Chapter 19
Falling
Geo
Liora's house disappeared behind us and I turned to Dr. Nova.
"She's my scentmatch."
"I know." She smiled. "She just hasn't figured that out yet.
Poor girl is so confused by all the crap going on around her and the abuse .
. . ORC brainwashed her, then the new pack wasn't what she wanted, but she tried anyway.
" She shook her head. "What are the chances you'll get this through and have those alphas arrested? "
"If they're not arrested, they won't be an issue for her," I said grimly, my mind already racing over how to eliminate the three men who had tortured my scentmatch.
Dr. Nova snorted. "Don't get yourself locked up, Geo."
"I won't, but she will feel safe again, no matter what."
She dropped me off at my apartment and I promptly logged into the omega database to see what I could learn about Liora.
It didn't take long to find her records, but they were pretty basic.
Bonded nearly eight years ago, by the pack I'd just met.
Rejected by them after six years. My lip curled at the audacity of those bastards.
There were mentions of what her pack did, so I searched them online and dozens of images and videos popped up from their openings and announcements.
In the first few, from four or five years ago, Liora was with the pack, smiling shyly as one or two of them put their arm around her.
It painted a picture of a happy pack with their omega.
More recent photos changed. The grand opening video showed Mace's speech and the blonde woman grinning at the camera.
At one point the blonde threw a scathing look to the side, so I focused on that area.
Liora was there, in the crowd, looking up at the stage.
Her face was at an angle to the camera, but she looked defeated.
Scrolling back through the video, I watched as Mace announced a woman and Liora stepped toward the stairs up with a smile. Then Andrea scurried to take her place beside Mace.
The other videos of the event were mainly selfies and showed little of the sad omega, but I found one where you could see her climbing the stairs to the second level inside the office.
An idea bloomed in my mind as I watched another video later where Andrea headed up there.
When I searched for surveillance footage, it was all gone, the video taken two years ago and scrubbed long ago.
Had the new woman been a lover to the men?
Had she pushed Liora out of the nest, so to speak?
I frowned. I needed to talk to Liora again.
Dig deeper into her first pack. No fault rejections were normal, but that didn't mean they didn't have another purpose here.
I'd seen no evidence of Andrea in their home, but that didn't mean they hadn't had her for a while and then split.
I picked up my phone and stared at it. Nova had given me Liora's number, but it would be a breach of privacy if I called her right now. Plus, she was probably still feeling emotionally sensitive after reliving so much abuse.
I shoved the phone in my pocket and headed out to find some coffee and food, though my stomach churned at the idea that she was alone right now. No one to provide her with good food or a hot drink.
Finally, after devouring a slice of pizza and a cappuchino, I couldn't resist any longer. I pulled my phone out and sent her a text.
Geo: Hey, this is Geo from earlier. I wanted to check in and see how you're doing after this morning.
Liora: How did you get my number?
Geo: Sorry, Dr. Nova. I'll leave you alone if you want.
Liora: No, it's okay. I'm tired and my heat is starting, so I'm stressed out. I don't want any alphas.
Geo: There are toys you can use. Do you have one?
Liora: Um, no. This is a really weird topic to discuss with someone I don't know.
Geo: I'm trained in heat management, so it's really more professional than it feels.
Geo: Do you want me to arrange for a knotting toy? Just to get you through this heat.
Liora: …
Liora: Yeah, I think so.
Geo: Np, I'll have it there tonight.
I smiled as warmth spread through my chest. I could take care of this omega, far better than any of the men in her house could.
Pulling up a shopping app on my phone, I quickly ordered two options for knotting toys, one with a fixed knot and one with an inflatable knot.
Just as I was about to input her address, it occurred to me that I could deliver the toys.
My own address went into the order box and I headed home to wait for it.
The package arrived just before six pm. I quickly checked that the contents were what I'd ordered, then jumped on my bike and headed to Liora's.
Finn opened the door, his eyes panicked. "Shit, what are you doing here? No, wait, this could be good. You're trained for heats, right?"
