Chapter 13
Lane
W e were completely and totally fucked. Oriana was our mate, both Hudson and I knew it, but thanks to the blockers… she didn’t.
She was dealing with enough right now, and we had to talk to Tate before we did anything. He deserved to be here when we told her.
I was terrified of his reaction but I knew once he scented her, he’d be convinced. Oriana’s scent was unlike any I’d ever smelled.
Fresh rain, citrus, and saltwater. It was like a storm over the ocean, beautiful and haunting.
Her fiery red hair and ocean eyes had me melting the moment I met her, but the small glimpses of her fierce personality that peeked through were going to be my undoing.
She wasn’t a small, petite omega ready to be spoiled. No, she was tall, curvy, and fierce. I had a feeling it would take work to spoil her, but it would be worth it. I wanted nothing more than to show her how precious and perfect she was.
But right now she was fighting too many demons and this wouldn’t be the right time.
Fuck, it was complicated, but little did she know we wouldn’t be going anywhere in three weeks. In fact, Hudson had already scheduled her payment to be returned when this was officially over and we could start our lives here with her.
If she’d have us.
Lying to her wasn’t my intention but how could we break it to her now, among all of this?
Plus, Tate hated omegas. I didn’t think she could handle another rejection right now. Not when she was reliving the last one.
“We’re here,” Oriana said as we pulled into a long driveway. She’d explained it was her grandma’s house and now hers.
I wasn’t expecting it to be so… perfect. The huge, white house was a three story expanded farmhouse. It had navy blue shutters and a charcoal gray roof. You would never know from the manicured lawn, landscaping, and upkept appearance that no one had lived here for years.
The porch looked like it wrapped around and I knew that view would be everything. The forest behind it was gorgeous and full of life. It had been too long since I’d seen so much green. I could only imagine how gorgeous it would be in the fall.
“This place is incredible,” I said as I followed the others out of the car. She turned to me, eyes sparkling with excitement and happiness.
“Isn’t it? It’s my favorite place in the world. Just wait, there’s a creek a small hike back if anyone is the hiking sort. It’s even better.”
“We’re up for any and all adventures,” Hudson promised.
“Should we go inside, Stormy?” Roman asked. She chewed on her plump bottom lip as she turned back to him, nodding her head and not backing away this time. She’d had a moment in the car, the weight of it all hitting her, but it seemed our omega had learned how to lock it all away.
I hoped one day she wouldn’t feel like she had to.
Her hand shook as she put the key in the lock, the click of it making her jump. Instinctively, I reached out, hand on her shoulder to give her silent support.
A gasp escaped her as she stepped inside.
“It’s so different.”
“Is that good or bad?” Hudson asked.
“I don’t know yet,” she said, laughing as she dropped her bag on a hook and kicked her shoes off.
We watched as she moved through the house, smile growing wider as she took everything in. She paused at the bottom of the stairs, raising an eyebrow at us.
“Of course, they already handled unloading our things from the shipping container and put it all away nicely. That’s definitely a Brandon move.”
She shook her head before giving us a sassy smile.
“I’m choosing first, but you guys can fight over your own rooms,” she joked before turning and running up the stairs.
We moved at once, fighting to get to the stairs first. Roman managed to get ahead, though that was only because Hudson was trying to throw me behind him. I fought my way up but only managed to come in last.
At least I’d get to choose before Tate. Served him right for avoiding the job for the first week.
Though, it was no longer a job.
The stairs went up one more flight but this was the floor the others were exploring. The long hallway ended in double doors that were thrown wide open, our omega moving around. The door next to hers was claimed by Roman, Hudson across the hall.
“You’ll want the one on Roman’s side,” Hudson called out to me before disappearing. I didn’t argue as I pushed in the door next to Roman’s.
It was a big room with an attached bathroom. I hadn’t expected to have this much space to myself.
The furniture was nice, a mix of modern and vintage. It was a theme I noticed in the house. Small bits of vintage style art and antiques, mixed with bright walls and small bits of modern furniture.
I wondered if that was her style, or her dads’.
I dropped my backpack on the four poster bed before going to the window. There was a small balcony that overlooked the forest, I pushed open the door and stepped out, breathing in the freshest air I think I’d ever inhaled. She wasn’t kidding about this town. It was perfect.
“I’m going to look at the attic,” Oriana called out as she moved past our doors. I followed her without thought, and so did the others like we couldn’t help ourselves.
I’d known this omega for less than a day and I was already obsessed.
The attic was huge. It was finished, with white walls and hardwood flooring. The huge windows were covered in a film that cast rainbows on the floor in the sunlight and several plants rested underneath them.
A huge rug was in the middle of the room and two sectionals created a pack sitting space. The rest was a blank canvas.
“Oh, this will be fun to make a pack space. Dad must have already had it in mind. Though, I’ll kill those poor plants.
“I’ve got them,” Roman offered with a chuckle. “No dying plants on my watch.”
