Pack Fever: Omegaverse Romance, page 9
“Wow.” I’m taken aback. “Is that meant to make me feel sorry for you? It must be hard having the world revolve around you. Trust me, this isn’t my ideal situation, either.”
“It’s not that.” He sighs, and the vulnerability in his voice catches me off guard.
I study him closely—the clenching of his jaw and the way his hand still grips the door. He’s torn, that’s clear.
“What is it?” I ask.
“This whole car trip, I had to fight to keep my distance from you, knowing the moment I let down my guard, I’d rip off your clothes and make you mine. I have no fucking willpower around you, and I fucking hate myself for it.”
His words strike me like a cyclone. He’s already out of the car, the door shutting behind him. Striding toward the backyard with his hands deep in the pockets of his jeans, the white button-up shirt hugs him as his head hangs low.
What the fuck is that about? This has to be the strangest confession of maybe liking someone, except he doesn’t really want me. It’s his pheromones that make him drawn to me, and that’s why he’s fighting the urges.
Well, fuck him!
Jasper opens my door and offers me his hand.
I take it and step out.
“Did speaking to him help?”
“Hell, no!”
Jasper just chuckles, as if he expected nothing less.
“He’s afraid of commitment.”
“Yeah, I gathered that, except I never told him I wanted anything from him, so I’m not sure why he’s all moody about it.”
There’s no answer as Seth joins us, and with a smile, he cocks his chin toward the backyard.
“Let’s go.”
Jasper gives my hand to Seth, as if I’m a prize to be displayed, but I’d rather hold on to someone than walk into a party alone, looking like a groupie.
Walking down the side of the mansion, I’m taken aback by the beauty of the property—the flower gardens, the small water fountains dotted on the land, and the tiny bird houses hanging from trees they pass. Fairy lights circle the trees, casting a magical hue.
The aroma of barbecued food reaches me, and my stomach growls in response. I’m starving. There’s also the hum of voices and laughter coming from the back of the property.
As we turn the corner into the party, there’s a canopy stretched out from the rear of the house and tied to several trees in the yard. More fairy lights everywhere, elegant tables and seats near the open French doors that lead into the house, while plush couches line the edges. In the middle is a roaring fire surrounded by stones. It crackles, its flames dancing in the evening night. The atmosphere is lively, with about fifteen people mingling in the area, laughing and chatting.
“Hey everyone,” Seth calls out casually, a broad smile on his face, though I feel how his hand tenses in mine as if he’s not a fan of attending. “This is Danica, our gorgeous Omega,” he says, throwing an arm around my shoulders.
There’s a pause in the chatter, every eye on us, and I’m more than nervous with so many gazes on me. Half the crowd swarms us, and suddenly, I don’t know who to answer as they all ask me questions about where we met, if I sing with Seth, where I live… My head’s spinning, my stomach tightening.
By the time Seth gets everyone to give us space to breathe, I find Jasper and Reed chatting with others, chuckling, and exchanging hugs. Clearly, they’ve been to dozens of similar events with the family, as they all appear so friendly around one another.
Reed’s helping himself to drinks from the makeshift bar at the side of the party while Jasper’s chatting with two younger guys. It appears they’re gushing over him.
Seth leans in close, his breath on my ear, so close it’s impossible not to feel myself quivering in response. I’m still fangirling about who they are and also dealing with my body falling head over heels for these men. So, I’m aware of every touch, every stare, and every breath that reaches me.
“See, not so bad, right?” he says, standing there so casually in his black fitted jeans, shiny shoes, and a loose white T-shirt, just like the dozens of photos I’ve seen of him online. This whole thing feels surreal, as though I’m imagining it.
“So far, they seem normal enough,” I answer softly.
He chuckles, then runs his fingers through the dark, longer strands. My gaze falls to the muscles in his raised arm, and the inhale of his scent screams sex to me. My heart skips a beat, and I glance away from him, realizing I’m gawking.
