Chapter 16
Will
I’ve never felt so sick in my life. My Omega is crying and I’m the reason. I did that. I caused her pain.
When she asked if I ever slept with Julia, I could have lied and said no. Instead I opened my stupid fucking mouth and made things worse.
I wanted to tell her what really happened, I just couldn’t get the words to come out.
Knowing she’s over there thinking god knows what about Julia and me makes my skin crawl and my stomach roll.
She deserves to know the truth. We’re building a life together and she’s my Omega. I can’t keep something this big from her, especially when it’s part of the reason I’ve been holding back from building this relationship, despite how I’m dying to do so.
Yes, joining the MC has taken up a lot of my time. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, I just didn’t realize how time consuming it would be.
Nova deserves our time and attention, particularly when everything is so new.
Being on the compound isn’t easy. Being around Julia is fucking hell.
I see the way she looks at me, the way she tries to flirt. She wants my brothers and me. It’s sick and fucked up. She’s fucking delusional.
The bullshit she pulled tonight is the last fucking straw. I don’t care what Kane says, Julia is leaving the fucking compound tonight.
She’s not welcome there and I don’t want her around my Omega. As for Rica, Julia’s sister, Robyn, lives in town. She’s nothing like Julia. She’s a good person and lives a decent life.
Robyn has even tried to see Rica a few times, but Julia sent her away. I’ll see if Robyn can look after Rica until our lives settle down a little more. Then if Nova is okay with it, Rica can come live with us.
I don’t think adding a kid to our lives as full-time caregivers right now is a good idea, not with the cops snooping around, still getting the club stable, and a new relationship. Rica is my little sister, my family, and I’m not going to let her suffer.
But first, I need my Omega to know the truth and pray she doesn’t see me as a lesser man.
Shame fills me as I think about the past, my hands gripping the steering wheel tight. That bitch has taken so much from my life already, I won’t let her come between me and my Omega.
“Where are you going?” Nova’s voice is a low rasp from crying and it fucking breaks my heart.
I say nothing as I turn the opposite way of our house. I’m too worked up to go home. There’s only two things that can calm my mind, fucking and fixing cars. I’m pretty sure sex is the last thing Nova wants from me right now.
As we head towards my shop, I try to take deep breaths and get my emotions under control.
I’m not used to feeling this much. I’m normally a closed off person.
I’ve built a wall around my heart for years and no one has been able to get past it.
Not until I met a feisty little Omega who takes shit from no one, not even a pack of criminal Alphas.
I knew the moment I met her I wanted her to be mine, even without the scent match bond, and that alone was terrifying enough.
I’ve never had a real relationship before, never let anyone in. Not just because it gave our father something to use against us, like he did with Nick, but because I genuinely didn’t want one.
Sex was just sex. I found someone who was willing to satiate my needs and that's it.
I knew I wanted an Omega eventually, it was something we all wanted for the future.
Now we have one and I wouldn’t change it for the world, but I just don’t know how to be the Alpha she needs. This is all new to me and I don’t want to fuck it up.
That’s why tonight, I’m telling her everything.
“Where are we?” she asks, sitting up in her seat to look outside the window.
“My shop,” my voice sounds like I’m gargling gravel when I speak.
Her brows furrow. “Huh. Kind of forgot you had this place since you’re never here.” She doesn’t look at me.
She’s not wrong. I’ve had no time for the shop lately, all of it has been taken up by MC business. Thankfully, I have a good manager who has been running the place for me, but I miss it.
Opening my door, I get out and make my way over to Nova’s door.
When I open it, she still doesn’t look at me. “Little Rabbit,” I whisper.
She closes her eyes and shakes her head. “Why are we here?” she whispers back.
“Come with me.” I hold out my hand. She looks at it but doesn’t take it. “Please.”
She must hear the desperation in my voice because her eyes flick up to mine, and I see her resolve break. Letting out a soft sigh, she places her small warm hand in mine.
My whole body lights up with her touch, as it always does. It’s a struggle not to have my hands on her all day, every day. I’m beyond jealous of Ian and the relationship he has with her, because I want that too. To be able to touch her, hold her, kiss her.
I can’t have that until she knows about my past.
Helping her out of the truck, I lace my fingers through hers, not wanting to let go.
Grabbing my keys out of my pocket, I open the doors to the shop’s office and flick on the lights.
