Page 36 of Dark Company

Mate.

The word slams into me as I stare at the small body lying before me. It’s the one thing that drags me back from the edge. Mates are important. Mates are forever. What the fuck do I do with a mate? Looking over at the other omega, I realize how helpless I am.

I was never trained in how to handle any woman, much less an omega. Though I have vague notions of what they need, it’s nothing concrete. I don’t want to harm this precious gift that was given to me, and yet I don’t even know where to start. All I know is the ever-present throb in my cock as my balls tighten.

“Help me.”

It’s the only words I know to say, but somehow, the omega understands. Whether deep down she realizes how inept I am, or she can see it on my face, she turns from me, using slow movements as to not stir up the beast that’s clawing at my insides, desperate to be free.

“She needs to nest. I will go get materials. Don’t leave her here unattended. I will be back.”

“Wait.” She pauses, her hand on the plain fabric—something so precious against something so ordinary and worthless. “Explain to Leon.”

Nodding once, she leaves us alone, and it takes every bit of training not to fall upon the woman who lies beneath me, still and unconscious. Am I already too late? Have I harmed her by my inaction? Standing, I pace about, needing to move before I go completely insane.

The omega is taking far too long. Has she betrayed me already? It’s clear she has a disdain for Alphas, but to leave her friend like this? Again, I kneel beside Karis, letting my breath fan the wisps of hair at her forehead. Sweat glistens on her body, and though it’s warm outside, I know it’s something far more insidious than that.

Her pale skin takes on a pinkened hue, and the heat that radiates off of her hits me straight in the gut. I know nothing of illnesses, but I know fevers can be deadly if not treated. I turn, about to go find the other omega, when the tent opens back up.

Both omegas enter, each ladened with scraps of cloth and waterskins. I’m able to tolerate their presence enough, but when Leon and Basq come in with a large tub, it’s too much. Snarling, I place myself between them and Karis’s naked form, enraged that they can look upon her body.

They both stop in their tracks, eyes wide, as if they’ve never seen an Alpha in a rut before. Granted, it could be because they’ve never seen me act so aggressive or possessive over a woman. Whatever the cause, the scent of their own rising fury stinks up the air, tainting the very breaths my mate takes. This I will not allow.

I take a step forward, only to have a pair of delicate hands rest on my forearm. “They are only bringing in the tub and water, my Lord Alpha. We need to clean her and get her prepared for you. Also, the cold water will help with any fever she is experiencing. Please, my Lord Alpha, allow them to be here for just a little while longer. It will help your omega in the long run.”

Wrenching my arm back from her grasp, I turn to cover Karis once more, never letting my eyes lose sight of the Alpha and beta that dare come into our presence. Though it’s my fault she’s splayed like that, an unusual anger comes over me. If only Karis hadn’t fought so much, then maybe I wouldn’t have had to pose her like that. Now, everyone can see what’s mine.

Even now, their hungry gazes linger for far more than I’m comfortable, dragging out snarls and growls. My jaw snaps together anytime they come too close, a warning that I can and will rip the flesh from their bodies with my teeth if need be.

Soon, just as the omega had said, the last of the water is brought in and the two males leave, taking their stench with them. Once more, the aggressive omega approaches me, her steps slow and purposeful as she comes into my field of view.

“Please, Lord Alpha, allow us to tend to her. She will need to get cleaned, especially with all this sand about. You don’t want to abrade her tender flesh when you take her, do you?”

No. Gods, no. I want nothing that will cause her any more discomfort than necessary. My cock will do that all on its own. Even now, as I run my fingers down the soft, dewy skin of her stomach, the damned organ continues to swell, becoming even larger than when I was milked.

Rising, I nod at the omega and storm out of the tent, ignoring the hostile and curious stares as I stride over to my own lodgings. None of us slept on the ground, and my omega shouldn’t have too either. Ripping up the flooring, I drag slab after slap of prefabricated materials to her tent, purposefully not looking over at the tub where I know she’s being prepared for me.

Soft cries meet my ears on my last trip in, and in an instant, I know they’re coming from Karis. Throwing down the last of the flooring, I race over to the tub, concern crawling up my spine and lodging in my heart. Is the fever worse than we thought?

“My Lord Alpha, it is merely the distress of an omega needing her Alpha. If you are ready for her, she will soon want to nest.”

Nest. The word trips about my brain, so foreign. I know the meaning of the word, yet I’ve never had an instance to see it in action. The word is meaningless to me. Once more, the feeling of impotence overwhelms me. I cannot give this omega what she needs. She’d be far better off with someone like Leon.

Yet just that thought alone is enough to make me want to tear him limb from limb. No. Damaged as I am, I am her Alpha, whether or not she wants me. She may not like her choices of mate, but that decision was made the moment she impaled herself on that damned statue, forcing her into this heat.

I no longer blame the omega that struggles to pull Karis out of the tub. She saw a need and knew what needed to be done. I was just too cowardly to do it myself. Both she and the docile omega scurry out of my path as I reach over to pull Karis from the cool water and hold her close to my body.

Though she’s not as hot as earlier, she’s still far too warm for my comfort. Sliding my lips through the wet strands of her hair, I murmur a prayer to Ilaria that I’m not too late. If the gods are going to grant my wish to give me an omega, would they really be so cruel as to take her away before I can even slide into her welcoming heat?

Dragging her scent into my lungs, I take her over to a small chair in the corner and cradle her against me, rocking back and forth. Her lips begin to move as we sit there, and what sounds like a song eases from her mouth. I cannot understand what she’s singing, but I can feel the vibrations of it deep within my soul.

The two omegas pull the sheets and blankets to the middle of the tent and spread them out. Right now, Karis may be too far gone to need them at the moment, but once she’s more conscious, from what I understand, she’ll want to nest. Again, as the word slithers through my skull, I look up at the hostile omega, helpless as I hold Karis.

“My Lord Alpha. You have helped an omega through her heat before. Yes?”

All I can do is shake my head as the hidden shame and failure is put out there for all to see. I don’t give two fucks what this omega thinks of me, but I do care about what Karis thinks. I want to provide everything for her. Give her my world, my life, but how can I when I don’t even know how to properly caress a woman?

The need in me is far too strong to take her delicately. I need her. I need to be deep inside the haven of her body. The tenuous hold I have on reality is slipping away so fast, and yet, I still have no idea what I’m doing.