(7). When Alpha meets Omega. Chapter 7: I'm willing to try if you are .When Carlos enters the infirmary, the overwhelming scent of sandalwood washes over him in a way that has all the tension melting out of his muscles. Ricardo is curled up against the wall with his legs tucked into his chest, blanket still around his his and his head on his knees. The exposed bits of his pale skin glisten with sweat and Carlos can even see from his spot in the doorway how short the alpha’s breathing is.Carlos clears his throat as he steps in, gently closing the door behind him. He’s unsure of what to do, so he stands there waiting for Ricardo to look at him or acknowledge him in some way.With the sound of the door clicking shut, Ricardo’s face snaps up and when his eyes meet Carlos’s, it looks like he's been crying. “Oh, it's you,” he says, voice scratchy and rough.Carlos isn’t doing a great job at hiding his surprise when he sees the red welt across Ricardo’s cheek and his puffy eyes. “Yeah,
(8). When Alpha meets Omega. Chapter 8: aroma of sandalwood. Carlos ends up dozing off for a little bit with Ricardo, but it’s the call for dinner that has him rubbing his eyes and sitting up. Ricardo doesn’t want to let him go, rumbles low in his throat when Carlos slips away from him and off the cot. “I need to grab dinner,” the omega whispers, urging Ricardo to go back to sleep for a little while because he’s sure he’ll have to stick around for a bit to answer some questions. “I’ll be back later.”Ricardo murmurs something unintelligible in his sleep and rolls over, using the pillow in place of Carlos and curling his whole body around it.Carlos exits the infirmary quietly and fixes his appearance before making his way to dinner. The sun is setting, casting long shadows across the grass, the sky lit up with orange as far as the eye can see.Pack members must know that Carlos has spent time with the outsider or smell him or something because he gets quite a few stares as he scu
(9). When Alpha meets Omega. Chapter 9: we are stuck together like peas in a pod .Unlike his usual waking up time, Carlos finds himself blinking his eyes open to the sun peeking right through the windows of the infirmary. It’s annoyingly bright, he thinks, and Ricardo must think so too because his head is buried into Carlos’s back, arm curled around his waist. They’re spooning.Warmth simmers low in Carlos’s belly.When the omega shifts, tries to roll off the cot quietly, Ricardo mumbles and tightens his grip around Carlos’s waist, effortlessly drawing him back, the omega squeaking in protest. “Ric,” Carlos whispers, reaching back to press his hand against Ricardo’s stomach.Ricardo grumbles some more, almost whining in his sleep as Carlos manages to wiggle himself free. During the night, the dark sweater has ridden up on the alpha, exposing a thin strip of pale skin between the waistband of his borrowed underwear and the hem of the sweater.Carlos manages to sit up, free of the
(10). When Alpha meets Omega. Chapter 10: What is done is done .Until dusk, Carlos and Ricardo waste their time by reading books and chatting about whatever to keep themselves busy. When it’s time to head out, Carlos makes a quick run to go find Ricardo a pair of pants (it was unsuitable for him to show up in his underwear) before they leave together.Ricardo hasn’t been outside the infirmary since he was carried inside a couple weeks ago. He isn’t limping much, just favors one leg over the other, and Carlos sticks close to his side as they walk to the meeting hall.“Don’t get into any fights,” Carlos warns. Erik will be extremely unhappy if Ricardo either instigates or finishes a fight inside.As soon as they enter the meeting hall, which is really a space large enough to hold the entire pack that they’ve made a pavilion of sorts overhead to protect from the elements. There’s a few long tables with seats all around, but Erik sits at the head of the space with Jorge at his side.
(11). When Alpha meets Omega. Chapter 11: Broken Bonds don't heal .Now alone outside, Carlos has time to breathe in the crisp night air. It’s cold, goosebumps creeping along his bare arms, but the anger inside is boiling. His stomach burns and it hurts because Ricardo is not at his side and their bond is practically shattered. Shattered into tiny pieces he doesn’t want to clean up, not right now.He crouches down to pick up the pile of clothes left behind. The only thing intact is the sweater because it’s so thick, but the pants and underwear are shredded. The sweater smells like sandalwood and Carlos can’t seem to let go of it even when the meeting ends and wolves slink out of the meeting hall, and all he can feel is pitiful eyes behind his back.“Erik said that if anyone else wants to say stuff like that, he’ll kick them out of the pack.” Leo says, standing a comfortable distance behind Carlos. “Jeff has always been a hot head, Carl. Especially with his mom. . . You can't blame
(12). When Alpha meets Omega. Chapter 12: You came--You called .Almost two days into the Ricardo’s disappearance, the pain has hardly subsided and Carlos doesn’t have the energy to leave the infirmary. Whenever Jorge and Yara came in, they brought with them a spare change of clothes for Carlos and some food that hasn’t lasted for long. Carlos’s weak, doesn’t want to go anywhere, doesn’t have the motivation to do anything but sleep for hours on end like he’s in hibernation or sadly look through the books.He can’t stay here forever.And Leo thinks the same.On the second morning, said best friend practically bursts down the front door to the infirmary.“I can’t let you mope in this bed anymore,” the younger omega states, crouching next to the cot. “Come on, get up, we’re going outside. It’s so nice out and you need a bath and get some sun.”Carlos blinks at Leo and frowns. He does need a bath, he doesn’t smell 100%. “But I don’t wanna leave,” the omega croaks, squinting when he l
(13). When Alpha meets Omega. Chapter 13: All he needs is an omega to reel him in .The alpha grins at that, wading over to close the distance between them. “Everything affects me more, remember?”The omega clears his throat and leans back against the rocks. “I didn’t think you’d come back.”That sobers them both, reminding them of exactly how harsh their last interaction had been. Ricardo looks properly chastised, which surprises Carlos, considering he’s almost seen nothing except pride and a bit of arrogance coming from the mountain wolf.“I didn’t mean what I said,” Ricardo finally says, which Carlos is figuring out by now that this is probably as much of an apology as he’s going to get. “When I left, it felt— God, you have no idea how bad it hurt, but I was too proud to come back, too stubborn. I didn’t think you’d want me back. But I remembered. . . you said you liked flowers and rabbits so . . .”“No, thank you,” Carlos replies shyly, “you remembered and that’s. . . that’s n
(14). When Alpha meets Omega. Chapter 14: When Alpha meets Omega.Ricardo isn’t allowed in the omega den for obvious reasons, so it’s Leo that helps Carlos with the bedding. Kai offered to take Ricardo to storage to find some clothes, which leaves Leo free to whine at Carlos without either of the alphas hearing them.“It’s not fair,” the younger omega gripes, hefting an armful of blankets over his shoulder. “You’re leaving me forever!”Leo’s being so overdramatic. “I’m not leaving forever, you know where to find me,” Carlos huffs, “besides, once you mate with Kai, you won’t be in the den anymore. You were gonna leave me first.”“But who am I supposed to cuddle with at night until then?”“Uh. . . “ Carlos’s stumped there. “Yourself?”“You are the actual worst . Why are you my best friend?” Leo laments as they make the trek back up to the infirmary, and he wrinkles his nose when they get there. “Why didn’t they give you one of the old cabins? Staying here is so lame.”Carlos rolls h