by Kathryn Moon
“I could’ve been one of those women,” Lola whispered, and then took a deep breath.
“I know,” I said, nodding and trying to blink back tears. “We were dumb.”
“I think I’ve been being dumb for a really long time, babe,” Lola muttered, sweeping her hair over her shoulder, picking at frayed purple ends.
“I really can vouch for the existence of quality alphas, though,” I said, trying to tease a smile out of her.
“That’s because you’re an omega,” she whispered.
I stamped down the temper that was rising in me. Lola didn’t need to be yelled at, she just needed… she needed time to heal. “Maybe. Maybe my pack is weird, but we have bonded betas, so who knows.”
“I’m over it, Baby,” she snapped, and this time her smile was more of a grimace. “I just want to get a job, get a place where I’m not taking up a spot in David’s guest room, and move on with my life.”
“Okay.”
“Okay.”
The silence that followed was tense, and I let myself slide away from her, offering her more space and trying not to look for the clock to see how much longer until I was picked up. Whatever Lola had been through with Buzz and Indy, she was keeping some of it secret from me. Which only left room for me to imagine the worst and leave myself feeling sick. Maybe it had been that bad. Maybe I was being shitty to press her to open herself up again.
“I love you,” she whispered.
I laughed, a sniffling sound, and nodded. “I love you too, Lo.”
“Thanks for… for visiting me here instead of…”
I shrugged. “Totally fine. Don’t tell my guys, but I do kind of like how posh this place is.”
Not that Lola would tell my guys anything. They brought me to visit her and picked me up, but they never came inside. I don’t know where Lola was going to look for a job and not have an alpha to report to, but I hope she found it for her sake.
“So… looking forward to your second heat?” she asked.
I blushed and tried to restrain my grin. It seemed kind of unfair to be deliriously happy when one of my best friends was clearly miserable. Lola laughed at my face, and it was a sincere sound. I really did love her. Her heart was too big for the world.
“I’m excited but not like, half as excited as the guys are, I think,” I said, and then tipped my head in thought. “Nah. I’m that excited too.”
“You’re gonna be pregnant the second that birth control wears out,” Lola said with a sigh and a wry smile.
“Shhh,” I hissed, waving my hand at her. She was probably right though. Jonah was already planning a nursery and a fourth floor to the Plaza.
“I’m happy for you,” she said, softly. Her eyes were starting to shine, words growing tight.
“I know you are, Lolo,” I said. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I sighed.
“Times up,” Lola said, nodding and rising.
“One hug?” I asked, following her.
She tried to hide her wince, but Lola was too expressive. Six months ago, those expressions had been humor and joy and flirtatious glances.
“Sure,” she said.
She held herself still as I stepped into her, wrapping my arms around her shoulders. I almost pulled away when she remained stiff but a moment later, she clasped tight around my waist, squeezing me to her and sighing over my shoulder.
“Love you, babe.”
“Love you, Lo.”
I let myself out, bouncing on the balls of my feet as I rode the elevator down to the first floor. Lola’s shuttered expression hung in my mind as I waited. Someday, we would talk about what happened. I’d never told her that I was the one who killed Buzz, mainly because the police seemed willing to remain foggy on those details. And partly because it was still a wound in me most days.
The elevator dinged and the doors opened and through the lobby, I could see gleaming chrome and copper hair waiting for me at the curb. I grinned, worries shedding, and jogged out of the apartment building to where Mackenzie waited for me.
“Hey, angel. How was the visit?” he asked.
“Good,” I said, and his eyebrow shot up in question. I shrugged, knowing he and the others had probably felt my unease. “It was fine.”
He nodded, and reached behind him, pulling out my helmet. I took it, but let it hang at my side as I dipped my head to his for a lingering kiss. His hand found mine, reaching for his mark, and I ‘tsk’ed at him.
“Don’t start that here,” I whispered.
“Baby, I plan on edging you most of the ride north,” my wicked alpha whispered, grinning. “Might as well start now.”
With my arms wrapped around his waist as we rode, he’d certainly have plenty of time to torture me by teasing the bonding mark.
“I want my own bike,” I said, popping the helmet on my head and slinging myself onto the seat behind Mackenzie.
“Not sure you can come up with a bribe for Dusty big enough to top the ones we’ve got to keep him from building you one. You just feel too damn good hanging onto me as I ride, angel.”
“Bet Candy can help me think of something.”
Mackenzie’s laugh was buried under the roar of the engine starting. His hand caught mine on his waist, and I shivered as he stroked his mark, cheeks stretching with his grin.
“Come on, Baby. Let’s go catch up with the others. Wanna get you back into your pretty nest.”
I squeezed him as we took off into traffic, sliding through the city. This time we were taking the whole pack with us to Bullet’s estate for a two-week vacation. I planned on eating barbecue, watching fireworks, playing chase in the woods, and getting treated like a princess by my alphas.
I was one lucky fucking unicorn.
Looking for more Sweet Omegaverse?
Loving reading about alphas who nurture? Omegas who know what they want and grab it? Ready to fall in love with the under-appreciated betas?
The Sweetverse is back with the Lola & the Millionaires duet!
Lola & the Millionaires - Part One
Lola & the Millionaires - Part Two
Lola Barnes only wants one thing, to get her life under control. No more chasing alphas who abuse and toss away betas like her. No more hiding in her cousin’s apartment licking wounds that won’t heal. Armed with her dream job and her less than dreamy apartment, Lola is ready to start a new chapter of her life without alphas. But that’s easier said than done when one stumbling incident after another leads Lola closer to an alluring pack of captivating men.
