Chapter 24
CHAPTER 24
CLOVER
T oday has been everything that I thought being an Omega was all about.
The shower this morning with Griffin had started the day perfect. Something inside of me wanted to have that attention on me all the time. The fact he smelled like me was driving me insane.
I had seen him a few times today, around campus. He had made sure to come over to scent me with his spice scent at one point. He had left kisses along my neck so that I’d be able to smell him and so others could scent him on me.
It felt like how all other Omegas would be treated and I loved that he gave me that experience.
McKinley had sat with me at lunch, saying Vaughn and Griffin couldn’t make it because of something with the hockey team. The Beta made sure to fill my plate, talking to me nonstop about things. Pushing water at me between bites.
That was until Marcus came over, sitting so close to me that Mick had snarled at him.
“I thought that you weren’t exclusive, lemon drop? Why is the pack Beta so feral?” He rested his head on my shoulder, scenting me, and making a sound, “Oh, one of the Alpha’s got possessive of you.”
Pulling back from him, I shifted closer to Mick.
Something felt off.
It was almost like Marcus was trying to take away Griffy’s scent with his own and I didn’t want to lose that. It had been grounding me and making me feel special in a way that I hadn’t before.
There was something about smelling like an Alpha that made me feel safe.
Mick wrapped his arm around me, tugging me over onto his lap. When Marcus went to steal one of my fries, the Beta tugged away my tray.
“Don’t touch my Omega’s food.” Mick nuzzled into me, pausing for a second like he didn’t want to mark me without my consent.
I needed to make a display.
Oh beans and biscuits.
I hope Mick didn’t get mad.
Turning slightly on his lap, I nuzzled his neck, scenting him before looking at the flushed Beta. My lips pressed against him. The soft scrape of his beard on my face making me whimper against his lips.
“Oh lemon drop, don’t tell me you’re all in already?” Marcus had his elbow resting on the table. His head was in his hand as he looked at us with almost a bored expression fluttering across his face..
I knew my face was red and I felt like I should be just with Mick, talking to him about the fact I just kissed him. That wasn’t going to happen right now.
Shifting me slightly, Mick glared at Marcus.
“Clover is in charge of her choices. She doesn’t need anyone telling her what to do. But, you’re just friends, right?” The tone that McKinley takes is so different from his usual good natured tone.
His arm is tight around me and I know that I’m lucky this isn’t Griffin with me. Pretty sure he would punch the Omega in the face.
And Marcus is my friend.
Right ?
His golden eyes brighten, his nose scrunching up with a laugh. It’s as if this is all a joke to him and I don’t understand what’s funny or what I’m missing.
It’s as if I’m the joke and I don’t like that feeling.
My scent shifts. I can feel the way I’m starting to fold into myself. My mind is thinking about things that I haven’t done yet. I need to wash the floors in my room and do a deep clean of the bathroom. Maybe I can cook something or-
“Of course we’re just friends. For right now.” My eyes are down, staring at my food, “But lemon drop is just coming into all the magic of being an Omega. There’s so much pleasure that I can show her. Lots of things that she can learn before she makes the best choice about what sort of pack she wants to join.” Marcus leans forward, I can feel his eyes on us.
I want to go back to my nest.
My nest that Pack Mathers bought for me. That they let me pick out and design so I was comfortable.
“Have some water, little Omega.” Mick kisses my cheek as he pulls a water bottle he had filled for me.
This pack really takes hydration seriously.
“Do you want me to meet you after class?” Marcus is speaking to me and I’m ripped out of my thoughts of my nest.
Oh snap and crackle.
I forgot I was supposed to hang out with Marcus. With the way he is acting, I don’t really want to go with him. But how will that make me look?
“Oh, I didn’t tell you that Apollo’s Mama is in town. I promised her I’d go to dinner with her after school.” It’s not a lie and I’m so glad that I have a real excuse as to why I can’t.
Why is Marcus being weird?
His scent turns from the pleasant mint and lime to something that burns my nose and makes me whimper. My nose rubs against Mick’s neck. His soft champagne scent isn’t as strong as an Alpha’s scent would be, but it’s Mick and that’s enough to calm me down.
“Clover made her choice. I think you’re feeling upset. Your scent turned to a spilled Mojito in a dive bar. Doesn’t really suit your overtly pretty Omega facade.”
The chair scrapes as Marcus gets up and I burrow deeper into Mick. The sound having gotten under my skin.
