Page 26 of Bred
THE OMEGA NEXT DOOR
ELIZABETH AUSTIN
CHAPTER ONE
MELODY
Twoweeksago,mylife changed. I was already different because of being a werewolf, but thanks to my Beta status like Mom, I was as close to a human as it got. My dad’s a human, for fuck’s sake. I was thoroughly content being ordinary.
The last thing I expected was the effect of my two new, hot-as-sin Alpha neighbors moving in. Goddess, I had planned a summer of laying by the pool and spending time with my friends before we all separated for college in the fall. My college wasn’t that far away, only a couple of hours, but I was going to soak up the awfulness of dorm life like everyone else. I was anxious to meet new people and find a male that set my heart on fire. The boys at my high school sucked. I dated quite a few, school dances had been fun, but there was no one that I ever wanted to be with long-term. Which is how in spite of my wolfy hormones, I’d managed to keep my virginity; not that it mattered to anyone, and my vibratorstotallydidn’t count.
I loved to sing. The plan was to sing my heart out in college for my scholarship so I could teach others. I loved every moment I spent in my high school choir and even music theory and history. My parents would playfully complain that I drove them insane when I got a melody in my head and wouldn’t let it go until I had words to match. Mom said the fates must have whispered my name to them. Thanks to my Beta status, I didn’t even have to teach in an all-wolf academy. But life as an Omega, now that would be different. Omegas were soft, sweet, and ruled by their bodies. They crave the purr of their Alphas, they have an insatiable sexual need during their heats, but most of all, they wanted pups. Omegas needed to be bred.
And a week after Ryder and Cody moved in, I wanted to be taken, sated, knotted, marked, and bred. Tonight was the night. All the naughty teasing I’d torturedmyAlphas with was going to come to a head. I was ready, and from the waywe all camelast night in front of the window, I’d say they were ready to fuck this oncoming heat straight out of me.
These two Alphas were going to ruin me, and I’d never been so excited.
I was beyond grateful Mom had already left for her two-week girl’s trip. She was sightseeing all the major sites of the Revolutionary War. Apparently, history teachers yearned to do boring things during their time off. It also included a three-day stay in NYC to seeHamilton. Now, I was jealous about missing that. With my passion for music, why I had not seen a Broadway show yet was unfathomable. As excited as Mom was, there was no way Dad would interrupt her tonight, even if he thought he should call her.
“No, Dad, please don’t call and worry her with my little illness. It's a summer cold. They happen. Let her enjoy her vacation with her friends. It’s the first time since I was born that you two are indulging in some fun! You are the best parents and deserve it. I know you’ve been dying to go fishing with Uncle Jimmy. I’m a few months from nineteen and starting college in the fall. It’s just a little head cold,” I pretended to cough, “I can take care of myself for a week.” I hated lying to him, but it was for his own good. He didn't need to know that a week after Mom left, two crazed, sexually frustrated Alphas did their Voodoo, causing me to present as an Omega.
I went to an all-wolves academy growing up since you could present as an Alpha or Omega at any point after sixteen. Usually, in middle school, we started to get an idea of who would be what. Most Alphas grew taller and more muscular earlier than their peers, while the Omegas were the opposite. They were usually shy, and quiet, yet surrounded by a mysterious and alluring presence. It occasionally induced some jealousy in adolescence, but once the self-hatred of puberty cooled, we mostly came to the understanding that everyone had a place in our world, and with biology, none of us had a choice. There was no point in hating on the others because, who knows, maybe they secretly wished to live unnoticed among humans and have a normal life.
With all those thoughts of righteousness floating around in my head, I was now sympathizing with Omegas, who had years of heats on me. I was trying to hide how much pain I was suffering. It was like my uterus was trying to crawl out, and my clit was going to explode if not tended to. I knew what I needed to make the pain go away. And that’s why I needed Dad to go away.
If Mom had not left when she did, my ass would be at the Omega Center, with hand-picked Alphas who were trained in helping along a first heat. But thankfully, Mom wasn’t here, and I was going to fuck our neighbors. I started laughing giddily at the idea of all the deliciously filthy things those two—no doubt experienced—males were going to do to me, and by all the gods in all the realms, I was going to enjoy every blessed second of it. I only had to figure out how I was going to keep them after. We had yet to be close enough for a true scenting, we’d never touched, and besides moans and growls, we’d never even talked. But I knew they belonged to me. I wanted them to belong to me. I had no other explanation than a gut feeling.
Dad was an easy-going, human accountant. When he met Mom, he had no idea there was magic in the world. Alphas, Betas, Omegas, and werewolves were not a blip on his radar. His lack of knowledge was pretty common. Though according to Mom, he took it all well. They got married and bought a house in the suburbs. Since it was extremely rare for a Beta to have a fated mate, Mom had no hesitation about loving Dad and creating a life together.
