3. Talya
CHAPTER THREE
TALYA
I wasn’t sure if the idea of Pack Dolby was a positive thing or not. Hell, I didn’t even remember them. Biting my lip, I turned to the computer, pulled up the Pack Listing site, and clicked to my profile. Beka hadn’t updated my profile yet to reflect the results of the last three inquiries, so they still showed pending meeting next to their names.
Carefully avoiding the very long list of declined by pack below it, I clicked on Pack Dolby. Four alphas. Dalton, Trevor, Clyde, and Ringer. They had an old farmstead that they were grooming for an ATV trail system in northern Montana.
“Well?” Colby asked.
The profiles didn’t offer much, so aside from their names, a posed headshot of each of them, and the basics such as age, career, there wasn’t much to go on.
“Sure,” I said. “We did put in an inquiry. Did Beka say anything else?”
“No,” Colby said. I heard his sigh, though he kept it light. “She just said they agreed, and we’ll schedule a trip this weekend. That’s all.”
“Alright, then this weekend it is.”
“I’ll be home in a couple hours. Love you.”
I smiled, swinging my chair around. “Love you too.”
Hanging up the phone, I glanced at their images on the screen. Mid-thirties to late forties with well-established careers, a nice home, and looking for an omega. It was something, I supposed.
“You’re looking so beautiful these days, Talya,” Beka said when she met us at the gate. I was probably the longest-running omega within the Registry at this point. A decade. A fucking decade! It shouldn’t be this hard. Beka felt more like a friend or family than my Guardian because of how long I’d been with her.
I hugged her, and she patted my cheeks. “How are you feeling, darling?” she asked. Beka was one of the few people outside our family and Fenton who felt genuine. Like she actually cared. Seeing her was like coming home after a long time away.
“Everything is good,” I assured her, backing up to Colby’s side. He wrapped an arm around me and placed a hand on my hip. Beka smiled at him and patted his arm as she led us through the terminal to the cars outside.
“It’s an hour drive from here. The property’s in the middle of wonderful fields and rivers. You’ve reacquainted yourselves with their profile?”
“We have,” Colby said. “Beka, are we wasting our time?”
She opened the door and allowed us to get into the back of a roomy car before climbing into the front with the driver. The privacy screen remained down, and she twisted in her seat to look at us. At this rate, we knew her well enough to read her expression. Nothing about it said she was confident or that this trip would be promising.
“Honey, we’re looking for a needle in a haystack, and honestly, I’m just as shocked as you are that this is such a process. I’m still fighting with the powers that be to change up the Pack Listing software to encompass those who are willing to look at an omega who already has an alpha. It’s like pulling teeth that are sideways and impacted.” She shook her head. “I’ll tell you this: they were hesitant but excited to meet you. I’m not sure if that’s good or not.”
I looked at Colby. He’d been listening, but his attention was out the window.
“Do you want their scent samples?”
“Oh!” I said, moving across the small space to reach them. She handed me the small box, and I moved back.
“I’ll leave you two be. Let me know if you need anything.” Once the privacy screen rolled up, I was left alone with my alpha.
“What do you think?” I asked.
Colby shook his head. “I think we’re wasting this weekend, but who knows? I hope I’m wrong.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. I had a habit of apologizing even while knowing that there was nothing either of us could do to change the situation.
He turned my face toward him, his big hand hot against my skin. I still flushed like the day we met every time he looked at me. My stomach fluttered and my heart raced.
Was it so much to ask for a pack filled with alphas like this who wanted us both?
“Don’t you dare apologize, precious,” he murmured, caressing my lips with his. “Fenton’s right. Every rejection is their loss. Not yours.”
“Ours,” I said.
One corner of his lips quirked up, and my pussy fluttered this time. There was no sexier man than mine.
“I mean it, precious. Their loss.”
I sighed and offered him a small smile. “Wanna smell these with me?” I asked, holding up the little box.
That half-smile graced his lips again, and I was nearly ready to ask him for his knot. We had some time. Maybe not enough, but some.
Colby smelled like cedarwood and allspice. Fresh and masculine. It always made me salivate. In the profiles on Pack Listing were sections that also included their scents, though I’d never put much faith in what they said since the ones I’d requested never matched what I imagined they’d smell like based on their descriptions.
