“I’m serious, Violet. Babies need fuel, the entire house worries about you. And I canfeelthat you are hungry almost all the time,” Benji continued.
That was weird, because I couldn’t feel it at all.
“Hungry, tired, horny, those are the shades of Violet,” Skye joked before grabbing the showerhead off the hook.
He brought it closer before washing the suds out of my hair.
My body involuntarily shivered as warm water ran down my spine. I knew when I got horny, or more so, was touching myself, Skye would appear. I also knew how bonds worked, but when it came to feeling things, I couldn’t do the same for them, not really.
I could tell when they were irritated, or sad, or tired, but those all felt more in the realm of empathy than a bond. Part of me wondered if it was because I’d only been marked by half the alphas.
And, part of me wondered if I should just let Vinny mark me. Things would be easier if I did, and I probably wouldn’t be so sick. But, every time I even considered it, my finger would throb under my wedding band, and I’d remember how Logan had three separate people hold me down so he could mark me.
The water kept running and Skye kept rinsing my hair, humming softly under his breath like he knew I shouldn’t be alone with my thoughts. I closed my eyes and leaned forward again, pressing my forehead against his thigh, grounding myself in what was real and what had happened, and not allowing myself to spiral in the what ifs.
But, the what ifs were what destroyed the little slice of heaven I’d found in this pack. I couldn’t allow myself to fully relax, or even completely let my guard down, because Vinny reminded metoomuch of Logan.
Strong, power driven men who only wanted me because of what I’d had to offer. I saw the omega on his computer’s home screen, and how he looked happy with her. Vinny didn’t look like that anymore, and while I’d never asked what happened to her, it wasn’t hard to figure out that our pack didn’t make him feel like that. That he only wanted to mark me because of the babies.
And, part of me would rather die than let another man own me, especially one after an heir. But, another part of me wanted so terribly to live, which was something I never wanted when trapped with Logan.
Eventually, Benji shut the water off and reached for a towel. He worked fast, wrapping it around me before the cold could set in. Another towel followed for my hair, his hands gentle as he rubbed me dry.
“Easy,” he murmured. “Slow breaths.”
Skye helped next, holding me steady as Benji forced me to stand and walk out of the shower. My legs felt weak, but not useless anymore, and that alone was a miracle. The steam clung to us as Benji toweled the rest of me off slowly as he gave me another once over.
I leaned into Skye, doing my best to wrap my arms around his waist, but his belly got in the way a little.
“There,” Benji said softly after a moment, tilting my chin and forcing me to look at him. “See? Color’s coming back.”
Skye studied me then nodded. “Yeah. She looks… better. Not good. But better.”
I signed thank you and Benji smiled before looking at the clock on the wall.
“Alright. Violet is not dying. That’s a win.” He straightened and rolled his shoulders. “Normally, I would say both of you are banned from responsibility and should spend the day sleeping and being spoiled.”
Skye perked up. I did too.
“But,” Benji continued, sighing, “I am behind schedule, the house is a mess, and Vinny’s going to wake up grumpy and wounded, which is the worst possible combination.”
Skye groaned. I winced in sympathy.
“So,” Benji said, pointing at us in turn, “I’m going to need a little help this morning. Light help. Folding laundry. Picking out clothing. Nothing strenuous. Pregnant omegas should still laze.” He stopped and looked at me specifically. “But they can laze while sitting.”
I huffed out a quiet laugh and nodded.
Benji clapped his hands once. “Good. Get dressed. Drink some water. We have work to do, my omegas.”
He left, leaving Skye and I alone, and I wasn’t entirely sure I was up to working. I was beyond tired and still very much not okay.
But I was warmer, and I was breathing. For now, that was enough.
Chapter 16
Benji
Before I had a pack of my own, I made a life out of caring for people. Cooking, cleaning, keeping households running when the people inside them couldn’t, or wouldn’t, do it themselves.