“Give them time,” he says, not seeming to have noticed me drooling, thank God. “But until then, better to grab some food.”
He takes my hand in his, and we begin to walk to the table filled with assortments of salads, breads, and meats. A woman, maybe in her mid-sixties, strikingly beautiful with deep dark hair styled in waves off her face, approaches us with two drinks.
“Hi, Mom,” Seth says and leans down to kiss her on her cheeks.
“I was worried you wouldn’t come, but I’d glad you did, dear.”
Seth shrugs. “I couldn’t miss Grandpa’s ninetieth birthday. Now, where is he?”
“Inside with your father. Better you go let them know you’ve arrived.” Her smile is thin at the suggestion.
Seth’s hand in mine tenses once more, and there’s hesitancy before he smiles at me, saying he won’t be long, then leaves my side.
“Looks like you could do with a drink,” Seth’s mom says, pushing one of her two flute glasses filled with bubbly into my grasp. There’s an unmistakable resemblance between Seth and his mother—same high cheekbones and full lips.
“Thank you.” I sip from it, needing to drown in the bubbly to calm down.
“It’s so incredible Seth and the boys found someone. For a long time, I guessed he’d never settle down, given his line of work. It’s got to be difficult for any Omega, so I applaud you.”
I smile, unsure how to take her comment. Is it meant to be a compliment to me putting up with someone who’s too busy for a relationship, or is there more to her meaning? Although I’m not really his Omega… I don’t know where I belong, to be honest, because the past couple of days have been a whirlwind.
“It’s hard not to adore them when nature insists we’re meant to be together.” I do my best fake Omega girlfriend persona. “They’ve been nothing but incredible to me.” I can’t help but glance at Reed across the room, chatting to a girl easily my age. He looks like he’s enjoying talking to her.
I sure as hell don’t care what he does… even if my insides are twisting at the sight, and I want to rip him away from her.
“So, dear,” Seth’s mom says, drawing my attention back. “I’m a bit surprised he hasn’t told us about you. Is it a recent thing?” She’s flapping her free hand between me and the open French doors to indicate me and Seth.
My throat dries because we haven’t exactly worked out all the details, so I keep it vague. “Oh, to be honest, we’ve known each other for a while, then things just happened.”
She nods her head, sipping from her glass and studying me. Can she tell I’m lying? Mothers have an innate ability to pick up lies… My mom always knew when I fibbed.
Her gaze lowers to my hands. “I can’t believe he hasn’t given you the family ring.”
I blink at her, completely taken off guard. Ring?
“Come with me, and I will fix that right away!” She takes my drink and sets it on the table with hers, then takes my hand in hers. “My son would lose his head if it wasn’t screwed on.”
We’re suddenly moving toward the open doors and step into the mansion.
Inside, I feel as though I’ve stepped into another world—the opulence, the beauty of the house is breathtaking. Modern furniture is mostly white and looks untouched. Sofas are plush with cushions, and there’s a coffee table with a plate of cookies, though I wouldn’t dare eat in that room as I’d leave crumbs everywhere. There’s a large flat-screen television on the wall and shelves of books. I try to picture Seth growing up in such a perfect house.
Adjacent to the living room is a forming dining room, where a long, polished mahogany table is surrounded by high-backed chairs, the seats covered in dark velvet. There’s a gorgeous crystal vase in the middle, blooming with a bouquet of dahlias.
I follow Seth’s mother down the wide hallway, which is lit up with spotlights in the ceiling, and we move past the kitchen. Inside, I catch a glimpse of Seth, who has his back to me, in a heated conversation with two men. One is older, with a build that screams authority, especially with how he stands tall in front of Seth—probably his father. They have a similar build. The other man is seated in a chair and looks even older, age etched on the lines on his face. I’m guessing that's his grandfather—the birthday boy.
“Is nothing I do ever good enough for you?” Seth barks at his father, who wears a sour expression.
As quickly as I pass the kitchen, the tail end of their uncomfortable conversation follows me.
