The Omega

Ch.12 Rose

“It was amazing. Your wolf let Jack touch her. Even I was able to get closer to her before she started growling.” Lulu told me with tears shining in her eyes. I was shocked, Lulu and Doc always gave me reports on how my wolf was. Lately it seemed as if she was getting worse. Lulu shut the water to the tub off and moved out of the way for Jack. “I’m going to lay out some clothes for you in the spare room. Just come to the kitchen when you are done.” Lulu told me before she walked out of the bathroom. Leaving us alone while I was naked. I relaxed into the water as Jack sat on the toilet lid next to the tub. 

I noticed as I sat there letting the hot water relax my muscles. That Jack was taking in all my scares that scattered my body. I could see the hurt on his face. As if all the marks were his fault. As if he could hear me trying to call out for someone while I got them. It hurt me to see him like this. Like when he looked at me it was his way of torturing himself. Still for some reason I didn’t want to cover myself. I wanted him to see them, to see me, but only him. The thought of others seeing them made my stomach queasy. 

We sat there for a few peaceful moments. When the water started to cool off I reached for the sponge, but Jack beat me to it. “May I?” He asked, holding up the soap. It took me a moment to nod my okay. Nobody has washed me since I was a little girl. I watched as he lathered the soap into the sponge with his large hands. Before he started he looked at me. “You can tell me to stop at any moment if you start to feel uncomfortable.” I nodded once more, sitting up a little straighter. 

Jack started with my arms. Holding them gently above the water as he washed them. I figured out that there was something intimate about someone washing you. Showing you that they can take care of you. That you are safe with them. I relaxed as Jack moved to my back. “Do you remember anything from last night?” He asked as he slowly slid the sponge up and down my back. 

I thought about last night for a minute before answering. “No, but I did feel closer to the surface. What happened?” I was scared to hear his perception about last night. He has seen how wild my inner self really is. Nobody, not even my parents, have seen her aside from Lulu and Doc. ‘He’s still here so that has to mean something, right?’ I thought to myself. Jack moved down to the other end of the tub, by my feet. Gently grasping one of my ankles he lifted it just like my arms. 

Looking up to me briefly he said. “Your wolf was beautiful. She was distant at first, but I never left. I stayed outside the door the whole time. Through my shift and then after as I waited for you to shift back. I fed her, gaining a little bit of trust from Sonya, and she let me touch her.” My eyes felt as though they were going to pop out of my head. I sat up a little too quickly splashing some water out of the tub. 

“What!?” 

Jack chuckled, “yeah it took some time but eventually she learned that I’m not an enemy. That she understood that I had no intention of hurting either of you.” 

“She never lets anyone close, let alone touch her.” 

Jack put down the sponge and looked at me. “It could be that she felt the mate bond. Our wolves typically feel it before we do.” He explained to me skimming his fingertips up and down my shoulder. 

“Jack, I miss her. I miss remembering what happened when I shifted. I miss running, our favorite time was late at night. Everyone would be asleep and it would be so peaceful.” My heart breaks every time I think about it. 

“Hey look at me.” Jack said gently cupping my face. I looked into his blue eyes. “I made a promise to her, and I’m going to make the same to you. We will get the connection back. I don’t care how long it takes. You both will be one again.”

We sat like that, looking back at each other, until I started to shiver. “Come on let's get you in the shower so you can wash your hair.” He said pulling the plug for the tub and helped me up. 

Once I was standing Jack turned on the shower. Turning the knobs to the perfect temp. When he was satisfied with the water he moved to draw the curtain close. To leave me alone, I hated being alone. I grabbed his hand and stopped him. Jack looked at me and without me having to say anything he asked. “Are you sure?” All I could do was nod. “Okay turn around I’ll be in there in just a minute.” He shut the curtain and that’s when my nerves started to go haywire. What was I thinking? I have never done this before. I have never let a man see me naked outside this house. I have not seen a man naked on purpose, and not alone in a shower. Is it too late to tell him I changed my mind. At the time I didn’t want him to leave. I needed the security I feel when he is near me. 

From Jack’s shadow through the curtain I watched as he pulled his shirt off over his head. I stood there dazed as he pushed his pants to the floor. When his large frame came closer to the shower I forced my eyes to focus on the wall ahead of me. The curtain opened then closed once more. Still I trained my eyes forward. Jack didn’t touch me but I could feel him behind me. As water began to run into my face I smoothed my hairs back to help clear the water. Half way through Jack’s large hands covered mine. “You are so beautiful.” He whispered almost too low to wear I couldn’t hear. This time I did want to cover myself, before I was under water. Yes, he could still see me but then I felt some sense of cover. Now I stood bare before him. 

I have come to accept his word that he is my mate. That doesn’t mean he can’t reject me. What would happen if he saw all of me? Figured out how damaged I really was. Would he reject me or try and fix the unfix able? “No I’m not” I told him, reaching around to try and cover myself in any way. 

“No,” Jack said, grabbing my hands and stopping them. Gently he pushed them away. “Don’t hide them. Don’t hide yourself from me.” He skimmed his fingertips across one of the scars on my shoulder blade. 

His touch sent a shiver through me. “I hate them,” I told him. 

Jack’s hands disappeared from my skin. “Why?” I could hear a mix of shock and dishevelment in his voice. 

“They show how weak I am.”