Chapter 18
Tucker
It’s been over a week since I brought Nova into the station. A week since I found out I had a scent match. I haven’t slept and have hardly been able to get out of my nest.
Is this what depression feels like? Or is this some sort of mate separation thing? Like, I smelled my Alpha’s scent but because I can’t have him, my body is reacting?
The sound of my phone ringing makes me groan. No. Go away. I don’t want to be bothered. Can’t an Omega just rot in peace?
Pushing the plethora of blankets and pillows out of my way, I pop my head out of the pile I buried myself under. Squinting, I look around and find my phone sitting on the edge of my bedside table, all the way on the other side of the room. Fuck.
It feels like I’m trudging through cement as I pull myself to my feet and walk over there.
Grabbing my phone, I answer it. “Hello?” My voice is groggy, like I haven’t talked in days. I guess I haven’t.
“Tucker, dude, are you coming into work today? You’ve missed the past few days. Are you okay?”
“Fuck,” I groan, remembering I didn’t call in sick for today. “Sorry, been feeling under the weather.”
“How much longer are you going to be sick for? Is your heat coming? If so, I can let them know. Maybe an officer can come over and help.”
The idea of having another person in my house, touching me, leaving their scent on my things makes me want to puke. “No, nothing like that. It’s fine. I’m fine.” I’m really not. “I can come in today. Just let them know I’ll be in later. I’ll take the night shift.”
“Alright, if you’re sure.”
“I am,” I sigh. No, I’m not. I want to go back to my nest and sleep. Better yet, I want to find Nova and beg her to bring me to her Alphas so I can find out which one is mine.
“Oh. Before I go, did you find out anything about the Mall Bandit case?”
Chris’s question has my spine going rigid. That’s another reason why I’m so fucking depressed.
I’ve spent so much time on this case and all of it was for nothing. I know I’ll never be able to turn them in if I ever find the evidence I need. Being the reason my Alpha goes to jail, his brothers too, while leaving their heart-broken Omega behind? Yeah, fuck that.
I love my job, this situation doesn’t change that. I’ll get a promotion some day. I’ll just have to find a bigger and better case, but it won’t be this one.
“Ah, no. She didn’t say much.”
“Huh,” he snorts. “Kind of suprised seeing I couldn’t get her to shut the fuck up. Man, she was crazy. Someone needs to lock her up.”
My brows furrow with anger. Is he fucking for real right now? He has the balls to criticize how she reacted when he was the one who was unprofessional and pretty much kidnapped the poor girl?
Chris disrespecting Nova like that makes my blood boil. “She was probably worked up over the fact you forced her into your car without telling her why or where she was going.”
“Really?” Chris grunts. “You're going to be like that? Fine, last time I do you a favor. Whatever. Let me know if you find anything else. I’ll keep an ear out.”
He hangs up and I stare at the phone. I don’t like the idea of him digging into anything that has to do with Nova and her pack. This is my case, and for now, I plan on acting like I’m still working on it so no one else touches it.
Knowing I can’t hide away at home anymore, I decide to suck it up, be an adult and go to work. Fuck me.
Sniffing myself, I grimace. Yeah, I need a shower. I’m embarrassed at the fact that it’s been a few days.
Grabbing some clothes, I head into the bathroom and turn the shower to hot. Stripping out of my dirty clothes, I toss them into the dirty hamper and step under the spray.
I groan at how amazing it feels against my skin. Maybe I should fill the tub and take a nice long bath.
No. If I do that, I know I’ll fall asleep.
Deciding to just get my shower over with, I wash my hair and body.
I wrap my hand around my cock to give it a good scrub and my mind fills with images of the Alphas of pack Emerson.
Will and Ian are good looking men, don’t get me wrong, but they’re not the ones I’m attracted to.
Nick is who fills my mind. “Fuck,” I groan as I imagine myself on my knees, taking his fat Alpha cock into my mouth.
Him grabbing a handful of my hair as he holds me still, fucking my mouth and making me gag.
Nova pops in, sitting in the corner watching, her moans filling the room as she plays with her pretty little pussy, thrusting her fingers deep inside her.
I jerk myself off, eyes closed, breath coming in quick, heavy pants.
Nova moves from her seat and gets to her knees. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as she crawls towards me, her heavy breasts swaying with every movement.
I breathe through my nose as spit drips down my chin, gagging on Nick’s cock. When Nova disappears out of my sight, I wonder where she is for a moment before I feel her hot mouth wrap around my cock.
