His Professor Omega

by Aria Grace

  When he said we were spending the entire weekend in bed, he wasn’t exaggerating. Except for changing Sylvia and preparing some simple meals, we didn’t get up at all. We watched a John Hughes marathon and ate junk food from the freezer. My favorite part was when Ash pointed out his favorite scenes of each movie since I’d never seen them before. I wasn’t ever a big movie watcher but with Ash reciting quotes and singing along to the soundtracks, it was my new favorite hobby. At least my favorite hobby while Sylvia was awake. When she was asleep, we had a completely different hobby that I liked a whole lot better.

  On Monday morning, we were both reluctant to say goodbye to the little cocoon of each other that we’d created. I wanted to keep Ash locked up at home forever, but he had a job to get to. And I still had classes. I’d arranged to finish out the semester since there were just four weeks left, but only because I didn’t want to lose the credits if I decided to finish my degree in the future.

  “If I can get out of my lab early, I’ll try to meet you at lunch.” I nibbled on Ash’s ear at the door as he tried to back away.

  “Text me…” He pulled away and looked at his watch. “But I’m about to be late for my first class. Call me after you drop off Sylvia. ”

  “I will, babe.” I blew him a kiss before he turned away. “I’ll call if I can sneak away. Love you.”

  17

  Ash

  As soon as I was back on campus, the fear I’d felt on Friday came back to me in a rush. I never even got a chance to tell Coop what Charlie had said because we were both so distracted all weekend. Hanging out with Coop and Sylvia, my family, was more fun than I could have ever imagined having with an alpha and a newborn. But Sylvia kept us entertained when she was awake, and when she was asleep, Coop and I managed to entertain each other in ways I also couldn’t have imagined before him. At least not without the help of porn and a dirtier imagination than mine.

  But the bubble we’d hidden in all weekend had burst, and I was back in the lion’s den. I’d been naive to assume Charlie would forget about his grade just because a few days had passed. And when he showed up at my door right before lunch, I realized just how stupid my ignorance of his threats had been. Because he wasn’t alone.

  I was reaching for my phone to see if Coop had texted when Charlie walked into the empty room with two of his alpha goons trailing behind him. “Charlie, what are —”

  “Drop the phone, Crawford.” Charlie didn’t even pretend to have any respect for me as he barged into my classroom. “We need a word.”

  “If this is about your grade, you’re wasting your time.” I stepped behind my desk to put some distance between me and the three aggressive alphas but that wasn’t enough to stop any of them. In hindsight that was a mistake.

  “I don’t think I am.” Charlie went around the left side of my desk as the two other guys blocked the right side so I was trapped between them. “We’re here to remind you how a good little omega is supposed to behave when an alpha gives an order.”

  Coop, please be on your way over for lunch. I chanted that plea in my head over and over again as Charlie wrapped his huge hand around my neck and shoved me face first onto the desk.

  “Now I want you to think about what you could have done differently to avoid this situation,” Charlie held me down with one hand wrapped too tightly around my neck and used his other hand to release my belt. “And after you’re done milking our knots dry, maybe you’ll remember how well I did on that paper and have an excuse ready for the provost as to why you were being so difficult last week.”

  My slacks were pulled back just as the door to my room flew open. I felt a blast of cool air skate over my exposed skin before I heard Coop’s angry roar in the back of my mind. My airflow had been restricted for too long and I couldn’t focus on what was happening around me. I was in a dreamlike state with bodies flying and words being shouted, but I couldn’t quite grasp what anything meant. Not until I gasped in a full breath of Coop’s reassuring scent as he held me against his chest. “Ash, babe, please wake up.”

  I struggled to let him know I was fine, that nothing had happened, but instead of words flowing from my mouth, everything went black.

