19. CALLUM
Chapter nineteen
CALLUM
S ometimes I hate my job. Today, when I am stuck debriefing Captain Zhao on the movements of the three new Motorcycle Clubs that have been spotted in Halvassa instead of being at home to greet the Omega is one of those times. Not to mention setting up another surveillance team to watch for break-ins. I’m late for family dinner. And her .
Katie is already at my house. In my space with that intoxicating perfume, spicy and sweet. She’s there and I'm not and every one of my Alpha instincts rides me hard to leave and get back to her. To make sure she is safe and secure, even though Loren texted that they made it back without further incident. But I need to confirm, and to care for my Omega. Finally, I finish my report and jog straight to my car, driving home on autopilot.
It made sense for her to come to our pack, with the blood work. But these matchings usually take time, with a formal courtship full of supervised dinners and get-to-know yous, building toward dates and gifts, and then an in-home trial.
Not with her. Not when every single marker in our blood said she was a match. The idea of this Omega in my home, her scent all over my belongings, makes my cock hard and my mouth wet. I park and sit, breathing deep for a moment to regain my control.
The last time I brought a woman I loved into this house it ended in disaster.
I run a hand through my hair. Tonight is not about Genevieve. It is not about that scheming Beta, and her plans to steal all the information she could before ripping us apart from the inside out. Tonight is about our Omega.
My omega.
Katie.
I open the door and I’m greeted by her perfume curling down the stairs.
Sweet Mother of Wolves .
I take the stairs up to the first floor two at a time, her perfume snaking around me like a tantalizing promise. Gods, it’s like she’s already touching me, stroking me with her scent, making me hard.
She sits stiffly in an armchair, gripping a glass of brandy. Loren and Max sit on either side of her: Max lounging back on the far side of a loveseat, Loren leaning over his knees in one of the matching armchairs.
Katie is beautiful, her high angled cheekbones slightly rosy. Her hair is loose and messy around her neck. The oversized maroon sweater she’s wearing has slipped ever so slightly down one shoulder, revealing a black bra strap.
It’s so simple, yet so incredibly sexy. My fingers itch to slide that strap down her arm, to follow it until I reach her full breasts.
I roll my shoulders. Control. I need to stay in control.
There’s no show being put on, no chemical pheromone enhancers to dull my senses. Just Katie and our Pack.
“Callum, you late bastard. You were supposed to meet us at the Conservatory,” Max says and jumps up, pulling me into a one armed hug. I snort over his shoulder, not taking my gaze from the Omega. She stiffens at the sight of me, her scent filling with fear… and arousal.
Gods damn. I want to lick her all over, from the sensitive tips of her ears, to her big toe. And every sensitive inch in between.
I swallow hard as Loren claps one arm on my shoulder.
“Another break in?”
I nod. “Fools didn’t even take the expensive computing equipment, just spare parts.”
And blood . I can’t tell them, not even Loren, because that is classified.
“Life of a fucking Inspector. I thought you were off the street beat,” Max says, as he hands me a fresh glass of brandy. I hover on the edge of the room. She is so close that I'm not sure I can fully control my inner animal. I usually am strict with the Alpha wolf inside me. But this woman, this intoxicating Omega makes me lose my grip.
“Nah, once a beat cop always a beat cop,” I say, and down half my drink, trying to burn her scent from my nose and throat.
Loren and Max are both frowning at me. I haven’t properly addressed her yet.
What can I possibly say to this stunning woman before me? How can I make amends for being so caught up in her perfume, her perfection that I nearly lost all my sense? That I am on the edge of doing it again?
“We… we didn’t get to be introduced properly… before.” Every word is stiff and tight. “I’m Callum Murphy, head of Pack Murphy. Welcome to our home.” I lean forward offering a hand to her. She frowns at me too, her scent thickening, souring. More fear than desire it seems.
“He doesn't bite unless asked,” Max laughs.
She doesn't move her gaze from me. Smart girl, never take your eyes off a predator. Max might be the prize fighter, and Loren the military strategist, but I am the dangerous one.
“No? He does jump on women, though.” She slides her fingers into my hand, tensing her jaw. She squeezes my fingers firmly, not in affection, but as a show of her stubborn will. Katie is not going to take my dominance lightly.
That’s hot as hell. Most women just bare their neck at the mere rumble of my voice. But not Katie Wilder.
I remember the taste of her, her soft curves welcoming my body. My cock is hard and aching and I know she’ll notice, but dammit I am like a teenage Alpha just coming into his pheromones. She trips all my wires.
“Are you comfortable?” I ask, trying to redirect my thoughts.
“I’m in a strange house, with strange men –one of whom attacked me in a hospital room –in a strange world where I've just been told I’m some type of pussy goddess. Then, we were chased by a fucking motorcycle gang and nearly crashed. No, I’m not comfortable. I’m stressed the fuck out.” She yanks her hand away.
Loren rubs his right eye under his glasses. I feel his desire to comfort her. Fuck, we all want to soothe our Omega. But that’s not what she wants from us.
“Look, Tough Girl, it’s okay. We know this is a big change for–” Max beings.
“No,” Katie says, slamming down her empty glass. “You do not know. I’m expected to just spread my legs to total strangers because of a dubious ‘blood match?’ Well, I do not consent. I don’t want sex, or romance or any of that, okay?” she says as Loren reaches out to rub her arm. “I need space, and sleep.”
My chest squeezes so tight at her words I swear I’m going to pass out. Space . My Omega wants space. All I want is to be near her, to soak in her perfume and to taste her tenderest flesh. The last thing I want is space.
“Okay,” Loren says slowly. “I’ll show you to your room. You can rest, and if you need anything – like dinner or tea or anything – you can call for us. We bought you a new phone this morning.” He lifts her bag.
Katie wraps her arms around her body, squeezing herself tight. All I want to do is fold her up in my arms, nuzzle into her neck, and kiss her until all this tension ebbs away. I want to hold her against me all night, not to fuck her – though I want that too – but to comfort her. Protect her.
Space .
Fine. I can give my Omega space. I can wait for her to be ready.
She only nods, a single tear trickling down her cheek that she angrily wipes away, before following Loren from the room.
The heat in my veins rushes out of me in a whoosh and I am left with a yawning hole in my heart. Again.