“Oh fuck,” I groan, slapping the shower wall. I work my hand so fast my arm begins to hurt. Images flash, Nick’s face as he growls, cumming down my throat, Nova moaning around my cock, everything is too much and I cum hard both in my imagination and real life.
“Yes,” I groan, my cock twitching as I cum hard, ropes of cum hitting the shower wall.
My body slumps, the feeling of slick dripping down my thighs.
What the fuck did I just do?
I don’t know these people. I don’t even fucking know if my Alpha is Nick. God, what if it’s one of his brothers? Not that it would be the end of the world, but I truly don’t feel anything when I look at them.
Shame hits me as I watch my release go down the drain.
Frustrated, I shut the shower off and angrily dry myself off. When I’m done getting dressed I decide to clean the place up a bit before grabbing a bite to eat.
On my way to work, I go out of my way to drive by the bakery I know Ian owns. From what I know, Nova is never there and Ian has hardly been as of late. Still, I need just a glance to hold me over.
As I drive by, I look in the window and slump when I don’t see them. Sighing, I head to work. People ask how I’m feeling, and I tell them I’m fine.
What gets my boss’ attention is when I ask him to give me something to do. He expected me to want to work on the case more.
“It’s pretty much a dead end,” I lie. “I’ll keep working on it in my free time, but for now I may as well make myself useful.”
“Perfect.” He claps me on the back. “I’m putting you on patrol downtown.”
That perks me up. Now I don’t have to go out of my way to go down there, which gives me a better chance at seeing her. Even if it’s not at the bakery, she has to do shopping at some point, right?
Fucking hell, Tucker, what the hell has gotten into you?
I’ve resorted to full on stalking now, it seems. Still, I can’t help but perk up a bit knowing there is a chance. Even just the smallest.
***
I could kiss my boss for putting me on patrol downtown.
The first few days were a no-go. I didn’t see Nova, nor any of her pack downtown.
I was both disappointed and relieved because while I want to find out which Alpha is mine, I’m also fucking terrified because it will make the situation even more real.
With each passing day I find myself more and more restless.
I need to find out, and the sooner, the better.
Eventually, I saw Nova shopping at the drug store. The next day she went into the bakery, and the day after that she went out to coffee with a girl I later found out is named Robyn.
It’s safe to say I’m a full blown stalker at this point. It’s really not healthy, but with each glimpse I get of her, I find myself not being able to wait for the next time I’ll get to see her again.
It’s my day off, and rather than stay at home and relax like I want to, maybe veg out and watch TV, go to the beach, or take a walk, I’m taking my car to the shop.
Is there something wrong with it? No. But I’m about to spend money anyway to give me that same answer.
I booked an appointment the other day with Will’s auto shop. The man on the phone probably thought I was odd when I asked if Will would be working. He told me that Will just started picking up a few shifts lately but there wasn’t any guarantee he would work on my car.
Fine by me, I don’t care who looks at my car, I just need to get close enough to smell him.
Pulling into the shop's parking lot, I stare at the building and nerves rush in. Am I really about to do this?
How desperate am I?
Pretty damn desperate.
Getting out of the car, I head into the shop’s office. I stumble to a stop when I notice the man in question behind the desk. He’s dressed in blue work overalls that are covered in grease, and his curly red hair is thrown up in a messy bun.
My heart stops as I swallow the lump in my throat. This is it. Fuck, I think I’m going to be sick.
His green eyes flick up to mine when he notices me standing there like a dumbass. “Can I help you?” he asks, giving me a subtle but friendly smile.
“Ah, yeah. I have an appointment.” I walk toward him, holding my breath.
“Awesome, can I get your name?” he asks, looking down at the computer.
I take the chance to lean in a little bit and try to discretely inhale.
Eggnog with a hint of cinnamon hits my nose.
Not a gingerbread snickerdoodle scent. It’s not him.
I mean sure, he smells amazing, but it’s not him.
Thankfully, he’s not my scent match as well.
It would be a fucking nightmare if I had more than one Alpha. Nova might kill me.
There’s still a chance with Ian. Fuck.
He looks back up at me, raising a brow. “Name?”
“You know what.” I laugh awkwardly, backing away. “I don’t need my car fixed. I just remembered I handled it myself this morning. So, go ahead and cancel my appointment.”
Turning around, I rush out of the building and to my car. Peeling out of the parking lot, I wait a few blocks before I can finally breathe.