes. And he didn’t want to. Things were messy enough already, didn’t need to go adding something like an Omega to the situation. Like throwing a grenade into the middle of a gunfight. Everyone got hurt. Plus, if this guy was helping Harvey, he was one sick puppy.
Sam was back within minutes. Ben stepped out of the car and Sam tossed him a room key.
“We’re gonna need some supplies. Are you okay to get him into the room while I shop?” Sam asked.
“I can handle him,” Ben replied, glad he didn’t have to add shopping to his list for that day. He walked around to the other side of the car, opened the door, and reached in, shaking the Omega’s shoulder.
“Wake up, Omega,” he added gruffly, though the younger wolf was awake at the first touch of Ben’s hand, flinching beneath his grip.
“I don’t want any trouble,” Ben said softly, a hint of steel in his voice. He was conscious there were people around, prying eyes. “You’re gonna get up and follow me to our room. You don't talk, you don't run, or you will regret it. Do you understand me?”
To his surprise, the Omega nodded once; a jerky, graceless movement.
“Good. Let’s go.” He released the Omega’s seatbelt and stepped back to let him exit the car.
The Omega followed closely as they crossed the motel car park to their room. Ben unlocked the door and gestured for the younger man to precede him into the room, then followed him inside and shut the door. There were two single beds and a fold-out cot in the corner. At the back of the room, a darkened doorway led to the bathroom. He stalked across the room to the cot, conscious of the Omega’s eyes tracking his movements. He unfolded it and stepped back. “This is yours. Sit down and don’t move unless I tell you to.”
As he stepped back, the Omega crossed the room and took a seat at the edge of the cot, his eyes on the floor. Ben had intended on taking the bed nearest the door for himself, like always, until he realized that would put Sam between him and the Omega. And though it was irrational and senseless, he didn’t like that idea, not one bit. So he sat himself down on the bed nearest the fold-out cot and waited.
The time ticked by slowly, the Omega silent and unmoving. Ben’s keen senses could hear his quiet breathing and the fast thump of his heart. He heard Sam’s footsteps before he got near the door and had it open for him. Sam had two full bags in his arms.
“What did you do, buy out the off-license?” Benjamin joked as Sam set the bags down on the dressing table. Sam shook his head, thrusting one bag into Ben’s arm. “Nu-uh. It’s for him.” He jerked his head at the Omega with a look that told Ben that Sam expected him to deal with it.
With raised eyebrows, he looked through the contents of the bag. Clothes, shower gel, shampoo, razor, even footwear.
“Him looking like that is just going to draw more attention,” Sam added in an undertone when Ben shot him a questioning look.
Sighing, Ben took the razor out of the bag and sat it on the dresser then strode towards the bathroom.
“You, with me,” he said to the Omega as he passed. He heard the motel room door open and close as Sam left again. Where was he off to now?
He was two steps into the bathroom when he realized the problem. A large window just above the cistern, big enough for someone the Omega’s size to climb out. Well, there was no way in hell he was chasing this guy through the local trailer parks all night.
He heard soft footsteps behind him as the Omega entered the room. Rooting through the bag, he pulled out the shampoo, shower gel and wash cloth and thrust them into the Omega’s surprised hands.
“Clean up.”
He went to stand by the door, leaving it slightly ajar. When he heard no further movement, he turned his head into the bathroom. The Omega stood frozen next to the shower.
“Get in the shower,” he growled, “and don’t even think about going out that window.”
He turned his head to see Sam coming back into the motel room. He carried a green box in his hands, instantly recognizable. Though they rarely had cause to use it, their first aid kit was always well stocked.
Sam handed it to him, Ben rolling his eyes as he took it. They were shifters, they healed almost any injury, and they rarely got infections. A first aid kit was overkill.
There was noise inside the bathroom as the shower turned on, the shampoo and soap were set down and clothes were shed. He peered in to make sure the Omega was doing as he’d asked.
“Fuck.” The Omega froze at his words as Ben took a step into the room, eying the body laid bare before him.
He strode to the counter and set down the first aid box.
“Get in the shower. Wash up,” he snapped, as he opened the box and started pulling out antiseptic and bandages, keeping his eyes focused on his hands and away from the pitiful excuse for a werewolf standing by the shower.
The Omega was filthy, skin covered in dirt and grime. And he was emaciated, ribs standing out starkly. Beneath the dirt were cuts and sores. The splash of water told him the Omega was in the shower. A sound at the bathroom door drew his attention. Sam stood there, eyes glancing between Ben and the Omega.
“How’d you know?” Ben asked him. What little skin he’d been able to see with the Omega clothed was unmarked.
“There was a lot of blood in that basement. And he looked thin under those clothes. Underweight shifters don’t heal fast.”
“I knew he’d be trouble,” Ben groused, turning back to the first aid kit. He glanced over at the shower, the water draining down the plug hole was brown from the dirt. Beneath the dirt, where it wasn’t marred by bruises or cuts, the Omega’s skin was pale.
The shower shut off.
“No. Wash again,” he called over his shoulder. The water turned back on.
At least he could follow instructions. That made things easier.