“Good,” she said as she smiled up at him like he hung the moon. God, I wanted her to look at me like that, too.
One glance at Hudson and I knew he felt the same way I did. We had to call Tate.
Oriana yawned as she turned and I realized how exhausted she was.
“What are the plans for tonight?”
“Dinner at my family’s house. I’m saving confrontations for after settling in,” she said quickly.
“Then how about you two take a nap before we get ready,” I suggested. She didn’t even bother to argue, simply giving a sleepy nod and letting Roman lead her back downstairs.
“I’m calling him,” Hudson growled as he pulled out his phone and dropped onto the couch.
Tate answered on the first ring, his voice gruff.
“What?”
“Look, you need to come down here, Tate. Now.”
Tate was quiet and I held my breath, ready for an argument to break out.
“No.”
“She’s our scent match,” Hudson said, voice even and firm.
The call ended as Tate hung up.
“What the fuck,” I growled. “I’m telling her whether he wants us to or not. If he wants to stay lonely forever, fucking let him.”
“Don’t,” Hudson warned, looking conflicted and angry. “We should tell her together and not today. She needs time to process being home and the confrontation.”
I fell onto the couch, arm flung over my eyes as I let his warning sink in. He was right, I’d thought as much earlier, but having Tate be stubborn like this had me ready to drive wherever he was and fight him on her behalf.
Hudson dialed again and Tate answered in a growl.
“I’m not coming.”
“You are,” he warned. “You’ve had enough time to process and heal from your past. Don’t punish your omega because you’re too stubborn to give this a shot. She’s already been through some bullshit, bonded and rejected. Don’t bring your baggage here. Get your head on right, and join us. This is what being a pack is about.”
“I’m telling you man, one hint of her scent and it’s over. It was like my entire world came to a stop and now everything is different,” I admitted. “This town is just as amazing. I’m not leaving.”
The last part was more of a challenge and a warning and he met it with a grunt.
“I’ve got a week. I’ll be there when I fucking said I would.”
“We’ll wait to tell her until you’re here,” Hudson agreed but I sat up again and glared.
“No, I fucking won’t. Starting our pack on a lie is not how we’re playing this.”
“Wait,” Tate warned. “Telling her together makes sense. You’re there for a job, fucking do it. Get to know her then you can tell her. I’ll come, but I won’t promise to join you. I understand what that means, but I have to think on this.”
He hung up again and I knew Tate well enough to know he’d shut his phone off.
“Fuck,” I cursed, standing up and pacing now. “I’m not lying to her.”
“Then don’t. If she brings it up, then she brings it up. No lies. But waiting for Tate makes sense and she’ll understand.”
“I’m not taking those awful blockers. They take a full week to wear off, so if he doesn’t keep his word, I sure as fuck will.”
With that I stormed downstairs to my room, closing the door behind me and heading for the shower. As the warm water ran over me all I could think was that this was going to end badly.
I just hoped she didn’t hold it against us.
All I wanted was her.
Tate
“A fucking mate. They took their last job and found a fucking mate?!” I threw the handful of sand into the fire, watching the violet flames burn as bright as my frustration.
I just kept seeing Julie’s face twisting in disgust as she told me she was never going to marry me. Her bouquet of roses hit the floor, petals and baby’s breath dusting the area as she stomped on them and stormed out of the church.
My first thought was that I didn’t even want to be here in the first place. Arranged marriage was insane but I loved my family and after not finding a pack I was willing to give it a try. Julie and I were like oil and water, often bickering and disagreeing on everything we could.
Yet, as she left, relief was the furthest thing from my mind.
To this day, I couldn’t remember what happened from the time she walked away, to my parents yelling at me.
Half the words echoed in the room so loud they were unintelligible. Then my brain came back online as I realized not only had she left, she told them I was controlling and refused to give her the things omegas required.
Abuse. It was plain and simple omega abuse she accused me of.
Yet, I’d offered her everything but love, because frankly, it was impossible. It wasn’t until a few hours into my lectures I realized the truth.
She found scent matches.
Then my mother said the last words she’ll ever say to me.
“No son of mine will drag down our reputation by treating his omega like a dog.”
“Do you even want my side?” I asked, finally finding my voice. “Or are you simply going to yell at me and accuse me of these monstrous things?”
“I don’t need your side.”
When I stood up she looked startled, but I simply turned and walked out of there. I was out of the church before they bothered to follow.
Then, two weeks later, my house was sold, most of my belongings donated or sold, and I was leaving forever.
Omegas couldn’t be trusted. They were liars and would bleed alphas dry. Mine had cost me my family and that was something I couldn’t forgive.
Now my pack found a mate and I was expected to drop everything and run to her. Some omega I didn’t know a damn thing about. She was probably just another spoiled brat who expected her alphas to cater to her every whim. Pamper her and shower her in lavish gifts and fancy dates.
It would be a cold day in hell before I catered to another omega.
No, I was better off sitting right here in the woods, in an alpha only zone, far away from omegas and their lies.