by Leann Ryans
“Your parents called me when you weren’t home on time. I drove out this way to be sure you hadn’t had an accident, and I came across your dad’s truck. Then, when I saw the other truck stopped in the middle of the road with the doors open, I pulled over to see what was going on and caught your scent.”
“Mmm,” Shailyn replied, unable to get anything else from her tired mind.
His purr was the last thing she knew as she drifted off to sleep.
15.
When Shailyn awoke, she was in the tiny clinic where Mindy had been patched up. Her mother and Gretta were whispering in the corner until they noticed her stirring.
“Oh, Honey, we were so worried,” her mother said rushing over to her.
She took Shailyn’s hand in hers as Gretta came to her other side.
“You’re pretty banged up, though there’s nothing major. I cleaned the cuts, but they’ll heal on their own. The swelling in your cheek has already gone down a bit and should continue to get better, just take anti-inflammatories for it as needed. The bruises will take the longest to heal, but there’s nothing broken at least.”
Pausing, she steeled herself before going on.
“I know Alphas attacked you, but I was unsure if I needed to check…”
“No,” Shailyn stopped her. “It never got that far.”
Both of the women relaxed at that and Gretta gave her a small smile.
“Then you’re free to go home as soon as you’re ready, and don’t hesitate to come back if you need to,” Gretta said before leaving the room.
“I brought some fresh clothes for you,” her mom said, standing up and turning to the counter behind her.
She sat the clothes on the side of the bed before saying, “I’ll wait outside while you dress, unless you need help?”
With a shake of her head, Shailyn sat up.
“I’ll be fine, just give me a few minutes.”
Nodding, her mother left, leaving Shailyn alone in the hospital bed. She wrapped her arms around her knees and rested her head on them for a moment, taking in deep breaths. Luke had saved her from the Alphas, had even purred for her, and she oddly felt disappointment that he wasn’t there when she woke up.
Steeling herself, she climbed from the bed, noting all the aches that simple motion caused. It took her longer than usual to pull on the clothes her mother had brought, and Shailyn was grateful that they were loose and comfortable
With a last deep breath, she opened the door and walked out to the little lobby. She was surprised to see not only her parents, but Luke, Mindy, and Nancy.
Her father rushed to her when he noticed her in the doorway, wrapping Shailyn in his strong arms. She tried to suppress the whimper of pain his squeeze caused, but she must not have done it well because he released her with a gruff, “Sorry.”
Giving him a smile, she responded, “It’s okay. I’m so sorry, Dad.”
“Hush. We’ll talk about it later. I’m glad you’re back and nothing worse happened,” he whispered as he dropped a kiss to her hair.
He moved out of the way and made room for Mindy and Nancy to come forward.
“We’re so glad you’re okay,” Nancy said as Mindy gave her a much softer hug than her father had.
The girls looked at each other as they leaned back and gave small chuckles at their predicament. Both injured by alphas and unable to give or accept a strong hug.
“I never even made it to the city to get the suppressants,” Shailyn told her, shoulders drooping in defeat.
Everything she had done was for nothing.
Mindy gave her a smile and responded, “That’s fine. I think I have a plan. It’ll be okay.”
Nodding, Shailyn said goodbye to them both before turning to Luke.
“I don’t remember if I thanked you for saving me… So… Thank you,” she said to him.
He was standing in the corner with his arms crossed looking uncomfortable.
Nodding in acknowledgment, his eyes roamed over her like he was cataloging every scrape and bruise.
“I’m glad I made it in time,” he said. “Heading into the city alone was a stupid idea.”
Eyes narrowing, the softening feelings she had been having towards him hardened again.
“I wouldn’t have had to go into the city if someone would have sent in my order like they should have, instead of leaving me with no other choice,” she growled.
Stepping into her space, Luke glowered down at her, letting out a soft growl himself.
“You had a choice. A better choice. Stop taking the damn pills and let your body do what is natural. Let an Alpha claim you like a proper omega.”
“I want to choose who I mate with, not be a slave to my body, to be taken by the first male to get to me. Is that so hard to understand? Does what happened to me not prove why we need suppressants?” she pleaded.
She had the strongest desire to make him understand, though she wasn’t sure why.
Luke’s growl stopped and his eyes seemed to soften as they moved over her face again.
“They aren’t the only way. You can find a mate before your heat. One you choose,” he said before turning and walking out of the door, leaving her staring after him.
Shailyn’s mother moved up beside her and laid a hand on her shoulder.
“Are you ready to head home?”
Letting out a sigh and bowing her head she said, “Yes,” walking out with her father following them.
◆◆◆
Three days later, Shailyn was up at her usual time, ready to head into the kitchen and get to work. Her parents had been more understanding than she had expected them to be, though her father expressed his disappointment in her.
She had taken her last pill two days ago, but she didn’t know how long it would take for her body to kick into a natural cycle. She had been on suppressants so long she had no idea if she would notice any difference without the pills or not.
When her mother came down the stairs and saw her ready to walk out the door, she looked at her in shock.
