Dodging the Alpha (Betas in Waiting Book 1) Read online

  Can I meet the seven-year-old?

  Of course. Tomorrow at four, come to the house, and we can drive over to the neighbours.

  Who is the child?

  Lexa’s daughter. She wants to be something special for Halloween, but she won’t tell anyone what.

  I might be able to help.

  If you do, there will be a two-year contract in it for you.

  Not necessary. Anyone touches me again, and I am going to start fear screaming.

  Understood. Ford is really sorry. He was being playful, and the actual taste of you caught him by surprise.

  Oh, fuck. You...

  Sorry, but I can see your problem. You are tasty, and it lasts a long time. Did your last employer ever try anything?

  Not until I was out of his employ.

  Can we talk more tomorrow?

  Sure. Night. Night to the pride.

  Lol. Night.

  She rolled over and went to sleep, her alarm set to rouse her at dawn. The fashion world was a busy one.

  She was run off her feet most of the day, and she paused to eat a few granola bars while she sprinted around and kept the production line flowing, from dummies to thimbles, she wrangled it all.

  Yemeen caught her around two-thirty, and he looked at her seriously. “Can we talk?”

  She nodded and took her tablet into his office, sitting in the chair facing the desk. He sat on the edge of the chair. “So, what happened. Ford is really sorry. He’s going to apologize himself, but he wanted to let you know that he was just trying to make you laugh, and then, it got weird.”

  She snorted.

  “That isn’t how I wanted it to sound, but it is what happened.”

  She nodded. “I know it gets weird. I have had one kiss that didn’t end in some kind of unsolicited groping. One. In my life. I am used to it, but it doesn’t mean I enjoy it.”

  “I still don’t understand how it happened. What triggered him?”

  “My nullifiers were weak, and... have you heard of bait betas?”

  He frowned. “Yeah, they use omega scents to lure alphas.”

  She snorted. “That is a modern equivalent. It used to just happen. I have the scent strength of an omega in the body of a beta, which, as you can imagine, could go very badly, very quickly. If I am coming clean, I am also qualified as a free responder.”

  He covered his mouth. “Oh shit.”

  “Yeah, so I avoid contact most of the time. Definitely avoid kissing and keep my nullifiers at full charge each and every morning.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “It is bad enough knowing that all they have to do is keep me from fighting them off until my hormones kick over and I give up.”

  “Have you ever given up?”

  “Twice. They treated me like an omega because that was the scent they picked up, and the results were... painful.”

  He winced. “I am sorry that happened. Did you press charges?”

  “No, there was some light damage, but it healed in a few days, and they were operating under the influence. I was just glad that they used protection. Both of them were mortified at the blood.”

  He winced again. “So, your opinions are not simply theoretical. Good to know.”

  She nodded. “So, four o’clock at your place?”

  “Yup. How good are you at prying secrets out of little girls?”

  She got up. “I smell like fucking candy. How do you think?”

  He gave a startled shout of laughter, and she nodded and left his office. There were a few things left to wrap up, but then, she had to prepare to grill a seven-year-old girl. The true challenge of her day.

  Ford met her with his head hanging, and he thrust a box at her. “I am so sorry for yesterday. Yemeen has explained a bit, and Olivia and I looked up the rest of it on the internet.”

  “Yeah, I am kinda like a fainting goat. Cheap and disposable so the expensive things can get away.”

  “And supposed to die in the process.”

  “Yeah, well, it is only death if they keep piling on, which they do.”

  “Here. A token of my regret.”

  She frowned and opened the box and burst out laughing. “You asshole.” Neatly arranged inside the box were slices of fruit and fondue forks.

  She walked out back where there was a jeep waiting, and they drove along a path to the next property. Yemeen was next to her, and she had her tablet in her lap and her cuffs at a full charge.

  “When did you start using the cuffs?” Ford was driving.

  “When I was sixteen. The Omega Centre issued them and has agreed to maintenance for the last twelve years. The nullifier is expensive, but they bear the cost because having me assaulted and left for dead would be bad press. Plus, folks don’t need to know there are betas like me.”

  Ford asked, “Would the draw still be there if you had a mate?”

  She snorted. “I have no idea. My kind don’t live very long. I actually have studies written about me. I have to check in every six months or so and give them notes on my interactions. I lead a fun and fascinating life.”

  Yemeen smiled. “So, who was your one kiss?”

  “What?”

  “The one kiss that didn’t end with you getting mauled.”

  “Oh, that one. That... uh... was my ex-boss. Sabin.”

  “Yeah, I remember your resume. He wasn’t one of your references.”

  “Ah, no. He didn’t find out I was leaving until the last hour of my last day. He was... not happy about it.”

  They pulled up at the house where a large group of people were gathering. “What’s going on here?”

  “Grigory is having a birthday, and the party starts tonight and runs through the weekend. His family is insane.”

  She felt a cold chill. “Grigory Petrov?”

  “Yeah, you know him?”

  “Not personally. I have heard about him. I really don’t want to be here.” She was starting to panic, and she felt the hum from her cuffs.

  “There are going to be six omegas here. They will take the heat.”

  She looked at Yemeen. “Heat is what I am afraid of.”

  Chapter Three

  Sabin helped the rest of the family set up the barbeques and arrange the food for those who had chosen cooking as a profession. He was just good at lifting heavy stuff, like most of the men and some of the women in his family.

