Pack Fever: Omegaverse Romance

Chapter 6

Six

My mind’s blown!

Danica came into our lives today like wildfire and engulfed everything. And I fucking embrace it, having longed for a new dynamic in our pack.

Don’t get me wrong… the three of us have weathered our fair share of chaos and fought battles both off and on the stage, but this… this is something else.

The little mouse is tiny, fierce, and has caught each of us off guard. As much as Seth loves to be in charge, I can tell even he’s thrown off by her arrival. The way he’d spoken to us about her from the other night at Nocturne, I’d have sworn he was going to set up a manhunt to save her from the enforcers because he’d found his Omega. Yet now, he’s playing hard to get because it scares him to make a commitment.

I know the guy… and Reed’s even worse. That guy swore he’d be a bachelor for life and not end up divorced and miserable like his parents. I always assumed when he met the right Omega, he’d change his mind. But seems he’s more fucking stubborn than I anticipated.

My thoughts fly back to Danica, my pulse on fire, her scent filling my senses. My cock has been hard since first meeting her earlier today, and now it’s impossible to get her out of my head.

So, she escaped the enforcers’ clutches. Fuck, yeah, that impresses me majorly.

Maybe Danica is the disruption we need.

We’ve made a life out of music. We depend on each other like family and use this home and each other to ground ourselves. Yet, as far as I’m concerned, there’s something still missing in our life—or maybe someone… an Omega to complete our family.

We’ve met Omegas before at events where desperate parents bring their daughters in the hope we’ll make a connection. It’s insane how far people will go to be matched with us. Regardless, I haven’t been drawn to any other Omegas like I am to Danica, and it’s more than arousal. I admire her fierceness and that she’s not a pushover.

The issue of her having Nexus on her tail is damn alarming because as much as I detest them for controlling who Alphas can be with, they can make anyone’s life hell… including a popular rock band, if we break their rules.

However, she’s in trouble, that’s clear, and I’ve never been one to let fear stop me. As a pack, we protect our own… I just have to convince Seth and Reed of this. I can’t stop remembering the fright on her face, despite her words and how ready she was to bolt from us earlier.

Tensing, I keep searching the rooms for Reed when I finally track him down. I figure a small chat might shed light on what he truly thinks we should do about Danica. Of course, I’m curious to see what he thought of her. It’s not often that something startles Reed. Watching him push her aside shouldn’t surprise me. He’s a black-and-white kind of person and will put you in your place, instantly knowing if he likes or dislikes someone.

Except… I know he doesn’t dislike her, despite his words. I saw the way he studied her, the longing in his gaze, how quickly he got away from her.

He’s currently in the bathroom, the sound of the shower running. Except why the fuck is he having a shower in the middle of the day? Just as I’m about to bang on the door and demand answers, I hear it—the unmistakable grunt of him jerking off.

I chuckle to myself, getting the answer from his actions alone. He can’t control himself, and I find it hilarious.

Seizing the opportunity to tease him, I knock sharply on the bathroom door.

“I see that Danica got to you!” I call out, then break into a laugh.

A chorus of curses comes back to me, and I throw myself down on his bed. I stretch out, making myself comfortable as I wait for him to finish. It isn’t long before Reed emerges from the bathroom, wearing only low-hanging jeans, his hair still damp as he roughly dries it with a towel. He throws me a snarl that’s all teeth and annoyance.

“What the hell do you want, Jasper?” he snarls. “Ever heard of privacy?”

I chuckle, pushing myself up from the bed, sitting on the edge.

“Just here for a friendly chat, man.” Reed and I have been through hell and back, especially when Seth went off the rails with his addictions. Something we had to unite over to help him before we lost him. The band almost imploded, but if there was any silver lining, it brought Reed and me closer.

“I know why you’re here,” he says gruffly, throwing the towel onto the bed with a dismissive flick of his wrist. “And I’m not interested in settling down. But, hey, no one said you can’t take an Omega.”

He pulls on a black shirt from our last tour with our Fever logo with flames behind it, trying to act like none of this phases him. He’s not kidding anyone, especially when I catch the tension in his shoulders. Then there’s his out-of-the-blue anger at Danica.

“There’s a problem with that,” I say, waiting for his reaction.

He glances my way, his expression guarded. “What problem?”

“If she’s going to be only mine, I sure as fuck don’t want you jerking off in the shower thinking about her.” I give him a pointed look and a grin that’s impossible to suppress.

He shrugs casually. “You’re projecting your own jealousy, my friend. She’s all yours and Seth’s if he wants a piece.” His voice is cool, detached, and there’s an edge to it that anyone else would believe.

I stand, eyeing him. “So, you’re going to step back, huh?”

“I have enough on my plate without adding an Omega to the mix,” he explains, casually running his fingers through his still-wet hair.