“What do you think you are doing?”
Eyebrow raised, Shailyn replied, “Going to work.”
“No, you’re not! You should be resting,” her mother responded, moving closer to her.
“Mom, I’m fine. There is nothing wrong besides bruises, even the swelling is gone. I can work like usual, but I can’t sit around this house all day alone again with nothing to do but think about what happened.”
Her mother’s face fell, and after a moment of hesitation, she gave Shailyn a tight nod of understanding.
Shailyn headed into the bakery’s kitchen and lost herself in her usual tasks, unaware of how much time had passed until her mother came into the back and stopped her.
“You’ve done enough today. You should get off your feet for a bit, and your father has something you can do for him,” she said, pointing Shailyn to the front of the store.
As she walked through the door, she noticed Luke almost immediately. He was talking with her father by the door, and both of them turned to her when she stepped from the back.
“Luke had the truck towed to the shop in town. He will take you over there where you will change the tire yourself before putting the truck back where you got it.”
She opened her mouth to protest but her father cut her off.
“Your actions caused it to get the flat, so you will fix it. That’s final.”
Glowering at her father, Shailyn stomped out of the door and waited for Luke since she didn’t know which direction to go.
16.
She didn’t have to wait long before Luke followed her. Motioning toward the edge of town, they began to walk in silence. He seemed to start saying something a few times before stopping himself.
Finally, he reached out and gripped her hand, pulling her to a stop.
“I understand why you take the pills, though I still don’t agree with it. I’m sorry for not putting your order through the first time, and I placed a new one for
you, but it will still be a few days before they get here.”
Shailyn’s eyes widened in shock as her jaw dropped open.
“You, you ordered them for me?” she asked to be sure she had heard him right.
“Yes. They’re already paid for, you just have to pick them up,” he said, looking sheepish as he rubbed the back of his neck. “You were right, it is your choice, and I shouldn’t have taken it from you.”
In a rush of emotion, she threw her arms around his chest and felt Luke stiffen before he relaxed and brought his hands up to her back.
“Thank you,” she whispered looking up into his dark eyes, drawing in the spicy scent she remembered from when he rescued her.
She released him and they turned and continued to walk, though the silence between them was less tense. It didn’t take long for them to reach the shop, and Shailyn spotted her father’s truck parked along the side of the building.
Waving to the older man working on another vehicle, Luke walked over to talk to him while she hesitated beside the truck. He came back rolling a tire that he sat next to the front wheel.
“There you go,” he said nodding to it and crossing his arms over his chest.
With a huff, Shailyn got to work.
Once Luke showed her the proper way to loosen the nuts and jack the truck up, it didn’t take her long to get the tire changed. Puffing a bit, she stood and stretched, trying to relieve the tightness around her middle. Luke leaned over to check the nuts as she felt a cramp rip through her middle and wetness soak her panties.
Letting out a gasp, she watched Luke’s eyes darken even more as his pupils expanded and he drew in a deep breath. Growl rumbling from his chest, he moved toward her, pinning her between his hard body and the side of the truck. Drawing his nose along her neck, he took another deep breath as a second cramp rolled through her, followed by more slick seeping from her core.
Shailyn could feel the vibrations of his growl through her nipples as they brushed against his chest. She moaned as his scent teased her and pressed her body against his, wrapping her arms around him to dig her nails into his back.
“Luke, help me! It’s happening,” she whimpered.
Growl dropping in pitch until she felt it vibrating through her whole body, his hands slipped down to cup her ass through her pants as his tongue darted out and tasted the sweat on her neck.
“Get in your truck and go home,” he said against her neck even as he ground his erection into her stomach.
Starting to pull back from her, Shailyn whined.
“I can’t fight it for long, Shailyn. You smell too good. Unless you want me dragging you home with me, you better get in that truck and leave,” he growled out, trying to push her away as she clung to him.
Mind cloudy with lust and the painful cramps pulling at her middle, she continued to hold on to him. She knew it would be smarter to go home. That she was going into heat and he was likely to claim her if she didn’t get away from him, but she found herself not caring.
He had attracted Shailyn from the beginning, though she had thought she didn’t like him as a person until he helped with Casir and Mindy. She realized then that while he didn’t agree with the suppressants, he was still a good man that didn’t think of omegas as property to be claimed by whichever Alpha wanted them. He proved it even more by ordering the suppressants for her and admitting he was wrong.
“I want you Luke. Please,” she said looking up at him during a break between the cramps. “Take me.”
He hesitated, obviously fighting with himself.
“You don’t know what you’re saying. Go home.”
Shailyn shook her head and pressed a hand to his chest.
“I know what I’m asking. I want you to fuck me, Luke. Fuck me, bite me, and claim me as yours.”
Throwing the door of her truck open, he lifted her and tossed her inside, shoving her over enough for him to climb in and start the truck. Peeling out faster than was wise, he headed for his home as Shailyn’s hands wandered over to him.
As she ran her hand across his chest and down his stomach, she marveled at the muscles she felt under his shirt. She remembered the feel of them as he had cradled her to his chest and couldn’t wait to see him bare.
