Page 9 of Your Wild Omega (The Feral Actress #2)

Chapter seven

Red

“So, how exactly do you intend to go about leash training a feral alpha?” Callisto crosses his arms as he leans on the bench, watching me eat scrambled eggs on toast from Zack’s lap.

I reach over my shoulder to offer a square of toast to Zack, feeling how softly his lips brush my fingertips as he takes it.

Rickon leans one elbow on the table as he eats, and every time his eyes drift to me, they’re dreamy.

The three of us slept for sixteen hours and we’ve all woken up in better moods.

Except for Callisto, it seems.

I swallow and lick my lips clean. “Well, I keep thinking about my horse riding lessons. Firmness and treats, Serena says.”

Callisto snorts. “He’s a carnivore, not a horse. More like taming a lion.”

The OCB agent watches us from the couch where he sips his coffee. From the explanation Rickon gave me when we woke up, they’ll be taking shifts to observe us, in case something goes wrong. At least until Callisto gets his rehabilitation license.

I switch my gaze back to the handsome lawyer.

He’s really done a lot of favors for us, but he can be super pushy like this, when he doesn’t like my choices.

With my film contract advance, I should have enough money to start house hunting, thanks to Rickon demanding a bigger percentage upfront.

And yet, if Callisto’s the one getting a license so Zack can live with us, I can’t exactly leave him. And why do I feel glad about that?

“I never said I was going to feed him carrots,” I say, cutting another toast square. “We don’t even know what he likes yet.” I grin and pass the bite-sized piece over my shoulder. “Well, except for me.”

The lawyer rolls his eyes. “Yes, we all got that picture loud and clear, but—”

“Bastard!” The high-pitched squawk comes with a wild flapping of wings.

I giggle, accidentally sending toast and egg flying, before jumping to my feet and dashing over to the birdcage.

Rickon's parrot has hilarious timing. “Ozzie! I didn’t even say hello.” I lean down and stick a finger through the bars, and the moody bird immediately bites it.

But it’s more of a nibble, so I can see he doesn’t mean to be nasty.

Zack’s arms close around my waist, and he growls softly next to my ear.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to let you out yet, Ozzie,” I inform the parrot, who tilts his head, studying the newcomer over my shoulder.

“Oooh, fuck off.” His little green-and-orange head bounces energetically as he cackles at full volume. “Ozzie, Ozzie.”

I chuckle and slide around in Zack’s grip until I can get one arm over his shoulder. “I’m sure that’s his way of saying hello. This is Rickon’s bird, and his name is Ozzie.”

Zack’s mouth moves like he’s trying out sounds, but he doesn’t make a noise. His confusion leaches through our bond.

“Bird,” I repeat once, before scratching Ozzie’s feathered head. “You stay in there until Zack gets used to you, Ozzie. Can’t guarantee you won’t get eaten.”

Ozzie bounces up and down. “Get out, get out.”

Rickon groans and drops his head onto the table. “You’d think he’d only heard insults his entire life.”

Callisto winces. The reaction reminds me Rickon has plenty of pain in his past, and I haven’t even heard all the details yet. My alpha is so generous with me, I’ll have to make sure he doesn’t get neglected while I deal with Zack’s clinginess.

I take Zack’s hand and lead him back to the table, gently squeezing Rickon’s shoulder as we pass. Wariness feeds through my bond with Zack. He’s tense and keeps eyes on the OCB agent and Callisto at all times, but thankfully he feels less chaotic than a day ago.

After a minute of silence as we dig into our food again, Callisto rinses his coffee mug and drops it in the dishwasher, slamming the door rather loudly.

“Red, I know you’re enjoying this, but you have to take it more seriously.

I’ve done everything I can to get your alpha out of custody, but if he attacks someone again—”

I shoot him my most furious glare. “You think I enjoy knowing my alpha had his humanity beaten out of him? You think I enjoy feeling his fear that everything in the world is out to kill him?” I fist my hands up as bitter heat lodges in my throat.

Callisto wilts, but I’m not done.

“You think I enjoy the way small dark spaces close in around both me and him, reminding us of how people took and took from us until even breathing became unbearable?” My voice rises as the memories flood in, and I grip the table to steady myself.

I’m overreacting because I’ve got a live connection to a constant emotional overload—but everything I said is true.

Zack squirms out from under me with a fierce snarl. He squares up, facing Callisto with alpha domination pouring from him.

I smother a groan. I keep forgetting I’m not the only person with a direct link to emotions. Since I’m one of Zack’s favorite things, I’ll use myself as a reward for now. I spin around, balancing my ass on the table.