“Alright, man. Just making sure. But remember, we’re in this together.”

I head out of the room, knowing full well he’s lying to himself, but he’s a stubborn enough bastard not to admit it until it hits him in the face.

“Jasper,” he calls, and I glance back over my shoulder. “Before you get your hopes high, make sure what you want is something she desires as well.”

Reed’s last words play on my thoughts and echo in my ears. He doesn’t want to claim Danica, yet I should check what she wants. The thought gnaws at me. Ever since I inhaled her scent, there’s been an irresistible pull to her, an instinct that demands she’s mine. No questions, no doubts.

I know as much as the next Alpha that in this world, we end up with either a random Omega from Nexus or one we find ourselves. But to meet someone who you share off-the-charts attraction with from the get-go is like winning the fucking lottery. It’s primal, animalistic, and starved… everything I’ve craved.

I’ll make her see she’s meant to be with us. Of course, she’s frightened, given her situation. It’s not every day someone bumps into a man who will become their forever Alpha.

Grinning to myself as I navigate the corridors of our hideout, I weave my way up to the main living area, knowing she’s in a lot more danger out in the world on her own.

I’ve put behind me memories of leaving home at sixteen, the sting of my father’s fists, the fights that left me scared. But I’m no fool. I know it’s shaped me in ways I can’t ignore.

My asshole father ripped away any chance of me experiencing a real family life. Maybe that’s why my interest in Danica feels so intense, so urgent.

I prefer to think it’s because we’re destined.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, pulling me from my thoughts. It’s the bartender who works at the bar in our building, saying there’s a delivery in the front for Seth.

Curious, I head to the main entrance to the building, past the main locked door that leads to our apartment, past the bar, and around to the front glass doors, where the sun pours inside.

I find half a dozen shopping bags from some of the biggest brands sitting there with a note. I check it, and it’s an order for Seth.

Grabbing the bags, I peek inside to find colored fabric, silks, which I assume are dresses and not for himself. Especially seeing there are two boxes of shoes from Jimmy Choo, and that’s not Seth’s brand.

He’s ordered clothes for Danica, huh? For the party tonight, no doubt.

Carrying the bags, I head back upstairs. As our lead singer, he knows as well as I do that if we leave her alone at our place tonight, she’ll slip away. And Seth doesn’t want her to leave, either. This much is obvious.

Back in our apartment, Seth’s on the phone in the main living room, and behind him is the wrap-around balcony from upstairs. So, not bothering him, I hightail it up the steps.

Knocking on Danica’s door, I call out, “Hey, it’s Jasper.”

“Come in,” she answers tenderly.

I push open the door to find her in the spare room, sitting on the bed, hugging her knees to her chest, appearing as if the world of worries sits heavily on her shoulders.

“I brought you some stuff,” I say as I strut inside, instantly bathed in the most beautiful scent of her Omega mandarin and lavender. It’s irresistible, already curling around my cock, my balls pulling in tight. I try to hold back and fight the desperate urges that we’re made to come together like a clash of adrenaline and sexual starvation.

What I wouldn’t give to strip her down, grab her hips, and slam her back against the wall as I fuck her. To release the tension swelling in me. I might end up doing a Reed and needing a cold shower soon.

And to think, she’s only just showing small signs of going into heat, but with how heavy and powerful her scent is, it might happen quicker than she realizes. Before going into heat, Omegas smell no different from Betas. Once she perfumes heavily and goes into pain, it’s all hands-on deck… or in our case, all cocks. I feel myself grinning internally.

Another reason we can’t let her out of our sight. What other Alphas would do if they found her in this state, alone and unprotected. They might completely destroy her. They’d go berserk on her, unable to control themselves, and completely devastate her.

As much as I hate Nexus for controlling so much of our society, I can’t fault them for trying to find matches for Omegas, who will go into unbearable pain if an Alpha doesn’t soothe their aches.

I set the shopping bags on the end of the bed near her feet.

“Is this some kind of peace offering?” she asks with a cheeky grin.

I can’t help but chuckle. “You’ve got a sharp sense of humor. It’s good to see you trying to find the bright light in all of this. It’s an admirable trait.”

“Gotta hide the darkness of my past somehow. What better way than to pretend?”

I plonk myself down on the end of the bed, keeping a distance between us, mostly because I’m already struggling with her scent engulfing me.

“That bad, huh?” I ask.

Shrugging, her green gaze flickers away for a moment as a blonde lock tumbles over her face. There’s something so precious about her, something so sorrowful.

“Yes and no,” she finally admits. “It’s complicated. Everything’s just so mixed up right now, and I’m worried about so many things.”

I nod. “If you need to talk about it, I’ve been told I’m a great listener.”