“When have you ever done as I asked? Why would you start caring about my opinion now? And this Omega… you just spring her on us with no warning?”
The words sing in the air as I move away from the kitchen, following Seth’s mother, who doesn’t seem to notice the argument.
My heart hurts at something I know I shouldn’t have overheard.
In no time, we enter a small office. It’s cozy and modest compared to the rest of the house, with a large wooden desk in the middle. Bookshelves are on one wall with a range of books and decorative knick-knacks. The room feels lived in, as though whoever owns it spends a lot of time here.
Seth’s mother gestures for me to take a seat in one of the chairs facing the desk.
“This is where I escape the family sometimes.” She gives me a small crack of a smile, as though there’s so much hurt behind her reason for hiding in her office. Moving to the cupboard behind the desk, she opens a panel to reveal a safe. She shifts, so I don’t see the combination, and has it open in no time. Quickly, she grabs out what I assume is a ring, then closes it back up.
“So, Danica, tell me about yourself.” She turns to me and pulls up a seat right next to me. There’s something humble, almost comforting, about her.
I lick my lips, feeling awful about lying, especially to Seth’s mom, who genuinely looks excited. I really shouldn’t have let them drag me here, but they didn’t want me to run away, which had been my plan. Or at least take some time out to sort out my emotions, my thoughts about these men who ignite a raw passion inside me, who make me swoon in their presence.
“Seth doesn’t bring many people home, aside from his band, so it’s lovely to meet you. And to see him settling down. Maybe…” She glances over her shoulder at the door. “Maybe it will be good for everyone.”
“He really is very caring,” I say, unsure what to say about the family issues she’s referring to. I’m nervous, feeling like I’m under a microscope. When she just watches me, I freak out a bit, and words start pouring out of my mouth. “Sometimes, families are complicated. I mean, I had an argument with my mom recently, and I know it was out of anxiety, but it’s left me feeling awful. And I miss her.”
“Family arguments are tough.” She reaches over, her hand gentle and comforting, the other still clutching a small ring box. “These are the people we love, yet we end up hurting them the most.” She sounds so sad, especially when she glances quickly to the doorway where the faint voices from the kitchen linger. “Seth and his father have been at odds ever since he first said he wanted to be in a band.”
I exhale deeply, hearing the ache in her voice.
She shakes her head just as fast, then forces a smile, her face transforming into a mask of positivity.
“But all families have their complications. We love him, and I’m so happy to have you in our family now. You must be getting close to reaching your heat, right?”
I nod, fidgeting under the weight of the conversation.
“It’s okay.” Her hand pats mine reassuringly. “We’ve all been there. It’s terrifying, but I’m guessing if Nexus matched you, then it was meant to be.”
The words slip out before I can stop them. “Oh, we met at a concert, not through Nexus.” As soon as I say it, I cringe internally, hoping I haven’t made Seth look like someone going against protocol.
She grins, leaning in. “Probably for the best. Sometimes, I wonder if Nexus is overrated in making perfect matches for Omegas and Alphas, anyway.”
The sadness pouring from Seth’s mom is heartbreaking. I shift in my seat and peer out the window behind me at the sound of laughter and chatter in the backyard.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Seth’s mom says. “I’m hijacking all your time. But we came here for a reason.”
She opens her palm, revealing a small ring box, which she carefully opens. Inside sits a stunning gold band adorned with diamonds and rubies.
“It’s beautiful,” I murmur, never expecting to own such expensive jewelry.
“This is his grandmother’s engagement ring,” she explains. “In our family, we pass this down to the next Omega until she’s ready to pass it on to the next generation.”
I’m lost for breath at her confession.
“And I want you to have it.”
My heart’s pounding in my chest.
“Oh, I can’t take that,” I stammer, my gaze locked on the beautiful ring. The idea of wearing such a significant ring feels like I’m taking this pretense too far.