My lips twitch with a smile as the familiar smell of motor oil hits me.
Nova looks around. “Not bad.”
I huff out a laugh. “Thanks.”
“Look, I don’t know why we’re here, but I just want to go home and shower. As much as I like cake, I don’t enjoy being covered in it.
Without a word, I tug her toward the back to where the bathroom is. It has a small shower for the employees.
“Okay. But that doesn’t help the soiled clothes part.”
“I have a change of clothes that I keep here, you can use them.”
“Of course you do,” she mutters. “Fine. I’ll shower here.”
Nodding, I hesitate letting her hand go so she can have privacy to shower. I go to step away, but stop and lean down to kiss her on the forehead. “I’ll go grab them and a towel,” I murmur against her forehead.
“Thanks,” she whispers.
Closing the bathroom door behind me, I let out a heavy sigh. “Fuck,” I growl, scrubbing my face with my hands.
I don’t like this. The idea of opening up and being vulnerable with someone makes me uneasy. I hate pity and I don’t want it.
Grabbing what Nova needs, I place everything on the counter in the bathroom and leave her to shower.
Heading into the garage, I flip on the lights and bark out a laugh. The place is empty, except for my bright red 1965 Mustang convertible.
It’s in the same state as it was when I left it, a mess. But it’s my mess.
Not wanting to get my cut dirty, I strip down until I’m only in my jeans. I grab the hair tie around my wrist and throw my curls into a messy bun before getting to work.
As soon as I slide under the car, I instantly feel at home. This is what I need to settle my nerves right now.
***
A half an hour later, I hear the sound of the garage door open. “Will? Are you here?”
Rolling myself out from under the car, I get to my feet and grab the rag from my pocket to wipe the grease from my hands.
“Hey. Sorry.” I clear my throat, my eyes raking over her. Her hair is damp, hanging over her shoulder, leaving a wet patch on the gray hoodie I left for her with the pair of sweats. She might be swimming in them, but fuck me, she looks damn good in my clothes. “I got distracted."
“Mhhmm,” she hums.
“So. Ah, everything good?” I ask.
She takes her turn eyeing me up. “If you mean the shower? Yes. All clean, thanks. Looks like you could use one yourself.”
I look down and huff out a laugh. My bare chest and jeans are covered in grease. “Nah, this is pretty much how I am most of my days.” I shrug. “Normally, I’m in my work coveralls.”
She nods, licking her lips as she wraps her arms around herself and looks away. She looks uncomfortable, and I fucking hate it.
“Nova,” I rasp and her eyes snap over to mine.
She shifts from foot to foot. I know she wants to ask me something but she doesn’t.
Nova is normally a feisty little thing who loves to sass back.
Mostly to Nick, it’s their thing. But with me, she’s always shown her softer side.
I thought maybe it’s because she feels safer with me, but I’ve never seen her so unsure before tonight.
I hate it. I don’t want her to ever question how I feel about her or not feel safe around me.
She lets out a heavy sigh, and I see a spark flicker in her eyes.
“Look, I’m not the kind of girl to beat around the bush or keep my mouth shut and let people walk over me.
” She snorts out a laugh. “Let me rephrase that, I’m no longer that kind of girl.
I’m done with lies, secrets, and being fucked over.
None of that it’s not like that bullshit.
So tell me, Will, what is it like? How does one stick their dick in their stepmom, huh? ”
I flinch at her words. She thinks I’m trying to excuse my past, but I’m not.
Knowing Nova would hate herself if she kept going and said the wrong thing without understanding the situation, I hold my hand out for her. “Come here, Little Rabbit.”
She rolls her lips together, hesitating for a moment before filling the space between us. She takes my hand and I sigh in relief, pulling her into my arms.
I close my eyes and bury my face into her hair, inhaling her intoxicating chocolate peppermint scent. Something about her settles the noise inside me. Her touch, her smell, her voice, it fills the broken cracks inside me.
“Will?” her voice is filled with concern, and I realize I’m holding her too tight.
“Sorry.” I release her and take a step back.
“It’s okay.” She wraps her arms around herself again. I don’t like this distance between us.
Grabbing her by the hips, I lift her up onto the hood of my car and step in between her legs.
Tilting her head back, she looks up at me, and fuck, she’s gorgeous. Her blue eyes damn near capture my soul.