Page 17 of Daisy (Omega Chosen #3)

Daisy

I wake to the sound of breathing that isn't my own.

For a moment, panic claws at my throat. Strange room. Strange bed. The scent of alphas everywhere, thick and overwhelming even though it doesn't feel threatening.

Then I remember.

The rescue. The van. Gunner's warm green eyes when I pointed at him and whispered that he felt safe.

My hand.

I look down and my heart stops. The back of my hand is still pressed against his leg through his jeans, just like when I fell asleep. I've been touching him all morning. An alpha. And he didn't move away.

He's asleep in the chair beside my bed, his head tilted back at an angle that has to hurt his neck. His sandy hair is messed up, and there are dark circles under his eyes. His long legs are stretched out, trying to find comfort in a space too small for his frame.

His hand rests palm up on his thigh, so close to mine.

Large and callused from real work, fingers slightly curled like he's waiting for something to hold.

The sight of it makes something deep in my chest ache with longing.

I want so badly to slip my hand into his, to let those strong fingers curl around mine. To trust him completely with my life.

Guilt hits me like a physical blow.

He drove all night. Kept me safe while I slept. And now he's cramped in that awful chair because I was too scared to let him sleep outside in the van with the others.

I study his face in the soft midday light filtering through the curtains.

He looks younger when he's asleep. Less guarded.

There's a small scar through his left eyebrow, and his hands are rougher than I expected, like he works with them.

Real work, not the polished softness of the elite alphas Uncle always paraded in front of me.

This man saved me. And I made him sleep in a chair.

A soft sound makes me look up, and my blood turns to ice.

Another alpha sits in the chair by the window. Cassian. He's awake, alert, watching the room like he's standing guard. His amber eyes find mine across the space, and something in his expression softens.

I can't help it. I shrink back against the pillows, pulling the covers higher. My scent must spike with fear because something flashes across his face that looks like pain.

He doesn't move, doesn't speak. Just makes himself smaller in the chair somehow. Like he's trying not to scare me.

He's protecting us while Gunner sleeps. And I'm being afraid of him like he's a monster.

The thought makes my chest hurt.

"Hey."

The soft voice makes me turn. August is awake in the other bed, propped up on his elbow. His scent reaches me—cedar and parchment with that hint of bergamot that makes everything in me settle.

"You okay?" he whispers.

I nod, then shake my head. My hands twist in the blanket.

"What's wrong?"

"Just... thinking." My voice cracks. "About the other omegas. From the Omega House. Are they safe? Or are they..." I can't finish. The thought of them with those rogue alphas makes me sick.

August's expression grows sad. "I don't know. I hope so."

I think about Camelia, so young and scared. About all of them. "I should have helped them."

"Daisy, you couldn't?—"

"I know." I take a shaky breath. "And I feel guilty about Gunner too. He drove all night. And I made him sleep there because I was scared."

"Hey." August's voice is gentle. "You don't have to feel guilty for being scared, okay?"

I look at Cassian again. He's still watching, patient. Like he understands I'm not ready and he's okay with that.

"He's scared too," August says quietly. "Scared you'll always be afraid of him."

"I don't want to be scared," I whisper. "But he's so..."

"Big? Intense?" August nods, a small smile crossing his face. "Yeah. But he'd never hurt you."

"How do you know?"

"Because I know him." August touches his throat where I can see the faint mark of a bite. "I can feel him in here. He's one of the good ones."

I want to believe him. But I feel broken.

"Why are you all being so kind?" The words slip out. I duck my head, embarrassed. "I just... I don't understand."

Cassian shifts in his chair, and my scent must spike with confusion. I can't say what I'm really thinking. How I was told alphas would just take what they wanted. How these ones haven't even tried to touch me.

"Not all alphas are the same," August says softly.

"I don't understand why you're helping me," I whisper. "I'm not... I'm not your responsibility."

"Doesn't mean I can't care about what happens to you."

I want to believe him. Everything feels so confusing.

"I don't know how to do this," I whisper.

"You don't have to figure it out all at once." August settles back. "We'll be here for you. However you need us."

I glance at Gunner again. His breathing is deep and even, but his body looks uncomfortable as hell in that chair.

