Cleat Heat (The Oriania Chronicles)

Prologue

Vivi

“That slimy weasel dick!” Tam shouts, causing the whole cheer squad’s heads to turn in our direction. My best friend’s dark, almond-shaped eyes stare at me with amusement and a hint of mischief. He’s totally down for anything, the person I would call if I needed to hide a body.

Which I might—sooner rather than later.

“Shhhhh- keep it down,” I hiss, biting my lip to halt my laughter. The weight of the whole team’s eyes bore into me, and I gulp a few breaths to keep the flush off my face. Dang fair skin. But they can’t know the intimate details of my private life. Though we’re elite athletes, we still can’t help but gossip like schoolgirls, and with my promotion to captain this year, I need to maintain as professional an appearance as possible.

“That slimy weasel dick!” he mock-whispers, lifting his arms higher before letting them drop to touch his toes in an easy stretch. His short black hair barely moves with all the styling gel and glitter up there, and laughter bubbles in my chest all over again. I love my best friend. Glancing around, I make sure the rest of the team has returned to limbering up before engaging with him.

“I’m hoping he didn’t really mean it. He’s picking me up after today’s competition and taking me to dinner,” I offer, worry racing over me at the prospect of the date. Something about this Alpha suitor makes me unsure—and I don’t love it. But my parents asked me to give him a shot; so, I’m trying.

“Girl, he basically threatened to put you on lockdown the second you agree to be with him exclusively. That Alpha sounds like bad news.” Tam’s face creases in concern as he turns toward me. His beta scent is barely noticeable, soft, and sweet, just like him, and it helps relax me when we link hands for a moment. My omega calms at physical contact—needy thing.

“I know. But my parents both know him. They wouldn’t set me up with someone who would hurt me,” I object, and he scrunches his nose.

“But he was probably on his best behavior with them. You know the type.”

He’s not wrong. Maybe I should cancel on Marcel, the Alpha I’ve been seeing. But his over-possessive attitude was so out of character from the sweet man I met on our first two dates. The one who brought me flowers, held my hand, and made no sexual advances whatsoever. Omega pheromones are like catnip to an Alpha, stoking their libido into a frenzy, so someone who can ignore that and be a gentleman is rare. A shiver of discomfort slides down my spine—was he just pretending? Trying to lull me into a false sense of security?

I’m more than some mindless hole to be knotted. More than just a breeder. Honestly, the idea of having kids makes me want to gag.

Tam stands, reaching out with both hands to help me to my feet. Grabbing his outstretched arms, I bend my knees, pushing up in a fluid, effortless motion. “Go bounce it out, babe,” he calls, slapping me hard on the ass while sticking out his tongue. I flip him a middle finger with a laugh, then stretch high before reaching for the ground, twisting my body into a perfect cartwheel.

A sharp whistle rips through the air, and our coach waves her hands, gesturing us toward her for a pre-competition pep talk. My long blond ponytail sways from side to side as I jog over, eager to get started.

Electricity buzzes around the arena. The excitement and energy pump us up as we huddle together, bouncing on our toes. Looking around at my teammates, their eyes are glittering, dark with determination, and their eager smiles mirror my own. We’ve got this. This is going to be the year we prove cheerleaders are elite athletes, too.

“It’s go time, team,” Coach shouts with an ear-to-ear smile. “Our tricks are harder, our stunts are bigger, and our tumbling passes are unrivaled. Nationals will be ours.”

Mine.

The first omega ever to win—and a captain, no less. The team lets out a thunderous whoop, and I join in.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

The timer sounds. Let the games begin.

My feet barely touch the ground as I float out of the changing room. Gone are my cheer uniform, the sparkles, and a face caked in competition makeup. I’m completely exhausted, yet utterly energized, the adrenaline from our win still flooding my veins.

Tam smiles at me, bumping me with his shoulder, as we file out.

“Drinks, Captain?” one of my other teammates asks, and I eagerly agree. Hopefully, Marcel will be all right with meeting the team for a quick drink before dinner.

“Absolutely, at Tutti’s?” I ask, mentioning our favorite local pub. A happy chorus of shouts swamp me; all ready to celebrate the first step toward conquering Nationals.

With a triumphant smile, I scan the crowd until my eyes fall on the smaller, blond-haired Alpha waiting for me. Spotting him leaning against a wall, I wave before hustling over to greet him. He doesn’t move an inch as I get closer, his nearly black eyes boring into me, and an ugly sneer mars his usually attractive face.

My inner omega immediately recoils at the hostility rolling off him, and I pause amid the bustling crowd. Angry grumbles surround me, overwhelming my senses, and I’m bumped back and forth like a boat in a storm.

Suddenly, the scent of spring rain surrounds me, soothing my panic immediately. A large palm lands on my back to steer me out of the throngs of jostling people, and I swear a deep voice mutters, “I’ve got you, little flier,” but before I even have a chance to look at or thank him, Marcel’s there… snapping at me. He bares his teeth in a snarl that makes me want to run—as far and fast as my legs can carry me.

