"Firefly, come sit and eat."
Scowling, I don't even give him a glance as I climb back onto the bed. Who knows when it will be taken away or the watermight be turned off? Hmm, that's concerning. I might be able to go a long time without food, but no water would be tricky.
"Omega!" Riot snaps. I finally give him the glare he's asking for and shake my head. "Damn it, what the hell is wrong with you?"
Many things.
"Do you have no self-preservation?"
Interesting. Do I? I want to preserve myself for my pack. But that means locking some parts of me away and not letting them see the light.
Not having realized I zoned out into lala land again, a startled gasp makes me choke when something hits me in the forehead.
"Oh fuck! I'm sorry. I meant to hit your chest." Judging by his shit eating grin, there was no fucking way his aim was that off. Hissing, I launch the bread right back at him. It hits a bar and bounces back toward me, igniting my annoyance.
Hopping from the bed, I ignore Riot's chuckle and grab the damn thing. I've seen this alpha sway so many times. He needs to fucking eat.
He stands to his full height once I'm in front of the bars. While I'm fuming, his brows are pulled together in confusion. "Why won't you just eat the damn bread? I'm trying to help you."
This man must never hear the word no. Not everyone needs a big, strong man to help them. Even if I did, how do I know if I can trust him?
Shaking my headhard, I shove my hand through the bars and push the bread into his chest. He doesn't take it, so I stand here like an idiot while he studies every line on my face.
"You aren't hungry?" he asks slowly. I shake my head no. "How are you not hungry? We've been here for so long." I don't know how to reply without words, so I don't do anything which unfortunately just gives him the opportunity to see my bonyframe up close. "You're used to not eating much?" he guesses, voice tight.
Still he hasn't grabbed the damn food, so I push it a little harder against him and nod, hoping if I answer his stupid question he'll back off. I had a nice little zone out going, and he ruined it by throwing shit like a child.
My confirmation makes him stiffen. His eyes retrace my body, lingering on all three of my mating bites. I wish I had a shirt. If he had offered his shirt instead of his meal I might have taken him up on the offer.
"You're telling me," he grits out through clenched teeth, "that your packstarvesyou?"
Horrified by his words, I drop the bread and try to step back. Faster than I can stop him, he grabs my bicep and pulls me closer. "Firefly, don't test me right now. I'm hanging on by a fucking thread. Answer me. Does your pack abuse you?"
Okay, so I can see how it might look like that. I'm selectively mute, a little feral at times, too skinny, and I act like a traumatized child. But no.
I shake my head quickly, trying not to soak in the heat of his warm hand wrapped around me. The buzz of his tether intensifies and follows his grip, swirling and holding, like it's warming me up from the inside out.
Those gold eyes of his hold mine in a trance. Can he feel what's happening right now? He's holding onto me, grounding me, and I'm not pushing him away. If anything, I'm leaning into the care he's forcing on me and wondering if I can listen to him because he seems to care about my wellbeing. He's acting likemyalpha.
I think for a split second that he might be mine. For just a nanosecond, my omega agrees and dives forward, latching onto any kind of security and bond we might find with this alpha who is trying to take care of me.
He's definitely hungry, so it makes sense that I am too. My stomach growls loudly, knocking him out of the trance we were in. The one I am still firmly planted in.
"We'll share," he murmurs, and sits down because he's a little woozy. I probably am too, but I'm just used to it.
Yeah. Sharing is a good idea.
Twenty-Four
Silas
I've never been someone who feels like being a beta makes me lesser. To put it simply, betas of the pack have an important job—keeping everyone grounded. It's a different kind of care than the alphas provide their omegas, but not being weighed down by strong instinctual drives allows me to have a clear head when they can't.
When my skills as pack beta are needed the most, I'm useless. Completely fucking useless. Without Vivian here to help me with the alphas, I'm unable to be what they need.
It's like we're on a pitch black rollercoaster. The ups and downs making me nauseous and being unable to see when we'll drop has my muscles tenser than ever before.
I can see it in their postures too. Feeling their heightened emotions in the pack bond as a beta means I'm not being battered and swallowed by them. Sometimes I wish I had the ability to feel as much as they do, but I'm grateful for my designation right now. I just really fucking wish I could dosomethingto help.