  The next thing I knew, I had a mask over my mouth and strangers were telling me to relax and everything would be okay. The only thing preventing me from flipping out completely was the feel of Coop’s hand wrapped around mine. I didn’t even need to see him to know he was there, and at the one stranger’s insistence, I let my eyes close, allowing the motion of what I assumed to be an ambulance to give me a weird comfort.

  When I opened my eyes again, they were wheeling me out of the ambulance, and the flurry of activity that came with an ER admittance was a bit overwhelming. I was feeling fine. Perfect even, if you didn't include my pounding head. I spent more of my time reassuring Coop I was fine and answering doctor’s questions than I did feeling any kind of pain. I was hardly able to process exactly what was happening. Charlie wasn’t just a bully, he was so much worse.

  Someone said something about needing one more round of tests to come back before they could release me, and then the doctors and nurses finally left Coop and I alone. Of course, that was after making Coop leave the room so they could ask me if he was the one who hurt me. I knew it was their job and all, but hearing them even hint that he might be less than amazing had me snapping back at them in anger and not even coming close to winning me any brownie points.

  All I cared about was getting out of there and picking up Sylvia. I needed to see her and prove to myself she was not only fine, but perfect.

  “Can you tell me what happened?” I asked, trying to piece together images in my mind that didn’t make sense.

  Coop’s beautiful face fell before he immediately schooled it, always staying strong for me. “The police asked me not to. They want to talk to you first and don’t want me to mess with your memory.”

  The police. I was going to have to talk to the police. Some part of me knew that, but hearing it stated as fact, knowing it was my reality, was a completely different story.

  I knew better than most how the authorities treated omegas who were victims. The victim shaming and blaming, the subtle or sometimes not-so-subtle hints that it wasn’t really that bad and letting it go might be for the best, the accusations of malicious intent against the perpetrator as if omegas had nothing better to do than to make shit up. No, it wasn’t going to be an easy go, especially since so many alphas thought the sun rose and set over Charlie Trump, but it needed to be done. Not only for me, but for any future omegas that might cross his path.

  Coop squeezed my hand, giving me the most unsure look I’d seen from him. My big, strong alpha didn’t know what to do to make it better. Sadly, there was nothing he could do. Not really. Just being for there for me would have to be enough.

  “My brain gets that, but my heart needs to know you weren't hurt.” Because three on one were terrible odds, even with Coop’s strength.

  “I’m fine.” He looked far from fine, but whether it was worry or pain, I couldn’t tell.

  “Which is not the same as not having been hurt.”

  “I wasn’t hurt. Killian was with me, said you guys were hoping to get together, so I invited him to lunch. I’m so glad I did.”

  That was news to me. Not the Killian part because I had planned on making that happen. I just didn’t have any memory of him being there with Coop.

  “I didn’t even know he was there.” Truth was, I didn’t know much and that worried me. The only thing I did know for sure was that Charlie and his buddies never managed to “do” anything. They did plenty, but nothing physical past the choking actually occurred. The fact that the choking seemed like a relief was telling in and of itself.

  “Knock, knock,” the doctor called in his upbeat voice, asking permission as he walked through the door. “I’m here with your test results. If you would be so kind as to step outside, Mr. Daye.”

  My jaw dropped.

  “I
will not.” Coop’s voice was firm, leaving no room to doubt he was dead serious. And he should be. He was staying. End. Of. Story.

  “These results are private.” The doctor met my eyes as if he was trying to give me a hidden message to his words. What he failed to understand was that whether he was telling me I was perfect or had damage from the air loss, or something much worse like cancer, Coop was going to be there by my side as I heard the news.

  “Nothing is private from my mate.” I held Coop’s hand tighter to let him know I needed him there.

  “I apologize.” The doctor recovered quickly. Maybe it was my use of the descriptor mate or the sternness in my voice that had him changing his tune. Not that it mattered. “So, everything looks normal except one thing.”

  “Which is?” My voice cracked, giving away my nerves. Nerves that ran deeper than I realized.

  “You are pregnant.”

