Page 14
Chapter 14
Freya
I tuck my phone between my shoulder and jaw as I continue my call with Harlow as I organize Stone’s things to take him for a few hours in the park.
“The insurance company is taking forever. And the building inspector is making another visit today. Rumor is, he is going to condemn the building.”
My head is spinning with the news about my shop. About my future.
“God. That is dreadful news. But why don’t you use the opportunity to work from home,” Harlow says through the speaker. “Do deliveries. Keep the insurance money and upgrade that shoebox you call a kitchen.”
“Hey, my kitchen is cozy.” I pat my counter defensively. “Like a warm hug.”
“More like suffocation.” Harlow’s laugh echoes through the phone. “Anyway, you mentioned you wanted to talk about something?”
“Yeah, I need to talk to you about someone in particular.”
“The sexy firefighter?”
Heat floods my cheeks. “How did you know?”
“I’ve never seen you so flustered over an alpha before.”
“I’ve never felt like this before. Even when I smelled who I thought was my scent match years ago. I never felt him like I feel Zane. But he’s twenty-one years old, Harlow. And I nearly fucked him.”
She laughs. “He’s an alpha. A man. And you’re hardly old. He obviously likes you. I mean, he broke into your apartment.”
“Massive red flag, by the way. I should be hiding from him, not wondering where he’s been for the past three days.”
“I’m sure it’s called work.” Harlow’s voice echoes from the speaker. “What’s the matter are so desperate you’re going to beg him to fuck you again.”
“I never begged him.”
She laughs hard down the phone.
“I need to go. I need some fresh air.”
“Okay. Speak to you later.”
I hang up and strap Stone against my body. My thoughts drift to Zane as I lock my apartment door. I haven’t seen him in days. Maybe I scared him off with my desperate plea for his knot.
God, what was I thinking?
Six flights of stairs later, my legs burn, and my breath comes in short gasps. Stone coos against my chest, completely unbothered by our descent.
I push through the lobby doors and freeze.
Zane stands by my car, hands in his pockets. His platinum hair looks disheveled today and his stubble looks like he hasn’t shaved in days. But he still looks like every fantasy I’ve ever had.
“What are you doing here?” My voice comes out breathier than intended as I stand in front of him.
“I came to see you and my son.” His eyes fix on Stone. “Just working up the energy to climb those stairs after my shift.”
“Tell me about it.” I laugh. “And I’m taking your son for some fresh air and exercise.” I pop the trunk, reaching for the stroller I keep there. “Can’t exactly keep it upstairs with the elevator broken.”
“Let me help with that.” He unfolds the stroller with a quick flick of his wrist, and then he takes Stone from my arms and straps him into the stroller like he’s done it a thousand times before.
We walk side by side toward the park, our shoulders occasionally brushing. The contact sends sparks through my body.
“Listen,” he says as we reach the entrance. “I’ve been thinking. Until they fix the elevator, you could stay with my pack. We’re right by the beach. It’s lovely and quiet with plenty of fresh air for Stone.”
My heart skips a beat.
“Have you discussed it with your pack mates?”
“I’ve mentioned you and Stone to them.”
My heart skips another beat.
I want to call Harlow right now and scream down the phone that I’m so close to having my own pack.
Calm down, Freya. He never said his pack wanted you.
The sun is high when we reach the park. It casts its warmth and a golden glow over the grass as Zane takes Stone from the stroller and settles onto a swing, gently swaying back and forth. The sight of him holding my son tight makes my heart flip-flop again. He keeps doing that to me.
“Has this little guy met his grandparents?” he asks as he pushes his feet off the floor to ascend again.
“My family?”
“Yeah.”
Silence stretches between us.
“I called my mom,” I finally admit, staring at the ground. I bite my lip, memories of the conversation flood back. I can still hear my mother’s voice on the phone from one week ago, her shock ringing through the line when I told her about her grandchild. “I’ve told her I had the baby.”
“Did she not know you were pregnant before then?” he asks.
I shake my head. “She only knew about the wellness center. I never told her what I was doing.”
“Or your fathers?”
“They would have told her and—”
“What did she say when you let her know?” His brow furrows, concern etched across his face.
“I thought she’d be annoyed, but she was more surprised that I did it. That I was bringing a child up without a pack.” My throat tightens. “But she gave me some advice—said to tell everyone the alpha father died.” Tears prick at my eyes as I remember her words. “She said if the real information got out, the authorities would take my baby away. I think it was more because it wouldn’t look good for her.”
“Are you sure?” Zane asks.
I shake my head. “I don’t know.”
“That’s strangely uncaring for an omega.” He slides off the swing and wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his warmth.
My breath catches as tears spill down my cheeks. “Her fame is more important than her family.”
“Freya...” His voice softens.
I wipe them away with a shaky hand. “Tequila.”
Zane blinks at me in confusion.
“The last scent I smell on you,” I say with a weak smile, trying to lighten the mood even though it feels impossible. “We never got to it.”
“Can I ask you why you decided to take scent blockers again after having Stone?” His eyes search mine. “Was it so you didn’t smell me or so I couldn’t smell you?”
“Both.” I nod. “It’s easier that way. And I’m not taking scent blockers, just they’re inhibitors. They don’t block my perfume entirely, just mute some of it. I still want Stone to be able to smell me.”
“But not me?”
I let my gaze drop to the ground. “I love your scent, Zane, but I’ve smelled the person I thought was my scent match before. I got it wrong. He rejected me. He made me feel—” My heart pounds as I meet his eyes again. “And then you come along and you smell the same. And you’re—” I gesture over his face and body. “A gorgeous alpha and when you realize you are, you’ll reject me, too.”
