Page 24 of In Their Arms

I look up to find an Omega smiling at me, his eyes sharp with interest, his posture relaxed in a way that makes me feel even more on edge. He tilts his head, clearly waiting for me to respond.

I nod. “Yeah.”

“Well, it’s not so bad here. I’m Phillip. Especially once you start meeting people.” His eyes flick down to my mouth, lingering. “Someone like you won’t be alone for long.”

I don’t respond to him, waiting for him to restart his conversation with one of the others around him.Let me wallow in peace, thanks.It’s a few moments of peace as I tune out the world suffocating me before Wilson drops into a seat across from me, sliding a sandwich in front of me.

“Aw, the good Samaritan is looking out for you! You must be one of the problem Omegas, then.”

They all start laughing and I just stare at the offending triangle, wondering why Wilson would go to the lengths he has. When I look at him, he’s offering me that small, knowing smile he did yesterday. “You can’t get anything done on an empty stomach. You’ll need your energy.” He lifts his hand and rubs the side of his neck, fingers pressing against the skin there.Oh.

Letting out a slow breath, I pick at the sandwich, tearing off a small bite and forcing myself to chew. It tastes fine, but it sits heavy in my mouth, my stomach clenching at the thought of swallowing. I manage, pushing down the unease, keeping my focus on the bread in front of me instead of the weight of Wilson’s gaze.

It feels safe to have someone watching out for me and also terrifying that someone has to. I pick more little bites to stuff into my mouth, Wilson’s comforting smile spurring me on to eat a little more until I’m tuning back into the chatter around me.

“Oh my gosh, we need to be on our best behavior,” one Omega says, her voice full of excitement. “The sponsors are coming!”

“I wonder if they’ll scent match an Omega.”

“Oh my god, could you imagine? Just sitting here, eating your breakfast, and boom—you lock eyes with some gorgeous Alpha who changes your whole world?”

Someone sighs, a dreamy and soft sound.

Another Omega cuts in. “Do you think the dark-haired Thor is coming too?”

The food in my mouth turns to ash.

“God, I hope so,” another says. “He’s the only reason I don’t mind when they stop by.”

“He’s so dreamy,” one of them giggles. “All fierce and brooding. I’d let him claim me in a heartbeat.”

A cold wave crashes over me, my breath catching in my throat. My hands shake as I press my palms against my thighs, trying to steady myself. My vision narrows, everything else fading out except for the pounding in my ears. Once upon a time, I called Hudson Thor because I was stupid and needy and thought that he could give me the life I wanted. It was a dumb joke and it’s one I wish I never made. “Wait.” My voice comes out strained, barely above a whisper. “Hudson is coming?”

“Oh my god, yes. Have you met him before? He’s one of the big sponsors.”

“He’s terrifying,” someone admits, grinning. “But in a hot way.”

The blood drains from my face. I push my chair back, the legs scraping against the floor as I stand, my body screaming at me to run. The voices around me blur into meaningless noise, my stomach twisting. Wilson is saying something as my legs carry me across the cafeteria, past the confused stares, past the Omegas still giggling about Hudson like he’s some untouchable, godlike figure instead of the monster that ruined my life.

My breath comes in sharp, uneven gasps as I shove open the bathroom door, gripping the edge of the sink as my stomach lurches. I barely make it in time as acid burns up my throat, my body curling inward as I retch, my hands gripping the porcelain so hard my fingers ache.

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to steady myself, trying to breathe through the nausea, even as the room tilts, my reflection swimming in the mirror in front of me. That’s when I see Wilson just out of the corner of my eye, casually leaning against the wall, watching me through the mirror.

I swallow hard, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. “I don’t understand you. You work here. I know you said you don’t agree with everything, but this could get you fired. Or worse.”

Wilson steps forward, his hands going to the collar of his shirt. He pulls it down, just enough to reveal a jagged scar running along his shoulder, deep and ugly, like something was ripped from him rather than just removed. “I know. I’ve been around some of the worst.” His fingers brush over the scar. “Thought being owned was love. Thought gruff words and heavy hands meant I was cared for.”

I frown, my stomach still unsettled, my fingers gripping the sink as I process his words.

“Why didn’t you tell me that before?”

Wilson lets the collar of his shirt snap back into place, his gaze meeting mine in the mirror. “Because it had to be your decision.” He exhales, rubbing the back of his neck. “I didn’t want to influence you. This isn’t something you can take back. If you do this, it’s forever.”

I turn to face him fully, my breath still uneven. “You said it would hurt.”

“It does.” Wilson nods. “Removing a bite isn’t a pleasurable experience. It scars. People see it. It’s an open wound that takes time to heal, and even then, the ache never really goes away. You’ll feel the bond trying to pull at something that isn’t there,” he continues. “Your body will crave something it can never have again. Your other bonds will help, but you’ll still feel it, Luca. You’ll always feel it.”

The weight of his words sinks deep into my bones.

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