Chapter 5 #2
He and Cole exchange a look, but neither attempts to make conversation again. We sit in silence, staring at the doorway. I’ve sat waiting for the elevator to chime endless times over the years, but this is different. I’ve never wanted to hear it less than I do today.
There’s a displeasure in my matches’ apple and sage scents. They’re displeased. At my reaction, presumably.
Normally, my omega instincts would compel me to try and make it right, not wanting to disappoint my alphas. I’m just too tired today, even though it’s only noon. They don’t speak about it, so I don’t either.
But Ian’s the only one of us practiced enough to completely wipe his scent of emotion. They may not voice their dissatisfaction, but they can’t hide it. I can feel it through the bond when we’re this close. I’m their scent match, after all. I know them better than anyone else.
Or at least I thought I did. I never would have pictured them to bring in a second woman. Maybe I don’t know them as well as I thought. Maybe they don’t know me that well if they’re irritated by my lack of enthusiasm.
I’ll drive myself crazy thinking about it, so I turn my face away from the living room entrance towards the window. Despite the rain softly drumming against it, I can still see people walking below. From our living room, we even have a view of Scentral Park.
It makes me wonder about the pack I met there. They looked so casual, so leisurely. I didn’t imagine they would be powerful enough to matter to my alphas. I can’t imagine the steps their omega has to take to be perfect for them.
What was one of them part of, Coates Industries? I think they created social media of some sort, then expanded from there. I used to have some of their apps, back in high school. Back when I used my phone for talking to more than my parents and pack.
My pack aren’t huge fans of social media.
Ian’s always had heavy disapproval for “floozy” omegas with profiles anyone could find.
Liam called them marketing pits, said most of them just serve as advertising holes now.
I’ve been the audience for many of Cole’s spiels about how they collect your information.
They don’t dislike it enough to shy away from taking money from the Coates pack, apparently. Viewer, our app, also collects data on its users. I don’t point that out during Cole’s sermons anymore. He’d just say it’s different.
I wonder what else is different between my pack and theirs. Not because I’m particularly interested in other packs. I just need to think about something, anything else at the moment.
Are they strict with their omega too? I’ve heard some alphas treat their bonds terribly, like breeding sows. Somehow, I doubt they do. I didn’t get that impression from them.
I didn’t suspect things would turn out the way they are now with my pack either, though. They were so sweet at the beginning. It’s not that they’re not sweet now, but it was different then, when we first met.
The honeymoon period doesn’t last forever for anyone. That knowledge doesn’t make me miss it less.
It’s grown dark when the elevator finally chimes. It pierces through the room, louder than ever, making me jolt. Cole’s head snaps up, and Liam jumps to his feet. At least he doesn’t rush to the elevator like I half expect him to. We watch the hallway, waiting.
My overactive imagination pictures Ian carrying her in bridal style. The thought makes me want to puke.
He doesn’t, though. He walks in first, face as composed as ever. As if he’s just come back from a normal walk or run to the grocery store.
The only hint of anything being out of the ordinary is obscured by his wide frame, walking and half hiding right behind him. Cole’s hand finds mine, laces our fingers together. He squeezes it once, twice. I didn’t realize my palms had become so sweaty.
He joins Liam in standing, tugging me up with him. I rise to my feet, keeping close to Liam. Is it possessive, clinging to the two of them? Maybe. No one seems surprised by it, not even the wide eyed omega behind Ian.
“Well.” Ian says matter of factly, standing in the middle of the living room and facing us.
“Welcome home, Amy.” Liam’s smile stretches from ear to ear. A short, simple greeting. Word for word what he said to me when I moved in. Discomfort gnaws at my stomach, as if trying to eat me from the inside out.
“You’ve already met Liam and Cole,” Ian’s voice is composed. “And that’s our other omega, Ariana.”
Their other omega. I wince, like they’ve thrown cold water on me. Four eyes bore into me, waiting.
“Say hello, Ariana.” Ian instructs pointedly. “It’s impolite to stare.”
My mouth is dry, suddenly parched. Cole squeezes my hand again reassuringly. It does little to comfort me. But Ian isn’t a patient person, so I have to find a way to make myself speak up.
“Hello.” I manage to croak out. Not the most gracious greeting, but I fear my tongue will trip over the words if I try to say more.
“Get out of there,” Ian orders the woman behind him as well. “You guys will have to learn to get along. Say hello back.”
