Untouched Omega

Chapter 6 - Vander

I feel like a heartless asshole, standing here and watching her struggling to her feet without offering to help.

If her words are true, and her scent tells me they are, then I'd be an idiot to tempt fate and move close to her.

The panic she just pulled herself out of, by her own bootstraps, might I add, hadn't been feigned.

Nor are her signs of pain.

It chafes to hold back my Alpha instincts, the ones demanding I protect and help the weaker dynamic. As awful as her clothes smell, they cannot completely mask the allure of her Omega markers.

I've met my lifemate, her spicy scent forever branded in my mind, yet still the urge to conquer this unclaimed, vulnerable Omega pulls at me.

I want to punch Jumoke in the face again, just to relieve a bit more frustration, but I know it would do no good. Seeing this woman's horrified expression and deep agony at our violent display curbs my urge to chase down Jumoke.

She makes it to her feet, one shoulder tucked tight against her side while her other palm braces her against the wall. Leaning in the corner for a moment, she meets my eyes.

Her breaths, though shallow, even out as I watch her iron will clamp down on her expression of pain.

"I'll gather everyone in the cockpit," Dirk's clenched jaw makes his words sound harsh. Shya clings to the doorjamb, her unease making her tremble as she waits for her lifemate to cross the room. Once he reaches her, he gathers her to his chest, turning them so he's blocking her from the orange-eyed Omega.

"Dirk, stop," she squeaks, trying to slide around him so she can see Jumoke's lifemate.

"Anastasia isn't bad. She's good. She helped me." Her feminine voice shakes, the stress of the last few minutes apparent in every word. Yet, the stern, pleading tone brooks no argument. She will be heard.

"I know, Little One." Dirk's massive finger tucks Shya's golden hair behind her ear.

"I want to help her," she states, large shimmering pink eyes shining up to beg her huge lifemate.

"Shya."

The surprisingly strong yet gentle voice comes from the corner of the room. Dirk pivots so Shya may see Anastasia, but tightens his hold on the leaning Omega.

"You have helped me. Thank you, sweet soul. Listen to your lifemate. Distance your body from mine. I am not safe."

Dirk's stillness sharpens my senses, and when I turn my attention to the invisible bonds between them, I stand as stationary as Dirk.

Shya's eyes snap from pink to grey, the agitation in her emotions flatlining.

The pain-riddled, miserable Omega forcing herself to stand as regal as a queen soothes Shya with such gentle love a lump forms in my throat.

A lump forms in my throat.

What the fucking hell.

Her tender, motherly comfort makes me want to weep at its pure beauty.

Locking the emotions into a dense ball, I swallow it down and force myself to analyze the situation.

She's dangerous, yes, but her current actions aren't feigned. Her calm assurance pulls Shya from her angst, which settles her into a malleable bundle of Omega. Dirk scoops his lifemate into his arms. He turns wide blue eyes to Anastasia, perusing her face for a moment before the startled look fades from his expression.