“Zack, stop,” I say, resting my hand over his mouth.

Surprised, he hesitates and glances at me, blue eyes widening.

“Good boy.” Grabbing his borrowed T-shirt, I tug him down to meet me and kiss him soundly.

Zack braces his hands on either side of me, deepening the kiss, and I lock my arms around his neck.

As annoying as he is, Callisto’s right. If Zack gets into any more trouble, the powers that be will take him away from me. I pull back to catch my breath, and Zack buries his nose in my shoulder to sniff me.

“I hope you trust me, Zack,” I whisper, stroking his uneven brown hair. He’ll have to if we’re going to teach him about life.

Callisto’s strained voice floats over my shoulder. “Should I get you a clicker that’s used for dog training?”

“If you think it could help,” I shoot back, even though I know he’s being sarcastic.

A cabinet door slams, and then Callisto’s footsteps sound on the stairs. Zack tracks his progress until he’s out of sight, vibrating.

Rickon sighs. “He’s just worried, Red. I know he’s not going about it the right way, but try not to be too angry with him.”

“I know.” The piece of buttered toast on my plate shreds under my fingers. “I’m grateful. I am. Zack and I only made it back thanks to him,” I mutter. “But I could do with less of the attitude.”

“Yeah,” Rickon says, slumping in his seat. “So do you have a plan?”

I nod, glad to move on. “If I write a list, do you think you could go shopping?”

“Sure.” Rickon smiles and clears the table, moving slowly so he doesn’t startle my wild alpha.

A more considerate guy couldn’t exist in the universe. I mean, he even let Zack kiss him last night. My body heats as I remember the way they responded to each other. Would they both ever want to take it further? Zack felt so curious, so I know all of this is new to him.

Rickon drops a kiss on my head. “Write your list now, Red. Sooner we get started, the better, because you’re due on set in eight days.”

Fuck, I’d lost count.

I slide over to the next seat and turn to study Zack.

He shoots out a hand to capture my wrist, unwilling to have me out of reach.

He lifts a bread crust, studies it, and then pops one end in his mouth to chew slowly.

We’ll have to teach him everything: how to talk, dress, wash, eat well.

He’ll need an education and bunches of emotional support for his inner rage, which simmers all the time through the bond.

The heat in my body dissipates, replaced by an ominous chill.

Can I really get Zack settled enough to accompany me out of this house in a little over a week? We’ll need a miracle.

Rickon unloads the shopping bags on the table, and I open packages and line things up with Zack trailing a step behind me. I trace my fingers over a heavy-duty leather collar, wondering if I’m doing the right thing.

“Having second thoughts?” Rickon asks, hugging me from the side.

I lean into his embrace with a sigh. “Not exactly. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him out of a cage, but I’m sure I’ll get complaints from the human ethics commission or whatever.” From people with no idea what Zack or I have been through.

I worry my lip through my teeth as I study the plain black leather with a silver buckle, leash ring, and locking mechanism. “Say, Rickon, what’s this going to do for my image as an actress?”

He steps away and runs a hand through his hair. “They’ll say you’re an attention seeker, trying to make it big through your story instead of your skills.”

I scoff and pick the collar up. “I’m not asking anyone to notice my story.” The less said about my past, the better.

Rickon throws me a lopsided smile. “At least that collar’s designed for humans, not dogs. I found a proper adult toys store.” His plush lips turn up more and he leans across the corner of the table to stroke my hand. “Gave me so many naughty ideas.”

I snort. He always makes me laugh, no matter how dire the situation.

I hold the collar around my neck, the leather cool on my skin. That dark, foul room from my heats at the trafficking hub, with the table and restraints looms in front of me, ready to suck me dry. I choke as the horror presses in, and rip the collar away. Sweat trickles down my shoulder blades.

“Red?” Rickon massages my back, and Zack licks my bond mark, startling me out of the living nightmare.

“Sorry, I just—” I suck in a breath and steady myself on the table. “Bad memories.”

Zack curls protectively around my back, shielding me from the invisible threat. His faint growl quivers against my spine.

Rickon’s pale green eyes glisten with empathy as he takes the leather band from my hand. “Do you want to talk about it?”

I study him, taking in his pale face and intelligent eyes. Part of me wants to open up and tell him everything, but I can’t. Not yet. I shake my head.

Rickon slides past Zack to hold my upper arms, massaging lightly. “Okay, Biscuit. I’m here for whatever you need.”