11. Jack

Chapter 11

Jack

I see Lily walk away into the bedroom, and I start feeling all sorts of emotions that I thought I had buried a long time ago. But now isn't the time for reminiscing. I take a deep breath to calm myself down and focus on Emily, who still looks like she might run away any second.

"Emily," I say softly, trying to draw her out of her shell. "Do you have anything you need from where you came from?"

She shakes her head, eyes downcast. "No, I left everything behind."

"Okay," I nod slowly. "Well, you're safe now. Lily and I won't let anything happen to you. But can you tell me where your pack is? Is it far?"

Emily looks up at me with wide eyes, scared to tell me, and I don't blame her. "Northolt," she murmurs.

Inwardly, I wince. That's only about ten miles from here. This entire situation is bad. Seriously bad for both Emily and Lily.

Lily returns with an armful of blankets and pillows, setting them down gently on the sofa. "Here you go," she says warmly. "Make yourself comfortable."

Emily takes the bedding with trembling hands and places it on the sofa. She doesn't move a muscle other than to rock herself gently, trying to find comfort.

I clear my throat, trying to dispel the heavy atmosphere. "I'm going to make us some tea," I announce abruptly. "Anyone else wants some?"

Lily gives me a grateful smile. "Tea sounds perfect."

As I'm filling the kettle, I glance over at Lily every few seconds. She's staring at Emily, her face betraying her fear. I want to tell her that I'll watch out for her like I always have done, but I don't even know how she will react to that right now. She rubs her wrist again over the scar from my bite, and I feel a pang of regret that I didn't make it more permanent. But she was in no fit state to agree to that, and I couldn't, wouldn't, do it without her consent. I only managed to see her because the Trials thought I was an alpha interested in bidding on her. I convinced them I wanted to sample the goods, and they couldn't have been more accommodating of my request. I feel sick just thinking about it.

"Lily," I blurt out, almost desperately, needing her to look at me, smile at me, and let me know she isn't falling into a black pit of despair. I need to see that she is okay and that she won't let it drag her under.

"Yes, Jack?" she asks when I don't say anything else.

Our gazes lock, and those green eyes are full of tears that she won't spill. Not now, anyway. When she is alone and no one can hear her, that's when she'll break.

So there's only one thing for it.

I can't leave her alone.

"I'll stay tonight," I murmur. "Just in case that arsehole comes back." I know he will come back. Emily is exactly the kind of omega that the Trials pants over. Her family would be quids in if they sold her. They won't let her go easily.

Lily's eyes widen, and for a moment, I see a flicker of relief before she quickly masks it. "Are you sure?" she asks hesitantly, glancing at Emily, who is still rocking quietly on the sofa.

"Positive," I reply, my tone firm. "It's safer if we stay together."

She nods, clearly too emotionally exhausted to argue. She wraps a blanket around Emily, who flinches slightly but then settles down as Lily speaks to her in soothing tones.

I finish making the tea and bring three mugs over to the small coffee table. The steam curls up from the cups in comforting spirals. Lily hands one to Emily first, who takes it with a faint smile of thanks, then takes her own.

We sit there in strained silence for a few minutes, sipping our tea. It's almost peaceful if it weren't for the underlying tension crackling in the air like static electricity. I can see the thoughts racing behind Lily's eyes; she's plotting every possible escape route, every decision laced with fear and determination.

"So," I start after a minute of awkward silence, "we need a plan."

Lily raises an eyebrow at me. "A plan?"

"Yeah," I say firmly. "We can't just sit around waiting for something bad to happen. We need to be prepared."

Emily looks like she's about to cry again, and I soften my tone, trying to be reassuring. "We won't let anyone hurt you, Emily. But we need to be smart about this. They know or think they know you're here."

Lily nods and takes a deep breath, her expression hardening with resolve. "He's right. We need to figure out our next steps. Did that alpha know for sure it was you who came into the shop? Was he following you, or was it some mad coincidence?"

Emily stares at her like a deer trapped in headlights.

"It's okay either way, Emily, but we need to know. You've done nothing wrong, okay, love. In fact, you did the right thing coming to me."

The way Lily speaks to her, so calm and reassuring, makes me so proud of her when I know she is cracking inside.

"I'm not really sure," Emily says. "I—I think I made a mistake. I saw him, and I ran. He must've known it was me…"

She starts to cry, and Lily and I exchange a glance.

"Hey, it's okay," I say softly. "He can't get to you here. We'll make sure of it."

