Page 32 of Ondine: Vol. 2

“I’m fine Ondine. I’ve been trying to find you. I’m so sorry I didn’t come after you quickly enough. By the time I got onto the street, you were gone. I searched everywhere. I went to the other clinics. I called hospitals. And I didn’t get fired. I quit after that.”

My hands are getting too cold. I turn off the water and grab onto his warm hands. His long fingers hold my hands together. His index finger must be broken, but he doesn’t make any indication that I’m hurting him.

“I ran into an alpha who offered to help. I was hours away from my heat. And I was so scared. I thought for sure you…”

“What? That I’d be angry at you?”

I nod. His face is all screwed up.

“I forced you.”

“No, honey. No. You surprised me. And I was so worried you were going to regret being with me. But you didn’t force me. At all. That was the greatest fucking thing. I’m so happy it was me that you wanted to help you. I always want to help you. Ondine, I’m madly in love with you. You got to know. I wanted you to feel safe having me as your room manager, but you gotta know how I feel about you. I think you’re incredible.”

That’s too much information at one time. My crush has feelings for me. He wanted what we did? I didn’t force him? He’s in love with me? And he’s been trying to find me.

I wipe the tears from my eyes and feel myself calming down. Arnie likes me? He’s not mad at me?

I take a deep breath and feel all that anxiety I carried around because of that day melt away.

“Oh Arnie,” I say and wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug. “You’re here.”

“I’m here. I’m here. It’s going to be ok.”

I breathe him in. Betas don’t have insane scents like alphas or omegas. But they still have their own unique smell. And this is Arnie. I rub my cheeks and mouth over his skin. I give in to my omega tendencies. I even whimper as I rub into him.

“You’re going to kill me,” he groans.

“You’re in love with me?” I ask as I hold on to him like we are falling.

“Yes, from the first moment I saw you. Every time I got to talk with you was the best day of my life. Taking care of you has been my greatest pleasure. I’ve been so worried. Please tell me you’re ok. Are you ok?”

There’s no reason to hide anything from Arnie. He’s always gotten the unfiltered version of me. He’s given me sponge baths between alphas. I was naked and lethargic and he treated me like I was the most precious thing. He fed me cut-up apples and held my head in his lap while I came out of my heat. I’ve had to give him my feedback on my sexual partners. Comprehensive feedback. He knows what I like. He knows my favorite color and what smells make me queasy. No one has ever known me like him.

So when he asks if I’m ok, I break all the way down. I lean my entire body into him and I sob.

“Things have been so out of control. Oh my god, Arnie, I found my scent match! He didn’t mean to bond me but he couldn’t help himself. I was being so needy and I was so sick. I knew his bite would help me. He’s actually the best. You may like him. He speaks his mind like you. I think he’s a good alpha. It’s so new and I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Arnie kisses my cheeks and my hair while I speak.

“Where’s your alpha now?”

“He’s got some business to take care of. It’s complicated. I was kidnapped and forced to take part in a scent test…”

“Ondine.”

“I’m fine now. I’m fine. The guy who did it and Freddie have history. He’ll be back with me soon. Sebastian is with him. Sorry, he’s an alpha in a pack that’s now courting me…Oh my god. I am on my way now to a pack house to accept their offer to court me. Is this crazy? Is this too much?”

I shouldn’t have been as open. He’s a beta. There’s no way any of this seems normal. I have a man and I’m on my way to take three more, and all the while, he’s professing his love to me.

I’m so insensitive.

Arnie stops kissing my hair and tips my face up to him. “You deserve a big pack, Ondine. And I’m not scared to fight for your attention. You had a catalogue of men at the Clinic, so don’t think I haven’t done it before.”

I beam. He’s so right. Not one of those alphas were ever going to dethrone Arnie.

I whine as I rub my body against him.

“Arnie, I am so sorry, but I need you to touch me. Please.”