Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Alesso
Crossing my arms, I watch as Lucas and Grant return to the house.
“She’s fine, Alesso,” Oliver murmurs. “A little cold…”
“That’s not funny,” I sigh. “It’s so cold, everything froze overnight. It won’t even snow because we’ve hit Antarctica’s asshole.”
Oliver snorts, which tells me I’m overreacting, but I don’t care. Indiana is fucking cold in January.
“The team knows to tighten up security now,” Grant says, walking inside with Lucas. “She bypassed everything as if it wasn’t even there.”
My eyes blink slowly as I recognize some pride and surprise in his voice. He hated my topolina yesterday. I heard every word of his argument last night with Lucas, mostly because he’s so damn loud. If I heard it, so did Isolde.
“In her mind, it may as well not have been,” Lucas grunts. “Her job needs her to be able to get around security. Based on how Isolde was dressed today, I think the leather is a ‘fuck off’ statement. People notice her for it and forget that she can blend into the background.”
“I haven’t seen her in leather,” Grant says, an odd expression on his face. “I’m sure that’s quite the vision. My concern is still that she’s going to live near you.”
“Omegas live near their alphas,” I say, smirking.
“She doesn’t smell like an omega,” Grant complains. “She smells like…”
“Nothing,” Oliver grunts.
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention to anyone that Isolde is an omega, Grant. Tell the police that I found my scent match, that’s fine. However, we aren’t going to out her as an omega when she’s been living as a beta,” Lucas growls.
“Why is she hiding?” Grant asks.
“My gut is telling me that you should imagine the worst things that could happen to an omega, and then multiply that by four or six,” I say.
“Is that why she slept in a tree instead of a perfectly good house?” Grant asks. “Her eyes move in a very deliberate way. She has some kind of training to have been able to kidnap Lucas, but it’s still difficult to believe that she loaded him into the back of a van alone.”
“I have the video footage. Believe it,” Oliver says. “Will we be seeing our girl later today, Lucas?”
“Possibly? She doesn’t want to come to the house. Isolde said something about needing to know where the exits were, and that this house was too big for her.”
“That’s…Fuck,” Grant mutters. “Who the fuck hurt her?”
“Now you want to know?” I scoff. “That’s rich. Where is she staying?”
“She won’t say,” Lucas says.
“I bet she’s renting from someone. However, that means a paper trail usually and background checks. How is she going to manage that? I haven’t found a single hit while searching for rentals in the area,” Oliver muses.
“Something says she’s going to surprise us all with her choices. Isolde has been on her own for a long time,” I remind them. “Let her cook. We’ve talked about how she needs to come to us. We can’t force this.”
“I’m calling a contractor about the logistics of leveling this house,” Lucas grumbles. “Preferably one that’s an omega. If she needs low ceilings and a one level compound, that’s what I’ll give her.”
Grant looks and smells as if he’s not sure what to think. His scent smells slightly burned. Where I’ve typically noticed that the alpha smells like a s’more with extra chocolate filling, my nostrils twitch at the smell of overdone marshmallows.
“Maybe you should slow things down a little before you begin major demolition plans,” he says. “I’m not saying that she shouldn’t be important to you, but you don’t know her.”
“I think you told Lucas the same about us,” I tease him.
“Yeah, I think I may be stuck with you assholes,” Grant sighs. “Try going on a date with the girl that doesn’t include electricity and nipple clamps, Lucas.”
“To be fair, there weren’t any nipple clamps,” Lucas chuckles.
“I know you’ve worn them to meetings,” Grant grumbles, spilling his secrets.
“Kinky,” Oliver says. “I’m going to get to work. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure that nothing is traced back to you, Lucas.”
“Fucking hackers,” Grant complains. “I have to get back to Indianapolis to deliver your written statement. You’re lucky that they’re allowing this.”
“I somehow don’t think luck has anything to do with this,” Lucas chuckles. “The check I’m sending you with is more likely the reason.”
“Money talks,” Grant shrugs. There’s not a single derisive comment about it either as he leaves. He’s right, it does talk.
“I’m going to find a corner to work in,” I decide. “Money doesn’t clean itself.”
“Aren’t we an interesting group,” Oliver snorts, standing. He has another cup of coffee in his hands, having lost his thermos to Isolde. It’s nice to see that he can be a gentleman.
“Interesting doesn’t begin to cover it,” Lucas says. “Oh, I kissed Isolde. I’m not bragging, but we said that we’d discuss how things are progressing between the three of us and her.”
“How was it?” I ask, blushing as I realize that I sound like a gossiping schoolboy.
