Omega (Evan's Alphas Book 1)

by D. J. Heart

  “Why don’t you sit,” Peter says, pouring a glass of juice. Chad obeys, wincing when his sore ass hits the hard surface of the stool. Peter smirks, eyes an intoxicating mix of proud and aroused as he watches Chad suffer.

  “You’re an asshole,” Chad says, laughing. It feels good, the pain. Like he belongs to Peter again. A week on his own has been hard, not because he can’t live on his own, but because he doesn’t want to. Not ever.

  “I am,” Peter agrees, expression sobering. Chad groans, hating the way Peter will sometimes take a joke and turn it into a serious conversation. But that’s what he gets for using humor to express his true feelings.

  “And I’m sorry about that,” Peter says. “You had a valid complaint about the way my friend treated you, and I ignored it. I shouldn’t have, and I’m sorry.”

  Chad can only gape. Out of all the ways he’s imagined this conversation going, this was not one of them. Peter is not the kind of alpha who apologizes easily—or at all—and Chad has to duck his head to hide how pathetically grateful he is.

  “Chad? I talked with Aiden, and he won’t be bothering you anymore. Or be working as Evan’s bodyguard…” Chad nods, hiding his face as Peter steps closer.

  “Chad, I need you to look at me,” Peter says, coming to stand close enough that Chad can feel the heat of his body seeping into his skin. He takes Chad’s jaw and tilts his face up, staring into his eyes with a look of such sincerity that Chad has to hold his breath.

  “I love you very much,” Peter says, fingers gentle where they cradle Chad’s jaw. “And I need you to be happy. I’m sorry I was such an ass.”

  “It’s okay,” Chad says, blushing. This is everything he’s wanted, and he wonders if he’s dreaming.

  “It’s not. You are much more important to me than Aiden, and I should have listened when you told me how you felt.” Peter leans down and plants a gentle kiss on his lips, Chad closing his eyes and letting his mouth fall open so that Peter’s tongue can lick its way inside. They make out, food forgotten, Peter holding Chad’s face in his hands as he leans down to kiss him. When they finally pull apart Peter smiles, knowing, and Chad can’t help but blush.

  “Let’s eat,” Peter says, getting a plate for each of them and two glasses of juice, pushing his chair in close so that their shoulders brush as they eat. It’s perfect, like a dream, and Chad is so happy he could burst. This is the Peter he fell in love with. The one he likes.

  The food is good—like always—and they finish everything that’s been sent up. Taking care of Evan’s heat has left them with a larger appetite than usual.

  With a frown, Chad remembers that Peter is dressed for work. That, when Chad was gone, Peter had left Evan to suffer his heat all alone. Though he doesn’t want to sour the mood, he needs to know what the hell Peter was thinking.

  “I was just wondering…” he says, Peter smiling as he turns his head to look at him. The warmth in his eyes makes Chad feel safe and special, and he hates that he wants to complain.

  “Yes?”

  “Why didn’t you stay home with Evan when you found out he was in heat?”

  Peter quirks his brow, seeming a little nonplussed at the question. “I had to go to work,” he says as if that’s a perfectly reasonable answer.

  “But he was in heat,” Chad says again, wondering how Peter could have chosen to go to work and let their omega suffer.

  “You think I should have stayed home from work to help Evan through his heat?” Peter asks, sounding honestly surprised. Chad is surprised that Peter is surprised. Of course, he should have stayed home.

  “Yes,” Chad says, frowning. Peter tilts his head, a thoughtful look on his face.

  “I would have liked to stay home, for Evan’s sake if not my own, but it would be hypocritical of me to deny my employees leave to be with their omegas during their heats, only to do it myself. I have to follow the rules I set, Chad. You know that.”

  Chad pushes a piece of bacon around on his plate, shocked. He’d always thought that giving an alpha time off to help his omega through their heat was a no-brainer.

