Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
Kayla
Afreaking private jet.
I didn’t even know what to think when my driver had taken me and two other omegas to a side entrance at the airport where small aircrafts departed from. There was minimal security and a waiting room that was straight out of a magazine.
The free donuts and coffee helped calm my nerves slightly, but I was still all twisted up inside about leaving the security of the academy and my sister to go into the unknown. This pack could be my worst nightmare.
I could have raised a much bigger stink about the whole thing, but Kara did have a good idea about letting it play out until they sent me back.
“I can’t believe this is happening so quickly!
It’s exciting, don’t you think?” One of the other omegas, Charlotte, was sitting next to me on the plush loveseat facing the giant windows looking out onto the tarmac.
“I couldn’t believe I matched with my dream pack.
I’m glad they came to our open house a few months ago. ”
I looked over at her as I took a bite of donut, sprinkles dropping down my shirt. “What if they’re complete assholes though?”
Mackenzie, the third omega in our little group of luxury fliers, laughed. “Why are you always so cynical? You do realize you matched into one of the most sought-after packs? Not only are they rich, but they’re also sexy as fuck and smart. You have to be to run the empire they do.”
“Makes you wonder why they picked me,” I muttered with a mouthful of donut.
“You must have made an impression on them. What did you think of their scents?” Charlotte brought her own donut to her mouth and nibbled on it.
While I wasn’t close to the other omegas, most of us considered each other friends. It was hard to build strong relationships when we were all vying for the same packs, and our instincts often left us grumbly around each other.
“I didn’t smell them. One of the only classes I aced at the academy was Olfactory Management.” It was hard to not use your nose, but I was a master of it.
They both gave me a funny look. I knew it sounded psycho to them that I’d pick a pack not based on how I reacted to their pheromones, but it wasn’t like I’d actually picked them. I wasn’t about to tell them that, though.
“That’s going to really suck if you find their scents repulsive.” Mackenzie laughed uncomfortably. “Do you plan on going off your blockers?”
I scrunched my nose. “Heck, no.” The last thing I needed was to go into heat when I wanted them to send me packing, but they didn’t know that.
“I mean, I’ll wait a bit so we can get to know each other.
The first heat after being on blockers for as long as we have can be crazy, and I don’t want it to be awkward. ”
Charlotte was staring at me without speaking for an awfully long time. “Kara didn’t match. I find that interesting. I swear I overheard that pack saying they were going to put her first when we were at that meet and greet at their game.”
“Maybe they didn’t find her scent appealing.” I wanted to get away from these two before the discussion spiraled out of control, but there wasn’t anywhere else to go besides the alpha and beta waiting area, and that wasn’t going to happen.
Instead of running away, I pulled out my phone, hoping they took the hint that I didn’t want to talk anymore. They were nice enough, but I didn’t need anyone ruining my now solid plan.
Luckily, Charlotte and Mackenzie were both called for their flights within minutes of each other, and I was left with my thoughts. Maybe the pack had smelled my scent card and gone nuts over it. I did smell like a jar of Nutella when my full perfume hit.
Damn it. I should have at least smelled their scents and really examined their profiles. I’d been so caught up in making things right with Kara and my impending move, I hadn’t taken the time to prepare. But that was the story of my life; unprepared and scatterbrained.
Except when it came to quilting.
“Kayla Sterling? Your plane is ready to board.”
Here goes nothing.
I grabbed the one suitcase I’d brought to get me by until the rest of my belongings arrived in a week. I would have preferred not having them shipped at all, but that would have raised suspicion about my plan to be the worst omega ever.
The plane was a ten-seater from a private jet rental company that catered to the rich and influential. I was the only one on board and sat at a table with four oversized leather seats around it. I braved a subtle sniff but couldn’t smell anything.
“Welcome aboard, Ms. Sterling. We’ll be arriving in Los Angeles in about three hours.
Once we’re in the air, you’ll be able to connect your devices to our Wi-Fi and enjoy the snacks and beverages we have aboard.
” The flight attendant was a tall, blonde woman who had an award-winning smile as she went through safety information.
