Cherry Bomb

Chapter 1

HAILEY

I think I want to stab my date in the eye with the butter knife in my left hand.

“So yeah, it’s really important to start saving now so that you’re not struggling when you want to retire.”

I blink at the Alpha sitting across from me. On paper he sounds like the perfect guy. A massive property in Spanish Hills, a steady job in finance, and he isn’t tied to a pack already.

However, in reality, this man doesn’t have a fucking clue.

He clears his throat, dabbing the corners of his mouth again. “I forgot to ask, what is it you currently do?” Justin asks.

Why are they always named Justin?

“I work at Lavender Moon,” I say, sipping my lemon drop martini, ready to wave down the waiter for another.

His green eyes go wide for a moment and he clears his throat.

“How long have you been working there?” he asks, visibly uncomfortable.

“Since I designated six months ago,” I tell him, taking another heavy sip. The vodka burns just the right way as I watch his brows furrow in confusion.

“But your profile said you’re twenty-four.”

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a fucking genius on our hands. I don’t bother going into more detail about my extremely late designation, or how I had to work at Lavender Moon because I had no other choice when my mother kicked me out.

Which was fine; I had been planning on moving out anyway.

Luckily I had just enough saved to handle first and last month's rent. Being an esthetician wasn’t going to cut it anymore, not only because I needed more money to survive, but my scent was an issue for some clients.

I don’t bother telling Justin all this, because there’s simply no point.

I make a mental note to delete the Knotted app when I get home. Every single date I’ve agreed to has been a complete joke.

“Well, if things were to progress you would need to find another job,” Justin says.

I blink at his pretentious Alpha face for a moment.

“All those savings, your expensive house with the rounded driveway, your Tom Ford suit, and you would want your Omega to work?” I ask.

He takes a drink and hisses slightly, trying to catch our server's attention.

“Isn’t that how things work now? Wouldn’t you want your own money?”

I sigh, tossing back the rest of the martini. “No. Thanks for dinner,” I say, grabbing my purse and throwing it over my shoulder.

“Wait. You’re just going to leave and not offer to cover half?”

I glance back at this man, look at the tip he’s planning to leave, and pull out a crisp hundred dollar bill and place it directly into the server's hand. He smiles at me, and I glare at Justin one last time before leaving the upscale restaurant.

I don’t hate Alphas.

Well, maybe I hate most Alphas; they’re really on a case by case basis if I like them or not.

Work is easy, it’s pretend. I’m not Hailey there, I’m Cherry. I didn’t pick the name, the owner’s Omega, Luna, did. She said I reminded her of someone back home and that was her stage name. Plus, the deep red hair I’ve been sporting as of late fits the name.

It’s easier to be nice to Alphas when they’re paying you and as soon as you step out the door I get to shed that persona.

A lot of the Omegas at the club find packs and people to date at the club, but that’s an absolute fucking no for me. Maybe it’s because I still haven’t fully accepted my designation yet.

I used to easily blend into the background. Quiet. I’d do my job, come home, work on my projects, and do it all over again. I was invisible. Not just to everyday people, but to my family too.

I didn’t realize I was nearly stomping the entire walk until I get to the parking garage. I sit in my worn, seen-better-days Jetta and think about how alone I’ve always felt. The emotion is heavy on my chest, and I’m not sure how to ease this ache.

I’m an Omega, but I’ve never truly known genuine affection. Sure, I’ve had boyfriends, and I sold my first heat at the club, but no one really knows me or even seems to want to.

Why am I so broken?

Even my family wanted nothing to do with me. As soon as I designated my mother told me I had to get the hell out. I grew up with an Omega mother and her enormous pack, but none of them felt parental to me. I just simply existed and they tolerated it.

She was still attempting to add more Alphas to her pack when she kicked me out. It’s because the guy she was seeing had a reaction to my scent. He cared more about my safety with my new designation than my own mother did. But she didn’t see it that way. She saw me, her own daughter, as competition.

I’m not even mad about needing to find my own place, that was already in the works.

It’s how discarded and hurt I felt in the aftermath.

She hasn’t called me once, and neither has anyone in her pack.

I don’t even know if Nate stuck around after she had them all box my shit up and leave it in the hot Nevada sun for me to come home to.

All I know is I’m alone and it feels like nothing I do will fill this void.

