Chapter Nine

Kane

Omega— Willow —makes good soup. When I ask her for seconds, she says yes, then turns me away for thirds.

It’s the first hot meal I’ve eaten in years. Sure, there’s the fresh, hot- blooded meals I’ve had in the interim, but nothing that compares to the aromatic flavors she seems to conjure out of her pot. I’m so damn satisfied that I barely bat an eye when she asks for help cleaning up.

It’s good to use my hands. Easier than talking. Plus, it gives me plenty of opportunities to check omega—I grit my teeth— Willow for signs of fever. Those bright green eyes are focused, making sure her dish is thoroughly rinsed.

Suddenly I huff, snatching the bowl from her hands. “Give me that.”

Willow starts. “What? Why?”

I nod down to her near-translucent fingers, tinged blue at the tips.

“Oh.” She dries off. “Didn’t notice.”

“More like didn’t feel it,” I mutter. “What are you, numb?”

“A little.”

Grumbling under my breath, I start rinsing. The wash bucket is ice-cold. Guess she only boiled enough water for food and drink.

She looks at me, then looks at the bucket. “This is a probably a stupid question, considering your … attire. But don’t you get cold?”

My inner alpha perks up. Omega notices what I’m wearing ? She’s watching me, watching my body, the same way I watch her.

“Not really,” I answer at last. It’s mostly true—I’m thick-skinned and hot-blooded, even by alpha standards.

“Right.” She considers. “So you’ve got no excuse.”

“Huh?”

She gives me a meaningful look, and the attention sends a jolt straight to my cock. “You reek.”

I rear back. “So what if I do?”

She sighs. “New rule. If you’re determined to hang around my cabin, help me with meals here and there, I’ll allow it. But — ” she almost smiles, “you have to wash up.”

“I am washing up!”

“Not the dishes, genius. A bath .”

I try not to laugh in her face. Sure, during the rest of the year, I make a habit of scrubbing down in the river. But right now, when the water’s close to freezing? Forget it.

I glare at Willow incredulously. “Don’t tell me you’ve been washing up in this weather?”

She raises her eyebrows like the answer should be obvious.

“Dammit, omega. No wonder you got sick.”

“Cleanliness is important. And, in fact, essential, if you want to keep visiting my cabin.”

This damn omega. She won’t tell me where she came from, and I’m not stupid enough to ask, but already I can tell she’s no wilds girl. She was raised in a village, where walls were sturdy, and beds were warm, and ‘cleanliness’ was a given. All credit to her, she’s done well to survive this long. But if I hadn’t found her when I did …

“Fine,” I grunt. “But I’m only doing it for the food.”

Willow smiles. Her pale lips turn pink with satisfaction.

Protect her, my alpha growls, not for the first time. Keep omega safe. That’s my job now. It didn’t make sense to me at first—why I followed her, watched her. But I get it now.

Until the winter’s over, until she gets tired of this cabin and runs off to another alpha’s territory, Willow is mine .

My inner alpha gives a low purr of agreement. I realize the sound must’ve slipped out when Willow cocks her head.

“What?” she teases. “Are you looking forward to not smelling like dead rodents?”

I flick her with water. She gives a cute little yelp.

Fucking hell. ‘Cute’? Really?

“Just for that,” she announces, “you have to go first.” She gestures. “Tub’s out back.”

“What for? I already ate.”

She stops, her honeyish pheromones turning hot. Embarrassed? “I assumed you were staying the night. It’s dark out.”

“I have to bathe just to sleep?”

She puts her hands on her hips.

Groaning, I untie my cloak, letting it puddle behind me as I trudge to the door. I swear I can feel Willow’s eyes on me, mapping out the ridges in my arms, chest, and back—so I walk a little slower, giving her a nice, good view. Those honey-scented pheromones follow after me, making my blood roar.

It’s just as well I’m facing for the door, or she might notice the bulge in my pants.