“She melted against me. Isolde forgot to be scared, kissed me back, but I didn’t take it any further than that. I’m going to my office to fist my cock before my meetings,” Lucas says. “I have a feeling I may be doing that a lot.”
“I volunteer as tribute if you need a warm mouth,” I say, chuckling as his eyes widen.
“Well that’s not fair,” Oliver pouts. “What if I want to be a glory hole?”
Lucas chokes on his own spit, grabbing his water bottle on the counter before stumbling out of the kitchen.
“That was fun,” I grin, grabbing the rest of my toast as I walk toward the living room. There’s a comfortable spot on the couch that’ll work perfectly for me.
“It was,” Oliver says, lifting his backpack with his laptop inside it. “Are you serious about this or just a flirt? It’s difficult to tell sometimes.”
“Because I’m Italian?” I ask, dropping onto the couch and pulling out my own computer. “I wouldn’t still be here if this was a passing flirtation. I came back to the States for Lucas, and now I’m figuring out how to navigate things. At least the awkward part is over. I know how big your dicks are.”
Oliver rolls his eyes as he nods, his eyes staring at me as he tries to figure me out. I wish him luck, because I’m a fantastic card player. I keep my emotions off my face and locked inside.
That doesn’t change the fact that I’m not thinking about Lucas jerking off in his office. I’ll just ignore my erection until I’m ready to deal with what it means. Isolde is my scent match, but my pack mates have intrigued me since I first met them.
I’m a gluttonous bastard. I want them as well.
Grant
I said I was going to Indianapolis, and I am, but my curiosity is getting the best of me. Driving aimlessly through town for the next hour, I crane my neck to find a glimpse of Isolde. Her hair was all bundled under her hat to keep it from being seen, and I hate how easily she’s able to disappear.
Maybe it’s because her presence is larger than life in person, even when she’s being cradled and carried by an alpha like Lucas.
Catching a glimpse of a winter hat, I jerk the wheel into a parking lot. It could be fucking anyone, but I somehow doubt that. This woman stalks as she walks, her hips rolling without effort.
Parking the car, I get out and follow her at a safe distance. Unfortunately, I didn’t take into consideration that she notices everything. Turning, she walks backward as she gazes at me.
“Did your boss ask you to tail me?” Isolde asks.
“Don’t pin this on him,” I say quickly, hurrying to catch up to her as she turns away. I can admit when it’s no longer necessary to keep my distance. “He doesn’t like that you’re traipsing around asserting your independence, but only because Lucas is hard wired to take care of people.”
“He’s a good alpha,” Isolde murmurs, continuing toward the entrance of the store.
“Why are you here?” I ask, trying to steer the conversation in a different direction.
“I need clothing that isn’t leather,” she says, pulling out a cart.
“Why?” I ask. I’m being annoying, but persistence is the only way I know.
It’ll either get me a response or stabbed. I’m willing to chance it.
“Have you ever walked around in tight leather pants before? There are a lot of different kinds of looks that you’ll get,” she mutters, not checking to see if I’m following as she begins to walk away.
Spoiler: I’m right on her ass.
“Isolde,” I chuckle. “If I wear tight leather pants, it’ll be because I’m stripping and my reward is dollar bills.”
Her lips twitch in amusement as she strides toward the women’s clothing aisle.
“Most people are scared of me,” she says. Her hair is still tucked up in her hat, and I really want to see it. Ignoring the instinct to pull it free, I shrug.
“You walk like a predator, Isolde,” I tell her. “There’s nothing wrong with that, but I don’t know if a change of clothing will fix that.”
Glaring at me, she grabs a pink sweater to attempt to prove me wrong.
“Really?” I ask. “You’re a brat, aren’t you?”
“If the definition for that is doing the exact opposite of your words to prove I can, then maybe,” she muses, finding more leggings and soft cargo pants.
“Oliver says that you work under contract?” I ask, not wanting to yell out that she’s a killer.
“Yes,” she says, continuing to shop.
Everything she picks up is feminine and soft, and very omega-like. It’s almost as if she thinks she needs to dress completely opposite of how she usually does. However, they’re all normal items for an omega to want. I refuse to bring her attention to it because I want to see her in some of them.
I almost trip as I think about that. What am I doing? She’s my boss’ scent match. She definitely doesn’t belong to me, and the fact that I’m trailing behind her like a puppy is completely unlike me.
Fuck, maybe I’m the one who needs to get laid if I’m crushing on her. The idea makes me slightly ill, but this omega isn’t for me.
“Are you going to continue your job?” I ask. “I run interference when things go south, so I’d like to know so I can keep everyone in Lucas’ pack safe.”