Page 3 of Enticing Little Omega (Twisted Little Tales #5)

Cindy

S omething was wrong.

So very very wrong.

Something weird was happening.

And I had a very bad feeling it was only the beginning.

I barely made it back to the bar before Tracy descended like a wasp in stilettos.

"What the hell was that?" she hissed, snatching the tray from my hands like I'd offended the gods. "What did you say to him?"

I blinked, sweat clinging to the back of my neck. My vision shimmered slightly at the edges. "You mean, what did I say to the son you haven't seen in more than three years when he ran into me? Nothing. I told him I had to get to work."

Her jaw twitched. "Don't start with me tonight, Cindy. Do you know who's here?"

"Fancy pants assholes, that have more money than sense?" I deadpanned trying to keep control of my expression. It would not do to have Tracy notice something was wrong with me.

Wrong move.

Her grip on my arm tightened and long nails bit into my skin. "You're lucky I didn't dump you into foster care the second your father croaked."

The words punched the air from my lungs. I flinched, then bit down hard on the pain.

"Maybe you should have," I muttered. "You would have done us both a favour."

She leaned in, her breath hot and bitter against my flushed face. "You're right. I can just as quickly remedy that. Don't think I don't know what tomorrow is for you, you little rat. You might just find yourself out on the street if you're not careful."

The rest of her words faded as something cracked open inside me.

My knees buckled. Heat surged too fast, so violently, it made my head spin. The world tilted. My skin prickled, hypersensitive, and my breath came in quick pants.

"Oh goddess, no," I whispered. "This can't be happening."

I stumbled back from her, my entire body trembling.

And then perfume hit the air.

My perfume.

Floral. Sweet. Thick and unmistakable.

Tracy froze, her eyes wide with horror. "No!" She actually staggered a step back. "You're... No!"

"Omega," Drew said behind me, his voice low with something I couldn't name. Shock? Awe? Lust?

I turned slowly, catching his eyes, before noticing the other brother standing right behind him.

They were staring like they'd seen a ghost.

Or like they'd just caught a whiff of their favourite drug.

"I'm not—" My voice cracked. "This can't be happening. I'm a Beta. My mom and dad were both Betas."

"Maybe not," came a new voice—smooth, accented and full of barely leashed interest. "You're presenting sweetheart. No mistaking that."

Another Alpha.

A different one this time. His suit was immaculate, but his tie had been tugged loose and his sleeves rolled up. Dirty blond hair, perfectly tousled. A hint of stubble. He looked like a wall street wolf, all dangerous charm and Alpha authority.

Drew shifted, subtly stepping between us. "Easy, William."

The man—William—smirked. "What? It's nothing but the truth. And she smells heavenly. She smells like ours. "

"No," I choked out, stepping back. "No, no, no. I'm not yours. I don't belong to anyone. Not anymore."

But the heat under my skin, the coiling pressure low in my belly, the way my heart kept trying to break its way out of my chest... it all screamed otherwise.

And the worst part?

They were all staring at me like I was prey they'd been hunting for years. And now, finally they'd caught my scent.

I turned and fled.

Through the crowd, passed the confused staff and oblivious guests, straight into the kitchen.

The air inside was thick with steam and spice and the clatter of trays.

Sounds I used to cherish and found comforting were suddenly grating on my frayed nerves.

At least a dozen staff members moved around the large space, but as I stumbled in, they all froze.

I must have looked wild. Sweating, panting, my skin flushed and feverish.

"Cindy?" one of the dishwashers called.

But I didn't stop. I pressed myself into the corner near the industrial sink, wrapping my arms around myself.

Too hot.

Too tight.

Too much.

The door swung open again behind me, and I whirled just as they came in.

Drew first. Then Anton—brooding, dark eyed, slightly more intimidating than his brother.

William followed, and behind them came another man in a white dress shirt and grey vest. He was the only one who didn't immediately give off crazy Alpha energy.

He moved slower, more cautiously. His hair was neat, brown with a slight curl, and his eyes were warm hazel behind wire-rimmed glasses. He had to be a Beta. Thank the goddess.

"Hi, Cindy? I'm Annerly," he said, his voice gentle and calm. "You must be freaking out right about now, all those emotions and hormones suddenly flooding your body. Can I... A hug would really help ground you right now."

A hug?

No.

I didn't want a damned hug.

I didn't want to be touched at all.

I didn't want any of this to be happening at all.

But my body, my damn traitorous body craved it. My newfound instincts screamed for comfort, for grounding, for safety.

"I..." My voice broke again, hoarse now. "I don't—"

But he was already moving slowly toward me, arms open. "I won't hurt you, I promise."

And stupidly, stupidly , I stepped into him. Just enough for his arms to come around me, careful but firm, like a warm safety blanket.

And for one second, I almost believed I was okay.

Until the scent hit me again. He was saturated in it. In them.

Mine.

My perfume bloomed again, fresh and floral against the Beta’s skin and I snapped.

"No!"

I shoved him back, stumbling away from his embrace.

He reached for me in reflex, fingers catching on the chain around my neck as I twisted away.

It snapped.

My mother's necklace.

I felt it go, and I couldn't do anything but let it fall as I rushed out of the kitchen and up to my room. I could hear them chase me, but I was in fight-or-flight mode, and this girl had to fly away. Now.

My bedroom door slammed shut behind me, in their faces, and I quickly hit the lock.

I wasn't stupid enough to think a flimsy lock would stop three Alphas from barging in and claiming what they thought of as theirs, but I was damned if I would give up my freedom as soon as I finally had it in my grasp.

Grabbing my bag from under my bed, I head for the small window I'd been using to sneak out for the last three years.

There was enough money to get me out of town and settled into a new place.

And hopefully, along the way, I could figure out a way to get my hands on some damn suppressants. No way was I going to let biology fuck up everything I've been working for.

It was time for this girl to flee the nest.