“Omega, what were you thinking? Thanks, man,” he says smoothly. Though his polite words are total bullshit, considering his rough grip on my arm. Not waiting for a reply, he tows me away like a naughty child, and with his brute strength, I’m helpless to stop him. My omega instincts beg me to go back. To hold on to the spring rain Alpha and never let go. A whine builds in my throat. My head swivels, trying to catch a glimpse of the mystery Alpha. But I’m too late, and whoever he is, I’ve lost him to the crowd.

My attention is abruptly forced back to Marcel as he roughly shakes my arm. The sharp motion sends a spike of anxiety through me, but I take a deep breath. At least the arena is filled with people.

“See, omega, you could have gotten trampled. You shouldn’t even be out in places like this,” he rants, gripping me way too tightly. His fingers dig in hard enough to bruise, and my fight instinct finally joins the party.

Yanking hard, I try to pull away, but he remains steadfast. “My name is Vivi, not omega, and you need to let go,” I snap loud enough to get the attention of passersby as fury churns in my belly.

“I swear, the second you have your heat and we bond, all this shit is done. Done. No more prancing around in skimpy costumes. Pretending to be an athlete,” he blusters on, completely oblivious to my feelings. “It’s fucking ridiculous. You’re an omega, and you’re going to act like one.”

Red Flag. Red Flag. Sorry, Mom and Dad—this one is too damn crazy for me.

My eyes dart around, searching for someone to help me. Although people are watching the spectacle, no one is willing to step up and come to my aid. Most of the crowd is filled with betas who refuse to intervene against an Alpha. His face turns red, eyes growing cold with rage, and he continues to berate me. It looks like I’m going to need to save myself.

“I should already have your ass up—presenting in bed for me. This chase is growing tiresome as fuck,” he snarls in my ear. Marcel drags me closer to the exit, a harsh growl vibrates through me as his scent alters. The change has adrenaline pumping through my veins. If he gets me out of here—gets me alone…

I shudder at the thought, all the muscles in my body locking as I go rigid to make it harder.

No. Not gonna let this happen.

Lifting my knee high, I bring my foot down hard on his boot. He lets out a startled cry, and his disorientation allows me to jerk free.

“What the fuck, omega! You’re going to apologize to me on your knees when we get home,” he growls, advancing. His eyes lock on me, feral and unhinged in a way I’ve never seen. Unable to look away, I back up a few paces. My breathing comes in ragged pants as though I have just run a flipping marathon.

What an asshole!

“I’m done with you,” I declare loudly, practically shouting as I hold up my arms to make it clear that he needs to keep his distance. My voice cuts through the packed hallway, and security finally heads our way.

“You don’t get to decide that,” he says, his voice quiet with simmering rage—eyes darker than coal. Marcel’s nostrils flare, and his scent becomes tinged with rage as he advances. His usually neutral paper scent suddenly becomes burned—a raging inferno that makes me choke and wrinkle my nose. The threat is clear, and relief rushes through me when the security guards step up to flank me on either side.

“There a problem here?” the bigger of the guards asks.

“Nope,” Marcel says, reaching for me again. “My omega’s just being a bit defiant tonight. You know how it is.”

He smirks at them, waving at me dismissively with a deceptive chuckle. And my mouth goes dry.

“That’s what’s happening? You’re bonded?” the guard questions, looking down at me kindly. Here in Oriania, omegas have rights. We get a say in our lives, but once bonded, authorities rarely step in. I swallow hard, completely overwhelmed, but I’m strong enough to do this. Shaking my head, I find my voice.

“No, I’m not his omega. We’re not bonded and never will be. I just broke up with him,” I explain assertively. Pride fills me as I stare Marcel down, looking right into his eyes with dominance, shattering any submissive tendencies I may have. “I would really appreciate it if someone would walk me to my car.”

Marcel continues to stare me down until his lips tug up in a tight smile that borders on a snarl. His eyes rake down my body before focusing on my neck. The pulse pounding there gives away my distress… The place he wants to bite me.

“You can run, princess... but your heat’s coming. I can smell it on you. Like it or not, you’re going to need me. You’ll learn your place soon enough.”

With that threat, he turns on his heel and walks away. The breath I didn’t even know I was holding rushes out, leaving me dizzy and off-kilter. Running my hands over my arms, I hug myself tightly to calm the shaking of my limbs as the big Alpha guards walk me to my car silently.

As I drive away, despair sinks like a stone in my gut, replacing all the joy that came from our win. My parents aren’t going to be thrilled that I broke it off with another suitor. That said, they certainly wouldn’t want me to end up with someone like that. Instead of turning toward the pub, I head home. Needing my nest, my kitty, and for this day to be over.

Fucking Alpha holes. I’m going to focus on cheer and staying single… forever.