  “Why don’t you give...” Chad stops mid-sentence, not asking the question. Peter looks annoyed.

  “Human Resources developed our policy for omegas based on nationally recommended guidelines, Chad. This isn’t something I thought up to be an asshole.”

  Chad doesn’t say anything, spearing the small piece of bacon he’s been playing with and eating it. He looks over at Peter, the older alpha sporting a sour expression.

  “I’m not going to go to work with Evan in heat,” he says, just to make it clear. Peter might put the ethics of being a boss ahead of Evan’s well-being, but Chad has no such drive.

  “You don’t have a job, Chad. You quit, remember,” Peter says, taking their plates and carrying them to the sinks.

  Chad reels.

  “You’re firing me?” he asks. He intends it to come out angry, but it just sounds hurt. Peter’s face softens.

  “No, Chad. You quit.” He comes back and sits down next to Chad. “And I think that was for the best. Being your boss and your mate… I don’t think that it’s been good for you. Or for us. We both know you’ve been unhappy since you retired from the field.”

  “I retired because you forced me to,” Chad says, indignant. “And I’m not quitting.” Chad has no problems working for Peter, and he has no intentions of starting a new career somewhere else. He’s happy where he is. Kind of.

  “Chad, I think—"

  “If you try to fire me, I’ll sue you for sexual harassment,” Chad says, stumping Peter entirely.

  “You can’t sue me, Chad. You signed away the right when we got married.”

  Chad squints his eyes, thinking. Now that Peter mentions it, he remembers signing a whole bunch of stuff for HR asserting that everything in his relationship with Peter was consensual and free of coercion.

  Fuck.

  “I can’t believe you’re firing me,” he says instead, looking away. Peter’s hand lands on his back, rubbing soft little circles that feel amazing.

  “I’m not firing you. If you want to come back to work, fine, but I want you to think about it.”

  “About what?” Chad asks, frustrated.

  “Having something that I don’t control. It would be good for you,” Peter says, sounding reasonable. When Chad doesn’t answer, Peter continues. “How about you stay home with Evan now, help him through his heat, and then you can spend a month looking for a new job. If you don’t find anything, you can come back and work for me. Okay?”

  Chad is about to answer when the sound of footsteps and the scent of ripe omega enters the room. Evan stands in the doorway with a glazed look in his eyes. His eyes fix on Chad and Peter.

  “Do you need a knot?” Peter asks, and Chad wonders how he can sound so calm. He wants to pounce, to push Evan to the floor and knot him senseless while Peter just takes a drink of his juice like it’s nothing. Evan nods, and Peter puts his glass down and stands up.

  “Come here,” Peter orders, freeing his cock, the huge length springing free and bouncing up in the air. Evan hurries forward, eyes locked on Peter’s cock. Chad might as well not exist though he isn’t going to challenge Peter for the right to go first. Anyway, Peter is going to work soon, and after that Chad will have Evan all to himself.

  “Bend over and touch your toes,” Peter commands, stepping behind Evan and grabbing a hold of the boy’s hips. Chad’s cock is at full attention, resting against his abs and dripping with pre-cum, enjoying the show.

  Without any warning, Peter slams his hips forward, fucking into Evan and making the omega squeal in pleasure. Jacking himself off, Chad watches as Peter fucks Evan with precise movements, marveling at the strength in Peter’s bulging arms as he lifts the boy up and down the length of his shaft. Peter grunts a little with each thrust, the only sound he makes, fucking Evan hard until he’s shooting his load inside Evan’s slick hole.

  Chad watches the show, itching to join
in and fuck Evan too.

  Evan collapses, Peter catching him and lifting him up with an arm across his chest. Looking huge, easily holding Evan in place, Peter sits down with Evan in his lap, impaled.

  “That’s a good boy,” Peter growls into Evan’s ear, the omega leaning back with an expression of pure bliss on his face. Evan’s cock is throbbing with need, but Chad stays put. Peter hasn’t invited Chad to join the fun, so he won’t.

