Pack Hodges

Easton-Chapter 7

I walk through the cacophony of sound that is this beta club, the patrons parting around me like I’m f$cking Moses and they’re the Red Sea. Good, I’m only looking for one person tonight.

Rosie has been my on and off girlfriend for 3 years and I have no idea how I’m going to tell her we have an omega living in our house. Or maybe I just won’t, but that doesn’t sit right with me either. I’m not a complete d**k. I’m not Sim. The way that omega looked at me though…I can’t get it out of my head. I’ve never met an omega like that. The few I’ve had the distinct displeasure of coming across were all the same: self-involved, fake, useless. It’s why I prefer betas. I hate all the hierarchical bulls$t and will mate with whoever I want, but as much as I like Rosie, I don’t know if she’s it. But she’s it for now and I love her for it. She’s always been there for me after sh$tty missions and makes sure to take care of me. She’s real and smart and takes care of herself. If I could find an omega like that…maybe…but no.

I push towards the back of the club towards the bar where I know she’ll be. She’s behind the bar with her dyed red hair that I love on her and light blue eyes looking as sexy as always in a crop top and jeans. She gives me an easy smile that says she was waiting for me and hands me a bourbon straight up. I down it in one and she raises her eyebrows.

“That seems excessive, even for you. What’s up?”

“Can we talk?”

“Sure, let me get someone to cover for me.”

She motions for another beta working the floor to come behind the bar and grabs my hand leading me towards the back. When we reach the storage room, she gives me a coy smile and her hand drifts towards my d**k and I stop her. She looks at me concerned and says, “Oh you meant we need to talk. Well at least you’re doing it to my face, I suppose.”

She laughs because after all this time I don’t think the way I feel about her has ever gotten through. I might not want to be with her forever but I do love her and the look on her face breaks me.

“No, not like that. Come here.”

I hold her close and breathe her in. I’ve always loved her scent. It was the first thing that drew me to her. It’s like most beta’s scent’s, faint and quiet but it’s soothing. She smells like roses and not the fake sh$t out of the bottle. Like a real rose, that clean scent you can’t get enough of.

I sit on a chair in the corner of the room and pull her into my lap my c**k immediately springing to life. Sorry buddy, not now.

Figuring a preamble will just make it worse I say, “To finish up the reform process, we have an omega staying with us for one month.”

She goes rigid in my arms and I start stroking her back.

“I met her today and I don’t want anything to do with her but I needed to tell you. We don’t lie to each other, remember?”

She still doesn’t respond, so I say, “Rosie?”

“Mmmhmm?”

“Do you have anything to say?”

“What am I supposed to say? You stay away from omegas for a reason, East. They mess with your head without trying…her scent will..”

“No. That’s not going to happen.”

She gives me a sad smile that seems to say I can’t promise her that. I can’t really. I do stay away from omegas not only because I don’t like them but because, like Rosie said, they can f$ck with your head without meaning to. But let’s be honest, most of them mean to.

“Come home with me tonight. Let me show you how serious I am.”

She hesitates, but my girl is brave, “Okay. My shift is over in 4 hours.”

I grin, “I’ll wait.”

Hours later, we’re walking out to my black SUV and I grab her hand and kiss it letting her know I’m here with her. The ride to my apartment, usually full of conversation, is quiet, and I can tell she’s anxious by the slight bitter edge to her scent. Hand in hand we take the elevator up and step out into a quiet apartment. Just then I spot her. Standing in the kitchen with a glass of water looking tiny and, how did I not notice this before, beautiful? The small omega stares at us with wide eyes as I take a deep breath and pull Rosie along to my room.

“She’s beautiful,” Rosie murmurs.

“She nothing,” I reply forcefully.

It’s only much later do I realize I didn’t catch her scent. I didn’t smell her at all.