My alpha opened the box and handed me the first card. Dalton. Cigar smoke and leather. I opened the little plastic case and almost gagged when it hit my nostrils. I stopped the gag but immediately coughed while shutting it tight.
With a laugh, Colby opened the window, letting the air race in to sweep out the awful smell.
“Oh no,” I said, cringing at the sight of the rest of them. “This isn’t going to be good.”
Colby chuckled, handing me another. Clyde. I was already scrunching my face when I opened it, though at least it wasn’t bad at first. At first, fresh notes of ginger hit me, but as I relaxed, I was smacked in the face with dish soap made from rubber.
“Oh my gods,” I said, shoving it back toward him. “Please, no. These are awful.”
We didn’t smell the last two, and the rest of the drive, I was dreading being in the same room as these four men. Of course, because of this, the drive seemed to fly by. Before long, we were pulling down a large dirt driveway with a classic farmhouse at the end. In the distance was a large red barn and cattle milling about. There were even some horses running in the pasture.
“Not so bad,” Colby said quietly, helping me out of the car.
I nodded, letting a smile linger as I looked around. My alpha pulled me close and kissed the side of my head. The breeze was cool, carrying with it the scent of freshly mown grass and hay. Thankfully, it wasn’t bringing manure.
“Ready?” Beka asked.
No, but also yes. The meet-up would be short, then we could go back to the hotel and relax before our flight home tomorrow.
Maybe we shouldn’t have come.
“No negative thoughts,” Colby said, gently pulling my gaze to his. “Don’t doom this before it begins, beautiful.”
I nodded. “Yes. Optimism and all that.”
He grinned widely, and I couldn’t help but smile back. My alpha was everything.
Beka led us up the path and rang the bell. It wasn’t long before the door opened, revealing a man I identified as Ringer standing there. He immediately sought me out, tilting his head sideways, and the expression that filled his face was one I hated more than anything.
Lust.
I tensed. Colby’s hand gripped mine tighter.
“Hello, Mr. Dolby,” Beka greeted with a warm smile.
“Mrs. Henderson, welcome,” Ringer said. His gaze flickered to her briefly, and I knew it for what it was. Dismissal. A beta was unimportant, even a Guardian. “Come in.”
He stood back, and Beka stepped inside with a kind thanks. I hesitated to follow. He wasn’t the kind of alpha I wanted, and I hated the way he watched me. The way his eyes roamed my body.
Colby’s arm went around my waist, and he urged me to the door. All I had to do was say I wasn’t interested, and we’d leave. No questions asked by either Colby or Beka. It would never matter how loudly the pack protested. There’d been a couple I’d done that with in the past.
But I’d only barely met a single one of them. I had to at least meet all four. This wasn’t a pack just for me. I was looking for a home for Colby and me.
I was thankful that Colby was between Ringer and me as we walked in. Then, when we walked past, putting him behind me, all sorts of creepy crawlies skittered down my spine. This was going to be awful. I could feel it.
The other three men were standing off to the side, one talking to Beka pleasantly. That was nice to see, at least. I thought that one was Clyde. The other two watched me, their hunger, their desire plain to see.
It was the way of the alphas: they wanted an omega. It almost didn’t matter whether they wanted me or not. They typically just wanted an omega. However, as I had learned, they did have criteria that they weren’t willing to compromise on. For whatever reason, another alpha crossed some invisible line. That was enough to make a pack decide against an omega.
Fenton was right, though. If they rejected us without a meeting, they weren’t our pack and it was no loss to us. They’d lost the chance for an omega, but I was no worse off.
Beka turned to me and smiled as Ringer rejoined his pack. She officially introduced us all around, and although the pack looked at Colby, acknowledging him with greetings, their attention was on me.
“Would you like a tour, or would you like to chat first?” Dalton asked.
“Talk,” I said.
He nodded, a smile gracing his lips. At least he wasn’t horrible to look at, and even though I didn’t like the scents that were mingling in the air, they had a lot of windows. That would be necessary.
They led us into a parlor where tea, coffee, and finger snacks were waiting for us. Based on how the chairs were evenly spaced around the table, it appeared that they wanted some even footing. Colby moved his closer to mine before we sat, then he took my hand.