She half-grins. “Appreciate it, but you don’t need to be nice to me and pretend. I understand I’m an Omega, and with my scent starting, you think you’ve found a treasure in me. But it’s nothing more than physical-chemical reactions.”

I study her, not saying anything at first, especially with dozens of questions in my head about what she’s hiding.

“I really hope one day you’ll tell me who’s made you so sad, so numb to the good things in life.”

Her lips pinch, but when she lowers them to the shopping bags, I can tell she’s not going to open up.

“Well, good thing I’ve brought you some goodies to help distract you. The party tonight should also help. Things are always entertaining at Seth’s family events.”

“I really appreciate these clothes and being nice, but you don’t even know me.”

I twist around to face her better from across the bed, doing my best to ignore the way the hairs rise on my arms. My cock hardens at her scent, at the delicate features, full lips, and eyes that carry the world behind them, at the golden hair framing that beautiful face. I want to know more about her past, who she is, and what happened to her.

“And how do you think it works when Nexus matches you with a pack of Alphas? There’s no time to get to know the Alphas. You’re in heat, needing them. With the way society is set up, it’s you going into heat, and satisfying you takes priority over relationships and even love.”

She leans back on her hands. “So, you believe in love coming later in a relationship?”

“I believe if an Omega and Alpha have an instant bond, their love will blossom with time. But forcing a pair who have no connection will leave them miserable. I’ve seen what happens in a family that has no love. What I’m saying is that I don’t necessarily agree with Nexus’ methods.”

“That party tonight, I really….” Her gaze meets mine, and her lips pinch at the sides. “I don’t feel comfortable going to that,” she admits, and I can’t fault her. She barely knows us, and we’re dragging her to a family function. “Not to mention, my scent is going to trigger others, so I think it’s best I stay here.”

Before I can respond, Seth’s in the doorway, holding a small brown bottle.

“Not a problem,” he says, striding over to Danica. “I wouldn’t want you to attend with your scent growing stronger. I ordered these pills earlier, and the courier just delivered them. They aren’t heat suppressants—I don’t believe they’re good for your health—but these are natural and suppress your scent. You won’t be at the mercy of your scent. So, you will join us at the party. You’re not staying here alone.” His voice is final.

She frowns. “I don’t have to go to a stranger’s party if I don’t want to.”

Seth pauses, studying her. “You’re right, I can’t force you, but like Jasper said, you’re not safe out on the streets alone. And right now, I don’t trust that the moment we leave you alone, you won’t slip away. So, like it or not, we’re going to keep you safe.”

She eyes Seth, a strange conflict furrowing her brow, surprise in her gaze.

“So, I have no say, then?”

“I know it feels like that, but how about this? You tell me where you’re going to go, why the enforcers want you, and after checking the location to make sure it’s safe, I’ll let you leave.”

“I can’t do that.” She pauses, her demeanor hardening, yet the vulnerability in her voice is unmistakable.

Silence.

Part of me toys with the notion of offering to remain behind with her, but Seth’s made it clear we stick together when we head out, especially to family events, which can sometimes get out of control.

“Then it’s settled,” Seth says. “Take a pill now, so it’ll work for tonight.”

“How did you get this, anyway?” Danica turns the bottle over in her hands, examining it, her shoulder rigid. “I’ve heard they’re available on the black market but super pricey.”

Seth shrugs. “That doesn’t matter. I also ordered you a bunch of clothes I see you’ve received.” He glances at the bags, his words cut short by his phone ringing. Glancing at the screen, he rolls his eyes. “Fuck!” Then he answers as he swings away from us. “Look, I told you, I won’t do that gig.” Then he’s gone as quickly as he arrived.

“He’s always that busy?” she asks, staring at the doorway where he vanished.

“He operates as our manager after our last one embezzled money from us. Now, he won’t trust anyone else with the job.” If there are mistakes to make in this business, we’ve made every damn single one. We’ve learned the hard way that the only people we can truly rely on are the three of us.

“Ouch,” she responds, sympathy painted on her cute face.

“Come.” I get up, motioning for her to follow. “Let me show you the kitchen. I’ll get you some water to take the pills. Might be good to take them with some food.”

As we walk, Danica hesitates before speaking. “Why are you so nice to me? I mean, you’re a huge star, yet you’re wasting your time on me.”

I laugh softly. “No wasting time. Sometimes you meet someone and just know they need you.”

She studies me strangely, and I can’t pin down the expression. Is she surprised or shocked?

“Thanks. Sometimes, it’s hard to find even those who supposedly love you to help you. And you’re a stranger, but helping so much more,” she murmurs on our way to the kitchen. “But don’t get too attached. I’m not staying… This place is just temporary. I have somewhere else to be.”

The words hang heavy in the air between us. I shrug as if it doesn’t bother me, but it fucking guts me to hear her rejecting us.