Page 27 of Consider The Lilies

Lucy’s smile crinkles the edges of her blue eyes. “I’m glad.” She steps to one side, allowing the two betas to set the trays down—one in front of Jack, and one in front of me.

The amount of food set before me is downright intimidating. There’s a large steak, three shiny eggs, a heap of cubed potatoes, and a big bowl of diced fruit—I recognize the grapes and apples, but there are tiny cubes of something orange I’ve never had before.

“This is a lot,” I whisper in awe. It would take Mari and I a year to collect this much food, but this alpha has it all right here at his fingertips. I turn and look at his striking profile. He’s oblivious to my gaze, cutting up his steak.

I know alphas are scary. Mari always said they were. She’d remind me constantly that they were vicious and violent and couldn’t be trusted. But it seems this alpha is different.

Jack still scares me, but he’s also been so kind to me. He’s given me food and clothes, and he held me all night, keeping me warm.

While I still very much like girls, I think I would be okay with being his mate. It’s been nice so far.

“Omega,” Jack barks, and I jump, startled by his harsh tone. “Eat.”

I pick up my knife and fork, digging in. It’s so hard not to eat like an animal, but I’m starving. I haven’t had a proper meal in days. And even then, it was a handful of berries and a few bites of a small fish Mari had caught.

Taking small, measured bites, I try everything. The meat tastes better than anything we cooked in the woods, and the potatoes are crisp along the edges and soft inside. The fruit is divine, especially the orange cubes. But I avoid the eggs. While I’ve eaten many raw bird eggs over the last two years, I preferthem mixed up. These are somehow both cooked and raw at the same time. The white part is solid, but the yolk jiggles when I poke it with my fork. It’s too weird.

All too quickly, my stomach begins to ache, and I put my fork down.

“Eat more,” Jack says firmly.

“I can’t.” I place a hand over my stomach.I already feel like I’m going to burst.

Jack’s eyes narrow at my barely touched plate. I ate everything I could, but I’ve hardly put a dent in it.

“You are grossly malnourished,” he says so loudly that I flinch. “You need to gain weight.” He leans over, grabbing my forearm. “Omegas shouldn’t bruise like this.” He pulls my sleeve down, revealing dark purple marks on my wrist.

My mouth falls open with shock, and he releases me. I look at my other wrist too, taking in the ugly splotches. They’re clearly from last night. Jack was so strong, forcing my arms above my head as he looked at every forbidden inch of me.

A rush of something…confusing…slips over me. It feels like excitement, but it makes my stomach flex in an almost uncomfortable way.

“Eat,” Jack says again, and I pick up my fork, eager to please him.

At Breakfast

Stanley

Anger and lust war within me as I watch Stefan eat. He’s so sheltered and unbelievably pure. I was never allowed that kind of innocence as a child—but that’s what happens when you’re forced to survive on the streets.But it seems Stefan grew up in the woods. And whoever protected him did an excellent job, but it’s not exactly doing him any favors.

His question from last night replays in my mind:“Hard?” he asked, eyes as big as saucers. “What do you mean? What gets hard?”

He’s so pure, he hasn’t even touched himself. There’s so much I have to teach him. So much pleasure to help him experience. And I’ve never been so excited.

I know some would see me as evil to corrupt something so innocent, but I’m still an alpha, and he’s an omega. He was made to pleasure my kind, and I’m determined to enjoy him. I’ve gonethrough too much just to let him go. Plus, he’d probably be taken advantage of by someone else. Abused.

No. It’s better he learn about these things from me. And I’ll be gentle…if I can help it.

Stefan takes another small bite of steak, chewing very slowly. He’s doing good so far. He’s eaten almost half of his steak and most of the fruit. I know it’s hard to eat a lot when you’re used to being hungry, but it’s for his own good.

“What’s this?” Stefan holds up his fork. A tiny piece of orange fruit is speared on the end.

“Mango,” Lucy says as she refills his juice glass. “Do you like it?”

The omega pops it between his lips, then he chews. Slowly, his eyes float closed, and he smiles. “I love it,” he says with a happy little sigh.

I’m glad he’s enjoying the meal. It’s weird, but I feel a little protective over the boy. Deep down, I know it’s a simple biological response—the alpha in me wanting to protect a weak omega—but I can’t deny how nice it is to have something so fragile reliant on your strength and power.

“Good morning.” Yuki strolls into the room tits first. “I brought you something.” She sets a black bottle of lube on the table next to my coffee. It’s tiny. Barely enough for one fuck. Maybe two, if I want to risk hurting him.

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