Omega Ruined (Omega Reckoning #4)

1. Bad Beginnings

Chapter one

Bad Beginnings

It's funny how the world can be destroyed by something as simple as a piece of plastic with a single pink line on it.

I stood in front of the mirror, staring at the pregnancy test, hope deflating in my chest. A month had passed since my last heat, so the chances of this being a false negative were slim. Not to mention, the last three tests had also been negative.

The clatter of the test falling onto the others in the trash can pulled me from my trance and I washed my hands before leaving the bathroom. My pack was sitting in the living room, talking quietly while they waited for me, but they went silent when I walked in.

"Well?" Charlie, the pack alpha, stood up, looking eager.

"Negative." I held back tears and went to him.

Charlie frowned, the disappointment rolling off him. "Seriously? We fucked you nine ways to Sunday and it still didn't take? Even with the extra drugs?"

Hanging my head, I tried to block out the pack's feelings. Charlie was angry and disappointed. Melvin was irritated and impatient. Lorne was worried and let down.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

"Sorry doesn't make babies, sweetheart." Charlie shook his head and spun on his heel. "I need a drink. Join me?"

He was asking the other men, not me. They nodded and got up, not even glancing my way as they filed out of the room.

They abruptly shut down our bonds and I realized I was being closed out completely, not just from the drinking.

They didn't want me feeling them right now.

The feeling was mutual, though I longed for their touch to calm and soothe me.

While they headed out to whatever bar they were going to, I spent the next few hours cleaning the house until you could eat off the floors and doing laundry.

I rubbed my face over each piece of clothing before folding it and putting it away, scentmarking their clothing. Maybe it would make them happier.

The men still weren't back by six, when we usually had dinner.

After waiting half an hour, I carefully packaged up all the food and put it in the fridge, clearing away the unused dishes.

They were still blocked and I wasn't sure where they were now, or if they were coming home.

Not a drop of emotion filtered through the silent bonds.

By midnight, they still weren't back. Feeling completely alone, I went through my night routine and climbed into the pack bed. I wasn't allowed to sleep in the nest unless I was in heat. Charlie had read somewhere that it boosted fertility for an omega to have a certain place reserved for breeding.

A hot tear trickled down my cheek as I curled up in the giant bed where I was usually joined by one or more of the alphas. Tonight, their scents surrounded me, but it was only the lingering scents on the bedding. I fell asleep, still crying.

When I woke, it was to warmth at my back. I instantly inhaled the scent of spiced pumpkin. Lorne.

"Go back to sleep, it's too early," he murmured, kissing the back of my head as he curled around me. My entire body settled, knowing I was safe in his arms.

The bonds were open again and I could feel a contentedness coming from all three of my alphas. They were happy, and so was I. Whatever disappointment they'd felt yesterday seemed to have dissipated, thankfully.

After basking in Lorne's warmth for a while longer, I slipped from his sleeping arms and headed downstairs to make waffles. I might not be pregnant, but I could damn well make them a hearty breakfast after their night out.

The sadness from the day before faded a little, but it was still in the background as I mixed the batter and separated it into bowls to ensure each alpha had the flavor he liked best. Lorne loved chocolate chips in his. Charlie liked ginger and lemon. Melvin liked his waffles with blueberries.

By the time they dragged themselves downstairs, stinking of the bar and stale alcohol, I had a plate for each of them with the waffles covered and waiting.

I poured fresh coffee as they sat down at the table and set out sugar and cream before pouring fresh squeezed orange juice. Everything was perfect.

Lorne smiled at me. "We may have found a solution to the problem."

There was no need to say which problem. The elephant in the room.

"He's right," Charlie said. "I left a box in the fridge, can you pull it out?"

I'd seen the box this morning, but had assumed it was just leftover bar food. But when Charlie pulled the top off, I saw six vials of pink fluid lying nestled in a piece of Styrofoam with cutouts for them.

"What is it?"

Charlie lifted one of the vials and pulled out a syringe. He carefully filled it with the pink liquid. "This is a new experimental drug they're planning to release soon. It brings on your heat ahead of time, so you can have more fertile periods throughout the year."

"Oh." I stared at the liquid as he beckoned me to his side. "What are the side effects? Has it been tested?"

"My friend in the lab says it's 100% effective and safe," he assured me. "They're ready to move to human testing already, so we'll just slip in early. Turn around and pull down your pants."

I did as I was told, heart pounding out of my chest. What if there were side effects? Would it be worth it to be able to conceive and give my pack a child?

Before I could ask any more questions, the needle stabbed into my butt cheek and I yelped as Charlie pushed the liquid into me. It stung. He pulled out the syringe and rubbed my ass, which really just made it feel worse.

"How long until it works?" Melvin asked curiously.

"He said it can take between two and five days. If nothing happens, we administer another dose."

"Great, guess that nest needs airing out again." Melvin gave me a grin. "Get ready, baby, we're going to knot you until you beg for mercy."

I pulled my pants up and gave him a shaky smile. "Sounds good."

Throughout the day, I did all my chores until the house was sparkling clean.

The alphas were all at work since it was a weekday, but there was more than enough to keep me busy here.

I made their dinner and had everything ready once they walked in the door, their noses twitching at the delicious aromas filling the air.

"Smells amazing in here," Lorne said appreciatively. "Just let me shower and I'll be ready."

They all headed upstairs to shower and change into more comfortable clothing before joining me at the table.

Charlie's eyes scanned my plate, nodding in approval at the usual salmon and brown rice there, with a large salad, no dressing, on the side.

He'd done months of research to find the best foods for me to eat, to ensure I wasn't overweight or affecting my fertility by eating sugars and processed starches.

It was a little more work to cook two different meals, but it was my job as their omega to ensure I was everything they needed.

After we'd eaten, I cleared the table and did the dishes while the guys headed into the living room to watch the hockey game. Their laughter and yelling at the TV had me smiling as I dried and put the dishes away. The only thing missing here were little feet running around.