“I’ll text you tonight, lemon drop.” It feels like a threat and I suddenly worry that I don’t know what friendship should look like at all.
Mick is holding me tight, making sounds that are meant to calm me down. His neck rubbing against my lips so I can breathe him in to calm down. At some point, his fingers got under my sweater, and began to rub soft circles in my back.
The touch is grounding and making me relax.
“What’s wrong with the Omega?” I groan at Vaughn’s voice. Some of the comfort leaves me as I hear the Alpha bark.
There has been some progress with Vaughn being nicer to me and opening up slightly, but it's still clear that he doesn’t care for having me around his pack. His bark is making me feel worse.
What if I’m reading everything wrong and not just Marcus?
The confusion irritates me. My brain hurts as a headache starts to build behind my eyes. A whine leaving my lips before I can swallow it back down.
McKinley tenses under me.
“I’m done with classes for the day. Let me take you home, cherry girl. Bring you to your nest so you can relax. Mama Joy isn’t going to meet you for a couple hours so you have plenty of time to get comfortable in your own space.” Vaughn is closer than I realized.
His words are spoken so softly that I can feel them with each breath he takes, tickling my ear as he talks. I sense his hesitation before he places a hand on my back and rubs over my sweater.
It’s the sweetness of the cola that washes over me. Stronger than Mickey’s scent that finally starts to calm me.
I never want Mickey to feel like he’s anything less than perfect how he is. His designation doesn’t change the fact that he’s been consistently sweet and forward with me. Nothing about him makes me feel like I have to read through any lines.
Nuzzling into the Beta, I lay a kiss on his neck. A soft curse word leaves his lips and makes me smile.
“I’ll see you at home, Mickey?” He nods his head as Vaughn helps me stand, wrapping an arm around me like he’s afraid that I can’t stand on my own.
Mickey holds out the water bottle.
“Make sure that she drinks her water.” The smile that spreads across my face as Vaughn rolls his eyes feels so good.
“Water Clover. Got it.”
Twenty minutes later, I’ve changed out of the clothes that I wore to school. I’m comfortable in a pair of sweatpants and a white tank top. My bare feet pad across the room as I go to answer the knock on the door.
Opening it, I pause.
I don’t know if I ever gave myself permission to really appreciate how attractive Vaughn is. His brown hair is tight on the sides and long on top. Straight and pushed back, only one strand of hair falls into his face. His jaw is strong and fades into high cheekbones. Brown eyes, dark and filled with pain look at me.
He’s taller than Griffy and Mickey, but a couple inches shorter than Apollo.
But Apollo is a giant. I think he might be in a record book somewhere because there’s big and then there’s…
Vaughn doesn’t have a shirt on.
His skin looks like it’s trying to hold a tan from summer. His abs on display, a scar below his belly button that I want to ask about. He doesn’t have tattoos all over like Griffin, but it doesn’t make him any less interesting to look at.
“I…hmmm…never mind,” I watch him toss his shirt away from him as he holds out a gift bag.
He’s so handsome, my eyes still taking him in. Up and down, I look at him. The way his navy blue sweatpants are slung so low on his hips that the white band of his briefs are showing. A soft little fuzz of hair is sticking out, some veins that are prominent leading a trail down… down….down..
I wonder if he looks like Griffy down there.
Griffin is so long. The head of his cock dark tipped and leaking before we even got in the shower this morning. He had ignored it when he had been eating me out this morning. Tasting me in the best way.
“Of fuck. I can smell all that slick coming out of you. It drove me crazy having to scent it on Griffin all day. You made him one proud Alpha today, cherry girl. But smelling it on you, knowing that looking at me has you smelling like that? Fucccck.” I want to look at Vaughn’s face.
I tell myself good girls would look at someone when they are speaking to them, but the way something twitches in his pants has my heart beating faster.
He reaches into his pants, the outline of his hand around himself as he adjusts the hardness in his sweats.
“Clover,” At my name I look up at him.
Do I have drool hanging from my mouth? I wipe at my lips, just in case, and watch the way Vaughn shakes his head, a small amused smile on his face.
“Take your present, Omega. As much as I enjoy you looking at me, I want you to open your gift. Can I come into your room?” I take the bag and nod my head, letting him close the door behind us.
His hand is on my back, on that small strip of skin that is exposed. Vaughn’s hands are more rugged than Mickey’s and I like the way his thumb rubs up and down as we move together.
“You’re making me go a little crazy right now.I promise that I won’t lose my head. You’re safe with me, Clover. You’re safe with us. Always us.” I nod as I sit down on the couch beside him.