“That’s enough. Get out,” he said eventually. The silence in the room was deafening as the water shut off.
He turned to look over his shoulder as the Omega stepped out of the shower and onto the mat, face turned to the floor. He caught the towel Ben threw to him but made no move to use it.
“Dry off,” Ben said, not keeping the frustration from his voice. Would he have to talk him through every little thing?
As the Omega did as he was told, Ben got a better look at his injuries. His wrists and ankles had deep sores from ligatures. There were bruises scattered across his body. The worst of it was from his shoulders down to the backs of his thighs. He wasn’t sure what would have made those kinds of marks. A knife? Harvey was as much of a sick bastard as he’d expected.
“Come on over here,” he said finally.
The Omega crept towards him, towel clutched in his hands covering his front. He stopped in front of Ben, eyes trained on the floor.
“Alright. Lose the towel, turn around and put your hands either side of the sink.” He’d clean the cuts on his back first, see how bad they were. Sam could stitch them if necessary.
The Omega let the towel fall and jerked to face the counter, placing his hands either side of the sink and leaning over.
Ben soaked a handful of cotton balls in antiseptic
.
“So, this is gonna sting…” he started to say, turning back towards the Omega only to pause mid-sentence.
The Omega was bent over, head right down and hands clinging tightly to the edge of the sink. His whole body trembled. Holding that posture wasn’t what Ben had intended, plus it had to hurt. When he put a hand on the Omega’s shoulder to straighten him, the younger wolf flinched, a whimper passing his lips. What the hell did he think Ben was going do?
“I need to clean these wounds. Clean wounds heal cleanly. Dirty wounds heal slow and they can scar.” As the shifter's body repeatedly tried to heal, the dirt in the wound would force the newly healed skin to reopen again and again. Eventually, it left its mark.
The Omega didn’t acknowledge his words and Ben ran a hand across his face in wordless frustration.
“Okay. Let’s take this one step at a time.” The Omega could follow instructions, so Ben would just give more of them.
“Lift your body up a bit, keep your elbows straight. Rest your hips against the counter edge.”
That put the Omega in a better position, less strained.
“Now, I need to clean out these wounds. It’s gonna hurt. Just try and stay still.”
The Omega didn’t react to his words. Ben couldn’t see his face, his chin tucked close to his chest.
“Can you lift your head up?” Curiosity got the better of Ben finally.
The younger wolf did, slowly, eyes still downcast. Ben got his first good look at the Omega’s face through his reflection in the mirror. A bruised cheek and jawline. Then his eyes flickered upwards for a moment and Ben got a clear look at them. Blue eyes met his through the mirror, widening when their gazes locked before the Omega closed his eyes and forced his gaze downward, a shudder wracking his body.
Benjamin felt his own body react, the pace of his heart picking up, his hearing and scenting sharpening almost imperceptibly; his wolf taking notice. This man beside him was something different. Something interesting.
He shook his head, dispelling the notion that his mind had become caught on. Time was ticking by.
“Okay, so like I said, this is gonna sting. If you need a break at any point, just say so.”
He worked quickly and methodically. Starting at the Omega’s shoulders and working downward. As he disinfected each welt and cut, he marveled at how still and quiet the Omega remained. He knew it had to hurt. Could hear and feel the race of the Omega’s pulse and see the sheen of sweat across his skin.
There was a moment when curiosity almost got the better of him as he worked on the cuts that criss-crossed the Omega’s buttocks. What lay between those cheeks? It had been so long since anyone had seen an Omega, and the stories about them were more fanciful than factual. He placed his fingers either side, about to pry them apart to look, just for a second, when the Omega moved, flattening his upper body against the sink again and spreading his legs.
Ben let go, jerking back. “No. No, you don’t have to… I wasn’t going to…” The Omega was frozen in place, his whole body tensed.
“It’s okay,” Ben said finally. “Shift back up again and I’ll finish cleaning your wounds.”
It took a few moments before the words seemed to filter through and then the Omega was pushing himself up, bracing his arms against the edges of the sink again.
“Good. That’s good.” The praise was unconsciously given but the effect was positive, some of the tension easing from the body beside him.
Ben got back to work, finishing up the last of the cuts that stretched down the Omega’s thighs, stopping just above the back of his knees. He got the Omega to turn around, working on the scattered contusions across his chest and stomach.
“Okay, wrists and ankles next, so I need you to sit up on the counter.” He moved the first aid kit to the closed toilet seat as the Omega slowly hoisted himself up onto the counter, wincing. Ben regretted his instruction a moment later. The pressure had to hurt those newly cleaned wounds. While the new position afforded him easy access to hands and feet, it also gave him a clearer view of the Omega’s groin. Some of the old stories said that Omegas had tiny or misshapen genitals but his looked average. He could just about see the birthmark that all Omega were born with, hidden near the crease of his inner thigh. The Omega clearly knew what he was looking at, one hand hovering as if he wanted to cover himself but was afraid to.
Benjamin busied himself getting more antiseptic and cotton wool. “Let’s start with those wrists.”
He held the Omega’s hand out and bent his head to get a better look at the wrist wound. It was deep, and ugly, the skin much abused by whatever had been used to chain him. There was dirt encased deep in the wound.