These alphas are everything Lola dreamed of, but they already have an omega—a playful male model who won’t stop flirting with her. And Lola is only a beta, one who comes with deep scars and an unshakeable aversion to alphas and their powerful presences. If only she could resist their perfect beta, Leo, whose patience and determination to see her heal breaks down one wall after another.
When the alpha who all but destroyed Lola tries to start a game of cat and mouse that’s all claws, the safest place for Lola may be the one she’s most terrified of, in the arms of an alpha pack.
Character Glossary
Baby
Our lovely leading lady.
Designation: new omega
Scent: honeysuckle and birthday cake
Seth/Bomber
The VP of the Late Night Howlers MC and certified boyfriend material. Actual boyfriend of MC Prez, Scorch.
Designation: beta
Scent: faintly lemon and clean
Jonah/Scorch
Newly appointed Prez of the Late Night Howlers MC, boyfriend of beta and VP Bomber.
Designation: alpha
Scent: apple pie sex
Quincy/Bullet
Enforcer of the Late Night Howlers MC
Designation: alpha
Scent: Roses
Ryan/Green
Grower at Green Thumb Dispensary and member of the Late Night Howlers MC
Designation: alpha
Scent: deep woods and ginger
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br /> Mackenzie/Books
Secretary of Late Night Howlers MC, younger brother of ‘Red’
Designation: alpha
Scent: fresh coffee
Sanjay/Tornado
Member of the Late Night Howlers
Designation: alpha
Scent: leather and dark cherry
Cole/Coal
Member of the Late Night Howlers, former member of the Hangmen, casually seeing Lizzie
Designation: alpha
Scent: the beach and vanilla ice cream
Dusty
Owner of Dusty’s Garage and member of the Late Night Howlers MC and dating Candy
Designation: alpha
Scent: warm blanket
Jeff/Chef
Owner of Full Moon Diner and member of the Late Night Howlers MC and dating Emmy
Designation: alpha
Scent: caramel
Brody/Red
Member of the Late Night Howlers MC, bouncer at the club, dating Tiny
Designation: alpha
Scent: maple bacon
Tom/Thumb
Co-owner of Green Thumb Dispensary and member of the Late Night Howlers MC
Designation: alpha
Scent: melon and almonds
Roger/Flea
Member of the Late Night Howlers MC
Designation: alpha
Scent: gentle animal scent
Steve/Shade
Member of the Late Night Howlers MC and dating Juliet
Designation: alpha
Scent: licorice
Chapter 39 Summary
Baby wakes to discover she’s captive in a model home neighborhood, along with Emmy, due to Coal’s former alliance with the Hangmen. When Coal corners her alone, Baby fights him off. Buzzard tries his own luck with her later and Baby gets ahold of his gun and shoots him. She gets back to Emmy, confronts and kills Coal, and the two women escape by jumping out a window. As they jump, the Late Night Howlers and police arrive on the scene.
Continue to Chapter 40!
Also by Kathryn Moon
COMPLETE READS
The Librarian’s Coven Series
Written - Book 1
Warriors - Book 2
Scrivens - Book 3
Ancients - Book 4
Summerland Series
Welcome to Summerland: A Reverse Harem Romance - Part 1
Secrets of Summerland: A Reverse Harem Romance - Part 2
Leaving Summerland: A Reverse Harem Romance - Part 3
Standalones
Good Deeds
Command The Moon
The Sweetverse
Baby + the Late Night Howlers
Lola & the Millionaires - Part One
Lola & the Millionaires - Part Two
SERIES IN PROGRESS
Sol & Lune
Book 1
Sweet Pea Mysteries
The Baker’s Guide To Risky Rituals
The Rooksgrave Manor Series
Esther: A New Beginning - Book 1
Acknowledgments
This book is the last project in my first year of full time writing and I’m so glad to have wrapped up 2019 with such a delightful bow! A year this amazing would not have been possible without the many people I owe thanks to, especially:
My parents, for giving me the strong foundation I need holding me up while I run wild with this dream
My writing tribes, full of so many amazing women I’ve gotten to know, but super notably Lana, Chloe, and Ann.
The Moongazers! Beginning and end, you’re what drives me on word after word, page after page, book after book.
Now specifically onto this book-
Gorgeous cover compliments to Kellie Arts and Lana Kole!
Proof-reading amazingness thanks to Bookish Dreams Editing!
My beta babes who jumped in even at the craziest time of the year; Jami, Ash, Kathryn, and Crystal, thank you so much for all of your input!
Chloe and Lana for giving me butt pats and cups of tea to get me through the rough draft.
And Kathryn Barr, my PA and official enabler.
About the Author
Kathryn Moon is a country mouse who started dictating stories to her mother at an early age. The fascination with building new worlds and discovering the lives of the characters who grew in her head never faltered, and she graduated college with a fiction writing degree. She loves writing women were are strong in their vulnerability, romances that are as affectionate as they are challenging, and worlds that a reader sinks into and never wants to leave. When her hands aren't busy typing they're probably knitting sweaters or crimping pie crust in Ohio. She definitely believes in magic.
You can reach her on Facebook and at [email protected] or you can sign up for her newsletter!