Reaching his pants, he let out a growl as his hand wrapped over hers.
“Not yet, Shai. I need to focus so I can get us somewhere safe.”
Whimpering, Shailyn snuggled as close to him as possible, and it seemed like mere seconds before the truck was pulling to a stop in front of a house she had never seen before.
The door of the truck flew open before he had even killed the engine. Luke jumped from the truck and pulled her out after him, slinging her up into his arms as he practically sprinted for the front door.
The interior was a blur as he carried Shailyn through the house until he reached what she assumed was his bedroom since the room was full of his scent. He sat her down on the bed before he leaned in and gave her a searing kiss that had her core clenching and slick pouring from her to soak through the rest of her clothes.
Firm lips pressed to hers, his tongue thrust into her mouth, stroking hers as she moaned and reached for him. Pulling away, his hand held her where she was.
“I’ll be right back. Stay here,” he said before leaving the room.
17.
It didn’t take Luke long to come back with his arms full of blankets and pillows.
“This is all I have. I’m sorry, I hope it’s enough.”
Confused at first, Shailyn began to feel the urge to fix the materials once he sat them on the bed. Swatting his hands away when he tried to move them around, she took over, arranging and layering the blankets and pillows until she had a cozy nest built in the center of the bed just big enough for the two of them.
She sat back on her heels and surveyed the nest before carefully climbing out of it. Once she was standing next to the bed, she turned and faced Luke. As she began to strip off her clothes, she watched his face as his hungry gaze took in every inch that she exposed to him.
Once Shailyn tossed the last bit of her clothing to the side, she walked towards him with her eyes locked on his. He kicked his boots off as she approached but stood and waited for her lead. Reaching out, she grabbed the bottom of his shirt, pulling it up as he lifted his arms and allowed her to take it off.
Dropping to her knees, she looked into his dark eyes as she unbuckled his belt and pants, pulling them open and allowing them to drop to the floor before he stepped out of them and kicked them to the side. Eyes locked on the erection straining against the last piece of clothing standing between them, Shailyn ran her hand up the length of him, marveling at the size of the thing meant to fit inside her.
Slipping her fingers over the top of his briefs, she pulled them down and freed his cock to bob before her. Licking her lips, she glanced up at Luke before wrapping her hands around the base of his cock, shocked at how soft the skin was.
Shailyn flicked her tongue out as she leaned forward to taste the drop of fluid that collected at the tip. With a hum of approval, she flattened her tongue and licked up the bottom of his shaft until she reached the tip again, taking it into her mouth as Luke let out a rough growl, burying his hands in her hair.
Moving slowly, she took as much of his thick cock into her mouth as she could, pulling back when she began to gag, before sucking it deep once again.
Releasing him from her mouth, she stood up, taking his hand and backing towards the bed. Crawling backward into the nest, she pulled him after her until his legs hit the mattress.
Laying on her back, Shailyn spread her legs before him as Luke looked over her with a heated gaze. Her nipples ached as slick ran from her empty core.
When he continued to stand there, she whimpered, “Please, Alpha.”
Leaning forward, he buried his head between her thighs, tongue plunging into her before he drew it up to her clit. Circling it as she writhed on the bed, he licked back down and thrust his tongue into her ent
rance again. The sound coming from him was half moan, half growl, and caused more fluid to soak into the blankets beneath her.
It didn’t take long for the tension in Shailyn’s core to wind into a tight ball that had her begging and panting for more. Pulling back, Luke sat up between her thighs and caught her gaze.
“Come for me, Omega,” he growled and plunged two thick fingers into her core.
Shailyn’s vision went white as fire poured through her veins, spreading from her core to the tips of her extremities as she screamed. Walls pulsing as tremors passed through her body, he continued to fuck his fingers into her until she fell limp against the sheets.
Withdrawing his fingers, Shailyn watched as he licked them, smirking at her the whole time.
“That was just the first one,” he said before returning his mouth to her pussy.
It wasn’t long before she was on the edge of another orgasm. Just as she thought she would shatter, he stopped again, grabbing her hips and flipping her over.
“This time you’re going to come on my cock,” Luke whispered against her ear as he leaned over her back.
Shailyn felt the blunt head nudge against her entrance seconds before he thrust into her, forcing a scream from between her lips as his fingers pressed on her clit, sending her over the edge. She could feel the burning stretch in her core, but the rippling pleasure passing through her drowned it out.
Giving her a moment to adjust, Luke began to move within her, causing aftershocks of pleasure to pulse through her pussy. She moaned into the bed and gripped the sheets as he began to move faster, the sounds of flesh smacking echoing through the room. With each thrust she felt his balls swing forward and hit her clit, teasing, but not enough to send her over the edge of orgasm again.
One hand tightening on her hip, he moved the other to her hair, pulling her head up and back until she was on all fours.
“You will come for me again Shailyn. You’re going to do it when I tell you to,” Luke said, slipping his hand forward from her hip until his finger brushed against her clit again.