  Pregnant. A baby. Coop’s baby. I was having another baby. The doctor kept rambling on and on, and all I heard was baby. It explained my exhaustion and puking.

  I’d thought I was too old. Shit, I hadn’t had a heat since Sylvia was born.

  A baby.

  My hand instinctively fell to my belly as I forced myself to listen to the rest of what the doctor was saying.

  “I’ll need to do an ultrasound to determine how far along you are, which is not a bad idea given the situation.”

  Situation seemed to be the hospital’s code word for attempted rape.

  “Why? Could there be something wrong with him?” Coop had one hand holding mine, and the other settled on my belly where our baby was growing, his concern palpable.

  “Doubtful,” the doctor reassured before addressing me directly. “You show no signs of prolonged oxygen deprivation. But seeing the heartbeat, if you are far enough along for that, should alleviate any stress around that. And since you are bound to be facing a lot more stress if you choose to report this, alleviating any of it is a smart idea.”

  There was no part of me wanting to deny a chance to see our baby.

  “But you’re sure I’m pregnant.” I couldn’t get my hopes up if we were dealing with elevated hormones due to my age.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m pregnant.” A tear fell down my cheek. I was going to be a dad again, and this time, Coop was going to be with me each and every step of the way.

  18

  Coop

  “Would you stop crying already. You’re gonna dehydrate.” I pulled Ash against my chest and held him tighter, gently rocking him against me. Since getting the news earlier, he’d been a ball of emotions. Terrified the baby won’t be perfectly healthy one minute and then bouncing off the ceiling with excitement the next.

  “I can’t help it.” He laugh-cried while swiping a tear off his cheek. “I just can’t believe it.”

  “I know you’re worried, Ash. But this is our miracle baby, and I’ll take whatever we get.” I leaned down and pressed a kiss against his flat belly. “I just can’t wait to can see my baby growing inside you.”

  Ash placed his hand over his stomach and rubbed a small circle where I just kissed it. “I can’t do it without you, Coop. Not again.”

  I took both of his hands in mine and brought them to my lips, kissing each of his fingers. “You won’t have to, baby. It’s me and you from this point forward. No matter what. If anyone gives you shit, you better tell me immediately.” I held his gaze for a long moment, making sure he understood just how serious I was. “Promise me.”

  “I do promise, and I’m sorry.” He exhaled a slow breath. “It was stupid.”

  “Yes, it was fucking stupid, and you scared the hell out of me.” I slipped my finger under his chin and tilted it up so he was looking at me. “No more hiding anything from me again. No matter how mad you think it’s going to make me or how afraid you are of my reaction, no secrets.”

  Ash sniffled as he nodded his head. “No secrets. I promise.”

  “And in the spirit of no secrets…” I slipped out of bed and reached for my duffel bag.

  “You have a secret?” Ash asked with a twinge of concern in his voice.

  “No, not a secret, per se.” I winked at him over my shoulder. “It’s more of a surprise.”

  Ash sat up straighter in the bed and crossed his legs in front of him. “I like surprises.”

  “Pretty sure you’re gonna like this one.” I pulled out the envelope and held it behind my back, walking back to Ash.

  “Should I close my eyes?” he asked playfully, already in a much better mood.

  “No, it’ll be a lot harder for you to see it with your eyes closed.”

  Ash rolled his eyes at my lame joke then reached for the envelope I dangled in my fingers just out of his reach. “Give it to me before this baby leaves for college.”

  I waved the envelope in front of him then let it go so it fluttered into his lap. Ash didn’t waste any time tearing it open. He stared at the page for a minute before scooting up onto his knees. “So that means... Are we…” He looked up at me almost giddy. “We’re going to Disneyland?”

  I couldn’t hold back my grin as Ash flung himself into my arms. “Well, it’s only for a long weekend, and Sylvia won’t even remember it, but they gave me the choice between Anaheim and Denver for training, so I figured we might as well make a family vacation out of it.”