"Would you..." I stop, swallow hard, then turn to August. "Would you ask him to move to the bed? When he wakes up? He needs real sleep."

August shakes his head gently. "If you want that, you should tell him yourself. I won't ask for you."

My cheeks burn. "But what if?—"

"Daisy." His voice is soft but firm. "You don't have to ask him. But if you want to, use your words. Don't make me speak for you."

The idea terrifies me, but I understand what he's saying. If I want something, I need to be brave enough to ask for it myself.

August nods, settling back against his pillows. "Try to rest a little more. I'll go get you some clothes later, and we'll stay the night. Move again tomorrow."

I nod, trying to feel comforted by that. But the truth is, the safest I've felt in my entire life was last night, with Gunner's steady presence beside me and my hand touching his leg.

The memory makes heat creep up my neck. I'd never touched an alpha before. Never wanted to. But something about Gunner makes my omega instincts quiet instead of scream.

I settle back against the pillows, my hand still pressed against his leg. Just for a little longer. Just until he wakes up and I have to be brave enough to ask him to take care of himself too.

Outside, the world is probably looking for me. Uncle. The police. Maybe even the Fairburn pack who thought they'd bought me.

But in this small room, with midday light painting everything soft and warm, I feel like maybe I can breathe. Maybe I can figure out who I am when I'm not performing.

Maybe I can learn to trust the people who saved me.

Gunner shifts slightly in his sleep, and I freeze. But he just settles deeper into the chair, and I realize he's unconsciously leaning toward me. Even asleep, he wants to be closer.

The thought should terrify me. Instead, something warm and confusing stirs in my chest.

His scent reaches me—sandalwood and wild fig, warm and grounding. So different from the sharp, aggressive scents of other alphas I've been around. This one doesn't make me want to run. It makes my heart do strange things. Makes me want to breathe deeper.

All of their scents are like that. Gunner's warmth, even Cassian's dark amber and musk that should frighten me.

He's so big, so intimidating, but his scent whispers safety instead of danger.

Then there's Hawk's caramel and leather that made me feel.

.. something when I first smelled it at the Omega House.

And Dante's honey and clove that somehow makes me feel protected even though he was my guard, someone meant to watch me.

I don't understand what's happening to me. Why these alphas make my pulse flutter and race with fear at the same time. Why their scents make something in my chest hum, but also make me want to run toward them and away from them all at once. It's so confusing.

An hour later, Gunner's eyes flutter open.

I'm still awake, still watching him. I had to move my hand when I turned to talk to August, and I miss that connection. When Gunner's gaze finds mine, something soft crosses his face.

"Hey," he says, his voice rough with sleep.

"Hi." My cheeks burn. Did I wake him? Was I staring too much? "The chair looks..." I stop, biting my lip. Ms. Harlow always said don't criticize, don't make demands.

He stretches carefully, wincing. "I'm fine."

But he's not. I can see the pain in his neck, his shoulders. "It looks uncomfortable," I whisper, then immediately worry I've said the wrong thing.

He shrugs. "I've slept worse."

I take a shaky breath. This is so hard. Asking for things was never allowed. "The bed... there's room. If you want." The words come out in a rush. "I mean, you don't have to. I just thought?—"

"You sure?" His voice is gentle.

I nod quickly, then panic. What if he thinks I'm being forward? What if I'm supposed to suffer in silence like a good omega?

"Only if you're okay with it," he says quietly.

The fact that he's asking makes something tight in my chest loosen. Uncle never asked. The Fairburn pack wouldn't have asked.

"I think... I think I'd like it," I whisper, then immediately want to take it back. Too bold. Too demanding.

But something warm flashes in his green eyes. When he moves to the bed, he's so careful. Settles on top of the covers, far from me.

"Better?" I ask, then worry again. Should I not have asked?

"Yeah." He turns to face me. "Thank you."

"Thank you for staying." My voice shakes. I don't know how to do this. How to want things and ask for them.

We look at each other across the small space. His hand rests on the bed between us, palm up, fingers slightly curled. I want so badly to slip my hand into his, to feel those callused fingers close around mine. But I don't know if I'm allowed. Or what that means.

