Page 44 of Brave New Omega, Part 2

Chapter 44

KATIE

I roll over to find the nest empty. I sit up, naked and cold in the air outside the warm pocket of bedding. I grab my forehead, mind spinning. Callum and the argument about my heat. The shower. The incredible sex. But of course, it had all been too much and he was gone. I shouldn’t be surprised, but then again, this is what I get for letting my guard down.

Then I hear the shower start.

Steam and the warm scent of fir trees and lime waft from the open bathroom door.

Right, because Callum broke it down when he thought I fell in the shower. We’ll need to get that fixed.

I shimmy out of bed, wrapping a sheet toga-style and peek inside the bathroom. Steam billows through the room, but Callum is there in my shower, efficiently scrubbing his midsection. Ah yes, I’m still a little sticky too.

I hesitate in the doorway. I’m sore and strangely shy. But why should I be? Callum just saw all of me in a very close up way last night. And was still here –just getting clean.

I swallow all the reasons not to trust him, and let the sheet drop to the floor. I walk through the steam with my head high, like a fucking goddess emerging from the mist. Callum freezes as I approach, his mouth open.

“Good morning,” I say. “Mind if I join you?”

“Nothing I’d want more.” He pulls me into a deep kiss. My body tightens in anticipation. But I'm sore, so maybe no shower sex.

“How do you feel?” He runs light fingertips down my back.

“Good. Sore, but good.”

“How sore?”

“Too sore for another round of being fucked into the mattress,” I tease, stepping under the shower stream, letting the heat relax the last of my tense muscle.

“Ah, so I can still eat you out then?”

I laugh at him. “Don’t you want your breakfast first?”

Callum drops to his knees. “Sweet Omega, you are the most delicious thing I’ve ever had in my mouth.”

My phone buzzes and I fish it out of the deep pockets of the hoodie I borrowed from Max.

“Good morning, sex kitten!” Layla sings over the phone line. “Are we still on for shopping?”

I roll my eyes. She has no chill, especially before my first two cups of coffee.

“Good morning Layla, and I think we agreed for after lunch.”

She huffs. “Can we go earlier? Maddie is driving me crazy, and I need a reason to get away. Aurelia is only letting me go so that we don’t have any problems. She said too many unbonded Omegas in one place will attract unwanted attention.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, and Callum slides a cup of coffee in front of me. Loren wraps an arm around my middle, leaning down to kiss my cheek. I lean into him, grateful for the solid wall of his chest.

“Max said he'll take us, but I think he’s at the gym until lunch.” I look up for confirmation.

“He’ll come back if you need him,” Loren says, grabbing his own mug over my shoulder, but not moving away from me.

“Let’s compromise,” I say, already imagining Layla’s pout. “I’ll meet you at eleven –it’s still earlier than we planned, and that lets Max get some of his work done.”

Layla sighs, but her voice is still cheerful. “Alright, see you in a couple of hours. Then it’s time to get you dressed like the queen that you are.”

Layla meets us at a trendy strip of boutiques wedged between an upscale bistro and a hotel.

“Are you ready to spend your Alphas’ money?” she asks, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

“Not on you ,” I say, looking at Max, who’s relaxed on my other side. He’s got his hair pulled back again, wearing a tight t-shirt, leather jacket and jeans. He’s entirely too cool to be babysitting Layla and I. Layla brought her own chaperone –a Beta security guard named Joel, who’s nice enough I guess.

It feels like we’re on leashes. I roll my shoulders back, wishing I had a weapon.

Funny that I haven't missed my pistol or boot knife since moving in with Pack Murphy.

“Aurelia said this one is great for casual wear,” Layla pulls me into a store with dozens of dressed mannequins and neat racks of clothes separated by an assortment of neutral colors.

“Looks matronly,” I whisper.

“It’s just for basics. We’ll go next door for the fun stuff.”

She pings between racks, grabbing pants and shirts, sweaters and jackets.

She hands an armload to Joel, beckoning me toward a stand of accessories.

“Ohooo, it’s lingerie! You definitely need to surprise your Alphas with something.”

My skin heats, an itch at the small of my back that I can’t quite reach. I grumble and ignore it. Too much showering and not enough moisturizing.

“I don’t know,” I hesitate, then Max looks over my shoulder at the rack.

