Page 46 of Trust No Alpha

“Do you?”

“Do I what?”

“Even know me?”

“I—don’t. Yet. But I am getting to. You’re an honorable man.”

Thorne said something but his voice rumbled and I didn’t catch the words.

“What?”

“Kris, can you hear me?”

“Of course I can hear you,” I replied. I turned my head and saw him watching me with scintillating dark eyes. Those eyes, so deeply brown I wanted to sink into them, into that steady, strong gaze, and float. Just float. And not have to worry about hired men searching for me, or Father’s seeming lack of concern in any of his private messages I had spied on.

It hurt. It all hurt. My diagnosis. My family’s response to it. My entire identity stolen away. My future dissolved to nothing.

Over the past days, that pain did not decrease, though Thorne did everything he could to make me feel welcome and at home here.

But today my mood and my stomach made it my worst day so far.

Thorne continued to watch me and my body liked the attention but tensed at the same time. The blood rushed in my ears like the sound of a nearby ocean.

“I asked if you are feeling unwell.” Thorne’s voice came into my brain like an echo.

“I’m fine. I just feel a little stomach upset.”

I saw Thorne through a blurry gaze get up and walk into the kitchen. The air felt cold, then warm.

I heard footsteps first, and saw him return. He held out his hand and a bottle of water. “Aspirin,” he said.

“I’m fine, but thanks for these.” I took the pills and swallowed them. The water went down cool and clean against my parched throat.

“I’m worried about you,” he said.

My mind cleared a little as I processed his words. “Why?”

“You’re flushed.”

“Well, you have a fire going and the heat on. It’s maybe a bit hot in here.” I stared at the leaping flames in the hearth and felt the needlelike touches as my skin broke out in a sweat.

“The heat is off.”

But it was so hot. I glanced at him, frowning.

Thorne reached out and placed the back of his hand against my forehead. I started to jerk back but his skin was so cool against my own that I forced myself to relax just to feel it for a few seconds longer. Heaven!

“What other symptoms do you have?” he asked. His voice was like a whisper all around me.

“I don’t know. I’m just mad at Father, you know? I can see no indication that he cares. He simply wants me back under his roof, under his control.”

“Some see anyone that holds other than Alpha status as a lesser being, inferior.” Thorne’s voice calmed me. The tone was like music, resonating in my ears like a grounding, comforting force.

Thorne continued. “Or they are embarrassed by Omegas, by their out of control Alpha need for them. It is of note that your father never had a mate, never bonded.”

“I wondered.” My throat felt dry and I drank more water. “I never had the courage to ask him.”

“Hmm.”