August shifts on the other bed, and I realize he's still awake, watching us with a small smile.

"Daisy?" he whispers. "Can I ask you something?"

I nod.

"Do you have family we could take you to? Somewhere safe where you could stay while this all gets sorted out?"

The question makes my chest tighten. "I... no. Not really."

"No one? Parents? Siblings?"

"My parents are..." I swallow hard. "My fathers were just a breeding arrangement.

I barely know them. And my mother, she's..." I can't bring myself to say it.

How she retreated to her nest years ago and never came out.

How the bottles they bring to her room are the only way she can cope with what Uncle did to her life.

"I have sisters, but they're with their own packs now. And they wouldn't..." I trail off. Violet and Rose did what they were told. Accepted the system. They wouldn't understand why I'm not going back.

"What about other family?" August asks gently. "Anyone who could help?"

My blood turns to ice. I realize they don't know. They have no idea what they've gotten themselves into by saving me.

"August," I whisper, sitting up slightly. "You don't understand. My family... my uncle isn't just some wealthy elite."

"What do you mean?"

I take a shaky breath, knowing this changes everything. "He runs the entire city. The lottery, the police, all of it."

August goes completely still. "Wait. What?"

"I'm not just some omega," I continue, my voice getting smaller. "I'm the Governor's niece. When they realize I'm missing, they'll turn the entire city upside down to find me. I was promised to a very wealthy pack, and Uncle won't stop until I'm with them. And when they do find me..."

"Holy shit," August breathes. "The Governor. Like, the actual Governor."

I can't finish the sentence. When they find me, Uncle won't just be angry about a lost political marriage. He'll be furious about the embarrassment. The challenge to his authority.

And these men who saved me? They'll be destroyed.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, tears starting to flow. "I should have told you. You saved me, and now you're all in terrible danger because of who I am."

August is quiet for a moment. Then he reaches across the space between our beds and takes my hand.

"We knew you were special," he says quietly. "We could tell just by looking at you. This just means we need to be smarter about keeping you safe."

"But August…"

"Do you want us to take you back?" he asks softly. "Since you were promised to this pack?"

A low growl rumbles from across the room where Cassian sits. The sound makes me flinch, but August just shakes his head.

"Ignore him," August says with a small smile. "He's always a little growly in the mornings."

My eyes widen. “It’s not morning.”

August grins, “Okay, all the time, but he's a big teddy bear." I chance a glance at Cassian… he doesn’t look like a teddy bear to me. But I can see a small smile on his lips as he watches us. I turn back to August.

"No," I whisper, the word torn from somewhere deep in my chest. "I don't want to go back. But you should take me back," I whisper.

"Like hell." The deep rumble comes from Cassian. And even though the growl in his voice makes me want to hide, there's something fierce and protective in his expression that takes my breath away.

"Daisy, listen to me very carefully," August says, squeezing my hand. "We're not taking you back. Not to your uncle, not to some pack he's chosen for you, not anywhere you don't want to go. Do you understand?"

"But the danger."

"Is worth it. You're worth it."

Tears spill down my cheeks. "Why?"

"Because everyone deserves to choose their own life. Even the Governor's niece."

I want to believe him. But the terror in my chest is growing, spreading like ice through my veins.

Uncle won't stop looking for me. Ever. And these good men who showed me kindness will pay the price for my freedom.

"You are safe. With us." Gunner says quietly from beside me.

The certainty in his voice makes more tears fall. For the first time in my life, someone is promising me safety and meaning it.

"Try to get some rest," August whispers. "All of us."

I nod, settling back against the pillows. Gunner lies down too, but I can tell he's not really sleeping. His breathing is too controlled, too aware. Like he's still listening for danger even while trying to rest.

The knowledge that he's still protecting me, even when he's supposed to be sleeping, makes something warm settle in my chest.

For the first time in my life, I'm choosing to trust a beta and these alphas with my heart.

And maybe, just maybe, they're choosing to trust me with theirs too.

I close my eyes, but I don't sleep. Instead, I listen to Gunner's careful breathing beside me, knowing he's doing the same thing. Both of us pretending to rest while staying aware of each other.

And somehow, that feels like the safest thing in the world.