Page 24 of Saving His Omega
Graham sighed again as he moved back over to the door. “Stay here, then. I’m not locking you in so come out whenever you feel up to behaving. I’m not going to tell you to stop being upset. I’m only requiring you to be respectful with it. Take a nap, and if I don’t see you in the dining room, I’ll bring your meals to you.”
With that, the beta left him alone with his misery. Tripp threw his head back and screamed. All the fear and even hatred that had brewed within him for his entire life filled the room. He didn’t stop vomiting it out until he collapsed with unbearable fatigue and fell asleep.
****
When next he woke, the lamp had been turned on and a plate of food and a pitcher of cider sat on the small table next to the bed. He hadn’t heard his mate come in but obviously Graham had and had chosen to let him sleep. No surprise there.
Tripp sat up, scrubbing tried tears from his cheeks. He felt horrible, hollowed out and achy. A fresh wave of agony washed over him as he remembered that Blake was gone. He would never see his brother again and images of the sigma’s fate would plague him for the rest of his life. How was he supposed to live with that?
With purpose.
The answer hit like a sledgehammer. That’s what Blake had wanted for him. It didn’t matter what awaited either of them as long as the pup was safe and living a good life. Blake had said that to him the very night they’d fled, leaving Victor’s body growing cold on the floor. Worry for the pup had propelled him to leave with Blake despite the terror of what might happen. It was what had sustained both of them any time being on the run had overwhelmed them. He had to hold onto that truth.
A stab of fear shot through him because the pup was still. Had his histrionics—however justified—hurt her? He straightened in a near panic, pressing his fingers around his belly, then whooshed out a relieved breath when she started poking him back and squirming.
“Thank the Gods.” His pup was the one bright spot in his life, always. He didn’t think of her as being part of Victor. She was his and his alone, someone to cherish, someone who would rely on him as no one else ever had.
He eyed the food, knowing he should eat.
Although his stomach remained tied in knots, he forced himself to first drink some cider, then start in on the thick sandwich of ham and cheese some sigma had probably made especially to tempt his appetite. Graham would have seen to that because in this way, the man was a good mate. There were heaps of potato salad and coleslaw, as well as a fat sugar cookie waiting for him, too. The more food he shoved into his mouth, the hungrier he felt. Soon he was down to his treat. He plumped up his pillows and leaned against the headboard as he nibbled the cookie.
This was what Blake had wanted.There was no doubt about it. His brother had sacrificed everything to see that he and his pup got settled in a safe home. Here there was no fear, no hunger, no want of any kind. Graham hadn’t beat him for his insolence and wasn’t punishing him by withholding food. But he wasn’t going to be allowed the freedom to walk around with obvious resentment toward his mate and the alpha. There was no surprise there. The good of the pack was paramount and that meant everyone sticking to their place in the pack and complying with the hierarchy laid down by the Gods from the beginning.
He was an omega. He didn’t have the right to question dominants or show his anger. The rest of the pack members would be upset with the obvious fight against the natural order. And he didn’t want to cause the innocent others any distress. None of this was their fault. To be honest, it wasn’t the alpha’s or Graham’s, either.
“It’s mine.” Saying the words out loud made them all the more painful.
Shoving the last of the cookie into his mouth, he let out a whimper. He was furious at himself more than anyone else. That was the honest truth. To soothe both himself and the pup, he ran his fingers over his belly in slow circles, trying to imagine what part of the pup he felt. She played along by squirming away from his touch. Whether it was a deliberate game or not, he smiled at the pure joy of it. He needed to concentrate on the good in his life, although even as he thought it, he couldn’t imagine facing anyone for a while. He might have to stay in this little room until it was time to whelp. Would his mate allow him to indulge in such pique for long?
It was too hard to dwell on, so he snuggled down and closed his eyes.
Tripp knew the moment he wasn’t alone anymore even though he heard no noise. He opened his eyes slightly and looked around. Some long amount of time must have passed even though he hadn’t realized he’d slept because new food was on the table. And Graham sat on a stool that hadn’t been in the room before, by the foot of the bed, his elbows on his knees and his gaze fixed on Tripp. The beta’s expression was unreadable.
Tripp couldn’t look at his mate as he pushed himself upright. He stared at his own lap, waiting for the beta to say something. Another rebuke of some sort was obviously on its way. But his mate surprised him, yet again.
“How are you feeling?”
Tripp flicked his gaze up at the man before shrugging.
“I was glad to see you ate. Have the stew before it grows cold.” Graham’s tone was matter-of-fact, neither sharp nor cajoling.
Because he knew an order when he heard one, and he was hungry, Tripp gathered the bowl and a spoon and started eating. It was delicious, so he had no trouble eating with more enthusiasm than he felt about anything else.
Graham remained silent until Tripp was about halfway through his meal.
“You slept, too, I was glad to see that after the tantrum you threw.” He scratched his ear. “Your screaming really upset the sigmas, and the pups were taken on a walk so that they couldn’t hear it.”
Guilt stabbed him. “I’m sorry about that. They’ve only ever been kind to me. I couldn’t stop myself.”
“I understand. Everyone does, but if you keep it up, I’ll have to take you away from the longhouse until you can control yourself.”
The sight of his uneaten stew made him queasy, so he put the bowl aside. “It won’t happen again.” He hung his head with shame.
“Good. Such upset isn’t good for you or the pup, either.”
“She’s fine,” he bit out before he could think better of it.
“I know. I’ve been watching your belly ripple for a few minutes now. If I thought there was a problem, I would take you to the healer.”