But Seth’s mom insists, taking my hand and sliding the ring over my marriage finger. It fits perfectly, as if it’s meant to be. Something in my heart squeezes while emotions run over me at how desperately I would love to own such a ring, to believe the Alphas want me to have it.
Yet the ring feels heavy on my finger.
“In our family tradition, it’s either the Alpha or his mother who bestows the ring to the next in line,” she says softly.
For a moment, I can’t speak, and for some ridiculous reason, my eyes are pricking. All I can think about is that I don’t deserve this, that somehow, I will end up ruining this woman’s heart. It’s having her staring at me with admiration in her eyes that completely undoes me. With it comes heavy darkness slithering inside my thoughts, reminding me while I’m toying with these Alphas, one of them who doesn’t want me, and that while Seth and Jasper might be nice to me, it doesn’t mean there’s a future for us.
How can there be? When they find out I’m not good enough for them, when they see that I’m broken and my ugly scars, they’ll toss me out. I’ve been told my whole life at the Omega Academy that Alphas want their perfect Omegas. It’s why we spent so much time taking classes on beauty and etiquette… all to please an Alpha. Yet I’m still clumsy with it all.
I’ll never forget the words from one of my teachers when she saw my scars. She stared at me as if I’d contracted leprosy, saying that maybe there’s a desperate Alpha out there who will take pity on me.
I tense in my chair, starting to pull the ring off.
“I-I don’t think this is right. What about another Omega in the family? They deserve this, I don’t.”
“Hush now.” She clasps both her hands over mine, stopping me. “My son picked you, and I have been keeping this aside only for his Omega because his grandma wanted it to go to his love interest.”
My throat is scratchy, and I hate how emotional this is making me.
“I love that you’re so passionate and care deeply,” she murmurs. “It’s exactly what Seth needs in his life. I want to spend more time with him, but he just never has free moments. And his father isn’t exactly encouraging me to do that.” She gives me a lopsided grin, wipes a small tear from the corner of her eyes, and takes my hands, pulling me to my feet. “Well, I have taken up enough of your time. Come, let’s join the party.”
“I really liked our chat, and thank you for welcoming me,” I say, trying to swallow down my discomfort. “I’m sure Seth is going to love that you gave me the ring.”
I don’t know why I said that… the part of me that wants to see his mom smile and not look ready to burst into tears, to give her hope? But we’re playing pretend, right? So, he’ll have to be fine with the ring, and I’ll return it to him soon enough.
Heading downstairs, the kitchen is empty, and we find everyone in the yard. Seth’s throwing back a drink while Reed’s in a corner, watching everything unfold as if he’s judging the others. Jasper’s the only one mingling with a group of females, all gaping at him like they’re barely holding back from mauling him.
Jealousy slithers through me, fire blazing in my chest.
I eye the girls, who must be nineteen or twenty, and they are definitely not all Seth’s family but friends of the family. Part of me wants to go over there, except what the hell will I say?
“Hey, stop flirting with the Alpha I just met today and have no rights over. Oh, and I am contemplating leaving as soon as I can, but you know, stop flirting with the hunk?”
I’m not jealous of him. He can sleep with a hundred women, and I won’t bat an eye.
Yet the longer I watch him laughing, the hotter I get, and the more my chest constricts.
Suddenly, I catch Reed looking my way, studying me with that mocking grin.
Hell!
My heart slams into my rib cage, and I twist around quickly, walking right into someone.
Chapter
Eight
DANICA
Iwalked right into someone.
Someone with a solid chest, who grunts in response.
I glance up and come face to face with Seth’s father, and a knot forms in my gut. My mind instantly recalls the strained fight I overheard in the kitchen.
“I’m sorry,” I apologize quickly, trying my best to diffuse the awkwardness strangling me.
He stares at me without a smile.
“Ah, finally, we meet Seth’s Omega,” he mutters, his tone more of a low grumble than a welcoming comment. “I guessed he’d never settle down in favor of his music. Maybe you’ll talk some sense into him about what his focus should be in life—family being a priority.”
