Omega (Alpha & Omega #1)

{Chapter Fifteen}

The next morning when I woke up between them, I didn't automatically jump out of bed. I wanted to, don't get me wrong. But I forced myself to remain laying down and listened to the brothers breathing on either side of me.

They were still asleep. Looking at them was like looking at statues. They were so unearthly beautiful, it was hard to imagine them as anything but kind creatures. Their features were so soft in sleep, almost like a child's. Full lips slightly parted, long lashes fanning their cheeks, I wondered for the first time what it would be like to be with them and be their mate.

If they truly thought of me as their equal and didn't just want me for sexual pleasure, could I do it? Could I live with them and be with them?

Cayson woke first, his green eyes hazy with sleep. He smiled tiredly when he saw me looking at him and pulled me into him, wrapping me in his warmth.

"I love waking up next to you," he said quietly, kissing my forehead.

I looked up at him and that tired smile was still in place. He rubbed his nose against mine before placing a soft kiss on the tip. The gesture was so foreign and new to me that I blinked in shock.

A warm body pressed up against my back and Keon rested his mouth on my neck. He hummed in contentment, still obviously mostly asleep.

"He's a big cuddler," Cayson murmured, placing his chin on the top of my head.

"So when I'm not here, does he cuddle you?" The thought was...odd. But, hey. Whatever helped them sleep at night.

Cayson pulled away from me suddenly and gave me such an odd expression that I puffed out a noise through my mouth.

Keon moved so that he was able to see me so quickly that it almost gave me whiplash.

Cayson's eyes widened.

"Oh, my God." Keon was fully awake.

I looked up at him confused.

"You just smiled," Cayson whispered. "And...laughed."

Did I? I didn't even realize. I knew the noise I made sounded odd to my ears but I didn't realize it was a laugh. Nor did I realize I was smiling.

It probably looked strange, like it wasn't supposed to be on my face.

"Sorry," I apologized.

Keon's lips met mine and I sucked in a breath. It was different from the last kiss we shared. He was...gentle. And passionate. And happy.

"Don't apologize," Cayson said when Keon finally pulled away.

"It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, Phoenix." Keon smiled so brilliantly that it was almost blinding.

Cayson agreed with a small nod.

The thing was...they were being serious. The light behind their eyes couldn't be denied. They were happy that I finally smiled.

But was I happy? I wasn't sure. It didn't feel like one of my faked smiles. It didn't feel like anything at all. It was...natural. Real. Not forced in front of someone bashing omegas in front of me, thinking that I was an alpha or beta like them. Not like all the times I had to pretend to love my parents.

It was like it had been before I knew what I was. When I smiled genuinely to my parents without even thinking twice about it.

I tried smiling again, but it only made the brothers laugh.

"Don't force yourself," Cayson said. "I want all of the smiles you show us to be real. If it takes another week or two, fine."

Keon groaned. "I don't want it to be another week."

I looked behind me at him and I felt my lips twitch.

He winked. "Let's go get some food in that stomach of yours, yeah?"

For once in seven years, I actually felt the hunger.

Cayson stood and stretched and my eyes widened slightly. He went to sleep with a shirt and pants on. He woke up with only boxers.

He looked over his shoulder at me, making the muscles in his back shift and bunch to accommodate the movement. He grinned and turned towards me, allowing me to see his muscled torso and chest, wide shoulders, and narrow hips.

Keon stood and I blinked in surprise at him too.

They had to have the best genes I'd ever seen. Alphas were beautiful no matter what their weight, but these two raised the standards for Greek gods.

I cleared my throat and stood, still in the oversized t-shirt and sweatpants the brothers let me borrow. The t-shirt hung past mid thigh, and I basically swam in it. I didn't even want to talk about the fact that not even rolling the sweatpants kept them on my hips.

I held onto the pants as I followed the brothers down to the kitchen, my eyes on the floor to make sure I didn't trip and fall.

Keon and Cayson dressed as they walked - right foot, right pant leg. Left foot, left pant leg. Pull up. Throw on shirt. Smirk back at me.

I glared.

When I entered the dining room, two omegas - Marcus and Mia - looked at me and immediately snorted in laughter.

I pursed my lips at them.

Keon picked me up and sat me down in a chair, because apparently that would be too difficult for me, right? Then he kissed my cheek and walked to his chair, sitting in it with a smile that didn't do much to hide the laughter in his eyes.

"Stop laughing at me," I mumbled.

Cayson snorted. "Aw, Kitten. We just didn't realize how small you were until you put on our clothes."

Food was the only thing that saved them from me growling at them. Hunger, which had been absent for the majority of my life, finally resurfaced and I was ravenous. I started eating without any preamble.

"How would you like to go shopping after we get done eating," Cayson asked.

I stopped chewing and glanced up at him.
I hadn't been out without my perfume since I found out that I was an omega. Well, except for the function, but that was because I was specifically told not to. I knew the looks I'd get. The hatred. The confusion. And what happened if they touched me and my eyes decided to glow? What if their eyes glowed? Everyone would know.

Cayson's hand rested on mine and I flinched.

"We have the perfume," he said, "if that'll make you feel better."

I cleared my throat and laid my fork down. Suddenly, I wasn't hungry anymore.

They weren't doing this to scare me. They probably wanted to go out with me and get out of the house. We'd been cooped up for a little over a week. I assumed they went to work when I locked myself in the room for that week...but they never truly got out, from what I could tell.

What would they say if I said no?

I opened my mouth to do just that, but the looks on their faces stopped me. They looked so hopeful, but also so ready for me to say no.

I closed my mouth and breathed in, then out.

I'd have to go out eventually, right? And it would tell me for sure if they were serious about me. It'd give me time to study them and their reactions to those around them. To study their reactions to those who reacted to me.

I would have to give a little to get a little. Give up a little of my pride as the false alpha to figure out how the true alphas felt.

I chewed on my lower lip. "Okay."

Surprise showed on both of their faces, then they both grinned at each other.

"I'll go get the perfume," Keon said, standing.

I looked up at him. "No perfume. Let's just...go."