Page 5

Chapter 5

Ethan

I could’ve kicked myself for losing the gorgeous Omega after I got her safely out of the club.

I’ve never smelled anyone so good. Ripe strawberries, the kind you want to sink your teeth into. Warm vanilla. And a bit of sweet lilac, refreshing and soothing.

It was easy enough to chase that scent through the city as she fled. I felt like I could follow her smell anywhere, blindfolded and with my hands tied. I’ve never reacted so strongly to an Omega’s scent before.

I could hear Dante’s voice in my head telling me that I shouldn’t do something reckless, and yeah, okay, running through the dark city after a woman I’ve not even properly met is kind of reckless and dramatic. But I didn’t care. I just knew that my instincts have never steered me wrong before, and they were telling me to find the Omega and protect her.

And it turns out, I was barely in time.

The Alpha I just tackled hits the earth hard underneath me, and I don’t waste a second of my advantage. I grab him by the hair and swing with all my might, imagining punching through the back of the guy’s skull. I strike him hard in the temple, and he’s knocked cold.

One down, thank fuck. Now it’s only three against one.

I leap to my feet and bare my teeth, snarling at the others. It’s all the warning they get before I leap at another one.

One of his buddies tries to grab me, but I throw my elbow back and get him in the crotch. He stumbles back, wheezing and doubled over in pain. I punch the other guy I’ve got in the throat, and now there’s only one left.

Of course the fucker pulls a knife. Just my luck. Somewhere, Garrett’s rolling his eyes and doesn’t know why.

There’s no way I can let him get close. I quickly spin and roundhouse him with my foot, catching him on the temple and sending him sprawling. That’ll leave a mark.

The beautiful Omega gapes up at me. Any other time, my heart would be racing over her beauty in the moonlight. She’s got this perfect hourglass figure with soft curves, and her pale creamy skin practically shines in the light from the moonbeams. Sprawled out on the grass with her chocolate hair haloing her head, her dark eyes glittering, she looks like something out of my dreams.

But I don’t have time to stare at her. We have to go before these guys recover.

“Come on.” I pull her up to standing. “Let’s go, gorgeous. Move, move, move.”

I hustle her out of the park and down the street to my car, her hand securely held in mine. Behind us I can hear the yelps and howls of the four Alphas. They’re going to come after us and I don’t feel like getting my ass kicked in a brawl.

Ah, thank fuck, my car. I yank out my keys and unlock it. “Get in. Quick.”

The Omega doesn’t hesitate, although I see that flicker of fear in her gaze again. Thank god I don’t have to argue with her and she doesn’t try to run away this time. We slip into the car, I gun the engine, and we peel out.

Safe.

I glance over. The Omega hasn’t even put on her seat belt. Instead, she’s curled up into a ball, forehead pressed to her legs and shaking like a leaf. I reach out with my free hand, palm down. “It’s okay. You’re safe now. Here, sniff me. It’s okay. I won’t hurt you. See?”

The Omega tentatively raises her head and sniffs my hand. Her eyes are wide in the dark. She’s practically feral right now. All I can smell is rotten strawberries and burnt vanilla. My whole car is doused in the scent of her fear.

It makes my heart ache. No Omega should have to be so upset, but especially not this one. I’d want to help out any Omega in distress. It’s just what Alphas do. But I can’t deny that there’s something more about this one. Something that makes me want to rip the world apart until she’s happy and her scent no longer stinks of fear.

My scent must be calm enough, because she doesn’t bury her face in her knees again. She just watches me and shakes.

“I’m going to pet you, okay?” I say, keeping my voice low and calm. I reach out and gently stroke my fingers through her hair.

The Omega’s eyes slip closed and tears slide down her face. After a moment of petting, she tentatively pushes her head farther into my hand, and uncurls a bit from her ball.

“That’s a good girl,” I praise. “Very good. It’s okay. You’re safe now. You’re safe with me. I won’t hurt you.”

I try to keep my tone warm and praising without being condescending. Omegas need comfort but they aren’t children, and I have the feeling this Omega will be more upset than most, even in her state, if she feels that I’m treating her like she’s anything less than an adult.

Her scent slowly calms, the delicious smell of strawberries, vanilla, and lilac coating the back of my tongue and sliding down my body, like it’s burying itself into my very bones. I feel a little drunk, like I’d promise her the moon if she wanted it and find a way to get it out of the sky.

Which is… kind of ridiculous. I can’t say I’m what you’d call a romantic. I like to flirt and have fun. Just ask Garrett, who’s ruined more of my potential hookups than I can count. But this Omega has my blood singing.

She probably wouldn’t appreciate it if I told her that, though. Way to come on too strong and sound like a damn stalker. She’s scared, she doesn’t need me acting like it was love at first sight. I need to get my stupid hormones under control.

“Let’s start over, okay?” I say, trying to distract myself as much as her. “Why don’t you give me your name this time. I’m Ethan.”

