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“I thought you’d be gone.”
I wince.
“Sorry to disappoint,” I snap back. It’s better to be defensive. It’s better to attack back.
“If you were sorry, you’d be gone.”
I reach down, sliding off the stool, and hoist my backpack over my shoulder.
“Ian! Shut the fuck up!” Ross shouts. “Omega, sit. You can eat first, and then run away.”
Weston has hold of my arm, and Quinton is standing between me and the door. I don’t even know why, but there’s no way to escape.
I am starving.
Weston tugs me into his chest and wraps his arms around me. I stand there with wide eyes, staring at his t-shirt. When was the last time I was hugged? I work with battered women. We don’t touch each other. I don’t have friends or family. It’s been…the Omega Meet. That was the last time.
I cautiously lift my arms and loosely put mine on his back. West hugs me tighter, almost lifting me off my feet. I sniffle and close my eyes, allowing the comfort to sink into me. I think I’d give him anything he asked at this moment.
Ross clears his throat, and I try to jump back, but West doesn’t let me go. Instead, he grabs a plate with one hand, keeps hold of me with the other, and walks us to the table. He sits down and pulls me onto his lap.
“Eat,” he says low in my ear.
When I still hesitate, staring at the mountain of fried foods, he picks up a fork and brings a mouthful to my lips.
“Eat, Omega. Let me feed you.”
His words…just melt something inside me. It’s one of my fantasies, was one of my fantasies before. Having an alpha who loved me enough to feed me. My lower lip wobbles, and I desperately want to fall into the fantasy.
Don’t be a fool, Silver. They don’t love you. No one does. You aren’t lovable.
I eat in silence, hyper-aware as the alphas come and sit at the table, murmuring in deep voices. Ross reaches out and touches my knee, my hand, my arm. He seeks to reassure me, to make me smile.
I don’t even know what to do with it. The Silver that used to be able to flirt and smile charmingly is dead and gone. The touches I hated so much, I’m not desperate for, but I don’t know how to react to them.
I’m a husk of who I used to be.
But right now, I’m warm and clean, and my belly is full. It could be the last meal I have for weeks. That’s more than I had two days ago.
five
Silver
Three years and two weeks ago
I’ve spent a week with them, and it’s getting harder and harder to leave them when it’s time to go. Ian held me from behind yesterday, and it felt like I was really safe. I think I want him. My body responded. That scared me, but he didn’t push. He’s the nicest person I’ve ever met. I like him so much.
Present Day
After the meal, I stand up and edge towards the door. If I can just get out of here, I can disappear.
“Wait!” Ross calls out. “Look, can’t you just stay for a couple of hours? Adrian’s coming back to check on you.”
I hesitate. “I feel fine.”
“But you were really ill. Look, I’m not going to make you stay, but I’m going to have to go with you if you leave.”
I whip around, glaring at the stubborn alpha. “That’s ridiculous. I don’t need you to babysit me.” I also really don’t need him to see where I’m going to stay tonight. The thought makes me break out into a shiver.
