Page 37 of Brave New Omega, Part 2

Chapter 37

MAX

K atie yawns. It’s cute, the way she tries to smother it and blink away the exhaustion to feign alertness. But I can already read her tells. She’s stretched out her left leg and every few minutes kneads her thigh muscles. The injury is bothering her. Loren said it was from her time as a soldier.

An Omega and a soldier – it still blows me away. Her strength, her fight. I scoffed at most Omegas in my youth. I presented at nineteen–late for an Alpha, though I think my Ma guessed. To me, Omegas were soft, spoiled pets that Alphas kept at home when they came to fight. I didn’t want that. Sure, sex with an Omega is amazing, and I'd volunteered at the Conservatory to help unbonded Omegas through their heats, but there were plenty of feisty Betas that matched me for passion, energy, and fight .

Then came Katie. Undoing all my assumptions. Strong, not in spite of her femininity, but because of it.

I lean forward, planting a kiss on her exposed shoulder. She leans back, letting her head fall into my chest.

“Loren, our girl is worn out. Are we clear to make an exit?”

“Cal already went for the driver.” Loren runs his hand through his hair, making it stand on end. The man is all frazzled nerves. I can’t blame him; if I had a sister who sprung an engagement on me, I’d be a wreck. And Pack Messina? Fuck, they aren’t men to mess with.

He talked with Celeste, the tall wispy slip of a woman. But she was bubbly and happy, her perfume warm and overly sugared. Okay, so she fell in love with some bad dudes. Maybe they’ll change. Stranger things have happened.

“You’re upset.” Katie stretches up for Loren, who immediately drops beside her. I almost expect him to say “M’lady.” Like a fucking knight.

“No, just… stressed.”

She smooths his hair. “I can fix this, right?” She lifts his glasses, then kisses him lightly across the forehead and over his closed eyelids, her perfume warming and wrapping around us in a tight cocoon of scent.

Damn . She catches on quick.

“What a picture of domesticity.” Matilda glides over, her eyes overbright from wine and gossip. “I’d hate to ruin such a lovely tableau , but…” she trails off.

I don’t bother answering her. She is an attention-seeking old bat, and if she wasn’t part of Loren’s family pack, I’d already have knocked her down a few pegs.

She huffs when none of us reply.

“I heard that Katie is a Traveler . Aurelia Conswellows was on hand when a family of Travelers was found, so I hear. And Katie, you said you had four other sisters. But never where you came from….”

Loren sits up, eyeing the Beta. He could snap her neck easily.

“Every Traveler on record has been a Beta,” he answers flatly.

“Oh I know you know that. It’s your little pet hobby – driving your poor father to distraction. Really Loren. Wasting that brilliant mind on folklore.” She pats him on the shoulder.

Katie growls.

Not a purr or a hum. But a growl. She sits up straight and bares her teeth. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she was one of the ancestors who could still shift between wolf and woman.

“Don’t touch him,” she snarls through gritted teeth.

Matilda takes a half step back, her fingers trailing off Loren’s shoulder slowly.

“An Omega with bite. Definitely not a society girl. But maybe…” she looks Loren up and down. “Alfonze will not be pleased to have a Traveler in the family.”

“I have long since given up on pleasing my father,” Loren says, standing, and blocking Katie from view.

This could get very ugly very quickly. I scoop Katie into my arms. She protests and I hiss in her ear, “Go with it.”

“Cal’s here with the car. Sorry Tilly, but my Omega is tired. Not used to all your high society socializing. We’re taking our leave, or whatever, and going.” I give a light nod, then nudge Loren’s shoulder. He’s frozen in a glare at the older Beta.

“Ah, Omegas, yes, they are such fragile creatures,” Matilda says.

“Give mother my love,” Loren spits, then turns on his heel.

“I could tie her up and leave her in a closet,” Katie offers from my arms. I snort.

“I have no doubt you are more than capable, my Omega. But that isn’t necessary. Yet.”

“Loren,” Katie reaches for him and he pauses just inside the doorway to the large front drive. “I can defend myself. Just tell me the rules. Should I be honest about being a Traveler? If not, where should I be from? I can remember a cover story. I can help smooth things over with your family.”

“No doubt,” he says again, bringing her hand up to kiss. “But right now, we need to get you home to rest and then plan the best course of action.”

“Planning is his thing,” Callum says, walking in from outside. “Come on, the driver is at the front.”

“Leaving so soon?” Genevieve emerges around a corner, red-faced, as though she had sprinted through the house.

“Not soon enough,” I say.

She clenches one of her tiny fists. I never knew what Cal and Lor saw in her. She was like a doll – perfectly painted to be just what you want her to be. Where is the fun in that?

“I’ve heard some interesting stories…” She sing-songs. “Stories about girls, and stars, and the world beyond. I’ve heard that there are princes and thieves who would love to have such a treasure.”

Katie stiffens in my arms, but I turn her away, heading out of the house and into the night. It’s cold, and our breaths are puffs of steam. The house is hot from so many bodies, but out here, the autumn chill has taken a decided turn toward winter.

“I’m watching you,” she says. It’s sweet, like a small child might say to an adult. But her gaze is sharp, focused entirely on the Omega in my arms.

“You better remember your place,” Callum growls.

“Or what?” she replies. Loren opens the door for us to slide in. Just as I’m about to scoot in with Katie safely in my arms, I hear Callum’s ripple of Alpha power.

“Harm my Omega and I’ll repay you tenfold, Genevieve. No mercy, no quarter.”

Then, we are all inside and speeding away from the townhouse, and the party, and the high society snobs, and the pink poison glaring at us from the curb.