Uncaged (An Omegaverse Novella) (Open Novella Contest) (ONC Entry)

Chapter 11

 Waking up for a second time in a room that wasn't my own in less than a month should have been irritating, or panic inducing really, but it wasn't. The realization that not only had a slept peacefully, but also wasn't freaked by being in the house of someone who was a practical stranger was surprising and wonderful.

Daven's spicy, warm scent lingered in my room, faint but still present, another layer of comfort in the room. Staring up at the off white ceiling, it was hard to find the urge to get up, thoughts of the night before roaming through my head.

Daven had been a complete gentleman, offering to let me stay. He hadn't even tried to join me in the guest bedroom, something I was grateful for. He was still just a stranger, soul mate or not. There was just to much in my past to let another alpha in and yesterday with Foster proved that.

Pulling on the spare shirt Daven had offered me, I couldn't help but pause to take in a deeper breath of his warm, spicy scent. It had been haunting me ever since he'd pulled me from that firetaunting me with a craving I couldn't explain. A huge grin spread across my face as I realized that the shirt reached nearly to my knees, reaffirming just how much larger than me this alpha really was.

Opening the door, my nose encountered the wonderful smell of frying bacon. My stomach growled in appreciation.

"Morning sleepy head." Daven grinned at me from the stove. His eyes did a quick trace over my body, making me grateful that the shirt was massive because I'd completely forgotten to pull on the sweat's he'd lent me. Embarrassment crept slowly over me but I shrugged. Ana wasn't around and since it was a week day I assumed she was in school. "I was wondering when you'd be awake."

A quick glance at the clock made me groan, it was already ten in the morning.

"Why didn't you wake me sooner? Luce has probably called the cops on you by now and is ready for blood. I need to get home." Even as I said the words I moved toward my phone, which was dead because I'm an idiot and forgot to plug it in last night.

"You should sit down and eat, Everest." Daven said softly indicating the plate piled high with eggs bacon and toast that had appeared before me. My stomach growled, hunger distracting me from my worries for a moment.

"And for what it's worth, she did call the cops, but I know a few men at the precinct and my buddy Markin was able to reassure her that you were fine once I'd talked to him." I glared at Daven, but the alpha just shrugged, an adorable blush spreading up his neck once more.

"How the fuck do you know Markin?" That little pyromaniac was so paranoid I had doubted he'd even leave his house when he and Luce started dating.

"I may have had to put out a few of the fires he'd started over the years." Daven grinned, "I didn't know his Lucy was your sister Lucille though. That was interesting to find out. I'm guessing that means if I'd ever actually taken him up on his offer to introduce me to his girlfriends brother I would have met you a few years ago, officially at least."

"I doubt that." A small groan slid from my lips at that. Markin had been trying to set me up on blind dates for the last two years. I'd refused them all vehemently. Daven chuckled, clearly feeling the same about those intended dates as I had at the time.

Looking down at my plate finally, I noticed that the crispy bacon had been joined by two perfectly cooked sunny side up eggs and a thick slice of what looked like homemade toast smothered in butter. I didn't even realize I was licking my lips in anticipation until I heard a small groan from the alpha next to me.

A quick glance up revealed that Daven was staring at my mouth, a flush already working it's way up his neck. Once his eyes met mine Daven glanced away shifting in his chair ever so slightly.

A smirk stretched across my lips as I picked up a piece of toast dipping it into the perfectly golden center of my eggs. The mild taste was wonderful as I took a small bite, my moan soft but clearly audible as it was echoed by Daven.

"Fuck you really need to stop making those kind of noises Ev or our bond is going to be a whole hell of a lot harder to ignore." The husky quality in Daven's voice sent curls of warmth moving down my spine, even as his words seemed to freeze me from the inside.

"A-about our... bond as you call it... umm..." Shit! I hadn't really figured out how to broach this subject. Yesterday I was to rattled by finding my soulmate and everything else that happened to even think about what it meant for my life and my future.

"Relax Ev, I'm not going to force you to embrace this connection." Daven said softly even as he laid his hand on the table next to mine. "I'm not going to make you do anything unless you are certain it's what you want."

The relief I felt at his words floored me. How in the world did I end up with a soul mate that could not only cook, but also seemed to care about the people around him, including the 'helpless' Omegas. A small flare of emotion blossomed in my chest, respect mixing with something else, something more. A faint pressure behind my eyes warned me that there were tears building up.

"Thank you for understanding Dav." Taking his hand in my own I smiled, his thumb rubbed gently against my skin, a soft warmth spread up my arm and settled in the vicinity of my heart.

"If I understand, it's all thanks to you and the other omega's out there that aren't afraid to remind the world that genetics don't define them." Daven's voice was soft making me glance up.

Tears shimmered in my eyes, his words touching me, heart and soul. But even then I couldn't help but wonder, Are those tears of admiration for me, or ones of sorrow for Michael?

At that moment though, I didn't want to know. After all, his emotions were just as important as my own if we wanted any sort of relationship to work.