Page 28 of The Alpha's Fake Mate

Orion:

I suppose that will have to do.

Holland

My laugh filled up the empty, dusky room my office. I had never turned on a proper light, but it was peaceful like this with just the glow of the computer screen and the amber hall light pinpointing this new reality I had entered.

Holland.

I could never tell him this moment made me feel closer to an Omega than I’d ever been, or he’d keep himself away from me. Forever.

But if I were to be completely truthful, he was everything I had ever wanted in an Omega.

Chapter Nine

Holland

The stained glass dragonfly lamp bathed the room in a low pink glow.

It was my favorite item in the office. I didn’t ask for it. When the room was set up for me this morning, and a new desk, desk chair and couch brought in, as well as a computer with a huge monitor, the lamp also showed up. The lamp made the room less sterile, more mine, even though I didn’t think of anything in it as completelymineyet.

Orion made good on his promise and got me a room for my office along the hall usually reserved for teachers. The window faced the pool patio.

I wondered who had been moved out of here to accommodate me. I didn’t usually come into this area unless I had a meeting with a specific teacher, and that had happened only when I was younger, and rarely.

I had already opened the window to the fresh air and chlorine scent that calmed me.

I sat in my chair and stared out at the rippling blue water and the chain link fence beyond which the rolling lawn seemed to stretch without end. I did not turn on the computer yet. I tried to bask in this new space, this strange job I’d gotten all because I’d written a condescending email to the new Alpha owner of Zilly’s.

I should have felt great, light as air. Instead, there was a sort of thickness in me, like a wind full of thunder, or what a jungle might feel like, hot and damp, pressing into eyes and skin and mouth.

What had I done? What had I really gotten myself into here?

I did nothing for two hours.

Sen and Chirl stopped by, each on his own, to see how I was doing and if I needed anything.

They were ever vigilant in looking out for me. Both men really did care about me. Chirl had known me my whole life. Sen knew me better now than most. But in their eyes I saw my reflection in the narrowing of the brows and the extra sheen of moisture in their gazes. They saw a victim, a boy to be pitied. The rape and torture was the visage I wore in their gazes and I could never escape that.

Maybe they were right to see me that way.

My wrist still ached late at night, as well as my ankle, though everything had healed well. All the bruises were gone from the outside,

Inside, however, told another story.

It was late in the day when I finally turned on the computer.

Already I was getting tons of emails from my brothers here, as well as the workers, those who taught, cooked, cleaned, babysat, and served us Omega to Omega.

I separated the wish lists into categories: Immediate Needs, Long-term Needs, and Luxuries. I figured I’d add subcategories as I went.

It was tedious to go over all the lists, but I lost myself in the work and before I knew it, a knock came at my door and I realized it was dark out.

I got up and opened it.

Harly stood in the hall. “They sent me to tell you you’re missing dinner.”

“I didn’t realize the time.”