Page 46 of Omega Tricked

He sighed. “I hope you’re right. I truly do. I’d give anything to be wrong so that you won’t be disappointed yet again in an alpha. But I know I’m not wrong. Watch your back, kid. Or you might end up with a knife in it.”

A chill went through me, and I hung up abruptly. He was wrong. He didn’t even know Lex. I knew way more about Lex than Charles did. He’d barely said two words to Lex. He’d made his mind up the second he laid eyes on him, and that was unfair. But even though I didn’t agree with Charles’s summation of Lex, an uneasy feeling settled in my gut as I went about making chicken broth for him.

Even I had to admit, Lex’s illness was conveniently timed. But he truly had looked awful, and he’d seemed so weak and pale. People did get sick, and it wasn’t always good timing. I mean, how many times had I gotten sick right before a vacation or an important event? It happened. Just because Lex was sick and had to cancel his interview with Charles, that didn’t mean he was faking. Charles was just extremely paranoid because of his job. It was his job to be suspicious of anyone who tried to enter the compound.

I couldn’t accept what Charles was saying about Lex. Lex had helped me. He’d comforted me; even once we’d been here in my cabin, he’d been kind. I couldn’t believe he was faking that. His eyes had been filled with true empathy yesterday when he’d heard my story about Jacob and Ayden. His touch had been warm and affectionate. You couldn’t fake that shit. Could you?

I did my best to push away Charles’s negative words. I finished the broth and ladled the steaming soup into a bowl. Then I set the food on a tray with some saltine crackers. I carried the tray to Lex’s room, and when I entered, I found him still awake.

“You’re supposed to be asleep,” I scolded gently.

“I dozed a few times.” He watched me, his expression difficult to read.

I set the tray on the nightstand next to the bed. “Can you sit up?”

He nodded and struggled into an upright position.

The covers slid down, revealing his rippled abs, and my mouth went dry. I’d never had such a visceral reaction to an alpha before. I’d experienced lust many a time, but what I felt for Lex was raw and primal. My dick warmed, and my face flushed as need clawed at me. I was embarrassed, of course. I was supposed to be taking care of him, not lusting after him. I tried to ignore the desire to touch him and pulled up a chair.

“Shall I feed you?” I smiled.

He shook his head. “No.” He reached for the tray, and I helped him put it on his lap.

“Your color is still awful.”

He sipped the broth off the spoon he held. His hand shook slightly, and he grimaced. Once he’d swallowed, he said, “I feel like crap. I don’t think I can eat very much.”

“That’s okay. Anything is better than nothing.”

He nodded and took another spoonful. Then he set it down, as if holding the spoon was exhausting. “How did Charles take the news?”

I winced. “He was as big an asshole as you’d expect.”

“I’m sure.”

I studied him. “He thinks you’re faking just so you won’t have to talk to him.”

“Is that a surprise?” He met my gaze. “He doesn’t like me.”

“Understatement of the year.”

“Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “Can I use your phone later? I need to call work and let them know I’m alive.”

“Of course.”

“Unless phone calls aren’t allowed by You Know Who.”

“As far as I know, Charles isn’t controlling things like that.”

“Okay, good.” He took another mouthful of soup and then another. I was glad he seemed to have some appetite. I’d been worried he wouldn’t get anything down. He ate half the broth and one saltine, and then he set the spoon down. “That’s the best I can do.”

“You did great.” I smiled.

He studied me, his blue eyes wary. “Do you believe what he’s saying about me?”

“Charles?” I shook my head. “No.”

He dropped his gaze. “I’m not an angel. I’ve done… bad things.”