Chapter 7 Aiden

Third Person's POV 

Grace is an older lady in her 80s, but you would never know. Grace looks more like she's in her late thirties thanks to werewolf genes and the fact that they live much longer than humans. 

Grace is the head cook in the pack house kitchen. Before she became the head cook, she was Thaddeus's nanny and helped raise him. Grace is like a mother to Thaddeus. She is a kind and sweet lady with a motherly aura and a smile that makes you feel at home. 

The Alpha thought she was the perfect person to take Aiden something to eat. Anyone else may end up scaring him. But Grace will warm her way into his heart within seconds. 

….

When the Alpha left and closed the door, Aiden stared at it. The Omega was confused. He didn't know what to think. When the man said he was an Alpha, Aiden thought for sure he had just found himself in the same situation he just escaped from.

He was terrified. He kept waiting for the Alpha to hit him or grab him by the hair and drag him down the stairs to the basement. 

Aiden wasn't sure he'd survive a punch from this Alpha. The man is huge! His muscles are massive! They bulge from his shirt. Aiden thought if the Alpha flexed his muscles, the shirt would tear.

Even though he looks scary, somehow, he doesn't. His eyes were soft. They weren't hard and didn't hold the hatred that he always saw in Alpha Maxwell's eyes. Even his aura was different. Alpha Maxwell's aura made you tremble. It made you want to run away. But Alpha Thaddeus' Aura is different. It feels warm and inviting. 

Instead of getting angry at Aiden and yelling or hitting him, the Alpha shocked the Omega when he looked sad and hurt. 

The Omega couldn't stop thinking about the Alpha. His intoxicating smell, how handsome he was, and his long wavy hair that Aiden desperately wanted to run his fingers through. The tattoos that seem to go on forever and disappear under his clothes mesmerized the Omega. Aiden bit his lip at the thought of seeing just how far those tattoos went. 

Aiden cleared his throat when he realized where his thoughts were going. The Omega shook his head and then began looking around the room. The Omega finally got a good look at the room. The first thing he noticed was how large the bed was. It's massive! Beautiful carvings were in the wood of each post's on all four corners. They went up high, reaching for the ceiling. The sheets were so soft and silky. Aiden never laid on anything so nice before. 

Large windows to the right of the bed reached from the floor to the ceiling. The sun was bright today, and it shined in through the windows.

Aiden let out a breath and then tried feeling for his wolf. The Omega closed his eyes and tried calling out to him in his head.

The Omega frowned when he could barely feel his wolf. He felt far away, tucked in the furthest recess of his head.

It was an empty feeling, but it was nothing new for Aiden. After a beating, or if Aiden went too long without food and became too weak, he wouldn't be able to feel his wolf, just like now. Sometimes, after a severe beating, Aiden wouldn't be able to reach Winter for days. His wolf would hibernate and draw as much energy as he could, so when he woke up, he could heal Aiden.

Being unable to reach his wolf, Aiden begins looking around again. He thought Alpha Matthews' bedroom was nice. But this puts Alpha Matthew's room to shame.

Aiden is surprised the Alpha left him in his bed instead of sending him to the basement, where he belongs.

As Aiden looked around, he realized how badly he had to use the bathroom. His bladder felt like it was going to burst. 

Aiden pulled the covers back and slowly pulled his legs over the edge of the bed as he sat up. When he did this, Aiden felt a rush of dizziness. The Omega gripped the bed and waited a moment for it to subside. 

After a few moments, Aiden put his feet on the floor and stood up. Immediately, he realized how weak he was. His knees felt wobbly, and his legs felt like noodles. 

Aiden let go of the bed and took a few steps. He didn't make it far before his legs gave out, and he fell. 

Aiden didn't have time to pry himself off the floor before there was a knock at the door, and it opened. Aiden looked toward the door to see a lady enter the room. The Omega immediately looked down, afraid to make eye contact. He knows the rules, he didn't want to anger her and have the lady run off and tell the Alpha he was disrespecting her. 

He already messed up looking the Alpha in the eyes twice. He doesn't know how many more mistakes the Alpha will allow before he begins punishing him. And Aiden doesn't want to find out.

Aiden hears the lady gasp before she rushes to set the tray down she was holding. 

“Oh, honey, what happened?” she asked as she rushed to him. When she reached for Aiden, he flinched, thinking she was going to hit him. The lady immediately stopped and pulled her hand back. She stood there for a moment before slowly kneeling next to him. 

“Honey, I'm not going to hurt you. I just wanted to help you. Here, let me help you,” her voice was so soft and calming. There was something about her aura that told Aiden she meant no harm. Her words were so nice, no one had ever talked to him like that before. 

Aiden slowly looks up but avoids eye contact. The Omega nods his head and she reached her hands under his arms and pulled him to his feet. 

“So, what happened? How did you end up on the floor?” She asked as she helped him sit on the edge of the bed. 

“I-I was t-trying to find a bathroom.”

“Oh, why didn't you say so, honey? Here, let me help you.” Aiden lifted his arm when she reached for him. Her arm went under Aiden's arm and then wrapped around him. 

