6. Hannah
Hannah
H air and makeup take a little longer than I thought, and the party is in full swing by the time we make it downstairs. Loud music pumps out of speakers, the house filled with people I've never seen before.
"I didn't know Titus had this many friends!" I nearly shout over the music, and Cady throws her head back, her laugh loud and carefree.
"They're mostly work friends and friends of the pack," she says loudly. "I've never really been able to go all out for someone's birthday party, you know? You should see what I have planned for Halloween in a couple of weeks!"
Suddenly, the music turns off, and is quickly replaced by a different song.
Cady and I exchange a confused look and keep walking down the stairs, just in time to catch Ollie and Archie, both at least a little buzzed, holding microphones that are plugged in a karaoke machine, and singing along to the words on the TV screen.
"Oh my gods." Cady slaps a hand over her mouth, suppressing a laugh. "Ollie said he couldn't sing, but I didn't think it was this bad!"
Ollie half-yells into the microphone, off-key and very pitchy, "I kissed my girl and I liked it!" He points a finger directly at Cady.
"Those aren't even the words." She laughs.
Then Archie jumps in, winking at Mattie, who is standing off to the side with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face. "Hope my alpha don't mind it."
"This is the worst version of this song I've ever heard." Simon's voice sounds behind us, and Cady squeals before turning in a circle for him.
"Look what Hannah did!"
"You look beautiful, sweetheart. As always." Simon leans down and gives her a kiss.
"Hey! I just did that makeup, don't go messing it up." I give him a dirty look, but it's all in good fun.
"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it," he takes a step back and draws an "x" over his heart with his finger, "cross my heart."
"Cady, we need you!" Suddenly, Ollie is next to us, grabbing Cady's hand and dragging her over to the karaoke machine. I watch after them, my heart clenching as Ollie twirls her around, and Archie comes on her other side, making her the filling in an Archie-Ollie sandwich as they dance.
Gods, I want that. Not the specific men, but for someone to want me. Someones.
Fuck, I need a drink. Excusing myself from Simon, I make my way to the kitchen and walk to the section of the counter where they have drinks out and grab a wine cooler. Beer? No thank you. I'm going to go with the sugary grape juice because I love myself.
Cracking open my drink, I take a sip and look around the crowded kitchen. Titus catches my eye, talking with someone in the opposite corner of the kitchen, but it's hard to see over so many heads.
That is until Titus shifts, and I see he's speaking with…
Enzo? The same one I just gave a haircut to earlier today.
Damn. My eyes flit between the two of them, and I realize just how similar they look.
Enzo must be Titus' brother…the one whose omega left them.
Enzo's skin tone is a little darker than Titus'…
I feel like I remember Cady saying they have different moms.
I'd go up and say hi, in fact, the thought has my heart pounding wildly at the thought of talking with the older alpha in a non-work setting…but they look like they're in deep conversation. Maybe we can catch up a little later.
Taking my drink back to the front room, where Cady, Archie, and Ollie, seem to have started a dance floor, I look around for anyone I know.
"Hannah!" Wren's voice calls out over the music, and I turn to smile at my friend, who is looking adorable in a cozy sweater and leggings, her black hair in two dutch braids.
This girl is about as omega as you can get.
Well, besides the fact that she stabbed an alpha in the pack her parents tried to sell her to years ago.
"Wren!" I shout, giving her a hug. "Where's Brennan?" One of the alphas that extracted her from her bad situation, Brennan, is now one of her alphas, and is usually her shadow at social events like this.
"I think he's hanging out with Matteo," she gestures over her shoulder to where Brennan is, in fact, leaning against a wall next to Mattie, his eyes firmly on his omega. I give a little wave that he returns, and then there's another omega joining us. "Oh! Have you met Archie's sister, Bethany?"
The omega in question does look familiar, but I can't quite place why. "Hi, I'm Hannah," I introduce myself, and she nods, smiling. Bethany's long, black hair is gently curled, and her big honey brown eyes take me in.
"I actually think we've met. I work at the OMS?"
Ah, fuck. Someone who has a firsthand view of my failures as an omega.
"I thought you looked familiar." I wince.
"We have more in common than you think," Bethany mutters, so quiet I almost don't hear it.
Wren doesn't let her get away with that though, and she lets out a gasp. "What happened? I thought you had a pack?"
