Relationships were messy. Sarang was under no illusions that the bite would solve all of their problems and the two of them would never fight in the future. He also understood that he wanted the very thing that had eluded his mother. Right now, Shiloh believed his feelings to be shallow and solely based on possessiveness. He thought he wanted Sarang because he was attracted to him, and Sarang had been kind to him.
The truth was, the omega had all of the right pieces, he just needed help putting them together.
Sarang remembered the things he’d told him, how he’d felt their connection just by the way Sarang had looked at him.
How he wanted to be worthy in someone’s eyes.
Shiloh hadn’t grasped how strong that sentiment truly was. He’d spoken plainly about it, like delivering a fact instead of making some big revelation. The omega knew Sarang was the only one who made him feel safe, he just didn’t fully understand the gravity of that.
He didn’t realize that the love he was so skeptical of was the very emotion he was feeling.
“Still,” Kian said. “You could try having a little more faith in him.”
“That’s what I’m doing.” He picked up the marble he’d chosen for tomorrow and rolled it between his forefinger and thumb. “It won’t be long now. He’ll be claimed before you return.”
“The fact that you’re not bothering to ask for my permission makes me certain that’s finally true.” Kian said something to someone he was with, words muffled and too low to make out, then he spoke to Sarang again. “I have to go.”
“I’ll tell you if we find anything here.” Sarang ended the call and then began shutting off the machines. He needed to head to bed and get some sleep.
Tomorrow was going to be a big day.
Chapter 25:
Since no one was allowed to visit him, all of Shiloh’s meals had been hand delivered by Sarang himself.
When breakfast came and went, Shiloh found himself getting nervous. He kept glancing at the door, trying to convince himself his concerns were unwarranted. The Eumia was a big organization and Sarang was the underboss. He had a lot of responsibilities. Really, it was a wonder he’d managed to go two whole weeks without missing a single meal. This was nothing.
No big deal.
Around lunch time, he started pacing. The plug shifting uncomfortably within him with each step.
He’d woken used. Had known it the second he’d shifted and his hole had stung. More proof came when he’d gone to the bathroom to relive himself, removing the plug just long enough to do so, and had filled the toilet with globs of white.
Shiloh froze.
Was that it?
He’d been ordered not to take the toy out, but surely Sarang hadn’t meant to ignore nature. This couldn’t be a punishment for—
The plug started buzzing inside of him, right against his prostate, and the suddenness and surprise took Shiloh to his knees. He gasped, one hand clutching the end of the bed, the other clawing at the hardwood flooring, vision momentarily clouding over.
The sound of the door opening brought a wave of relief and he made a keening sound when the alpha appeared, holding a small plate with a slice of lemon cake on it.
Sarang paused in the doorway, tipping his head and taking in the view, before the hand in his pocket pressed the hidden remote, shutting the device off.
Shiloh slumped.
“I brought you dessert.” Sarang set the plate on the end table and motioned for Shiloh. “Come eat.”
“Where were you?” He dragged himself off the ground and walked over, plopping onto the side of the bed when the alpha stepped back to make room for him. “And why are we skipping proper meals?”
He’d been well fed all this time. The cake had come, but usually after lunch. Now that he’d skipped breakfast, it was strange that there wasn’t anything healthy. That definitely couldn’t be a punishment for taking out the plug, since they both knew Shiloh would prefer to eat cake over anything else no matter the time of day.
“I was busy dealing with more traitors,” Sarang informed him. “We were able to root out another three. They’re being questioned accordingly.”
“Need my help?” It was a shot in the dark, made mostly in passing because he already knew what the alpha would say.
“You aren’t allowed to leave this room,” he reminded. “Besides, I don’t want to see blood on your hands.”