  “Chad. What do you think? Will you look for a new job?” Peter asks, bringing a cup of juice to Evan’s lips, letting the boy drink. Evan must be starving, Chad realizes, rising to get him some food. The action also gives him some time to think about Peter’s proposal.

  Does Peter have a point? Should he find a new career? It’s not like he’s happy where he is, not really. He hates having a desk job.

  “What if I want a job you don’t approve of?” Chad asks, making Evan a sandwich with scrambled eggs, salmon and thick butter. Peter doesn’t answer right away.

  “If I thought it would be too dangerous, then I would expect you to respect my wishes when I asked you not to take it,” Peter says, making it sound reasonable. Chad hates that.

  “Fine. I’ll look, but if I don’t find anything you let me come back. Deal?” At least this way Peter won’t try to make him come in to work and leave Evan by himself. And who knows, Chad might find a job he actually likes.

  “Deal,” Peter says, once again looking content and happy. Chad hands Evan his sandwich, the omega eating it with ravenous hunger.

  After Evan is done eating, Peter lifts the boy up, still stuck on his knot, and goes to take a shower. By the time he comes back, dressed in a new suit untainted by Evan’s slick, he and Evan have separated.

  “He’s waiting on the bed,” Peter says, grabbing his briefcase before kissing Chad’s cheek. Chad waits until Peter pulls away, the alpha nodding and smiling like Chad is funny, then runs back to the bedroom, more than eager to take care of Evan and guide him through his heat.

  ***

  Aiden parks his bike on the street outside The Virgin O, looking up at the imposing building as he wonders what the fuck he’s doing there. Locking his helmet to his bike, making sure it’s secure, he tucks his gloves in his pockets and steps off the bike. Running a hand through his hair, smoothing it back, Aiden walks towards the upscale entrance of the club.

  The Virgin O doesn’t announce itself loudly, the sign small and discreet, reminding Aiden more of a gentlemen’s club than of the omega houses he’s used to. Then again, the places his friends have dragged him to have been the seediest of omega houses, able to afford only the most damaged omegas. A place like this no doubt has prime stock and a clientele to match.

  Working in an omega house is not something that has ever crossed Aiden’s mind, and as he tries to pull open the door, he wonders why he’s even bothered coming to the interview. Working with Evan would have been fine because it would have been for Peter, and it was temporary. Here… Aiden needs to do something that challenges him, and a career as an omega wrangler does not sound like it would be challenging in the least.

  The door doesn’t budge, firmly locked, so Aiden presses the buzzer to the left of the door. Within seconds, he can hear the sound of the lock turning, and then the door opens. A gruff looking alpha in his fifties stands before him, assessing Aiden warily.

  “The club opens at seven,” the alpha says, his tone friendly. He’s obviously decided not to antagonize Aiden, recognizing the more dominant and powerful alpha.

  “I have an interview with Marlene Post at four,” Aiden says, hooking his thumbs in his coat pockets and looking over the man’s shoulder. The inside of the club is richly decorated, gleaming wood floors and tasteful paintings on the walls. It’s as far from squalid as it gets, reminding Aiden of Peter’s office. He can’t help but feel impressed, which he guesses is the whole point. Score The Virgin O.

  “Oh, you’re Mr. Halsted,” the alpha says, smiling and holding out his hand. “I’m Jacob Brigg; I’m on the club security detail. Mrs. Post is expecting you, just come with me.”

  Jacob steps aside to let Aiden in, locking the door after he’s entered.

  “We have an employee parking lot with its own entrance at the back of the building. We were expecting you there,” Jacob says, his tone jovial. Aiden decides not to take offense at the suggestion that he’s somehow acted incorrectly. “Mrs. Post told us to send you right to her office. We’ve been without a wrangler for three days now, and the omegas are starting to get out of hand. Do you have any experience working with omegas?”

