Blue Moon III: Call of the Alpha (16 page)

“I should just go,” Omega said, sounding defeated and trying to sit up, but failing miserably.

“We have a mission to complete. And regardless how your body aches right now, you’ll be ready for the battle at the end of the week. You just need to train properly, not foolishly.”

He turned his head and looked out the window close to the bed. If only he could run away. Hide until he was fit and ready to join them. “I see how you long for the call of the woods. Why do you want to run from this so badly… run from him?”

“I don’t.” Omega shrugged liked Lion meant nothing.

“Is it because you fear the unknown? Only the brave take risks, Erik. Why don’t you hear him out instead of blocking him?”

“I’m not you.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means I’m not ready to be someone’s cherished. I’m not meant to be loved. I’m a fighter, Alpha. Always will be.”

“So is Lion. He may be the only one of us who’s still fighting after all this is done.”

“No. Lion is ready to do what you and the great commander did. Well, I’m not. Never will be.” Why the hell did everyone want to settle down, have two point five kids, and live like boring suburbanites? “War and strife plague the world. Call’s own country still needs him and instead he deserted his responsibility so he could shack up and fuck you. Get into your mind so he could own you.”

Alpha was on Omega fast, those dark eyes blazing as he wrapped his long fingers around his brother’s throat – not suffocating him – but cutting off his ability to talk, and the other hand he slammed his flat palm over Omega’s loose mouth. “Careful what you say.” Alpha’s actions may have been extreme but Omega had been more than a little disrespectful. He was self-destructing, especially challenging Alpha like that.

“Let him go. Now,” Lion ordered from the doorway. His voice hard like stone. If his hands hadn’t been loaded down with towels, blankets, fragrances and his grooming kit, he might’ve moved Alpha himself. Omega’s cock jumped at that prospect. Shit, was Lion’s animal style stronger than Alpha’s? Impossible.  

Alpha slowly removed his hands and eased back from Omega’s bed. He watched with abject fascination as his brother leaned down and placed a delicate – possibly apologetic – kiss on his forehead and turned and left, closing the door behind him.

Lion set down his burden and went down on his knees next to Omega. He thought Lion was getting ready to kiss him the way he was slowly leaning in and his heart almost beat out of his chest from excitement and trepidation, but then he realized Lion was only taking a closer look at Omega’s throat where Alpha’s hand had been. Lion must’ve found a couple light fingertip marks because his hazel eyes lit with fury. He bared his teeth and closed his eyes, murmuring some kind of mantra to himself and it appeared to calm him.

“He didn’t hurt me,” Omega said, not sure if that helped or not, but for some reason he didn’t like the failed look on Lion’s face. “It’s my fuckin’ mouth, like always.”

“No one touches you,” Lion stated matter-of-factly. “I don’t think he’ll make that mistake again.”

“Is there something you and my brother aren’t telling me? No one speaks to Alpha like that. What the fuck is going on?” Omega’s voice rose, his anger bubbling back to the surface that quickly. He moved to lean on his elbows and had to cough hard to stifle a yell at the pain his ribs and abs made when they contracted.

Lion

Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. Lion said that to himself over and over in Persian. His master would often remind him of the rewards awaiting him for his patience when he was a boy. It took time for him to master that trait and believe in it – it wasn’t easy. Now his patience was being tested to its limits. Not only was Omega refusing him at every turn, no matter Lion’s good deeds, but now he had to endure another man putting his hands on his cherished. Intended cherished. Because Omega hadn’t yielded to him yet, which meant nothing. The sexy, fiery man was all his. It’d been arranged, he was sure of it. Alpha knew it too, that had to be the reason Alpha hadn’t challenged him.

However, killing the only family, the closest thing to a real brother Omega had, wouldn’t help Lion win his respect, then his trust… and finally, his heart. Many arranged marriages probably started hesitantly, but as those relationships had for centuries, Lion believed theirs would work itself out with patience and perseverance… they always had, and the practice had been around for millennia.

“I brought some herbs and natural remedies to heal you.” Lion stood, looking down at Omega’s worn body.

“I’m not sick. I don’t need healing,” Omega grumbled, turning his back to Lion and gazing out the window. “It’s just muscle aches. They’ll go away in a day or so.”

“I can make you feel better now. Then I can help you train properly, if you want. I’m not trying to tell you what to do. I only want to help you, not force you.” Lion didn’t want to admit it, but he got that last part from Pierce. The smaller man may not have much knowledge about what constituted an actual joke, but he was fairly smart regarding how to earn trust. From his understanding, it took Pierce a long time to learn to trust Hawk. To believe his intentions were noble and not just temporary. Even though Lion’s pairing had been manipulated and orchestrated by the elders, it didn’t mean it was destined to work. It was only a hunch that Omega would do well with Lion, they still had to work at it. And this was only desired by the Order, there was nothing that compelled Omega to accept Lion as his partner or anything else. They still had, and would always have, free will.

“I’ll run the bath for you. Soaking your muscles first is the key.”

Omega turned back to look at him, his eyebrows dipped lower when Lion said he wasn’t trying to force him. It looked like those were words Omega had been needing to hear because Lion could see a piece of the ice crumble behind Omega’s icy glare. “I don’t even feel like getting up to walk to the tub.”

“I’ll handle that,” Lion assured him, turning to go to Omega’s en suite. Leaning over the huge whirlpool bath, he turned on the tap for the hot water and added only enough cold not to scald Omega’s skin, then he began lighting some hand-rolled incense sticks, placing them on the outside edge of the tub. Lion opened up his kit and was generous in adding some Epsom salt along with his homemade oils. Sandalwood, frankincense, lavender – before long the bathroom smelled like the glamorous Parsian Azadi Hotel.