The only time I feel good lately is if I’m fucking someone, isn’t that something? It’s like my body wants to make up for lost time and get knotted as often as possible. Part of me wants to drive to Lavender Moon; I’m not even working tonight, but at least then I wouldn’t be alone.

I rest my head against the headrest and try to calm down before I drive home. A few deep breaths in and out help me regain focus as something jumps onto the hood of my car and I scream.

Just as quickly as the noise rips through my throat, I realize it’s a small all-black kitten staring at me through the windshield. I look to my left and right and don’t see anyone in sight, so I get out of the vehicle.

I’ve never had a pet before and cats seem ornery as fuck, but when I hold out my hand, the cat just rubs his forehead against it.

“Did the universe send you?” I say, feeling like a lunatic, but the cat mewls.

I look around one last time, before scooping him up and putting him in my car.

It takes me less than a second to decide I love them, would die for the small void, and that he’s now my son.

“Well, it looks like it’s just you and me now. ”

He turns on his back, showing me his belly which is gray and I realize, he isn’t completely black.

He makes himself at home, lounging in the passenger seat. Luckily we’re in Vegas and nearly everything is open all day as I drive to the pet store and get—I glance down at the cat—him, definitely a him, everything he needs.

After a few days, I name the cat Smokey. He makes my small apartment his castle, and it’s so silly, but for the first time in a long time I feel something.

How can a little furry baby make me feel this way?

I don’t know. But when he lies on my chest and purrs as I stroke his fur I feel soothed.

He gives me a reason to wake up every morning.

Having someone depend on me has given me purpose, and I’m glad.

Things were not looking so hot there for a minute.

“I have to go to work,” I tell him.

He just squints at me as I put him in his cat bed with a warmer and grab my bag for my shift tonight at Lavender Moon.

Maybe I’ll think about letting someone take me to the VIP area tonight. It’s been too long and there’s no doubt that my next heat is coming sooner than later. God, I hope it’s not as painful as last time.

For a long time I wanted to be an Omega, I wanted to be just like my mom. But then I got used to living in the background, not being noticed and I got comfortable there. So far, I haven’t seen any of the perks of being an Omega.

Okay, that’s a lie. The knotting is pretty awesome. But there hasn’t been a single Alpha that’s made me feel like anything beyond my job or my designation.

I’m starting to wonder if something is fundamentally wrong with me.

I kiss Smokey’s head before I drive over to Lavender Moon for the night.

The locker rooms are busier than normal. Quite a few Omegas have relocated from the Florida location and luckily it hasn’t seemed to affect my tips.

“The Starred Rose is trying to poach me,” Riley says, one of the Omegas who switched locations. He’s beautiful, confident, and damn did I wish I fit in as easily as he does.

“Why didn’t you go?” Jenny asks.

“Have you not heard about all the Omegas who keep going missing. No thank you. Mr. Martinez would never let shit like that happen.”

I nod in agreement. The owner, Ian Martinez, is no bullshit, and so understanding. That is the kind of Alpha I wish I could find, but they all seem to avoid me like the plague.

“What’s tonight's theme?” Jenny asks as we pull out our costumes.

“Cowboys and Aliens, my favorite.” Riley grins, putting on the smallest pair of shiny green shorts and a cowboy hat. “You good, Cherry?” he asks.

I haven’t even told anyone besides the owner and his Omega my real name. Why am I like this?

I give him a forced smile as I change into the white bikini-like top and bottoms, along with assless chaps and a pink cowgirl hat.

“Yeah, I’m good.”

“We’re going out tonight after our shift if you want to come?” Riley asks.

“I have to feed my kitten, but maybe next time,” I reply. Having a cat has not only been great for my mental health, but he’s become my favorite excuse.

“If you change your mind, let us know. We’d love to get to know you better,” Jenny says, and I know she means it.

“Thanks,” I reply, and she tips her own cowboy hat at me.

The music is loud as I head to the platform I’ll be dancing on tonight. Members funnel into the building for the night, and I wonder if any of my regulars will be here.

At least I’m good at this, when I’m dancing and just letting my body do its thing it doesn’t feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders.

I’m the best pole dancer currently at Lavender Moon, so I’m at one of the main stages. The chaps and cowboy hat are going to need to go sooner than later. It’s not like any of these Alphas give a shit about the costumes anyway.

I plaster a grin on my face.

Tonight I’m Cherry, and nothing else matters.