Jughead placed Betty down onto the bed in his guest room, pushing her hair away from her forehead as her eyelids fluttered. He watched as her brows creased, a picture of pain being painted across her face and didn't hesitate to smooth his thumb along her forehead. "It's okay." His voice was soft, caring in ways he wasn't used to feeling with anyone outside of his pack.

"Mom," Betty whimpered, and Jughead shushed her gently.

"It's okay, Betty, just go to sleep," he murmured, stroking her forehead. The omega melted into his touch and he felt his Alpha stir contentedly. "There you go, hon." He said softly, watching as she slipped off to sleep at last, the pull of the sleeping pill too much for her to resist. He watched her for a long moment, taking note of the soft tremors. She was shaking but it seemed to be because she was cold.

Omega needs a blanket.

Jughead hurried to get her one to add to his comforter, tucking it in around her securely before pulling it up to her chin. He hesitantly pushed back a few loose strands of hair, watching her for a minute longer before heading off to his bedroom, mind whirling from the events that had transpired that night. He knew that no matter how hard he may try, the image of her petrified green irises on him as he undid the fucking muzzle from her mouth wouldn't leave him anytime soon.

XXX

It was the smell of coffee and bacon that woke him up the next morning, confusing him before the night from before came back to the surface of his mind.

Betty.

Omega.

He was about ready to tell his Alpha brain to shut the fuck up at this point as it always supplied inner dialogue at the least appropriate times. Shaking his head to himself, he slipped into a pair of sweat pants and threw on a t-shirt, padding his way out into his kitchen once through. He found Betty frying bacon in his skillet – that, admittedly, he never used – before turning to the left of her to butter toast. Then came the scrambling of eggs.

"I can hear you behind me, Jughead," Betty's soft tone floated to his ears and he snapped himself out of his trance at the picture of domesticity before him. He chuckled.

"Sorry," he replied, rubbing his hand across his neck sheepishly. "I'm just not used to waking up to beautiful women in my apartment. And one who can cook breakfast at that."

She chuckled, blush tinting her cheeks and his Alpha hummed in approval. Clearing her throat, she began to speak, voice still that soft timber.

"I just…wanted to thank you for helping last night and this is how I knew to do that best," she murmured, plating up the food before pouring coffee. She paused, looking at him. "Cream or milk or anything?"

"Black, thank you," he replied, going to help her carry the plates and cups to his table. He grabbed utensils before joining her. "You didn't have to thank me. I was happy to help."

Her eyes locked with his briefly, before she nodded, and dipped her head back to where her focus was on her plate. He took a bite of his eggs, smiling at how good they were compared to his usual burnt ones.

"You like to cook?" Jughead asked, hoping for her to open up to him.

She nodded. "Uh, yeah. My mom also likes, liked, cooking. She taught me as a child."

Her voice was choked and Jughead once more acted on instinct as he reached out for her hand. She didn't pull from his hold, just looked at their conjoined hands. A small lilt to her lips made him smile in return.

"You know I'm an omega." It wasn't a question and he nodded.

"Yeah, I do," he replied softly.

She frowned then, making a frown wash over his own face.

Omega is sad. Fix it. Now.

He watched her, carefully squeezing her hand gently. "What is it, Betty?"

He made sure to keep his tone soft. He didn't want to scare her after everything that she experienced the night before.

"Honestly? Everything," she laughed bitterly. He winced, squeezing her hand a bit firmer but letting her keep the pace of the conversation. "My best friend's dad hired the kill on my family and my Aunt helped to actually kill them. And she wants me dead. I-I don't know why any of this is happening."

Penelope, bitch of a woman, will not touch my omega. Oh, shit, calm down, Jones. Easy with the territorial claim.

"She won't get near you. The Serpents will not let that happen," he said firmly, tone leaving no room for doubt. Betty looked at him, eyes tracing his, before nodding.

"Then, there's Penny and Malachi. Will they be added to the list of people coming after me, too?" Betty asked, a hint of frustration in her tone. Jughead felt the bristles on the back of his neck stand up as his canines bared.

"No." His tone was harsh. "If they know what's good for them, they will not cross into Serpent territory."

"Do I have to stay here?" Betty asked softly, and Jughead frowned.

Omega doesn't want to stay.

"Oh, uh, I mean not if you don't wan-," Jughead began but she cut him off before he had a chance to finish.

"No. No," Betty's voice was insistent. "It's not that I don't want to. I do, believe me." She was pleading but she didn't need to; Jughead believed her by the sincerity in her eyes alone. He nodded, tracing his thumb along her knuckles in the hopes to soothe her agitation.

"I do," he assured her quickly, and he watched in fascination as she deflated, tension seeping out of her body.

Good Alpha.

"It's just I worry about Ronnie and Cheryl," she continued, and Jughead was starting to get an idea of who Betty Cooper was.

"You're a good person," he said, tone kind.

She shrugged, dismissing his statement, and he frowned. "You are."

"I don't feel like it," she whispered.

"Why?" Jughead asked quietly.

"My family is dead because of me. I mean, Ronnie is my best friend, I should have known, somehow, about Hiram Lodge," she said, shaking her head bitterly. Jughead threaded their fingers together.

"Betty," he said seriously. "Hiram Lodge is the worst hunter in Riverdale – possibly in the state. I'm sure, at the very least, your parents knew. This is not your fault, not in the slightest, and I will not let you think that it is."

He watched as she studied him, before nodding.

"What do we do now?" Betty asked.

"Now? Now, we get answers. As many as we can," Jughead said, pausing before pushing on. "And Betty? Guard your trust with people outside of the Serpents. Just for now."

It was a grim statement, but she accepted it, which meant one thing: they needed to get to work on unraveling the mystery that was brewing in Riverdale, with Betty Cooper in the center of it.