Lily sets her tea down and gives me a fierce stare. "We're not going to let him or anyone else come near you, Emily. We'll protect you."

Emily sniffles and nods, clutching the blanket tighter around her shoulders. Her eyes are red from crying and exhaustion. She curls up on the sofa, and Lily and I stand up and move into the kitchen.

"This is not good," Lily says.

"That's an understatement," I mutter, taking her hand lightly. "How are you holding up?"

"Me? I'm fine," she blusters, but we both know she's lying. Her hands are trembling. Being decisive for once in my fucking life, I draw her closer to me and wrap my arms around her, breathing in the glorious scent of hers. These are the only times I can really smell it on her properly without interference, and it makes my heart ache and my cock hard. Without meaning to, I tighten my hold and gently trace my fingers down her right arm, drawing it up between us. I run my thumb over the inside of her wrist and hear her breath catch.

"Lily," I whisper against her hair, "you don't have to pretend with me."

Her head rests against my chest just for a moment. Just long enough for me to feel her relax before she pulls away slightly, looking up with those beautiful green eyes.

"I'm not pretending," she says stubbornly. God, she's stubborn. But it's one of the things I love about her.

We go back into the living room to find that Emily has already fallen asleep on the sofa, looking so small and vulnerable.

Lily gently places another blanket over her and gestures for me to join her in the bedroom. Turning to the door, I lock it and then join her, where she is already lying on one side, still fully clothed and staring at the ceiling. It's too early for bed, but with Emily out for the count on the sofa, there isn't anywhere else we can go. After closing the door quietly, I kick my boots off and crawl onto the bed next to her. To my surprise, she curls up next to me, her head on my chest.

"Thank you, Jack. For everything," she murmurs.

"You don't need to thank me," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'd do anything for you, Lily. You know that."

She lets out a small, exhausted sigh and snuggles closer. I can feel the tension slowly leaving her body as she relaxes against me. Her scent is intoxicating, and I have to fight the urge to bury my nose in her hair and breathe deeply.

We lie there in comfortable silence for a while, the soft rhythm of her breathing mingling with the distant sounds of the countryside. The Lake District is usually so peaceful, but it feels like we're on high alert, waiting for something terrible to happen.

"Do you think we'll be able to keep Emily safe?" Lily asks quietly, startling me because I thought she was asleep.

"We have to," I reply firmly. "There's no other option."

She shifts slightly, her fingers tracing idle patterns on my chest. "I hate that her family are doing this." The bitterness in her tone is definitely caused by her own situation.

"Some alphas are just pricks," I mutter darkly. "They see omegas as property, something they can own and control."

Lily's hand stills on my chest, and she looks up at me. "But you're not like that."

I shake my head vehemently. "No fucking way. Omegas deserve respect and freedom, just like anyone else."

Her eyes soften, and she reaches up to cup my cheek gently. "That's one reason why I love you," she whispers.

My heart skips a beat at her words, and before I can think better of it, I lean down and capture her lips. I don't for one second think she means she is in love with me, but I'm unable to ignore her words.

Our kiss starts slowly and gently, but it doesn't take long to deepen. Lily's hands clutch at my shirt, and I can feel the heat of her body pressing against mine. For a moment, I forget about Emily sleeping in the next room, about the danger lurking outside these walls. All that matters is Lily and the way her body fits perfectly against mine.

I pull back slightly, just enough to look into her eyes. "Are you sure about this?" I ask, my voice husky with desire.

She nods, her cheeks flushed and her breathing ragged. "More than anything."

That's all the encouragement I need. I roll over so I'm hovering above her, one hand cradling her face while the other slides down to explore the curves of her body. Her soft moans spur me on, and I can feel myself getting harder with every sound she makes.

I pause to strip off my shirt, needing to feel her skin against mine. Lily does the same, pulling off her top and tossing it aside without hesitation. My mouth finds hers again as my hands roam freely over her skin, savouring every inch of her.

"God, you're beautiful," I murmur against her lips.

Her fingers trail down my chest, then lower still until they're teasing the waistband of my jeans. "So are you," she whispers back, before tugging at my belt and unfastening it with surprising speed.

Chuckling at her eagerness for me, I unclasp her bra and pull it off her, throwing it on the floor with the other clothes. Her breasts are just big enough for a handful, her pink nipples delectable as they harden under my gaze. My mouth latches onto one, and I suckle, nipping her gently, making her arch her back and moan softly. My hand moves to her other breast, squeezing and caressing, while Lily's fingers fumble with the button of my jeans. She manages to undo it, and I help her by kicking them off completely.