The omega steps out from behind him. She’s more of a girl than a woman like I’d thought before. Around twenty, twenty one max, if I had to guess. She’s short, shorter than me. Much smaller than Ian and the other two alphas.
We’re both blonde, hair long and cascading over our shoulders. That’s where the similarities between us end. Her cheeks are flushed a pretty pink, and her eyes are blue as water. Her nose is small, a button where mine is a bit too long and skinny.
The scent that comes off her is like toffee and caramel, sweeter than my bitter tea perfume. She’s in a short sleeveless pink dress, decorated by large white flowers. Her legs are long and tanned, without a hint of the dots that make mine look like strawberries. She’s gorgeous.
“Hi,” and confident, apparently. There’s not a hint of nerves in her scent, despite the way it seemed when she was hiding behind Ian’s back. “It’s nice to meet you.”
I wish I could say the same. Ian nods approvingly at her words, and Liam and Cole both have soft smiles on their faces. There almost seems to be affection in their scents, making me bristle.
I could deal with the excitement lacing into their pheromones before, even the displeasure. It’s harder to cope with watching them be clearly fond of another omega. It almost makes me nauseous.
They don’t seem to pay me any mind, though.
“We’re happy to finally have you here, Amy.” Cole says. Finally? I never asked how long they’ve known each other, I realize belatedly.
Her eyes sweep the room, taking it all in. “It’s more beautiful than I could have imagined.”
Liam seems to just swell with pride, enchanted with her. “I’m glad you think so. Here, I’ll take your bags to your room.” He moves forward, reaching for the gym bags that hang on her shoulders.
“Thank you, you’re so sweet!” She hands them over to him, then intertwines her arm with his.
She’s touching him. And he’s smiling, happy about it. He’s my alpha.
A sharp whine rips from me before I can stop it, scent swelling. Four heads whip my way, suddenly reminded I’m still here it seems. Her hands falter, hovering over his skin instead.
“Ariana.” The other omega’s eyes switch between me and Ian, mouth open, as if assessing the situation. My pack lead meets her eyes, then looks towards Liam instead of me. “It’s been a long day. I’m sure Amy wants a shower before dinner.”
Liam nods. “Follow me.” He turns and walks towards the hallway. Amy trails along beside him, shooting a glance back towards us. Her arm’s fastened in his again.
Ian waits for them to leave before he turns his attention back to me. “I’ll forgive you because it was the first time, but that can’t happen again.” His face is stern, as if reprimanding a misbehaving child.
Cole is more gentle in his approach. “How do you think those types of stunts make her feel, Ari?”
“What about how I feel?” My voice comes out small.
He runs his thumb over my knuckles in response, looking at me thoughtfully.
“Transitions are hard for everyone, not just you. Put yourself in her shoes. Imagine how scared she is coming into a pack that’s already had their scent match bonded to them for nine years.
You can’t keep trying to put your claim on us in front of her. ”
“I still expect maturity from you,” Ian’s tone is final, “especially as she gets settled in. I’m not going to have this conversation with you again.”
We’re hardly having a conversation. They’re speaking at me more than they are with me. I want to be mature as he says, but I can feel myself pouting.
“I didn’t do it on purpose,” the whine from earlier slips back into my voice. “It’s natural for me to be possessive of you. I can’t just watch her touch you.”
“I understand that. You have to understand it’s natural for us to have a second omega as well, that’s our right as alphas.”
Is it? It’s not common. I don’t dare interrupt Ian as he continues though.
“What’s natural for you is to listen to what we say, and we’ve already told you she’s here to stay. I don’t want to see or hear anything like this again.”
I don’t know what I was expecting. Comfort or some compassion, maybe. There’s a sharp edge to Ian’s whiskey scent instead. Even Cole, the one who normally gets me most, nods along to his words.
Am I the problem? Everyone else seems to be on board with this. Not even the other omega, Amy, seems nervous. She touched Liam like she was already comfortable with him, nor did she seem to mind how heavily my scent hangs in the house.
The elevator chimes again, signaling the end of the conversation. The three of us watch as a short woman passes through the hallway and moves into the kitchen, holding a familiar brown bag I know is full of different containers. She emerges again a moment later, turning to face Ian.
“Your dinner, Mr. Hale.” If she notices the tension or new toffee aroma in the air, she doesn’t comment on it.