The Omega was thankful she helped him into the bathroom. He didn't think he would make it there on his own.

Once Aiden was back in bed, Grace grabbed the tray and placed it on his lap. 

“I figured you're hungry, so I brought you something. I know you haven't eaten in a while, so I brought you something easy on the stomach. I brought you chicken noodle soup, a fresh dinner roll, and fresh squeezed orange juice.” Grace said, and Aiden's mouth immediately watered. It smelled delicious! Aiden looked at the lady when she sat on the edge of the bed. Her smile was soft as she looked at him. 

Aiden looked back at the food and prayed this wasn't a trick. He was starving and hoping he could have at least one bite. Aiden had never been allowed to eat anything like this before. He's never had a hot, fresh meal. None that he can remember. Only scraps and food that had gone bad.

Aiden licked his lips and wondered if this was a sick joke. Was she waiting for him to grab the spoon so she could smack it out of his hand and then laugh as she carried the food away? 

But when he looked up into the lady's face again, all he saw was kindness and a gentle smile on her face. 

Aiden reached a shaky hand for the spoon and then slowly brought a bite to his mouth. 

As soon as his lips closed around the spoon, his eyes closed, and he hummed. He couldn't believe how delicious it was.

The flavor was like an explosion, and the meat was so tender. 

Aiden's eyes popped open when he realized the sound he made. He was embarrassed. He felt the heat in his cheeks and knew his face must be bright red. 

The lady laughed, a smile spread across her face. 

“You're so adorable! I'm glad you like it. My name is Grace. What is your name?”

“Aiden,” he replied softly and then took another bite. Once again the flavor explodes in his mouth and his eyes closed as he savors the bite.

To some, it might just be soup, but it's the best thing the Omega has ever tasted. It's his first hot meal. 

Aiden took another bite and quickly took another. The Omega shoveled the soup into his mouth as fast as he could. 

“Whoa, slow down, sweetheart! Don't go too fast. You'll make yourself sick,” she chuckled. 

Aiden nervously glanced at Grace when he realized how fast he was eating. He hoped he didn't upset her by eating like a pig, but her kind look and warm smile put the Omega at ease. 

It didn't take long for Omega to finish his food. He licked his lips as he sat back with a full tummy for the first time. 

“Would you like to get cleaned up? I can help you into the shower, and then I can go find you some clothes.” 

“A, A shower?” Aiden asked, surprised. His eyes lit up at the possibility that he could take a shower. All he'd ever known was his bucket and a rag.

Grace's eyebrows knit together as she tilts her head, looking at the Omega. Her chest tightens, 

“Yes, honey. A shower… You have had one before, right?” 

Aiden immediately looked down into his lap and began tugging at his fingers. His eyes burned, and he bit his lip to keep the tears back. He was afraid to use his words, so he shook his head. 

Fingers lifted his chin, and a sad smile sat on Grace's face. 

“Come on, let's get you in the shower.” 

Aiden stood staring into the shower as Grace grabbed a towel and washed cloth. The Omega was embarrassed. He had no idea how to use this shower. It had no knobs. How would he turn the water on? 

Grace seemed to sense his dilemma, and she rubbed his arm soothingly. 

“Here, let me show you how this works.”

After the door closed behind Grace, Aiden looked down at the clothes he was wearing and realized they weren't his own. The shirt he was wearing was huge. It went all the way down to his knees. After Aiden pulled the shirt off, he brought it to his nose and smelled it. The Omega's eyes closed, and he took another deep breath in. It smelled amazing! It smelled like him. It smelled like the Alpha. His scent was so intoxicating it almost made Aiden dizzy. Why did he smell so good? 

Aiden stepped into the shower and was immediately greeted with warm water raining down onto his body. The Omega's eyes closed, and he tilted his head back. Aiden has never felt anything so good in his life. It's not cold like the water in his bucket. It's cleaner than the water in his bucket. The sensation of the water beating down on his body is like a massage, soothing his muscles. The warmth of the water seems to chase away ever being cold. 

The scent of the soap was unlike the soap he used. It smelled manly, like Thaddeus.

The soft and fluffy towel waiting for Aiden after the shower was almost as big as he was. The Omega smiled as he wrapped it around his body. 

Aiden slowly opened the door and peeked into the bedroom. He looked around and saw that the room was empty. His eyes landed on a stack of clothes sitting on the end of the bed. He opened the door and carefully walked toward the bed, thankful his legs seemed to be getting stronger. 

Aiden was thrilled that the clothes waiting for him at the end of the bed were just like the ones he wore earlier. They smelled just like the Alpha. 

Aiden crawled back into the large, soft, and incredibly comfortable bed that smelled just like the Alpha. As he got comfortable, the scent of Thaddeus consumed him, wrapping around him like a warm hug. 

The Omega stared at the door. For some strange reason, the Omega found himself missing the Alpha and wished he'd come back. 

How strange is that? 

Closing his eyes and picturing his face, “Thaddeus,” Aiden said quietly. Trying his name out for the first time. A smile graced the Omega's face. He loved the way the Alpha's name rolled off his lips.