Page 10 of Untamed Omega

“Do you eat like this every day?” The table was laden with platters of incredible food. And I didn’t just think it was wonderful because I’d been nearly starved for as long as I could remember. Pork roast, glazed sweet potatoes, bowls of green beans and fresh peas and carrots, baskets of blueberry muffins… And someone came around telling everyone to save room for dessert because a female whose name I didn’t catch had made her chocolate raspberry trifle. Eight bites in, I knew I would not have room for dessert. The healer warned me to take it slow, and my experience after eating snacks in the van held a vivid place in my mind, but it was so hard not to gobble down everything I could get. Because starvation was even more vivid.

My beast beat beneath my skin, demanding more and more and more. He’d felt the effects of our starvation for too long to be satisfied with a few scraps. The banquet before us overwhelmed his deprived state. Shifters had a unique ability to provide for themselves when things got tough, food wise. We could don our fur and move through the landscape, sating ourselves with victuals that might not work for us in human form but could be transformed into nourishment by our beasts. In captivity, I’d been denied even this. There were no plants or small animals for him to eat in the labs.

“Yes,” Kellan replied, and I had to scramble to remember what I’d asked. Oh, of course. About whether this was a normal meal. “Not everyone comes here every night, but all are welcome, and the meals are good and filling.”

Good and filling? Try incredible. I cut my pork into tiny pieces and forced myself to chew slowly in hopes I wouldn’t make myself sick. The others seemed to take it in stride, themountains of delicious food, and maybe, if I stayed here, I would too, one day. But it was hard to imagine.

Also, why would I stay here? They were getting me on my feet, but it wasn’t as if I had anything to contribute to the general good. No particular skills or schooling that might help them with their mission. I was just one more victim of an evil institution. Kellan had stayed—but his mate was here.

“Take your time with that, omega.” The voice of the healer washed over me, his scent overlaying the food, but not in a bad way. “Pork might be a little heavy after your deprivation.”

I looked up to see him taking a seat across from me, nothing but kind concern in his expression. “Hi.” Lifting a piece on my fork, I showed him how tiny I’d cut it up. “I’m eating as slowly as I can.”

“See that you do.” The shifters around the table passed the platters and bowls in his direction, and he scooped healthy servings of everything on the empty plate at his place. “If you can’t keep it down, it won’t do you any good.”

“I understand.” Placing the bit in my mouth, I chewed it twenty times before swallowing. “I hope it’s all right I came here. Kellan invited me.”

“Of course.” He spooned gravy over a mountain of fluffy mashed potatoes. I hadn’t seen them because they were at the opposite end of the table, but now I wanted them too. But the healer wouldn’t be pleased if I added more to my plate. He’d already warned me to be careful. “Everyone here is welcome. I’m pleased you felt well enough to walk here.”

“I’m better,” I said, spearing a morsel of sweet potato. “And I was afraid of lying around, but Kellan told me to take my time, that his healing wasn’t quick.”

“As long as you need.” He added a serving of peas and carrots and then picked up his fork. “This meal has been too long in coming.”

“What do you mean?” I had been lifting my glass, but at the healer’s words, my hand shook and water splashed onto the tablecloth.

“Nothing. It’s just nice to see you at the table enjoying your food.” He loaded his fork with potatoes and vegetables before bringing it to his lips. “How long since you had a good meal—not counting this morning?”

“Oh, I don’t know. My sense of time from there is beyond muddy. But the last meal I remember before I was taken was breakfast at home. We had eggs and pancakes. With blueberry syrup, and then I hurried to do my chores on the land because I was meeting someone for lunch.” The day, one I’d run over in my mind thousands of times while in my lonely cell, came back in vivid detail. “I borrowed my brother’s car and headed for town. I was really excited, but then the vehicle stalled out right in the middle of the road. The car behind me was honking, and I managed to steer off to the shoulder. I went to call my lunch date, but my phone was dead and my brother had no charger. He took terrible care of his car, always had.

“Mine was in the shop, though, for a broken hose, and I had no choice but to use this one.”

“And then?” The healer’s voice carried right along with my story.

I studied my plate, except the images from the day I described overlaid the pork and sweet potatoes. “And then I got out. I was going to walk the rest of the way to town. I’d be late, but my date would understand. He was my…”

I lifted my gaze to him.

“Go on, omega.”

“I wanted to hurry, didn’t want him to leave because I didn’t show up, couldn’t call and let him know why I wasn’t there. A van pulled over and a guy asked if I wanted a ride. I didn’t want to be late.” My eyes filled with tears. “I was meeting my mate.”My bear roared in recognition. “I was meeting... How did I not know until now? I have to go—I’m so sorry.”

Pushing back from the table, I stumbled to the door, finding more strength in my panic than I’d have given myself credit for. But I couldn’t face him. I’d been so stupid, and it cost me, cost us, everything.

The young, healthy male he’d been ready to spend his life with was gone, replaced by this shell, this wreck, this mess.

Chapter Eleven

Markus

Sam had run. He ran from us. He ran from me.

I thought he was running because he’d figured out who I was.

I followed him out to the back porch and never intended to chase until he looked over his shoulder and then began to run. Terror and something else dwelled in his eyes. When we were mated, before now, I could tell everything about him from any look. I knew his face. Every line. Every contour and dip of his body.

And now, I had no idea what he was thinking, but I had to find out.

I chased him like our lives depended on it because they did. I’d let him get away once, but I never would again unless he said he wanted me out of my life. His rejection would splinter my heart, but at least I would know.

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