Bethany frowns, looking down at her feet. "I caught them with another omega."
"Oh, fuck." The words tumble out of my mouth before I can stop them. "Please tell me you weren't bonded."
She lets out a bitter laugh. "Yeah, I had wondered why they still hadn't bitten me after three years, and I guess I should be thankful I found out now rather than later."
"You know what, Bethany? Fuck them," Wren snaps. "They're assholes if they would cheat on someone as amazing as you."
"Actually, in general cheaters tend to be assholes," I add, thinking of Charlie and how things ended with us. Bethany lets out a startled laugh at my bluntness, and I think I might like her.
"You know what I mean," Wren rolls her eyes, "Bethany is amazing, and she deserves the best pack, right?" She looks to me for confirmation, and I nod.
"Right."
"Let's dance!"
So we do. With the wine cooler loosening me up a little, I feel light and free as I dance with the other omegas, my hands are in the air, and I don't miss the way the other partiers eyes linger on me as I move.
I don't let it go to my head. It always starts out like this, and then they get to know me and decide they aren't interested.
I'm having a great time, until Wren glances behind me, and her eyes widen.
"Oh my god, Hannah, it's that alpha! The one who took you home the night shit went down with pack Sheffield."
I whip around, turning towards the front door just in time to see him.
Shit.
Shit, shit, shit .
Ducking my head and hiding behind Wren, she makes a surprised sound. "What are you doing, Hann—"
"Shhh!" I whisper-yell, my hands caught in the back of Wren's shirt.
"Don't say my name." I peak out from behind her back, catching sight of the delicious ginger alpha again.
He's dressed in a buttoned up flannel and jeans, carrying something in a large Tupperware container.
Coming up behind him is another alpha and… holy shit.
While Austin is all proper Southern gentleman charm, this other alpha—with both his ears and his eyebrow pierced, shoulder-length black hair and spiderweb tattoos—looks like a bad boy who would spank me and make me thank him for it.
They both trigger something inside my omega, which I promptly shut down. I'm too mortified by what happened the last time I was alone with Austin to try to repeat that scenario so soon.
"What's wrong? Did he hurt you?" Concern laces Wren's voice, and I instantly feel bad for making her worry.
"No." I shake my head emphatically, even though she can't see me. "Nothing like that. I just…I really embarrassed myself last time I saw him and I don't feel like doing a repeat."
Even though I'm pretty sure there aren't any dildos here.
"Okay. I'll go distract him, and you can disappear, okay?" Wren stays calm, keeping her gaze pointed straight ahead, while Bethany looks between us like she can't quite figure out what's going on.
"Oh my god, yes, thank you," I breathe.
"What was his name again?" she asks quietly.
"Austin."
"Got it." She takes a deep breath, and takes off, and at the same time I head towards the back door. "Oh my gods! Austin! I can't believe it's you!"
Her voice fades into the rest of the noise, and I slide the back door open, stepping into the crisp night air. The music is muted, and I take a deep breath, setting my wine cooler on the patio table as I walk further into the yard.
What the hell is Austin doing here? Did he start working for Titus at some point? I guess Cady wouldn't have any reason to tell me, since I never explained to her what happened with Austin. As far as she knows, we just didn't click.
But it was the opposite.
I've just reached the far side of the back yard, looking at the flowers growing, quiet air surrounding me, and I close my eyes, thinking back to that night—
"Hannah?" A voice I wasn't expecting has me jumping and clutching my chest from shock. I look up and breathe a sigh of relief. It's not Austin.
"Oh shit. Hey, Enzo." He's right by the sliding glass door, and I'm on the other side of the house. Far enough away that I can't quite tell if he thinks I'm a weirdo for being out here by myself or not. He looks so damn good in a button up shirt that pulls tightly over his muscled frame, though.
"What a small world. What are you doing here?"
He's far enough away that he wouldn't be able to scent the perfume I'm giving off just by being in his vicinity.
I can't believe I didn't think to wear scent blocking panties tonight.
Though I also didn't plan on seeing the mature client I have a little crush on.
The best thing to do is to try not to look at the way his muscles bulge in his button up shirt, or how the salt and pepper coming in on the sides of his head makes him look distinguished, and more than a little sexy.