When the bathroom was set up to his liking, Lion removed his own scarf and top, only keeping on his loose, cotton pants and rolling them up over his knees. Omega was still gazing out the window and Lion waited for the day that he’d look at him with the same longing and need. During the time they’d been there, Omega had spent the majority of his time outdoors, only coming in to sleep, eat, and shower. The outdoors represented freedom to Omega. Hopefully soon Lion’s embrace would be associated with Omega’s freedom.

“Trust me, please,” Lion whispered right before he began to slowly pull back the thin sheet over his naked body. He didn’t wait for a response or permission, just continued lowering the cover. Lion steeled his spine and controlled his breathing while he ignored the way Omega’s eye roamed up and down his large chest.

Lion couldn’t help but stare at Omega’s lean, tight body. His mouth watered with each new patch of tanned, smooth skin revealed. His desire was abruptly doused with cool water when he saw the bruises on Omega’s chest, although there was little coloring around his ribs, Lion was sure he was sore there as well. Sore everywhere. Lion subtly shook his head. What was he trying to prove? He didn’t like that Omega had abused himself, it had to have been deliberate. The man had been formally trained by the best all of his young life, surely he knew what he’d been doing to himself.

After Lion had the cover off, he took his time assessing Omega’s every injury. Gently, he palpitated Omega’s stomach, wanting to be sure there was no internal damage. He placed both hands on those scruffy cheeks, turning his head from left to right, trying to remain professional and show Omega that he wanted more than just his body; he wanted him healthy and happy. All he wanted right then was for Omega to look at him like he mattered, like he wasn’t disgusted by him. But damn, was it hard to avoid looking at that beautiful dick. It was half-hard and Omega wasn’t the least embarrassed by his arousal if the way he was boldly watching Lion was any indication.

When Lion moved to lift him, Omega was quick to shrug him off. His eyes flashing with anger. “I don’t need you to carry me. I’m not a goddamn infant.”

“Don’t talk to me like that,” Lion growled back quickly, his tone strong and forceful. He hadn’t meant to, but he wouldn’t tolerate disrespect from anyone, especially from his –, especially from Omega.

“You’re wasting your time. I know what you want.” Omega rose slowly to his feet and Lion stepped back, giving him the room he wanted, but staying close enough just in case he stumbled. Weakened muscles were unpredictable and can get from under your control quickly. He’d learned that many times over, so he knew what Omega was feeling. “You want me, but I’m not for the taking, so you can stop being so nice and wasting your time.”

“Wasting my time, huh?” Lion stood leaning against the door to the bathroom as he watched Omega try desperately to get upright and on his feet, but when he took his first step away from the queen-sized bed, his thigh muscle tensed and bulged before Omega cried out in pain. Lion moved swiftly, catching Omega in his arms and pulling him into him whether the man wanted it or not. Instead of lifting and possibly upsetting him, Lion slowly slid his arm around Omega’s back and helped him into the bathroom.

He could feel Omega straining to keep his grunts of pain in and Lion secretly admired that determination and stubbornness. As he helped him over the edge and into the deep tub, he eased him down until he was settled comfortably in the hot water. When he felt Omega had calmed enough, Lion stepped into the tub behind Omega and sat down on the edge, placing a leg on each side of his head, and with both hands pulled Omega back between his legs and let him rest his head on his thigh. He didn’t need to talk right now, words wouldn’t convey what he wanted to give to Omega… he’d have to show him.

“What are you doing?” Omega finally asked, looking completely relaxed.

Perfect. “Just keep breathing. That’s the aromatherapy working.” Lion smiled and it felt good. It felt good he was caring for Omega like he’d been taught to do.

“What’s all in here? Smells… smells pretty good.” Omega closed his eyes and inhaled. “Did you study medicine?”

“No, I didn’t study medicine. I did, however, study the benefits of natural remedies, and Sana’s books on the properties of plants.” Lion cupped his hand and dipped it in the water so he could pour it over Omega’s dark hair. It was soothing even to him, so it had to feel wonderful to his soon-cherished.

“You’re crazy if you think a little soak is going to make me—”

“Did you know Hypocrites actually wrote ‘a perfumed bath and a scented massage every day is the way to good health’? He and his students wrote some of the most important principles of modern medicine. His wisdom influenced the Hippocratic Oath still taken by doctors to this day. Now, if he believed in the power of natural remedies and baths, then you can surely open your mind to their possibilities.”

Omega sucked his teeth. “You don’t think I’ve used natural medicines in the field. Do you think because your animal style is superior that I need you teaching me basic principles?” Omega was practically snarling and Lion didn’t miss that his head was no longer resting on his leg but tilted down. He pushed forward like he wanted to get away from Lion’s touch but Lion was having none of it.

“You’re probably smelling the rose oil. I added it because it can act as an antispasmodic and an antidepressant.”

“I’m not depressed, Firuz.” Omega scowled.

“Are you sure?”

Omega moved like his patience had completely expired and he was done with the conversation and his damn oils, but Lion stopped him with a solid hand on Omega’s stomach, pushing on his flat, tender abs until his rear hit the bottom of the tub again. “Don’t try to get up again.” It was an order and he held his breath to see how Omega would respond. He watched every little movement. Saw Omega clench his teeth, then his fist, his eyes narrowing like he could shoot daggers from them, but he slowly leaned back and Lion had to tamp down his urge to praise Omega for his obedience. Soon enough.