She left me as the plane began driving to the takeoff point, and I relaxed into the soft leather seat. I’d be lying if I said the butterflies were from being on the plane, but really, they were because I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.
Was I a little disappointed it was Brian who picked me up from the airport? Absolutely.
What kind of pack picks an omega and then sends their lackey instead of welcoming me themselves? A pack of rich assholes, that’s who.
We were currently stuck in rush hour traffic and had gone about a mile in ten minutes when we still had about fourteen miles to the pack’s house in the Hollywood Hills, according to the GPS.
Brian hadn’t said much to me yet, and I was beginning to wonder if he was avoiding the elephant in the car.
“So... where’s the pack?” I was sitting in the backseat of the SUV, so all I could see were his eyes in the rearview mirror and part of his face.
“They had some business in New York and then have an Alphaball game and a dinner they have to attend.”
“And I can’t attend the game and dinner?” Wasn’t that one of my purposes? “Also, you never messaged me their phone numbers.”
“They’ve been busy. Why bother them when you’re completely capable of settling in on your own? You’ll just distract them from their jobs.” Wow, he was a complete asshole. “They’ll be back Wednesday night.”
“And what? You’re keeping me company until then?” I crossed my arms, already feeling my hopes and dreams being flushed down the toilet.
If they weren’t going to be around, how were they going to see that I was the last omega they should have put on their list? I wanted to ask Brian about why they’d chosen me, but I didn’t trust him at all.
“No. Unfortunately, I have business to attend to. I’ll get you settled in at the house and then you can do whatever you need to do to make yourself comfortable.
” He met my stare in the rearview mirror as we came to a stop in traffic again.
“You’re a very fortunate omega to be matched with such a prominent pack. ”
Don’t roll your eyes.
“I’m very fortunate their beta is at their beck and call to take care of their omega.” I knew it was going to rub him the wrong way, and I smirked when he stiffened.
“I’m not part of the pack, and I will not be taking care of you besides setting you up in their house and giving you a pack credit card.” His hands were tight around the steering wheel as the traffic started to move at a decent pace. And by decent, I meant twenty-five miles per hour.
“Seems a little idiotic to give an omega free use of a credit card,” I muttered, turning my attention out the window.
We were just about to the Hollywood Hills, and I couldn’t help but wonder what their house looked like. They all made good salaries as Alphaball players and had endorsements and other business ventures. Hell, they’d sent a private jet to retrieve me.
“They’ll spare no expense to make you happy. From the looks of your clothes, shoes, and suitcase, you are not the caliber they need to present to the world. There will be dinners and events you need to attend eventually. Plus, your everyday attire isn’t up to par.”
I looked down at my ripped skinny jeans, N’Pact band T-shirt, and combat boots. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing? You’re telling me they walk around in suits all the time?”
He pulled off the highway without answering me, and we spent the rest of the drive in silence.
I wished Kara was with me to see all the humongous houses we were passing as we started into the Hollywood Hills area.
She spent a lot of time on real estate websites, looking at properties.
I couldn’t have cared less as long as it had a cozy place for me to set up a nest.
I might not have enjoyed all the things that came with being an omega, but creating a comfortable nest where I could hide out and calm my nerves was vital to my well-being and mental health.
We stopped outside a solid black gate, and Brian pulled an opener out of the center console. The gate swung inward, and I gasped as we pulled up into the driveway of a two or three-story ultra-modern-looking house that looked like it was made out of white marble.
I couldn’t quite tell how many stories it was because most of the houses in the area were built into hillsides.
The two black, double garage doors were on the driveway level, and then back behind it up higher looked like two stories.
There was a retaining wall at least ten feet high made of white marble with a subtle gray veining and a wide set of black marble stairs leading up to the front.
What happened when it rained? Were people just expected to slip and slide down the smooth surfaces?
A black stone ball sculpture sat on the corner edge of the retaining wall, serving no purpose other than to contrast dramatically with the sharp angles and light coloring of the house. It wasn’t inviting at all, and as much as I didn’t want to admit it to myself, I was disappointed.