Omega (Alpha & Omega #1)

{Chapter Fourteen}

They were back to themselves when I finally stepped out of the bathroom. They were both seated on the bed, seemingly lost in thought.

When I walked out, they looked up at me.

"Sleep with us," Cayson said.

I blinked in confusion, looking out at the still-bright sky.

"No." I shook my head.

"Mates sleep together," Keon explained.

"Mates also have sex," I said. I immediately regretted it. A small light behind their eyes came and went, but I saw it all the same.

"We can do that too," Keon purred. "All you have to do is ask."

I rolled my eyes. I'd never ask. The one time I asked them for help was a lapse in judgment, and I planned to be out of the house and on those pills before my next heat hit. The only problem was, I doubted they would let me leave. They made it perfectly clear that they wanted to mark me and make me theirs. So where did that leave me, exactly?

If I ended up wanting to leave, would they let me? Or would I have to figure out a way to not trip their alarms and escape? I knew how to get to the slums. At least, if I ever figured out where we were, I could find one. Every state had their slums full of discarded omegas. It shouldn't be that difficult.

The brothers studied me.

"One night," Cayson tried to compromise. "If you hate it, you don't have to do it again."

Keon glared at his brother, but didn't say anything to object.

Just one night wouldn't be so terrible, would it? I'd wake up much like I did a week before, between the two bodies. I'd be warm, held dear, and insanely uncomfortable.

They told you their intentions the night they purchased you, my mind yelled at me. You'll never be more than just a lowly omega bitch. They'll throw you out like your parents threw out all of the omegas who didn't keep up. Like they threw you out the moment they got the chance.

I flinched and raised my hand to my head. Those thoughts were always in the back of my mind, especially since coming to live with the brothers. But the fact that it was so vivid made my head ache. I wanted to believe them when they said they didn't look down on omegas for their rank, but how could I, when all I'd ever known was hatred?

I closed my eyes and dug the heels of my palms into them. I wanted to give them a damn chance. Really, I did. I just...

Warm hands on my arms pulled me out of my thoughts. They lowered my hands to my sides and looked down at me, Keon on my left, Cayson on my right.

"Shh." Cayson lifted a hand and caressed my cheek. "Stop overthinking."

Easier said than done.

I opened my mouth to reply, but Keon stopped me by linking his fingers through mine.

"We know what you're thinking." He leaned forward and kissed the top of my head.

Did they? Even if they knew, did they understand? I was subjected to years of physical and mental abuse because I wasn't an alpha.

I could have pretended. I could have continued to lie to everyone to please them. But that wouldn't have stopped my father, or the other omegas when they found out what I was. What I am.

My father thought there was a way to punish the omega out of me. That I had the mindset of an omega, therefore I became one. So he pushed me. Hurt me. Tortured me. For what? To see if my body would suddenly decide that it was an alpha?

The omegas turned a blind eye to it and me until it was time for their heat. I'd woken up to people over top of me, begging me for release. It didn't matter if I locked my door or if I slept in a different room completely. They always found me.

So how was I supposed to believe that these alphas were any different? I'd only known them for a little over a week.

"Stop it," Keon murmured, pulling me into him. He enveloped me in his warmth and allowed me to bury my face in his chest to hide the sudden development of tears in my eyes.

I blinked them away. I'd become good at that through the years. Crying showed weakness, and omegas were already weak enough as it was without crying every time their feelings got hurt.

"Baby," Keon whispered, "shh."

My eyes closed and I just allowed myself to feel. I felt his arms around me, his lips on the top of my head, the way he rocked me ever so slightly, and the way his fingers danced over my back. I felt Cayson's gaze on me, then felt him as he stepped forward and kissed my shoulder.

The need to cry eventually vanished, and I realized that I had one arm around Keon and my free hand wrapped in Cayson's.

They calmed me and my thoughts. Their touch erased everything, from my mind taunting me, to the tears that threatened to overflow.

That was the mating bond. That was the power of a true mate. The power to calm, to relieve, and to keep warm.

"Okay," I murmured into Keon's chest.

"Okay?" Cayson's fingers squeezed mine.

I nodded once. "I'll sleep with you two tonight."

If the bond was already starting, there was no stopping it. My body already craved them near me. It would only be a matter of time before my body wanted them to mark me and make me theirs. I had to see if I could trust them. Keeping my distance wouldn't help me figure that out.

It would, however, speed up the process. The more time someone spent with their true mate, the need for that bond grew increasingly more urgent. I didn't want to get into something I wasn't ready for, and the bond would come whether I was ready or not.

It was difficult for me to open up to anyone, especially an alpha. But if that was the only way to figure out their true intentions - whether that be just wanting to have sex with me or if they truly wanted to be my mates - then I would do it. I'd have to do baby steps, but I'd do it.

No more running. No more hiding. I needed to face the situation head on and deal with whatever the outcome was.

I just hoped it wouldn't crush me.

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A/N: Hello! (/・0・) for those of you who don't follow me, I wanted to update. There will be days I can't post, like I'd been posting almost every day in this since I've started writing it.

So my question is: Are you all ok with sporadic updates or should I go with my original plan and start posting weekly instead of just whenever I get a chapter finished?

Also! Thank you all for the love you're giving Omega! I never thought I'd get this many votes/reads when I started writing this so really... Thank you. I'm in awe of how awesome you all are.

Ciao! ( ˘ ³˘)♥

~ WriterBrittanyB