I’d purposefully worn a shirt that showed my bite. It wasn’t like it could easily be hidden, but I always made it very obvious. As I sat and my shirt shifted, four sets of eyes landed on the mark. Four mouths frowned.
Beka’s job was to hang out in the same room but act as if she wasn’t there unless I needed her, and that’s what she did. She was somewhere behind me, but I would have loved to see her expression right now.
I sat forward, keeping Colby’s hand tightly in mine. “I think I need to make something perfectly clear based on the way you’re frowning at me. I was completely serious when I added that I was a mated omega. Colby is my alpha, and if you’re even remotely interested in me, we’re a package deal. It’s not just grudging acceptance I want from you. Colby would be a full member of this pack and remain my alpha.”
“Of course,” Dalton said, a smile replacing his frown. “Completely understood, omega.”
“Then what’s with the disgust for my bite?” I asked. Omegas should be sweet and quiet, but after all these years of nasty interviews with packs, I’d lost that stoic, submissive quality.
“I think we’re just reminded how unorthodox this is. That’s all. No offense meant, omega,” Dalton said.
I wasn’t convinced that was the whole story, though I thought he was being truthful.
“What questions do you have for us?” Colby asked.
Dalton remained smiling as he turned his attention to Colby. Ringer flinched at his voice, scowling before he could hide it. The other two pressed their lips together in a thin line as if they were biting their tongues.
“Your profile says you’ve been together for ten years?” Dalton asked.
“Longer,” Colby said. “That’s just how long we’ve been mated. We met in school, and we immediately knew we were mates.”
Dalton nodded, his gaze turning back to me as if he couldn’t help it.
There was nonsense pleasant small talk for another twenty minutes while I became more and more tense. Outside of Dalton, the pack became restless and fidgety as if irritated with the conversation. I was waiting for one to scoff or snicker or even mumble.
That didn’t happen, but they didn’t disappoint when one of them finally broke their silence. Dalton looked pissed about that, his scent turning sharp in a way that made my nose itch with the need to sneeze.
“You’re completely attached and insistent on remaining with this alpha?” Clyde asked.
I rolled my eyes. “You want me to just wipe off my bond? Is that how it works?”
“Don’t be snarky!” Trevor snapped, leaning forward to snarl at me. “That’s not an omega’s place. You will respect your pack.”
I raised a brow. “Yes, I will. Fortunately for me, you’re not my pack.”
“But we can be,” Dalton said, his voice sharp as he clearly demanded the other two shut up.
“No, you can’t,” Colby said, getting to his feet and pulling me with him. “We made it clear that we were a pair. On top of which, no one treats my omega that way and sure as fuck shouldn’t be treating theirs that way. Good luck.”
That was the moment Pack Dolby stood, and the room became saturated with scents that had me desperately trying not to cough. They were so strong, laced with a sharp undertone that made me feel like a physical confrontation was going to take place. Colby pulled me behind him, and Ringer tried to get in his face before Dalton shoved him back, barking at him to ‘sit the fuck down.’ Thankfully, Ringer did, dead dropping in the nearest chair.
I didn’t look back when Beka followed us out, though I felt possessive, angry eyes on us. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. I basically dove into the car.
“They’re an awful pack,” I noted, looking out the window. Beka had remained outside with Dalton. “I knew it before we even stepped inside.”
“Why didn’t you?—”
“Because we need a pack!” I exclaimed, tears burning my eyes.
Colby pulled me into his lap and immediately began purring as he stroked my hair. “Shh, precious omega. Don’t get upset.”
I sniffled as I tried to shove down the angry tears.
“Baby, we want a pack, but I don’t think we need one. Not if the best we’re going to find is Dolby. And I fear that’s where our pickings lie where Pack Listing is concerned,” Colby said.
I nodded, pouting. “You wouldn’t have let us choose them, right?”
Colby laughed. “Not a chance, but it’s more entertaining when you shut them down than when I do. I think you enjoy it.”
A smile touched my lips. I did enjoy it.
“If there’s a pack out there for us, we’re not going to find it on Pack Listing, Talya.”
“Then what should we do?”
Colby shook his head. “Look elsewhere.”
But where? Pack Listing was where available packs were. How were we going to find a pack without them?
I closed my eyes, wishing that our pack would be standing on our doorstep when we got home. ‘We’ve been looking everywhere for you. Let’s go home.’