"Cady's been my best friend since we were kids." I explain, shifting from foot to foot. "What about you?"
"Titus is my brother," he explains, confirming my thoughts from before.
But of course, the back door starts to open again, and I catch a glimpse of ginger hair and Ollie's loud voice.
Enzo turns in surprise, and I panic, quickly glancing from side to side, looking for somewhere to hide.
Ollie's voice rings out across the almost empty yard.
"Yeah, we've got some really cool Halloween decorations to put up this year, Cady's going all out… "
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Deciding the only place to hide is around the side of the house, I quickly dart in that direction, hiding in the shadows where no light reaches.
Except, when I go around the corner, it seems to trigger a motion activated floodlight on that side of the house, and a giant figure wielding an axe over his head.
A scream lets loose from my chest as I fling myself backwards, away from the apparent axe-murderer—and straight on the floor, right in sight of Austin, Ollie, and Enzo.
"Hannah, are you okay?" Enzo rushes to me as I point with a shaky hand at a…halloween decoration. A freaking halloween decoration that made me look like a complete idiot. My cheeks flame with embarrassment as he reaches down, using one hand to pull me up to my feet—
That's when his scent hits me.
Leather and tobacco. Safety. Comfort. Home.
Mine must hit him at the same time, because his sharp intake of breath is audible. His expression is one of utter confusion. Scent match. This has to be a true scent match.
But then…lemon and mint fill my senses.
Fresh, clean… mine . My eyes dart to Austin, who's coming up behind Enzo, and he stutters to a stop before another voice, one that I haven't heard for twelve years pulls me out of my daze.
His words are like a shock to my system. "Mags, is that you?"
Charlie Williams. He looks so, so good. His electric blue eyes hold me captive just like they did so many years ago. A light blue button up contrasts against his warm, deep bronze skin and brings out his eyes, the fabric pulling tight over his muscles.
He's peering around Austin, and Ollie looks at him in confusion. "No, that's Hannah, Cady's best friend."
Why is he here? He can't be here. Cady would have never been in contact with him without telling me.
I've steered clear of any mention of him for the last decade for a reason.
He doesn't even know that I've designated as an omega.
My heart is pounding so hard I can hear it in my ears.
Two scent matches and the guy I never got over all in one place? It's too much.
It's too fucking much.
This is what I've always wanted. A pack.
True scent matches. But…didn't Enzo already have a scent match?
What if this isn't real or some kind of fluke?
And Austin? He doesn't want me. Not really—he's already proved as much.
And why would he? I'm just a fucking broken omega.
There has to be a reason why I've been rejected by so many different packs.
When Enzo gets to know me, he'll realize that and he won't want me either.
Tears sting my eyes as I shake my head, I take a step back. "Hannah…" Enzo's voice is pained as I take another step, and Austin steps forward like he's going to follow me. I can't stop the high pitched omega-whine that leaves me, halting the alpha in his tracks.
"I…I can't. It's too much." You don't want me.
Charlie comes up next to Austin, and thank goodness he's not close enough for me to scent his coconut and sandalwood signature, otherwise I might break. "Hannah…baby, don't—" That's what does it, brings out my fight or flight response, and there's only one thing I'm capable of at the moment.
"Don't call me that," is all I can get out before a sob rips out of my chest, and I run.
I run past the towering axe-murderer Halloween decoration, down the side yard, and let myself out of the side gate.
I run, and run, and run. Straight to my car, where I fumble my keys out of my pocket and start the engine.
My mind races as I rip out of the driveway and speed down the street. What the fuck is Charlie doing in Starbrook City? That's what's throwing me. He has no reason to be here.
Then there's Enzo and Austin…I can't believe it.
Why would fate give me a scent match that already made it clear he didn't want me?
And Enzo? Alphas can't have two scent matches, everyone knows that.
It has to be some kind of mistake, and if I let myself get my hopes up… no . That will not be happening.
I feel like if Charlie hadn't been there I would have been able to face them, talk to them.
Calmly explain to them that I'm not sure if I'm good enough to be their scent match.
They deserve better than an omega who's been rejected so many times.
A broken omega. Even if I have no idea what's wrong with me.
I can't get my hopes up again, only for them to get crushed in the end. True scent match or not, this will turn out like it always does, with my heart broken.