DONOVAN

 

“That sounds like quite the harrowing experience, Master Donovan.”

“Harrowing… I suppose that word works but I was thinking of something a little stronger.”

“Stronger? How about ‘terrifying’?”

“Terrifying? Not that strong. Maybe somewhere between the two.”

“Whatever the case, I’m surprised you made it out alive. A vicious pack of Primals. I thought it was only a rumor.”

“No, not a rumor,” I sighed. “They’re as real as they can be.”

Thinking about the vicious wolves who’d retreated back to the Blood Woods was something that would stick with me for the rest of my life. I wasn’t going to encounter anything like them ever again. Not in a place like Dirge.

“We’ve been gone for a long time,” I said.

“What do you mean, sir?”

“My people came from the Shadowlands in the south. But that was generations ago. I have no connection to it. My fathers grew up in Dirge and their fathers before them. You would have to go far back in my lineage to find a jaguar who actually made his home outside of the city.”

“As with many of the citizens of Dirge. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

“I’m not ashamed of it. Not at all. I’m proud of who I am now. It’s just… Seeing the Primals reminded me of who and what I am inside.”

“I’m only a Beta wolf, Master Donovan. I can only imagine what it’s like to have such primal instincts be so strong inside of you.”

“You don’t have to imagine. You’re fine as you are, Dirk.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Dirk smiled at me while he tended to my injuries. Most of my wounds would heal eventually but the scars on my body would last for the rest of my life. I didn’t care what I looked like at this point. All I wanted now was to rest.

“How many were there?” Dirk asked.

“The Primals? I’m not certain. I didn’t make an exact count. One-hundred, perhaps.”

“One-hundred? One-hundred of those primal beasts? And you managed to tame them all.”

“Just the leader of one pack. Just enough to save Lucas.”

“The life of an Alpha. Remind me of how grateful I should be that I live the boring life of a Beta.”

“Maybe I’ll take you out there one day.”

“Don’t even think about it, sir.”

Dirk had a look on his face with grave concern. I couldn’t help but chuckle softly at the sight of him. Seeing his old face provided me the relief I sought. It meant that I was back where I needed to be.

I closed my eyes while Dirk finished bandaging me. After my encounter with Mordecai, Goro and Lucas both rushed to bring me back home. I could have gone to a hospital but I trusted Dirk more than anybody else.

“That should do it for now,” he said.

“Thank you, Dirk. Skillful hands as always.”

“That’s what I’m here for.”

“Hello…”

A familiar voice filled my ears. I opened my eyes and saw Lucas standing at the entrance to my room.

“Can I come in?” he asked.

Dirk smiled at me before excusing himself.

“I was just leaving,” my assistant said.

“Goro ate all of the food. He’s wondering if you could make him something else.”

“That bear has quite an appetite. Then again, he is a bear. I’ll see to it.”

Dirk left me in the room alone with Lucas. The Omega walked up to me and stood next to the bed where I laid.

“Where did you get those clothes?” I said as I examined the rags he wore. “I thought you’d lost them in the Timberlands.”

“Dirk was kind enough to find me something new to wear.”

“I don’t recall having anything like that in my wardrobe.”

“Dirk says he keeps it for guests. Just something to wear in case they need something.”

It was a shirt that was a couple of sizes too big for him and a baggy pair of jeans. The tired look in his eyes made him look more haggard. Despite his appearance, Lucas looked just as handsome as he always did. The tender smile on his lips brought me more relief than any rest ever could.

“That was stupid,” he said.

“You’ll have to remind me of what you’re talking about. These past few days were filled with a lot of stupid decisions.”

“Mordecai had no reservations about killing you. You should have stayed down.”

“I wasn’t going to let you go back to the Primals.”

“Why?” he said, shaking his head. “Why would you do that?”

“You know why…”

“Donovan—”

I cut him off by putting my hand up. I motioned for him to move closer to me. He leaned in as he locked his eyes on mine. I reached forward and took one of my hands in his.

“All this time I spent with you,” I said. “I’ve grown… accustomed to you. I’ve learned more about you. I… I can’t imagine my life without you.”

“W-what?”

“Lucas, I care for you. And I want you to be with me.”

He scoffed and turned his head away from me. I expected as much. Even after all this time, he was still doubting the obvious.

“Why me?” he asked.

“Because I saw who you are. You’re strong. You have a heart inside of you. More than I can say for a lot of people. You have what people in this city are sorely lacking. I admire all of that. Lucas…”

He wasn’t saying anything. He just had his head turned. But I could see his eyes. They were glazed over like he was trying to fight back his emotions.

“Lucas… Lucas, look at me.”

He sighed softly and turned toward me. A feeling burned in the pit of my stomach. A feeling stronger than anything I’d ever felt before. It couldn’t be denied.

“Lucas, I love you.”

He coughed as I said it. His gaze shifted to the side. A tear leaked from the corner of his eye. I reached up and wiped the tear from his cheek.

“Don’t cry, Omega…”

He sighed a deep breath to regain his composure but his voice was still shaky when he spoke.

“All my life,” he said. “All my life I watched the Alphas in my pack ravage the Omegas like they were just objects. They used them to plant their seed to give birth to more vicious Alphas. It was an endless cycle.

“I came to Dirge because I wanted to escape. It didn’t matter what happened to me. I could have died for all I cared. I just didn’t want to be taken by an Alpha who didn’t care about me.”

He held his stare on me, unblinking. I’d never seen such intensity from him before but I’d never been gladder.

“I love you,” he said. “I love you more than any Omega could love an Alpha. You saved me from the brink of destruction. I owe my life to you.”

“I don’t want your life. I only ask that you be by my side.”

“I am an Omega. You are an Alpha. I find no better place in this world than by your side.”

“Then let us be together.”

He crawled up onto the bed next to me. I didn’t care about my injuries. I just wanted to have him close.

He curled up into a ball and rested his head against my chest. I ran my hand through his hair as I patted him on the head.

“There, there, Omega,” I whispered with a soft chuckle. “You can rest now. You are home.”