I shift lower, trailing kisses down her body, licking and nipping at her skin until I reach the waistband of her trousers. I glance up at her for permission, and she nods eagerly. With one swift motion, I slide them off along with her knickers, leaving her completely exposed to me.

"You're breathtaking," I say, my voice rough with desire.

Lily's cheeks flush even deeper, and she parts her legs slightly in invitation. I can't resist running my fingers along her inner thighs, teasingly close to where she wants me most. She gasps and arches towards my touch.

"Please," she whispers.

I dip my head between her thighs and taste her, licking and sucking her clit in a way that makes her writhe beneath me. Her slick is intoxicating, and I revel in the way she responds to every flick of my tongue.

Her hands grip the sheets tightly, and I can feel her getting close. I slide two fingers inside her while working her clit with my mouth. She's so wet and tight around me, it's driving me insane.

"Jack," she moans loudly, probably louder than intended given Emily is so close by, but we carry on regardless.

With a final swirl of my tongue and a thrust of my fingers, Lily shatters around me. She cries out my name again as she climaxes, her body trembling with pleasure. I drink in every sound, every movement, savouring the sight of her completely undone.

As she comes down from her high, I trail kisses back up her body until I'm hovering over her again. Her eyes are half-lidded, a satisfied smile on her lips. She is utterly gorgeous right now. She wraps her legs around me, pulling me closer and nothing could stop me from thrusting deep inside her soaking wet pussy.

The feeling of being inside her is pure ecstasy. Her warmth and slickness envelop me, drawing me deeper into a sensation that's both primal and tender. I start with slow, deliberate movements, wanting to savour every moment, but Lily has other ideas. She bucks her hips up to meet mine, urging me to go faster, harder.

"God, you feel amazing," I groan, burying my face in the crook of her neck. Her scent is all-consuming, which only makes her more irresistible.

"Don't stop," she whispers breathlessly in my ear, her nails digging into my back as she clings to me. The slight sting just spurs me on.

I pick up the pace, my thrusts becoming more forceful. Each time I drive into her, she meets me with equal passion. The sounds of our bodies colliding fill the room, mingling with our gasps and moans. It's a dizzying symphony of raw desire and emotion.

Lily's legs tighten around me, her muscles starting to tense again. She's close, and so am I. The thought of us reaching that peak together makes my movements even more urgent. My cock throbs inside her, wanting to knot her, to join us together for precious minutes, which tells me I'm hers, but it's not time yet. Four more weeks and my rut will be hitting at the same time as her heat. I can't fucking wait.

"Jack," she gasps, her voice strained with need.

"Fuck," I grunt. "Lily."

With one final thrust, I send us both over the edge. The wave of pleasure that crashes over me is overwhelming, devouring every part of me until it feels like I'm floating outside myself. Lily cries out beneath me, her pussy convulsing around my cock, milking me for all I'm worth as I spill my hot, sticky cum inside her. Our bodies tremble together, riding out every last wave of pleasure until we collapse in a sweaty, breathless heap.

For a few moments, there's only the sound of our ragged breathing and the pounding of our hearts. I press a soft kiss to her collarbone, feeling an overwhelming sense of contentment wash over me. The danger and uncertainty outside these walls seem distant and irrelevant right now.

Lily gently runs her fingers through my hair, her touch soothing and tender.

We lay there for a bit longer, our limbs tangled together in a comfortable mess. When reality begins to creep back in, I reluctantly pull away and start gathering our discarded clothes.

"We should probably get dressed before Emily wakes up," I say with a wry smile.

Lily nods, but there's a hint of reluctance in her gaze as she reaches for her pjs. "Right. Emily."

"We'd better get some dinner sorted," I mutter, my stomach grumbling like mad all of a sudden.

Lily giggles. "Alphas and their stomachs."

Chuckling as well, I slip out to the kitchen. Emily is still flat out, so I decide to make some sandwiches, quick, easy and quiet. I plate up some ham and cheese for Emily, hoping she will find it later and like the combo. Giving the front door a shrewd glare, I pull the key out, hoping Emily doesn't see this as a way to imprison her but rather to keep her from bolting and putting herself in danger. I pocket it and grab the sandwiches I made for me and Lily and two bottles of water.

Her eyes light up, and she sits up as I kick the door closed quietly. I spread out the makeshift picnic on the bed, and she grins at me. "Perfect. You're just perfect."

She turns her attention to the food as I stare at her like a love-sick fool. "So are you," I murmur. "So are you."