Page 25 of Consider The Lilies

“Not at all,” the doctor says as if it’s no big deal. “Male omegas mature at a different rate than females, but they’re just as sensitive. If he was living in a stressful environment, then it would affect his heat.” He holds up the card. “His hormone levels are good, and I’m confident his body will start responding soon. He simply needs a push to start his cycle.”

Jack nods, clearly relieved.

“Ten cc’s of an accelerant should help him along.” The doctor digs in his bag, pulling out a small red bottle. “I’ll also leave a few oral stimulants. Between the two, he should go into heat in a few days’ time. But let me caution you,” he looks up at Jack, “it’s going to hit him fast and hard. You’ll need to be here to tend to the boy when it happens.”

Jack pulls in a deep breath as his jaw juts forward. He looks angry again.

“I know you’re a busy man,” the doctor says as he pushes a needle into the bottle, “but if you want to keep this omega, you’ll need to be near.”

“Understood.” Jack’s dark eyes fall on my face, and I shy away from him. I feel like such a disappointment.

“We can't forget the vitamins.” The doctor pulls one more bottle out of his bag. This one is white with a ton of tiny words scribbled on the side. “Two a day. Every day.”

Jack nods, tossing both bottles into his bedside drawer.

“This will pinch a bit.” The doctor fills a needle with medicine before stabbing it into my upper arm. I groan as the burning sensation spreads down my arm and across my chest.

The urge to vomit slams into me and I breathe deeply through my mouth.

“Do you remember your omega relations classes from high school?” the doctor asks Jack and the alpha’s expression shifts. He looks annoyed.

“It’s been almost twenty years since high school,” he says flatly. “I don’t remember shit.”

The doctor nods as if that’s understandable. “Lots of touching. Scenting. Make sure he eats frequently. Lots of protein. He should put on weight pretty quickly. Omegas store fat much easier than alphas do,” he quickly adds. “Let his body heal, and his hormones will quickly follow.”

“And you’re sure I can fuck him?” Jack asks, and I pull the blanket over my head.I want to die.“His body isn’t reacting. I don’t want to hurt him.”

“It’ll be good for the boy,” the doctor says confidently, “but I do recommend lots of lube until he starts slicking.”

There’s that word again.Slick. I know my body is supposed to create it, but how does it get out of me? Does it come out like pee? Or more like sweat?

I hate that I don’t know these things.

“And you’ll want to quit smoking,” Dr. Pearson says, and Jack makes an angry noise. “Omegas are very sensitive to all those chemicals. Even smelling it on your clothes isn’t good for them.”

“Thank you, Pearson,” Jack says, and I hear their footsteps. I risk a peek, lowering the blanket just enough to see the pair next to the door. Jack shakes the doctor’s hand and the beta bows. Then he’s gone, leaving me all alone with Jack.

Scared he’s going to want to touch my privates again, I bring my knees up, trying to shield that part of me.

Go away,I chant inside my head.Leave me alone. Leave me alone.

“Omega.” The blanket is ripped off me, baring every bit of my naked body to the alpha. He looms over me, his dark gaze slipping over my body. He licks his lips as he stares at my bottom. “How the hell did I end up with an omega who hasn’t even touchedhimself?”

I’m sure he means something other than bathing, so I keep my mouth shut.

“Omegas really are built different than alphas,” he says, like it’s a joke. He walks across the room, leaving me naked on the center of the bed. “By the time I was your age, I had experienced multiple partners. Men. Women. Alphas and betas.” He opens a door, disappearing into what I assume is a bathroom or a closet, or maybe it’s a bathroom with a closet inside. “How anyone can remain as naive as you are, is beyond me,” he yells from the other room.

I scowl, wanting to tell him I’m not naive. I know plenty of things…just not things having to do with the bedroom. But I guess that’s all that matters to alphas. Maybe this is why Mari warned me to stay away from them—they don’t know anything useful.

“Are you hungry?” Jack asks as he steps back into the room. He changed rather quickly, now wearing a white linen button-up with short sleeves and a pair of tight black slacks.

“Yes, please,” I say, but I’m too scared to move.

“Good.” He places a pair of boxers and a long-sleeved gray shirt on the bed. “These will be too big, but they’ll have to do for now.”

Moving slowly, I push my stiff body off the bed. The shirt swallows me up, falling past my knees and covering my hands.The green-and-black plaid boxers don’t fit much better. They’re loose, hanging off my hips. I’m worried they’ll fall off when I move, but at least the shirt will hide anything if they do.

Jack patiently waits for me next to the bedroom door. Once I’m ready, his eyes trail over my face and down my body. I shift, uncomfortable under his gaze. “Do you need to use the bathroom?” He motions to a door on the other side of the room.

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