Vaughn runs his fingers through his hair, breathing out like he wants to gather all his thoughts before he talks.
“Open your courting gift, Clover. Then I want to talk to you about some things. It’s important to me that I tell you the truth about things so that we can understand each other. I don’t want to lie to you or lead you on about where I am at.”
Maybe it’s a talent with men. They must get taken aside in school, regardless of their designation. They must have a class where they learn about how to talk in circles and be as confusing as possible.
I am so confused as to how a minute ago I was watching him move his cock and now a courting gift is on my lap. Yet he is saying he doesn’t want to lead me on?
What in the cheese Louise is going on?
I shake my head, trying to clear it from all the craziness. Focusing on the pretty pink bag on my lap. It’s filled with sparkly paper that I want to pull apart.
Who doesn’t like getting presents?
“Pack Mathers is serious about courting you. I know you’re new to the Omega world and what this means so I wanted to be clear on what it means to our pack.” Things that are clear are good, “McKinley told us that if we didn’t take this seriously we wouldn’t just be losing you as a potential Omega, he would also leave the pack for you.” The present falls between us.
My mouth drops open as I look at Vaughn.
None of that heat is between us now. In fact, it seems like ice has dropped over me.
What had the sweet Beta been thinking? How could he say something like that to his pack without even talking to me first?
It was all too much.
Vaughn seemed to realize what was going through my mind.
“Shit, wait.” I could not wait. “He meant it like he knows what a treasure you are, Clover. He loves us all and wants us all to see it too. That’s why Griffin jumped on it. He trusts him. He knows that Mick is serious and that you are the right Omega for us. Apollo was worried that he wouldn’t be able to provide you with everything that he wanted to give an Omega. That was his biggest hangup. He wanted us to be able to make our dreams come true too. He’s a good pack lead. He cares about everyone so much. He also knew that my whole life fell apart this summer and that I’ve never been less ready for an Omega.” Vaughn rubs his mouth, his eyes squeezing closed.
I’m stuck. He’s saying too much. Being so honest with what is going on in his head. About how they feel about me.
I can appreciate his honesty. Appreciate him telling me about how serious everyone is now taking this. Part of me feels guilty about how I said that I wasn’t going to date them exclusively.
He’s making it clear that they’re solely focused on me.
“I’m not a good Alpha. I’m sorry, Clover. You deserve the best and me…I’m not it.” He’s hurt. I can scent the burnt sugar of his scent and I hate it.
Launching myself over the preset, I throw myself against his chest.
My neck marks his chest as I nuzzle into him. Trying to comfort the distressed Alpha.
His arms don’t come around me, but I don’t let that deter me. I’m all Omega cuddles. Nuzzling and scenting him. Trying to make that bad scent go away and have that sweetness come out again.
“I don’t deserve this. I don’t deserve having someone. Not after…not after what happened.” His arm finally comes around me. His head comes down so that his nose runs along my neck.
I’m glad some of his instincts have taken over to help him calm down.
“You deserve more than others have made you believe. Some people just take and take and take. They leave you feeling empty. But do you know what? There’s something still left inside of you. You just need someone to give you a little bit back.” I whisper to him.
As someone who grew up feeling like I was giving everything to my community, I know what it feels like to be empty. I’ve learned how to build myself up again and I want to have Vaughn do that too.
He always looks so sad. So broken. Like he needs a really big hug.
I thought Griffin was trying to hug him until he was better but, maybe he wasn’t hugging him hard enough. I give him an extra squeeze just in case.
His other hand comes around to hug me against him.
The first step of him accepting a hug works. Now to understand who hurt him and make sure that he knows that he didn’t deserve whatever they did.
“My parents filed for a divorce this summer. It was my fault,” He tries to pull back, but I shift myself so that we’re chest to chest. My body moves to straddle him.
If Vaughn really wanted to get away from me, he could. But he stays to finish his story.
“Terry was my girlfriend. She was a Beta who I dated for a long time. We were talking about bringing her into the pack. We figured it might help ease an Omega in eventually. Especially with all of us planning to go pro. It would be nice to have someone be there for an Omega and for Terry not to feel left out of anything.”
I try really, really hard not to get jealous at the idea of them with two other people centering their pack. Having a Beta and an Omega pairing. Someone that isn’t already in the pack. Someone that isn’t me .