“I told you that you can get whatever you want. But if you want to get anything that’s black and silk, I would love it. And if you want anything white and lacy, Callum would love it.”

“And Loren?” I ask before I can stop myself. Max smiles wickedly.

“I think the Professor would like anything he can rip off you.” He winks at me and my body goes hot. Fuck, I’m getting wet just thinking about my Alphas taking lingerie off me.

This is ridiculous.

“Great, I’ll surprise you.” I grab Layla’s hand and pull her to the fitting rooms.

“Oh, come on Katie. He was practically drooling over the black lace panties.”

“I’ll grab some on the way out. But I don’t need to give a play by play of my sex life to my sister in public!”

She sighs, handing me a shirt and jeans to try on. “You’re no fun. You’re the only one of us allowed to get laid, the least you can do is give us some details.”

I pull the soft fabric of a cream-colored shirt over my head. It’s smooth against my itchy skin. I don’t normally like white –I’m always worried I’ll stain it. But this I might make an exception for. It hugs my curves without feeling tight.

I pull on the brown corduroy pants, ones that are entirely too tailored from waist to ankle for my taste. But with the soft top, it’s kind of nice. Like an early nineteenth century academic.

“Layla, this is cute.”

“Don’t sound so shocked,” she laughs. “Here, try it with the jacket. And I’m thinking a good brown ankle boot.”

The jacket is a long duster, which isn’t quite my style. I make a face.

“Okay, no to the long jacket. Try this instead.” She hands me what looks like a jean jacket, but is actually much softer. It’s cut to my hip, with a little tailoring to accommodate my curves, but not overly much. It’s simple, but not plain.

“I love this.” I am surprised, but I actually like the look and feel of the outfit. Like Layla brought out the things she knew I would like and found a way to make them look good. To make me look good.

“I’m so glad!” She claps her hands. “Now, let’s try on the red and black –I think that might be a good base for more mix and match elements.”

Forty minutes later, I emerge with a considerable pile of clothing that Layla has chosen for me. All of it soft and structured, feminine but with ease of movement. None of it the gauzy, airy outfits that Layla favors.

“You’re good at this,” I say, as the clerk folds my items neatly. “Anything else?” She asks cheerfully. Layla eyes the lingerie. I sigh.

“Yes, a few more things. I’ll go grab them now.”

Max and Joel are on the far side of the row of clerks. They are chatting, which is distraction enough for me to grab a few sets of lingerie without him seeing.

“Just black and white?” I ask Layla.

She holds up a deep scarlet lace bodysuit in one hand, and in the other a cherry-red bra made to look like a big bow that can be untied to expose your breasts. “Oh you have to get these! God, can you imagine getting fucked in this?” She closes her eyes, and I see a deep groove between her brows. Damn, she must be pretty hard up. I don’t know much about her sex life, but I assumed it was pretty healthy.

“There’s thigh high to match,” I say, pointing.

“Yes! Get them in all the colors!”

“They prefer garter belts and silk stockings, not lace,” a poison-sweet voice sings from behind me. I freeze.

This is not happening. Not my Alpha’s betraying ex-Beta watching me pick out lingerie.

I turn to see Genevieve standing there glaring daggers with her eyes, but offering an ether-sweet smile.

“Callum especially likes silk– so much more fun to tie your wrists and ankles with.”

A snap of white hot anger burns through my body, my vision narrowing at the edges. I open my mouth to speak, but no coherent words will come. Instead, I growl.

“Oh, excuse me for being so rude. Who is this you’re with?” Genevieve asks with such tartness I’m surprised her lips don’t pucker.

Layla steps between us. “Layla, Katie’s sister.” She puts out her hand, but Genevieve just looks at it with a wrinkled nose.

“Oh, another Traveler Omega. How interesting.” She looks us over, assessing. My arm hairs stand on high alert. Genevieve is so much more than just a bitter ex. She’s a spy. But for who? And why?

“Is there something you need?” I ask, acid coating my words.

“I need a lot of things, little Omega.” She flips her hair, those blue eyes tracing over my frame again.

“Indeed, like military intel? Tell me, are you an actual field operative, or just a convenient pawn?”

She quirks one eyebrow. “Read a few espionage novels, Omega?”

