14. Ava
Chapter 14
Ava
After escaping Ibiza to Majorca, I traveled to my sister Ella’s vacation home. She always told me I was welcome there anytime I needed and right now, I do.
I need to contact Seb, but I can’t risk using my phone in case mine or Seb’s phones are being traced.
I rummage through Ella’s alpha, Walker’s, office, my heart pounding as I take a seat at his computer.
It doesn’t take me long to hack into his laptop. I learned to hack when I left Garrett, but it was Seb who really taught me everything I now know.
The screen fires to life, and I’m ready to send an email when something catches my eye on the bottom corner.
The last message says, “Thanks.”
But it’s the one above it that is still showing in the dialogue box that makes my blood run cold. “Now leave Ava alone.”
I open up the messenger thread and see it’s between Max Montgomery and his brother, my brother-in-law, Walker.
I scroll to the beginning.
Max congratulates Walker on his wedding and invites him and his new pack to the Dupont Island for dinner.
As I scroll through the conversation, my mind reels.
Dupont Island.
Max Montgomery.
Max Montgomery is the man from Dupont Island, and he is my brother-in-law?
“Oh, fuck!”
I slam my hand against my mouth, then take a deep breath as I continue reading the thread.
Walker doesn’t respond to the first email.
The next email from Max reads:
I really am sorry I couldn’t attend your wedding. I sent you a gift, please send me pictures.
Max continues, possibly after not getting a reply:
I’m happy you found your darling. I always regretted pulling out of the deal for mine. Four years have passed since that day.
Did she ever get her heat?
With each message, the pain in my stomach intensifies, a dull ache blooming into sharp stabs of discomfort.
Walker gives a terse reply.
You weren’t invited, but here’s a picture.
He included a wedding photo showing Ella, Walker, Gabe, Jake, me, and Seb. All with enormous smiles on our faces .
My breath catches in my throat.
The exchange grows increasingly heated as they discuss me.
But it’s Max’s bitter words that make me shiver.
Who is she with?
None of your business. You rejected Avaline twice.
My eyes widen. Rejected? He rejected me. What is Walker talking about?
Though Walker’s staunch defense warms me slightly, the pain in my gut only worsens as I read on.
She rejected me.
What the hell?
If you weren’t so ruthless, you’d realize having an omega to love is special. She’s not just there for you to lose your mind when she’s in heat.
Y ou don’t know what I did for her. I gave her a life, but it doesn’t stop the fact that she’s my omega.
And if you haven’t learned what that means yet, you don’t deserve her.
I offered good money for her.
She’s not a commodity to be bought and sold. Leave her alone.
What if I made a mistake?
You did. She was kidnapped, Max. Where were you? You have all the money and resources in the world. You could’ve saved her. A pack could’ve claimed her. Nearly did. You knew when she revealed she was your scent matched omega, yet you chose the business over her. Now leave her alone. She’s happy.
She needs an alpha.
According to Ava, she doesn’t. Leave her alone.
You couldn’t leave yours alone.
I never rejected my omega. Yet, you rejected Avaline twice.
Twelve million dollars is a lot for an omega who won’t go through a heat. And I didn’t reject her. I reduced the payment by eight million with provisions to pay the money when she went into her heat. And I was then told she’d rejected me. He then sold her to Garrett Jameson.
And you believed that?
Yes.
That’s the difference between me and you. I’d burn the world down for Eleanor. Not walk away and let another alpha take her.
You don’t have a clue. Now tell me where she is?
No.
Tell me and I’ll give you half of this company. It’s worth fourteen billion dollars. You’ll be worth seven billion.
I gasp, my hand flying to my mouth.
The company you stole from me. The company I should already own half of. But you keep it. I have more money than I can ever spend.
Tell me where she is.
No.
The emails get shorter the further I read.
Walker’s refusal is a minor comfort, but the last exchanges leave me cold when Walker reveals.
She’s scentless.
Because of the vaccination?
Ella’s scent came back. But Ava’s never did. Even Ava thinks she’s a dud. Now leave Ava alone.
Thanks.
That single word from Max sends a chill down my spine. What does it mean?
I slump back in the chair, my mind whirling. Everything I thought has been turned upside down.
I groan as I press my hand on my stomach. The pain in my abdomen has become almost unbearable, matching the turmoil in my head.
I never rejected Max. So why does everyone think I did? And what does he want with me now?
Exhaustion washes over me, mingling with the pain and confusion. I struggle to my feet, deciding to sleep off this new wave of discomfort. As I stumble towards the guest room, my mind races with a growing sense of unease.
One thing’s for certain—I can’t stay here for long.