The Omega still hadn’t uttered a word. Ben was starting to wonder if he could.
“This will probably hurt worse than the others. If it gets too much, clench your fist and I’ll give you a break, okay?” There was the slightest of nods in response.
He bent his head as he worked, attention on the task at hand. A few minutes passed before he realized the Omega’s posture had changed. Head no longer bent, he seemed to be taking advantage of Ben’s distraction to observe him. When Ben glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, his head immediately dropped again, eyes on his lap.
Chapter Four
When the Alpha bent him over the sink, Adam assumed he’d be taken then and there, dominated and shown without a doubt the Alpha’s intention to mate and bond him. Instead, the Alpha changed his position, raising his upper body. Their eyes met in the mirror, just for a moment, but Adam knew his place, dropping his gaze as quickly as he could, heart racing in his chest.
The Alpha didn’t seem angry so much as curious. And he was true to his word, cleaning Adam’s wounds thoroughly. Until he reached the wounds on Adam’s backside. His fingers lingered and Adam knew what would come next, flattening his body down in submission. But the Alpha’s reaction was the opposite to what he expected, his hands leaving Adam’s body, words of reassurance tumbling from his lips. It didn’t reassure Adam all that much. If it wasn’t him, it would be someone else. Probably someone worse.
The Alpha resumed his work, moving on to cleanse the marks on Adam’s wrists and ankles. He was absorbed in his work and Adam distracted himself from the pain by observing him when he wasn’t watching. The Alpha was younger than Harvey, he was taller, and his shoulders were broader. A tattoo snaked around his upper arm. A few times he caught Adam looking, but no reprimand followed.
Adam had been surprised at first, being told to shower, twice, and now having his wounds tended to, but it made sense. If they planned to sell him, they’d want him clean and healthy, not filthy and scarred. They might even feed him up a bit. His stomach was beginning to sink inward, his muscles wasting. It took effort to hold his head up. The Alpha bandaged the wounds on his wrists and ankles and did the same to a few of the cuts on his back.
“Well, the good news is, no stitches needed. But you may still have some scarring. Might need a Pack medic to check them over.” The Alpha seemed to be talking to himself as much as to Adam. He disappeared into the main room, returning a minute later.
“Here,” he said, settling down a razor and some shaving foam beside the sink. “I assume you know how to use those.” Though as he spoke he eyed Adam’s face doubtfully, the Omega conscious of the patchy stubble across his chin. The Alpha moved back, giving Adam space. It was hard at first, his hands shaking, but the stubble was just one more irritation he was glad to be rid of.
He replaced the razor on the counter and waited for the Alpha to notice him. He did, seconds later, turning back towards Adam. Whatever he saw seemed to annoy him, as his posture and toned shifted abruptly and he stepped back towards the door. Grabbing the bag that sat on the floor, he thrust it towards Adam.
“Take it,” he said, shaking the bag. Adam clasped his hand around it.
“They’re clothes,” the Alpha added, with a huff of annoyance. “Get dressed and come outside.”
And he left the bathroom, leaving the door open.
They were clothes. A t-shirt, socks, boxers, and a pair of sweatpants. And some flip-flops. Adam couldn’t remember the last time he’d worn shoes. He dressed, pulling the string tightly on the pants to secure them around his waist and ignoring how loosely the t-shirt covered his frame. Foregoing the shoes, he padded out into the room. Both wolves watched as he stepped out.
Sam, nearest the door, was eating from a white carton. Ben, the other Alpha, stood at the table, opening other white cartons. He waved Adam over.
“There’s food. Rice and chicken. Soup. Water. Eat what you want. Don’t make yourself sick.” Picking up a carton, he sank down onto the second bed and started eating.
Adam peered at the remaining cartons. His stomach was a ball of nerves. He wasn’t sure he could eat, even if he wanted to. But the smell of chicken was enticing, and despite himself, his stomach growled.
“Stop staring at it. Pick something and eat,” the Alpha snapped.
“Ben…” the other wolf began to speak.
“Don’t you start,” Ben said.
Adam picked up a carton of rice and chicken, grabbed a plastic fork, and sat down on the pull-out bed. Now that his stomach had woken up, he was ravenous. He ate a forkful, then a second, chewing and swallowing rapidly.
“Hey, slow down. You’ll make yourself sick,” Sam cautioned. Adam froze at his words, fork clenched in his hand.
“He didn’t mean stop eating. Just don’t eat so fast,” Ben said.
When Adam didn’t resume eating, the Alpha sighed. “One forkful at a time. Chew twenty times. Swallow. Wait a minute. Then try the next forkful.”
Adam did as instructed. The minutes ticked by slowly. He wasn’t even halfway through the carton when his stomach decided it was full. Grimacing, he lifted the next forkful to his mouth.
“Stop if you’re full.” That was Sam again. Adam looked to Ben for confirmation. The Alpha rolled his eyes but nodded. “What he said. The food isn’t doing you much good if it ends up in the toilet bowl.”
The Alpha's Choice: Lost Omegas Book Two: A M/M Shifter Romance Page 2