"Yeah, but . . "
He cut me off. "She's in so much pain, you have to help her!"
I heard a scream rip through the house and I shoved past Finn, heading in the direction the scream had come from. The other alphas were standing outside a bedroom door, looking pained and desperate.
"Geo came by," Finn said, his voice catching. "He can help her. She might accept him."
"Try, please." Mace looked about to crumple, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "Help her."
I nodded and walked to the door, tapping it lightly.
"Fuck off!" Liora screeched from inside.
"Liora, it's Geo," I called out. "Geovani? We were texting earlier?"
"Geo," she moaned in such a breathless way that my jeans instantly tightened. "It hurts, Geo."
"Can I come in? I brought the toys we talked about."
"Yes."
I shot a look at the others, warning them to stay put, then opened the door.
A wall of pheromones hit me in the face like a slap. Leaping inside, I slammed the door shut and realized she'd stuffed a towel under it to keep smells out. Or in. The room was full of her lemon scent, sweet and sharp, with a sour undernote.
Liora was curled up in a tight ball of pain at the head of her bed, hair plastered to her face with sweat. "Help me."
"How do you want me to help you?" I sat down toward the middle of the bed, careful not to crowd her. "I'll do whatever you need me to do."
"Help," she whispered. "Too hot."
"Shower?" I suggested. When she nodded, I got up and leaned over to help her up, but she threw her arms around my neck so I ended up picking her up. She felt so perfect, cradled in my arms, nuzzling my neck like I was her alpha. Every cell in my body responded and I knew my scent was stronger too.
We got to the bathroom and I sat her on the counter while I turned on the water in the shower and got it to a good temperature. Cool, but not so cold she'd become hypothermic.
Turning back to her, I realized Liora was in pajamas. They were damp with her sweat, but they still needed to come off. Even though I'd trained for this, I'd never actually undressed an omega. Especially not with my cock already pressing so hard against the zipper it was going to leave an imprint.
"Hey, we need to get your clothes off, is that okay?"
She nodded, reaching for me again. I gently pushed her upright and pulled the soft top over her head before lifting her off the counter and carefully setting her on the floor, avoiding contact with the bulge in my pants. "Let's get these pants off."
She wasn't wearing panties. Slick ran down her legs in streams and it was all I could do not to lick up her thigh. Instead, I stood up so fast it made me dizzy and led her to the shower, easing her in and under the water.
"Geo," she whined, leaning against the tiled wall and reaching for me with one hand.
"I . . . you want me in there with you, baby?"
"Yes." Her eyes were glazing over from the heat and hormones, but I knew she was still in there.
After a moment's debate, I pulled off my shirt and jeans, standing there in my black briefs, my erection painfully evident. Stepping into the shower, I made sure she was under the spray, even as she leaned back against my chest.
We stood there in the water for a long time before she seemed more stable. I grabbed the shampoo and started washing her sweat-filled hair. My fingers gently massaged the shampoo into her scalp until she was melting in my arms.
"That feels so good," Liora muttered. "I'm still hot though."
"Well, your body wants a knot," I reminded her. "It's preparing itself for breeding."
She shuddered. "I was so scared they'd get me pregnant."
"Did Dr. Nova check?" My blood ran cold at the thought of this pretty omega dealing with a baby from those abusers.
She shook her head, eyes closed as she rested it on my chest. "No. And Dr. Nova said the suppressant she gave me will stop me from getting pregnant if I do have sex."
I nodded, trying not to imagine sex with this goddess.
"Geo?" Her voice bordered on a whine again. My fingers landed on her shoulders and I massaged there.
Suddenly, she twisted in my arms, her palms on my pecs, her face tipped up towards me. She pressed her belly against my hardness and whimpered, which only served to make me harder. I bit my lip to stop from groaning, but my breathing was faster and faster the more she pressed against me.
"Take me to bed?" she whispered.
Fuck. This was it. Decision time. She was asking for me in her bed, but did she really mean it?