Helena woke up. She was lying sideways on the bed. All of the sheets were bundled up around her, making most of the mattress bare. Her muscles were stiff. She looked to her side to see Brooks lift his head and smile at her.
"Good morning," he said.
"Good morning to you," Helena replied. "Are we going to make it out of the room today?"
He laughed and reached over pulling Helena towards him. It had been a week since either of them had left the room. She had lost count of how many times they made love. Helena wasn't sure you could classify every time as making love either, sometimes it was so filled with passion and energy it was like they were trying to devour each other.
Today didn't feel any different. Helena didn't think she was physically capable of anything but loving him at the moment. She wasn't sure if his desires had started to fade yet.
Helena kissed his hand and wiggled out of his grasp. She sat up on the bed and looked around the room. The bed wasn't the only thing messed up. There were plates of half eaten food by the door, the couch cushions were thrown around the room. Two blankets were randomly scattered. The items that normally sat on top of Brooks' desk were in a pile on the floor. She was scared to go into the closet, remembering what happened when they decided to try to get dressed. She didn't know if a single item was still on a hanger.
"I have to take a shower," Helena said.
"I can join you," Brooks said.
"Not another one of those showers," Helena said. "A real shower. I need to get clean. I feel almost as dirty as this room."
Brooks lifted his head up and looked around, letting out a loud laugh.
"This past week I never realized what a mess we were making," Brooks said. "But I wouldn't change anything."
He sat up and Helena felt him kissing her back.
"If you start that we're never going to get anything done," Helena said.
"Maybe I'm not ready to move on yet," Brooks said.
His mouth moved to her neck and he started to run his tongue across her artery. She fell backwards knowing she wasn't ready to move on yet either.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It had been ten days since the night Brooks had taken Helena's virginity. Since then he was incapable of focusing on anything but her. This morning he finally felt ready to rejoin the world. Helena seemed to echo his feelings. Their desire for each other would never fade, but at least it was satisfied for the time being.
Putting clothes on felt strange, Brooks was buttoning up one of his few shirts that didn't get wrinkled during their tryst in the closet. Helena was bent over, trying to put some of the items back on the hangers.
"We should probably just have those all cleaned again," Brooks said.
"I feel bad," Helena said. "We should try to pick up this mess ourselves."
"Are you kidding?" Brooks asked. "I don't even think we could. It's going to take a team. My bet is they're going to fight over who gets to do it too."
"Why?" Helena asks. "I'm just a human and I can tell it smells terrible in here, I can't imagine what it smells like to a wolf."
Brooks finished putting on his shirt and walked over to her. He came behind her and put his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"I'm not sure you are just a human," Brooks said. "Maybe Zachary was right, I don't think a human could have kept up with me the past week."
Helena let out a laugh.
"Try ten days," Helena said. "And if memory serves me correctly at times you were having a hard time keeping up with me."
"Either way," Brooks said. "Everyone has their place. Every job is important. They would be insulted if we did it for them. And they will fight over it because all the other Omegas will run to them to get the gossip on the Alpha's son and his mate's ten days of debauchery."
"Well then," Helena said. "We should get out of here so they can do their job."
"Are you sure you don't want to come to my office?" Brooks asked.
"I can't," Helena said. "Ten days seems to be a theme with us. It's only ten days until the full moon. I think that I owe it to spend some time with Daphne and see what she has planned. I'm hoping to see Rebecca today too. Really everyone else I care about except for you."
"Are you getting nervous? Excited?" Brooks asked.
It was pretty easy for him to read Helena, but he still thought it was important they discussed any concerns she may have.
"A little of both," Helena said. "When I agreed to the change it was because I thought it was the only way to save myself, but now it feels different. Like I am getting ready to actually start my life. Still, I wish it were sooner."
"We could always go back to bed," Brooks said. "Just spend the next ten days there too."
"Hardy har har," Helena said. "I think if we did that I would break you."
"Is that a challenge?" Brooks asked.
He knew his recent stamina was incapable of repetition. He was surprised it lasted that long. He had expected 3 days, 5 tops, but he couldn't get enough of her. They were making up for lost time. He kissed her on the back of the head, then tucked his shirt in.
"Come on," he said. "I'll walk you to my mother."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
When they walked through the halls the staff of the lodge was getting to work. Helena barely recognized any faces, but they were eager to greet Brooks. He must have been stopped at least ten times by people shaking his hand or patting him on the back. Helena had a feeling their well wishes involved her and she cringed a little at the strangers who had knowledge of her personal life.
"I should get to know more people," Helena said.
"I want you to," Brooks said. "But remember what Zachary said."
"I know," Helena said. "Just because the symptoms are gone the threat isn't over."
"You will be formally introduced the night of your change and then you will get to know everyone," Brooks said. "Some people before then too. My siblings are dying to meet you. One of my sisters is coming in tomorrow."
"How do you know that?" Helena asked.
She wondered when he had the time to come up for air, let alone speak to anyone else.
"When you were in the shower this morning I checked my e-mail," Brooks said. "I got through the first ten of about a thousand."
"It's going to be a long day for you huh?" Helena asked.
Brooks nodded. They were nearing Daphne's office.
"Have you talked to your sister?" Brooks asked.
"Not yet," Helena said. "I'm going to assume she knew what I was up though..."
"Did you remember your phone?" Brooks asked.
"Both of them," Helena said, patting her pocket.
He wrinkled his brow.
"I know the once Rebecca gave me isn't necessary anymore," Helena said. "But I feel like I should at least try to use it for a little while, until the minutes run out. I mean, she did buy it for me."
Brooks leaned over and knocked on Daphne's door. She answered quickly and let out a little scream when she saw Brooks and Helena.
"I was beginning to think I would never see you two again," Daphne said.
She wrapped one arm around each of them and gave a squeeze.
"Don't worry," Daphne said. "I won't ask any questions. I'm not that sort of mom."
Helena took one look at the giant grin on Daphne's face and knew right away she was exactly that kind of mom.