“Freya—” He holds my gaze as hope flickers inside me. “Stop doing that.”
“I’m just saying that you’re twenty-one and gorgeous,” I whisper. “You don’t want a twenty-eight-year-old omega with a baby.” I take a deep breath. “And I’m sorry for diving on you the other day. It was really inappropriate.”
“I’m not,” he says. “Freya, look at me.” His alpha tone makes me want to lift my chin and present my neck to him right here in the park. He holds my cheek with his hand, making me look into his eyes. “If I touch you, I’ll never go back. Once I touch you, I own you. I’ll never let you go.”
My breath catches as heat pools between my legs, and I can feel the slick coating my thighs. “You can own me.” The words tumble out before I can stop them. “I’d give you my neck right now.”
He laughs. The deep sound sends shivers down my spine.
I clap my hand over my mouth. “Oh god, I sound so fucking desperate. Yet, I’m not anymore—I used to be. Now I know I’ll never find anyone like you.”
“I like you telling me how it is. It’s what I want to hear.”
I keep how wet I am right now to myself. I don’t know why I care anymore about my thoughts rolling off my tongue. I want him and I want him to want me, too.
His eyes darken as he shifts Stone to one arm.
I reach up, trailing my fingertips over the burns on his cheek. He stills under my touch, his breath catching.
“You’re the first person I’ve let touch them,” he whispers. “I usually hide.”
“That’s why you have the bleached blond hair. To give people something to look at.”
He nods and smiles.
“I get it. I did the same when I was in my heat. I dyed my hair blonde. It was two-fold. One so I wasn’t recognized, and two to look more desirable.”
“You’re the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,” he says.
“Stop it.” My eyes water again. Hormones. “I’m not. But thank you. I like not having to pretend to be okay when I’m with you.” I stroke his neck. “But you—you’re perfect.”
Stone coos in his arms.
“You’re beautiful, Freya.”
It’s like he really wants me to believe it. But I’m not used to alphas being like this with me. “So, when are you going to touch me?” I ask, changing the subject or am I challenging him? “Own me?”
He chuckles, a warm, throaty sound. “You are a needy omega.”
“I’m not that needy. But I have dreamed of your knot inside me.”
“Do you realize you said that out loud?”
“I don’t care anymore. I can’t help it around you. My mouth runs away with itself just being near to you.” I fan my face. “You make my brain short circuit. And other parts...pulse.” I screw my nose up. “Is that even a thing? See what you do to me? I don’t even make sense anymore.”
“Other parts pulse, huh?” His grin turns wicked. “Care to elaborate?”
“Don’t make me say more embarrassing things. I’ve already admitted to wanting your knot. Telling you, you are the most perfect alpha I have ever met. Next thing you know, I’ll be telling you about the firefighter fantasy I had last night.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Now that sounds interesting. Is it because you keep reading those romances about firemen?”
“I told you that as well?”
“During your labor.” He nods as he takes my hand. “Let’s talk. I enjoy talking to you.”
“You do? Normally, everyone asks me to shut up.”
He chuckles. “When it gets too much, I can give you my cock to suck.”
My eyes round as I turn to him. “Now whose filter isn’t working?”
I walk beside Zane as we head toward the duck pond, my hand wrapped in his much larger one. His grip is firm, possessive almost, like he’s afraid I’ll float away if he loosens his hold.
Stone gurgles happily.
“Look at those ducks,” I say, pointing at a mother duck leading her ducklings across the water. “Aren’t they adorable? Though I bet mommy duck doesn’t have to deal with broken elevators and insurance claims.”
Zane chuckles. “No, but she probably has to worry about hawks.”
“Way to make it dark, Zane.” I dig in my bag for the bread I made yesterday. “Here, help me feed them.”
We toss bits of bread, watching the ducks scramble.
Zane crouches down and sits Stone on his knee and points to the ducklings. Stone’s far too young to notice, but the moment is still perfect.
Tears prick my eyes as I watch him interact with my son. It’s so right, and I pinch my thigh hard with my free hand.
“What are you doing?” Zane asks.
“Making sure I’m not dreaming.” I laugh nervously. “Because this feels too good to be real.”
His expression turns serious. “Can I ask you something personal?”
“More personal than me telling you I want your knot?”
“We’ll get to that, but first. How did you handle your omega needs before?”
“Oh, that’s easy. There’s this club called Club Midnight. It’s for alphas and omegas to hook up. No strings attached dating. So, whenever I needed an alpha fix, I always went there. What about you?”
“I just cope.” He shrugs, looking away. “Nobody wants to see my body.”
We stare at each other; the air charged between us. Screw it. The old Freya would go for what she wants.
“I want to see you naked, but only when you’re ready.” How many times do I have to tell him before I get on my hands and knees and beg?
He points to his jaw and neck. “Nobody wants to kiss this. And without clothes, it’s worse.”
“Now, where did that alpha go? The one who I was just talking to earlier?”
“He’s trying to come out.”
I lean forward, pressing my lips to his jaw. “Let him. And this feels fine to me.” I run my tongue along his scars. “Delicious too.”
The moment stretches between us before he grabs me and presses a hard kiss on my mouth, then he pulls back, his eyes searching my face before he says, “If I fuck you, you know you’ll never get rid of me.”
“Then fuck me. Because I don’t want you to go anywhere.”