“Ethan,” she repeats, her voice soft. “I’m Ava.”

“Ava. What a beautiful name.”

The corner of her mouth twitches up at the praise. I finally slide my hand out of her hair and put it on the wheel so I can concentrate on driving. I’ve basically been moving in circles, but now I need to pick a proper destination.

“Ava, are you okay?”

“I—I’m better than I was.” Her voice still shakes a little.

“Why’d you run from me?”

Ava’s eyes sharpen. “I want to be free.” Now her voice is full of anger and conviction.

She’s still shaking a little, and she hasn’t fully uncurled from her ball. She’s still wary of me.

It makes me ache. I want nothing more than to soothe her.

“What happened back there at the club?” I ask. “You’re unmated, that’s clear. You taking blockers? Suppressants?”

“Both.” Ava sighs and looks down, her lip quivering. “I even took extra before I left for the club. I don’t know what happened.”

I sigh. “You got them not-so-legally, I’m guessing? Since you’re unmated?”

She nods, still staring at her knees. “The ones I had for years worked well but they got too expensive. I had to move to a cheaper brand. I’ve only been on it for a couple of weeks and now this has happened.”

“Yeah, well, not to be too harsh about it, but I’m guessing you were taking placebos. Sugar pills. Nothing in them. Certainly nothing that would actually work to block your Omega scent or stop you from perfuming.”

Ava wipes at her eyes. “I feel so stupid. I tried to—to make sure they were legitimate. I’ve never had a problem before with my old brand.”

“There are a lot of shitty people out there. And they don’t care that there are desperate Omegas like you. They don’t care that they might be ruining lives. Getting people claimed by abusive Alphas and trapped forever. They just care about getting rich.”

Ava hiccups, and buries her face in her knees. I can see her shoulders shaking as she silently cries.

I feel like I want to rip out my own heart and give it to her. Anything to make her feel better. “Hey. Listen. Your apartment probably isn’t safe right now. If this has been going on for a couple of weeks… I’d say the first week you were fine with the old suppressants still in your system but this week? You’re fucked. Your apartment will stink of unmated Omega and you’ll be getting a lot of unwanted visitors. So how about I take you back to stay with my pack for a short bit?”

Ava’s head shoots up, and I see the fear in her eyes. I keep myself calm. “No strings attached. I promise. It’ll just be a safe place for you until you figure out your next move.”

Usually, I’d offer to contact the ORD for her. I know some Omegas can present later in life, but that clearly isn’t the case here. Seeing as she’s still unmated, and has been on suppressants and blockers for years? Yeah, I’m willing to bet she won’t want to be registering anywhere.

The people she was with—including the friend who glared at me—seemed a bit shocked. She’s been hiding this whole time.

I’m kind of impressed, actually.

That makes this all more complicated and more dangerous. But I know that I can’t leave her to fend for herself. I have to protect her.

I know that it’s illegal. She has to be registered. If I take her in, my pack and I will be breaking the law the same as she is, and we could all get in major trouble. But when it comes to this Omega… something in me growls at the idea of abandoning her.

Fuck the law. Fuck the ORD. My pack and I will keep her safe. I feel it in my bones, I’d stand up to anyone to get that fearful look out of her eyes.

Ava chews on her bottom lip. I want to replace her teeth with my own and then lick inside her mouth.

It’s going to be hard as hell for me to keep my hands off her while she stays with us, but I can control myself. She doesn’t want a pack, she’s made that much clear. Even without her behavior tonight, if you’re an unmated Omega at her age, hiding your orientation with suppressants, it’s a pretty good chance you don’t want any Alphas claiming you.

I bet you could convince her, change her mind , a part of me whispers. The part of me that wants to spoil her, to see her nest in our home. To take care of her and make her part of our pack.

But I know that’s just my old wishful thinking talking. I lost my parents young but I still remember how in love they were, and how safe and happy they made me feel. I’ve wanted an Omega for so damn long. That’s all this is. It’s just my stupid, silly, busted heart.

I’m not an animal. And as much as I’m instantly drawn to this woman, I know the difference between fantasy and reality. My priority right now isn’t the start of some crazy romance. It’s being a good Alpha and making sure this Omega feels safe.

“I promise,” I say, my voice low, “nobody will lay a finger on you. We’ll protect you. We’ll keep you safe.”

Ava swallows, staring out the windshield. Then she looks at me. “Okay,” she whispers.

I try to ignore the surge of triumph in my veins. For one thing, this is not the same thing as an Omega coming home with me because she wants to bond with me. No matter what my instincts are screaming for or what my idle daydreams are made of.

For another, I know the others are going to have a hell of a lot to say about me bringing home an unregistered Omega. Especially Garrett.

Well, I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. I don’t really care if they’re upset or not. Ava needs my help, and I’m going to give it to her.

The others can just get over it.