“Don’t you wish,” I breathe, stepping closer. I am not afraid of this bitch. “But if you know I am a Traveler, then you must know that I came from a world without Omegas. So remember, I am no clawless kitten. If you come for my Alphas, prepared to get scratched.”

Her eyes widen, but not in fear. She whispers, “A world without Omegas,” before shaking herself, the cool facade back in place.

“Actually, I wanted to make sure you knew you were invited to the Bride’s Toast. You are the current Pack Murphy Omega. It would be a shame for your Alphas if you didn’t attend.”

“I’ll be there, of course,” I hiss. Anything that will help Loren I’ll do, even tolerate this breathing pile of human excrement.

“Wonderful,” she says, batting her eyelashes at me. “I will be sure to see you there.”

My muscles coil tight as a coil spring. Her words are harmless enough, but something in the air around her feels like a threat.

“What the fuck, Genevieve? What the hell are you doing here?” Max marches over, Joel behind him, hand on the holster of his gun. A real gun, not one of those fancy stunners.

“Relax, Max. I was just shopping.”

“You were just leaving.”

“I still have things to buy.”

“You are leaving, now.” His voice deepens to the rumble of thunder echoing in a canyon. The power of his Alpha nature rings through it, directed wholly at the tiny terror before us. She freezes then pouts. “You were never any fun.”

She drops a single t-shirt she’d held wadded in her fist, then walks to the door, pausing long enough to wink at me over her shoulder.

I shiver, my body hot and cold.

“Did she hurt you?” He wraps his arms around me. My teeth are chattering, I’m suddenly freezing. A whining ache grows in my core. Fuck, too much sex with Cal this morning. I shouldn’t have let him eat me out in the shower.

But the thought of his tongue on my pussy makes the ache deepen, need and pain mingling together.

“Shit. Katie, you’re burning up. We need to get you home.”

“Her perfume,” Layla gasps beside me.

“I know. I think it’s starting. Can you have them send us the clothes? I need to get Katie to her nest.”

My nest . Yes, that’s what I need, to curl up in my nest surrounded by everything soft. Everything mine .

“Max,” I moan, grabbing onto his arms. “It hurts.”

Fuck, what did Cal do to me? Spasms wrack my core, pain shooting up into my abdomen.

“It’s going to be okay, Tough Girl. Let me get you to the car.”

Layla is talking, pointing at something and pulling out her phone. But I’m lost in a haze of lust and pain, and chills.

“Here’s the car,” Max opens the door and helps me slide in. My teeth are chattering so hard he has to buckle my seatbelt. He nearly leaps across the hood of the car, starting the engine before he has the door closed.

“P-put on y-your s-s-seatbelt,” I whimper.

“We’re going to be a little bit fast and lose with the lights, okay?”

Max says as he guns the gas. My eyes are shut, a spike of heat and pain shutting down my senses.

What happened? Did Genevieve drug me? I whimper reflexively.

“I’m going to touch you, okay?” He asks, one hand on the wheel, the other gently stroking my arm. “I’m going to touch you and see if that will bring some relief until we get to the nest. Then I’ll take care of you. I promise.”

How is him touching me going to take away whatever poison Genevieve used? She must have sprayed me with something when I got too close. But then Layla is at risk. Fuck, I need to open my eyes, but the light is too bright.

Firm fingers wedge under my legging, sliding past my panties to lightly touch my aching pussy. My eyes roll back in my skull. It’s like the tiniest sip of cool water when one is in a desert.

“Please,” I whine, trying to rock my hips up to meet Max’s fingers.

“Babe, I’m trying. We’ll be home in about seven minutes. Fuck, we should have had the boutique come to the house.”

He rubs a light circle around my clit before stroking into my folds. It sends shivers of relief, taking the edge off the growing ache. I rock my hips up to meet him, his fingers grazing my center.

A chime sounds in the car, and Max swears, smashing a button somewhere on the dash.

“Hello?” He grunts.

“Is Katie with you?” Callum asks.

“Yes, we’re in the car, be home in five,”

“What happened? Did Genevieve hurt her? I swear to every god in heaven and hell if she laid a finger on…”

“No, she didn’t touch her. But we have another bigger problem.”

Callum is silent for a beat before Max continues. “Katie’s heat is starting.”