Page 10 of Brave New Omega, Part 2

Chapter 10

KATIE

I am hardly out of the shower before my phone pings. I grab it, thinking it's one of my sisters, but it's a different familiar voice on the other end of the line.

"Katie, I wanted to check in this morning and see how last night went?" Aurelia's voice chirps. Thank God it’s just an audio call.

I sigh, sitting on my bed, still wrapped in my towel.

"Fine, everything was fine," I say.

It was far more than fine but I am not about to tell Aurelia that. I had expected to be thoroughly berated for my idiocy, for running away and betraying their trust. But Max and Loren were so relieved I came back, and that I chose to stay with them rather than go back to the Conservatory, it was like we'd decided to start over. Start as though I was just another Omega, and they were my Alphas.

It was as insane an idea as it was pleasurable. My toes curl into the carpet just thinking about the string of orgasms that Max and Loren had jointly coaxed from my body. It was enough to get a girl addicted.

Fuck, was I going to become a sex addict? Is that what Omegas were?

I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose and quelling a rising tide of overwhelm.

"I'm glad to hear it. You will let me know if things are not fine, of course?"

"Ah, yeah," I say.

"Good. Well, I wanted to call and remind you—and your Alphas—that you need to build a nest. No, Katie I've heard it from Layla and Maddie already. I understand that nesting is not something you do on Earth. But it's an essential biological need for Omegas. You need to create your safe haven. Your heat will come, and you'll want your special spot to be kept safe and cozy."

I can almost hear the smirk from the other end of the phone.

"Sure, I can build a pillow fort." I shrug even though Aurelia hasn't turned on the video option of the call.

"Get your Alphas to help you. They should take you shopping—get out of the house together for a little while. But Katie, please don't try to go off again alone."

I bristle. I might make mistakes but I'm not stupid. Whatever in my biology makes me an Omega also has a pre-programmed kill-switch. One that will force me to comply if an Alpha barks at me. I shudder at the memory of Roark's voice and scent and touch. There are risks here that I can't prepare for, not like home.

But I don't want to run, to shake off Loren and Max. Even Callum. Okay, maybe I want breathing space so I don't become an actual sex addict. But, if I'm truly honest with myself, I don't really want to leave them.

I swallow thickly. That's… a lot. And I haven't even had coffee, so I will ignore whatever those feelings are.

"Mission objective is nesting stuff. Got it."

Aurelia makes a pleased sort of growling noise. "Good, good. I'll have one of the girls call you tonight to see how it's going. Molly Beth has really taken to nest building. She's such a natural—her Omega instincts are much keener than the rest of you, I think."

She doesn't mean it like an insult, but the words hurt anyway. I mean, it's true. I'm a fucking soldier, for heaven's sake. And Molly Beth wanted to be an elementary school teacher, and to get married and have a wagon-load of babies.

I didn't, and Maddie definitely didn't. Layla and Norah, I'm not as sure about. But Molly Beth, with her sweet, heart-shaped face, and quiet gentleness—she's exactly the kind of soft Omega that a pack of feral Alphas might try to keep.

I'm both pleased and angry at this thought.

"Take care of yourself, Katie," Aurelia says breezily. "Your heat will be in just about six weeks or so, and you'll need to be prepared for that."

"Sure," I say, rolling my eyes, then tossing the phone on my bed when Aurelia finally clicks off. My body hums, desire still an ache between my legs.

I had like seven orgasms in the last twenty-four hours. I should be exhausted. But I'm not. I'm alert, a little sore, and still hungry.

I dress quickly, pulling on a loose t-shirt style dress that they had at the Conservatory. It's black, of course, and I wish vainly that I had something to dress it up a little. Not anything flashy, just a little something.

Whatever. I just need to get some coffee and some calories into my system before the hanger hits and I start snapping commands left, right, and center.

I slide a pair of comfortable sandals on and slip downstairs. Loren and Max are both there, sipping coffee and talking jovially. A plate of toast, eggs, and bacon sits untouched between them.

"Hungry, Omega?" Max asks, lifting an arm for me to slide in next to his chest. I hesitate. Feeding me—providing for me—feels a whole lot more intimate than fucking me. But that's what I promised them last night, right? We'd really give this a try. Really try to be a pack. Whatever that looks like.

Loren pushes a steaming mug of coffee into my hands, and Max nuzzles the top of my still damp hair.

"Ah," he whines. "You washed my scent off you."

I scrubbed every inch of myself, then sprayed myself down with a liberal dose of the scent canceling spray. Apparently, I needed a lot of extra help tamping down this whole perfuming thing.

I take a mouthful of eggs and toast and shrug. "I enjoy being clean."

"Are you sure?" Loren asks, giving me a devious smile. "I think you were quite satisfied being our dirty little Omega last night.

I swallow thickly, my body going hot, then cold. I press my nails into my palms to keep myself in my seat. I want to crawl across the counter to Loren.

"Stop Lor, you're going to ruin all her effort to keep her perfume in check," Max says, laughing. "Let her have a break before we take her to bed again. My Tough Girl needs sunshine, don't you?"

I nod, taking a gulp of coffee. Loren huffs, then shares a playful grin.

"Alright, alright. Where should we go? Max said you've been to the bakery in Old Fourth Ward."

I finish a mouthful of bacon and nod. "Yeah, and Aurelia called and said I needed to go nest shopping." I shrug again, taking another bite. Bacon is fucking delicious no matter what planet it's on.

"She's right. We've neglected you, Omega. I'm sorry." Loren's bright mood dampens.

"No, you haven’t. I don't know what to even ask for. How could you have known?" This overwhelming need to soothe Loren, to reassure him that I'm okay, swells in my chest. I reach out and grab his hand, a frantic desire to press my cheek to his chest nearly choking me.

"Katie, calm down. Loren's okay. We just want to make sure you have everything you need." Max wraps an arm over my shoulders and I blink, forcing the feeling down. I slowly let go of Loren's hand and take a shaky breath.

"Omega hormones," I say like it's all a joke. But really, my emotions are ping-ponging hard. Max nuzzles me again, and I can smell the sharp tang of whisky and the warmth of leather on my forehead. It's calming, now that I know what it is. Like the scent of them acts as a kind of grounding rod, a trigger to my brain that I am safe.

"My turn," Loren says, coming around the counter and pulling me from Max's arms. He nuzzles against my cheek, rubbing his lightly stubbled jaw over my tender face and shoulder.

"Okay, okay, we get the picture. You need to hide my scent or whatever." I push him away playfully. "Point made, professor."

Loren's eyes gleam, the black pupils dilating just a fraction, before he relaxes away.

"I'm not hiding you, Love. I am simply informing any Alphas in the area that you are unavailable for their attentions." He grabs my hand in his as we walk to the garage. Max slides to my other side, linking his fingers in my free hand.

"That's a fancy way of saying, if anyone one so much as looks at you twice, we'll kick their ass."