  “When?” Ash flipped the page to the back and didn’t find the date. “I need to request the time off.”

  “We can wait until winter break. It’s not urgent training, so I can go whenever you’re able to take a few days off.”

  And just like that, the waterworks were back. “I never thought I’d be taking Sylvia on family vacations…”

  I knew they were happy tears, so I let him have his moment. “We’re gonna do it all, Ash. I might have missed the past year, but I’m gonna make it up to both of you by giving you everything you deserve and more…” I walked back to the bed with Ash in my arms then carefully lay him on his back so I could stare down at him for a moment. When I couldn’t wait any longer, I crawled across his body and hovered just over him...without touching him at all.

  “Don’t tease me, Coop.” Ash wrapped his palms over my ass and pulled him down against his thickening erection. “I’m a live wire right now.”

  “No teasing, baby.” I nipped at his lips before pressing my weight against him, holding him in place beneath me. “I’m gonna make up for the past year in bed too.”

  Ash moaned and ground his cock against me as I sealed my mouth over his.

  “How’s my baby girl?” I lifted Sylvia from the exersaucer she was sitting in and gave her a quick raspberry on the cheek.

  She cooed in delight and rewarded me with a giggle that melted my heart. I couldn’t wait until I was finished with school and could spend more time with her during the day. We’d still need some daycare until summer but I’d get a lot more bonding time with her...and eventually, our new baby.

  I turned to Ronnie, one of the omegas helping out in the baby room today. “How was she?”

  He was picking up toys around the room when he looked up at me. “She was great. A tooth just starting to poke out today, so she may be cranky for a while.” He chuckled to himself before folding a blanket that had been laid out on the floor. “You might want to warn Ash. I’ve heard teething babies aren’t gentle at feeding time.”

  Ouch. Poor Ash. “Speaking of… Do you know where he is?”

  Ronnie checked his watch. “He’s probably setting up for his class tonight. He’ll either be in the conference room or down in the basement.”

  “Thanks, Ronnie. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Have a good night, Coop.”

  Despite my begging, Ash refused to cancel his class at Omega House. It had only been a week since his attack, and I felt like he needed a little more time. But he committed to host a seminar series for the many omegas still struggling to transition into a life of freedom after having been imprisoned in breedin
g farms or living on the streets for so long. Many of these omegas didn’t know how to function in society and didn’t trust anyone enough to ask for help.

  But they were starting to trust Ash, and he wanted to be there for them whenever he could.

  I had Sylvia duty for the evening while Ash was doing what he was meant to do, but that didn’t mean we needed to sneak out without saying goodbye.

  The conference room was empty, so Sylvia and I walked down to the basement where a larger space was being set up with chairs and snack tables. Ash was sitting in the front row with a young omega who was crying on his shoulder. As much as I wanted to go to them and help, I could tell that Ash needed the space to take care of this young man. Most omegas had been abused by alphas, so me barging into their conversation might have done more harm than good.

  I gave Sylvia’s foot a soft squeeze just as Ash looked up and saw us. He smiled and waved me over, but I shook my head, blowing him a kiss as I left the basement. Sylvia and I had some tummy time to get to and I wanted to have dinner waiting for Ash when he did get home tonight.

  19

  Ash

  “Just think about it.” Marge poked the paper into my chest as if that alone would get me to not only take it but also to sign the damn thing.

  Marge had just pled the case for me to take a position I’d seen and not applied for. Not that it wasn’t an amazing opportunity for someone, but that someone wasn’t me. I had a job, and even if I didn’t, I had little faith that I had enough of the skills needed to be successful in such an important role.

  How I went from not applying to being offered the job I was fairly confident had everything to do with Marge.

  “I’m a professor, not a counselor,” I argued. And it was true. I had maybe one undergraduate counseling course under my belt, and I wasn’t sure it would be considered as such since it was technically a history class.