I already know that Mick is with Apollo and Griffin. He smells like them a lot in a way that goes beyond just puppy pile stuff. That doesn’t make me jealous.
Curious? Yes .
Jealous? No .
“It shouldn’t make me feel better smelling your jealousy, but for some reason it helps.” Vaughn says as I snuggle into him.
I’m here to comfort him. Not the other way around.
“I’m sorry about your parents.” I whisper and he squeezes me in response.
“Terry was home with me. She was close with my family. Turns out she was too close.” He squeezes me tight and I try to stay loose in his arms so that he doesn’t get scared, “She got pregnant by my dad.”
Oh .
Oh no.
Do I say sorry? Or do I congratulate him on his new sibling?
This is a very, very confusing situation.
“She said that it just happened. An accident. But she also said that he was a real Alpha. Made her feel safe and protected. Made me feel like it was my fault. That I wasn’t enough for her. She said that being in a pack with other Alpha’s made me less. Said I had to rely on them because I couldn’t cut it. She didn’t like that she wouldn’t center our pack like an Omega would. Didn’t understand that I could love her and everyone else. If she didn’t want that, we could have done something else. Instead she decided to go after my dad as revenge.”
His hurt is so evident in his voice.
I’m not a violent person, but if I ever see this Terry person I’m going to kick her right in her shin. I’ll step on the back of her shoe and make her trip. I’ll pinch the inside skin of her arm so hard it leaves a bruise.
“Vaughn,” I pull back, looking at him and seeing the way he has all this shame written across his face, “You’re enough. You’re enough for your pack. You’re enough for me. And if anyone thinks you’re not enough, well, they’re really dumb. I mean, you could see how upset I was at the store and you danced with me without caring what other people thought. Only a good Alpha would do that for an Omega. No. Only a great Alpha.”
His brown eyes brighten at that, a smirk on his face.
One of his hands slips over my cheek, rubbing over it with that calloused pad of his thumb.
“McKinley is right. You are the perfect Omega for us.” I think he’s going to kiss me and I’m so excited for it. I’m ready for this kiss and want to feel what it’s like to kiss Vaughn. “I want you to open your gift and if you’re okay with it, maybe I can hold you for a while?”
Oh .
He’s not going to kiss me.
I still can’t read the signs that well. That’s okay.
Slipping to sit beside him, I pick up the present again. Pulling out all the pretty tissue paper, laying it beside me and pulling out a metal water bottle with a straw. It’s a pretty lavender color with dark purple stars on it.
“So that you can stay hydrated. I think it’s an Alpha thing that makes us want to take care of you. But there is something else.” I smile, setting down the tumbler beside me and dig into the bag again.
My fingers slide over something soft and as I grasp it, the bag falls down to the ground.
A jacket.
A brand new jacket that’s never been worn by anyone else before.
It’s a soft suede like material with a thick faux fur collar and hood. The cuffs are the same faux fur pink coloring. It looks so warm and has tags on it. Because it’s new! Bringing it to my nose, I sniff it.
It doesn’t smell like anyone else.
It’s just for me .
“I saw your jacket had a rip in it. You did a pretty embroidery on it, but I wanted you to have something that you didn’t have to make beautiful. I wanted you to have something new. That was beautiful for you.” He seems concerned, like he doesn’t understand how nice this is.
“I’ve never had a new coat before.” I whisper, running my face over the soft fur, “Thank you, Alpha.”
He gulps at the nickname. His hand tugging at his hair again as he stands up. He’s uncomfortable with the nickname, but maybe we can work our way there.
As much as I want to fawn over the jacket, I lay it down next to the tumbler.
“Do you want to come into my nest?” His eyes widen and I don’t give him the chance to tell me he isn’t worth it.
I want him in there with me.
Standing up I move the few steps before sliding into the soft material. I reach for his hand and tug him in with me. Now it’s my turn to be nervous about something.
Vaughn wraps an arm around me, laying down in the cushions, and dragging a heavy blanket over us. My legs tangle with his as we fit together.
“I don’t think we told you how perfect your nest is, Clover. It’s so comfortable and soft. All the colors are beautiful. You’re so good, cherry girl.”
My face buries into his chest as I hide the smile that is blooming across my face.
I built a good nest.
I made an Alpha happy.
I am a good Omega.
My eyes felt heavy as the calmness washes over me. The feel of Vaughn wrapped around me in my nest bringing me such a strong feeling of peace.
He smells perfect in my nest. It smelled like he belonged here. It smelled like I belonged here with him. Maybe I did.