  Aiden shakes his head. “Not really. Never liked them.”

  Jacob nods in understanding.

  “I get it. Makes sense to get someone who won’t be tempted to stick his knot where it doesn’t belong. God knows I could never do it. I see the little bitches, and I just want to pin them down and… well, you know.” Jacob laughs. “Or maybe you don’t, huh? That’s cool. I don’t judge.”

  Aiden nods tightly, Jacob’s rambling familiarity grating on his nerves. It’s a relief when the older man leads him away from the public area of the club and towards a corridor in the back. This part of the building is still tasteful, but there are no paintings or expensive furnishings. No point if the club’s patrons aren’t going to see it. Knocking on the last door to the left, Jacob opens it without waiting for an answer and sticks his head inside.

  “I’ve got Mr. Halsted, M’am. You ready to see him?”

  Aiden can’t hear the answer, but Mrs. Post must have nodded because Jacob opens the door wider and holds it open for Aiden.

  “Good luck,” he says, closing the door after Aiden has stepped into Mrs. Post’s office.

  The room is Spartan, with no pictures or decorations, dominated by an uncluttered steel desk. Marlene Post, a beta, is a severe looking woman in her sixties with a stern, no-nonsense expression. Her silver hair is pulled up in a tight bun, her suit as neat as it is unflattering. She smiles when she makes eye contact, but it’s so insincere that Aiden is surprised she’s even making the effort.

  “Mr. Halsted, it’s good to meet you. Please have a seat,” she says, nodding at the empty chair in front of her desk.

  “Likewise,” he says, sitting down. He hasn’t dressed up for the interview, but he doesn’t feel uncomfortable in his bulky leather jacket and tight jeans. It’s not like he’s hungry for the job. Attending the interview is mostly just an act of satisfying his curiosity.

  “I don’t like to waste time, so forgive me for being blunt. Are you interested in this job or should I keep looking for another candidate?”

  Aiden smiles, flashing his teeth. “I’m curious,” he says, stretching his legs out and crossing them at the ankles. “Though I’d have to know a little bit more about what the job entails before saying yes.”

  Post says nothing, her face thoughtful as she studies him. Aiden doesn’t squirm, looking around the bare office with casual interest. The woman doesn’t seem like she’s new at her job, so the lack of personal touches is a little strange.

  “How much do you know about what an omega wrangler does?” she asks, back straight as she splays her fingers on the desk. Aiden studies her, amused by how serious she is.

  “Not much, just that it involves keeping the omegas in line and obedient.”

  Post purses her lips, the answer not pleasing her. “In essence, yes. A wrangler’s job is to provide a single authority that the omegas are beholden to. He is, in effect, their alpha. Their well-being, such as it is, is his responsibility. As is their behavior. Do you understand?”

  Aiden nods, hiding his grimace. It sounds like a boring and thankless job. “What do you mean when you say their well-being?” he asks, curious. Everyone knows that club omegas burn out quickly from their heats. That the lack of a mate kills them. It has never seemed to him that anyone gives a fuck about their well-being.

  “Make sure they eat and drink, get them medical attention when they need it. Should an omega in y
our care die of an infection, dehydration or a preventable illness it would mean your job.”

  That makes sense. Omegas are expensive, and the club would loathe to lose one before it had maxed out its earning potential. Still, the idea of playing nursemaid to a bunch of omegas is less than satisfactory.

  “So it’s just one wrangler per club? How does that work?” he asks. He’s not about to move into an omega club and act the alpha for a whole flock of needy omegas in heat.

  “They don’t need constant supervision. It’s knowing that you exist and that you will be called if they cause problems that keeps them in line.”

  “So I’d be on call?” he asks, the whole thing sounding less and less appealing.

  “You’d work five nights a week, spending time with the boys and taking care of any problems that might come up during their shifts. As long as you do your job right, the chances of having to call you outside of work are slim.”