Page 192 of Omega for the Pack

“Do you like reading books?” I asked, grabbing a nature magazine from the nightstand I left for guests. I instantly saw the pile of crumpled papers scattered underneath the bed that Gabe furiously ripped from one of my favorite books. I tried to piece the shredded papers together but soon gave up. It was my fault for bringing him here anyway.

“I want mommy,” he said, sucking his thumb.

“She’s just in the bathroom and will be here soon,” I comforted him. Then, opening the magazine, I pointed out the various giraffes and animals. “This giraffe is lonely because his neck is longer than everyone else.” I was horrible at story-telling, but he was engrossed all the same.

“No friend for giraffe?” asked Gabe.

“Nope, but one day he does,” I replied, continuing to make up a random story as we flipped through the pages.

“Time for breakfast,” said Ryan, coming in with a plate of scrambled eggs and a waffle covered in syrup.

“Yummy waffles!” said Gabe.

“Good,” said Ryan, plopping down onto the floor next to us. I was getting worried about Vanessa. She’d been in there a while without a sound.

“I don’t hear anything from the bathroom,” I said. “Ryan, watch the kid. I’ll check on Vanessa.”

Leaving the now-happy Gabe with Ryan, I walked to the bathroom and knocked on the door twice.

Nothing.

I twisted the doorknob, hoping it wasn’t locked. It wasn’t, thank god.

Peeking in, I saw her outline behind the white shower curtain sitting in the tub, her head slumped to the side.

My heart began beating faster.

“Vanessa?”

I rushed over and flung the curtain open. Her eyes were closed, and her face was pale, with tears streaming down her face. I noticed her ample breasts, her pink nipples round from the cold. I pressed my hand over her left breast and was relieved to feel her breathing. “Wake up, Vanessa.” Then, placing a hand on her shoulder, I gently shook her awake.

Vanessa’s eyes shot open in panic.

“What? What?” she asked, disoriented, looking down at her naked body in the tub. I let out a sigh of relief. She was alive and okay. “Oh, I must have fallen asleep.”

“What’s wrong? What were you dreaming about?” I asked, concerned. I wanted to wipe her tears away, but I didn’t trust myself to touch her again. My cock was stirring to life at the sight of her like this.

“You know how everyone has that creepy alpha uncle?” she said slowly.

Dread filled my heart. I knew where this was going.

“What happened? Did he touch you?!”

“He did things to me that I can’t even say,” she sighed, blowing a strand of hair away from her face. “And my aunt despised me for it. She blamed me, actually.”

“That fucker,” I growled. “I will personally kill him myself when we’re back home.”

“He’s not alive anymore,” she said blankly. Her face not displaying a semblance of emotion at his death.

“Good,” I said. “Were your aunt and uncle trying to set you up for the Omega Auctions?”

“No,” she said and clammed up, looking away. She was hiding something from me, and I was going to find out no matter what. But she looked shaken right now from her nightmares.

“Gabe was crying, so I came up here to check on you,” I said, my breath catching in my throat at the sight of her lean naked body under the water. The bubbles from the soap moved past, revealing her luscious breasts. I had to get out of here. I couldn’t be here. But I was transfixed by the sight of her.

“I’m sorry,” she said apologetically. “I wanted to bathe early and relax before Gabe woke up. But I didn’t think I’d fall asleep.”

“Hey, it’s fine,” I said, straightening up.

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