I wake up in the middle of the night, hunching over in excruciating pain. My legs are drenched in slick and my pussy throbs with a need I’ve never known before.
I press my finger over my clit, so tempted to sate my desire, but I’ve heard all about an omega’s heats and I know once I start, I won’t be able to stop.
I need to get to the heat hotel in Palma.
I push out of the bed and with weary steps; I walk to the office to find out if Seb has answered my message.
He hasn’t. I can assume he took off from Ibiza in a rush to get back to Majorca.
I check the time. It’s 3.38 am, and I sigh.
I open the browser and search for heat hotels in Majorca. Maybe there is one closer.
I sigh.
The Palma Heat Hotel isn’t open for five hours, but walk-ins are accepted. But that way the heat hotel will provide the alphas for me and I won’t get an option.
My finger slides over the trackpad as I continue scrolling on the returned searches. Then it stops. I read the entry.
Club Indulgence.
Are you an omega in need? Want a compatible alpha?
Tell us your perfume, and we’ll match you up with compatible alphas. We don’t provide a scent matching service, but we will provide at least one alpha with one compatible scent.
Call us.
You’ll enjoy your heat more with an alpha whose scent makes your omega weak.
I just have to get there. Club Indulgence isn’t in Palma but in C’an Pastilla, a half hour drive from here.
That’s a long time in a cab with an unknown driver. Only now do I realize how lucky I was in Ibiza. That man was a beta, but it could have gone so wrong if he wasn’t.
I drag the drawers of the desk open. My hand pushes to the back and I drag out a set of keys.
Ella gave me permission to stay at her vacation home if I ever tired of being on a boat. Also, letting me know their family car was parked in the garage.
I never wanted to call Seb’s cell, but I have no choice. I always promised he would take me through my heat, despite not being an alpha. I can’t deny him that now.
With a heavy heart, I called his number.
“Hello.” His voice is tentative as he waits for me to talk.
“It’s me. I’m...”
“Where the hell are you?” he growls.
“Did you betray me? Did you and Silas plan everything?” I’ve thought of the question over and over. I never thought Seb would ever betray me, but what if he was offered so much more for my capture?
“Why the hell would I do that?”
“Because you knew he was my scent match,” I whisper.
“Fuck! Who Silas?” Seb grunts.
“Max Montgomery.”
“Who? No, Ava, I promise you I didn’t know, and I certainly didn’t betray you. Why the hell would I do that? You’re mine.”
“You’re going to have to share me.” I swallow back a small sob. “My heat is coming on strong. I thought it was just pain from seawater in my stomach, but now I know it’s my first heat, and I'm scared.”
“Where are you?”
“I was going to the heat clinic in Palma, but I’ve booked a room at Club Indulgence in C’an Pastilla. I need you there with me. Don’t let me do it without you.”
“Shush, sweetheart. Why Club Indulgence?”
“I won't have a choice with my alphas in the heat hotel. I’m sorry, but I need alphas, Seb.” I groan as pain slashes through my stomach. I sob. “I’m not cheating on you, Seb. I need this.”
“I know who you are, Ava. We’ve already spoken about this. I knew one day this would come. I can handle anything your omega needs as long as I know you want me.”
“I love you Seb. I’ll always want you.”
I hear him sigh before he asks, “I’ll get there. I’ll make sure the alphas treat you right.”
“You’re okay with it?” My voice croaks.
“Oh Ava, I knew it would come one day. I just hope when it’s over, you still want me.”
“I will.” I sniffle. “Did you know what was going to happen on the island?”
“I promise you I didn’t.”
“The man who spoke to me in Monaco—it’s him. His name is Maxwell Montgomery.” I searched his name after I read the messages, and it was him.
“He knew who you were, even then!”
I groan. “I’ll tell you more later.”
“I’m scared Seb.”
“Why, sweetheart?”
“This will change me. And I like me. I like my life.” I sigh. “And I love you and I don’t want to lose you.”
My heart races.
“Ava, you’re the strongest person I know, Omega or not.”
“I’m not strong, Seb.” Just admitting my weakness makes me want to cry.
“You are, Ava. This is just a setback. One I’ve always known would happen.”
I exhale as I try to keep my breaths controlled.
“I’ll help you get through this. I make sure the alphas do nothing they shouldn’t. And afterward?”
“Afterward?” I repeat.
“We’ll live happily ever after on our boat.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I am, sweetheart. Falling in love with you meant I was prepared for the whirlwind of emotions that would follow. I knew one day …” I hear a gulp. “I knew one day I might even lose you.”
“No, Seb.” I sob.
“Shush, sweetheart. You need to stay calm and controlled. Get to Club Indulgence, and I’ll meet you there.”