He looked worried as he felt my forehead and took in my flushed cheeks, the only part of my body visible under my mountain of blankets, as I grabbed at my stomach. “Are you sure it’s just a cold? Your mom mentioned some female wolf stuff that can happen, but that’s for Omegas, and she told me you both were Betas.” His mixture of concern and confusion was evident in his facial expression and how he kept adjusting and cleaning his glasses with his polo shirt. For a dad, he didn’t look that old, his dark hair had a little gray at the temples, and there were lines around his eyes, but I’m pretty sure it was from all the smiling. Poor Dad avoided anything that was sex or hormone related. He never talked about periods but always had my supplies and favorite foods ready to go when it was due. There was no way he was going to discuss a heat cycle. I was his little princess… and that’s why he couldn’t know the very bad thing I would do as soon as he left.
It was my own fault that this came on as quickly as it did. Most adult Omegas perfume and a couple of months later, have their heat cycle. Yet, I’d always heard that fated mates and frenzied sexual activity could encourage the process along, and all the orgasms I’d had recently was a clear explanation. I’m sure the pheromones I lapped up last night like a bitch in heat made me an actual bitch in heat this afternoon.All hope was lost if I couldn’t hold onto my sense of humor.
I’d noticed plenty of good-looking wolves in my life. The star quarterback, my date to Homecoming and Prom, was all muscles with a smooth-talking voice, but not even he could drench my panties the way these two strangers did. I’d been lusting after our neighbors since I spotted them shirtless, tanned, glistening with sweaty muscles, moving boxes into their house next door. I wanted to kick open my car door and lick every drop. I longed to know what they tasted like.My inner ho was running the show since they showed up, and I liked her.
That first day, I sat in front of the open garage in my car for an inappropriate amount of time as I gawked from the driveway. It caught the attention of the classically rugged, tall, dark, and handsome one. He met my gaze and winked before going about his business. I swear he strutted as he worked. The other Alpha, who looked like a sunny, surfer blond soaked in sweat, set down his box and waved with a smile. He seemed friendly and started to move in my direction. Like a complete loser, I smashed the gas pedal, nearly hit the garage wall, and quickly scurried inside the house. The last thing I wanted to do was hide from them. If I had any lady balls, I would have walked into the kitchen, grabbed a couple of glasses of lemonade, and chatted them up. I could have found out their names and everything else about them.
Our neighborhood was full of identical houses. We all had traditional two-story brick homes in this subdivision: three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, dining, den, and backyards with inground swimming pools. The only thing that made them special was what was in the back, or more accurately, what wasn’t. No fences. The HOA, Home Owner’s Association, headed by the nosiest woman on the planet, didn’t like them. She said our subdivision held no secrets, and as her late husband founded and built this place, his legacy of beautiful open landscapes would be upheld. Goddess, that woman had no idea all the shady shit people did in her pristine little world, including her dear late husband who was getting it on with Widow Spencer three doors down.
Blinds are a magical invention.I suppose I should thank that old bat; I never knew I’d be so grateful for the stupid rules about manicured lawns and open spaces. It’s how I got to see my Alphas, Cody and Ryder, so often in various states of undress. Also, how I got caught in a state of undress. Uh, I keep having to remind myself, technically, they aren’t my Alphas yet. But come hell or high water, I’d find out tonight.
Despite never meeting them, except for awkward waving in passing, I knew their names because my parents were neighborly and nosy and brought them a casserole and cake as a welcome two weeks ago. Mom explained that Cody Miller and Ryder Harris were an Alpha pack who had recently moved to our area to work for one of the top security firms in our state.
She couldn’t believe that two wolves had moved into the neighborhood, and she was even more shocked that they were unmated Alphas. It had been a long time since she had been around spirit-bonded Alphas; it’s like a fated mate for warriors. Your spirit-bonded brother was your best friend, who you had zero desire to fuck.
She confessed to me that she had the urge to bow in respect but fought it and then warned me to stay away from them. “They might seem kind and gentle, but never forget Melody, they are Alphas. One growl, and you’ll want to please them.”
Oh boy, was she right, but I don’t think it was because they were Alphas. I felt a connection and pull unlike any other. I’m glad none of my high school boyfriends made me feel this way, or else I wouldn’t have saved myself for my mates. Wolves didn’t value purity, but I knew any mate, especially an Alpha, would feel satisfied that no one had ever touched what they knew was theirs. I, on the other hand, wouldn’t be able to feel that untouched ownership. As sexy and, yes, old as those two were, I bet they bedded countless numbers.Grrrrrrr. Oh fuck, I growled out loud. I’m sure Dad didn’t miss that.
CHAPTER TWO
MELODY
“Melody,areyoualright?”Dad’s voice brought me back from the thoughts that had me growling,
“Yeah, just fine. Sorry. I have a headache and got distracted.” I turned my eyes to him, but the light in my room was hurting my senses. I needed him gone.
“Ok. I thought I heard something, but it was probably nothing. Well, I’ll turn out the light and let you rest. If you feel worse, give me a call. I’ll only be a few hours away.”