  He watched the jeep drive up and saw the pale and shaking Nora. He wanted to run to her, to hide her from the others, but that would probably spook her.

  He would stay near and be ready to spring into action if any of his relatives got out of hand.

  She got out of the jeep with an omega and her boss. They headed inside the house, possibly to meet Lexa. His senses were tuned to her, no matter what the nullifier did. He would keep an eye out when she emerged from the house.

  * * * *

  Nora was relieved when they got inside the house, and Ford took her to meet Lexa. The pregnant omega smiled when they came through the door, and Ford made the introductions.

  “Lexa, this is Yemeen’s assistant, Nora. Nora, this is Lexa.”

  Lexa looked at her and smiled quizzically. “I know you from somewhere.”

  “A really long time ago, we worked in the same hotel kitchen.”

  Lexa stared, and her eyes got wide. “Kisses!”

  She jumped to her feet and hugged Nora. “Oh, my god. You are all grown up.”

  “Lexa, I am older than you are, and you are the one who is growing.” She smiled but didn’t offer extra contact. Lexa, however, was rubbing on her. “Lexa, honey, stop that.”

  Lexa sighed. “But you smell so good.”

  A giant came through the door and smiled at Lexa. His nostrils flared. “Chocolate and roses?”

  Nora stepped back and checked her cuffs. They were still working hard, but they had more to counteract from her.

  “Grigory, this is my friend Nora. We used to work in a kitchen together, before all my disasters. Nora, this is one of my mates, Grigory. We are setting up for his birthday party.”

  “Happy birthday, Grigory. I am just here as Yemeen’s assistant. He wanted me to talk to a little girl about Halloween?”

  Lexa smiled. “My daughter. She doesn’t know what she wants to be, and it is driving me nuts. If these two are anything like her, things are going to be insane around here.”

  Grigory paused. “Nora, who works for Yemeen?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And you used to work for my nephew Sabin.”

  She swallowed as he got closer. “Yes. Wait. Your nephew?”

  Grigory smiled. “His description did not do you justice. He is here if you want to see him.”

  “No. No. That’s fine. I will just chat with your daughter, and then, I will get out of here.”

  Lexa frowned. “Nora, you have to stay. I want to catch up.”

  “I don’t think that’s wise. My nullifiers are working overtime due to stress, and you already have twenty alphas in the back yard, and my senses are not picky.”

  Lexa’s mouth formed an ‘o.’ “Oh, you still have that issue as well?”

  “I didn’t grow out of it. It got worse. A lot worse.” She paused. “Can I talk to your daughter quickly?”

  Lexa smiled. “Of course. Come on.”

  They walked to a study room where a lethal-looking blonde was teaching the little girl basic fractions.

  Lexa smiled. “Hailey, this is a friend of mine named Nora. She wants to talk to you for a minute.”

  She stuck her hand out, and Nora was introduced to a sly cherub who knew how to work the people around her. Lexa left them with the nanny.

  “Hailey, I am here because it is time
for you to get a Halloween costume, but no one knows what you want to be.”

  “I can’t decide.”

  Nora smiled. “Well, I am here to help you make a decision. I am going to ask you questions, and you give me honest answers. Then you can get back to your homework.”

  “Um, okay. Why can I smell chocolate?”

  “Ah, because these cuffs are malfunctioning.” She explained what they were and what they were for. “Because I smell pretty, but it makes some alphas upset, and then, they stare and aren’t nice to me, so I wear these, and it helps so they don’t notice me.”

  The nanny’s eyes were glazed.

  “And days like today when I am nervous, they don’t work very well.”

  “Why are you nervous?”

  “Because there are a lot of strangers, and I am not safe here. So we will have our talk, and I will leave. Okay?”

  “This is a safe place. The dads promised.”

  “It is safe for you and always should be, but it is not safe for me.” She started to ask questions, and in five minutes, she had her answer.

  She shook Hailey’s hand and smiled. “Do you feel good about it?”

  Hailey nodded. “I want the frying pan.”

  She laughed and bonked her head against Hailey’s. “Thank you, Hailey.”

  She got up from the chair and went to leave, but the nanny was blocking her way. “Please, excuse me.”

  The younger woman reached out and caressed her cheek. “You need to stay for the party. I want to dance with you.”

  “That sounds lovely, but I need to leave.”

  The alpha reached out and grabbed her arm. “No. You need to stay.”

  Hailey came to her rescue and yelled out, “Mom! Dad! Illyana is scaring Nora!”

  The little girl wedged herself between them and pushed at her nanny, shouting at her to back up. Grigory came to the doorway, and he pulled Illyana away, barking at her in Russian, and the woman shook her head, trying to clear it.

  Nora looked at Grigory. “If you can hold her, I can get away.”

  “I do not think it wise for you to run. Go sit with Lexa; they are all set to avoid her scent at close quarters. Her scent is family.”

  Nora’s hands twisted together, and she nodded and darted down the hall to Lexa’s study. Lexa wasn’t there, but Nora hid in there anyway, staring out at the party coming together. She texted Yemeen the costume that Hailey wanted and asked how the hell she was supposed to get out of the party. He answered that he was working on it.

  She wished that she was allowed to emote like an omega. She would be whining and crying in the corner.

  Nora paced and looked up when Olivia arrived in the study.

  “Wow. It smells so good in here.”

  “Yeah. I think this canister of nullifier is a dud.” She laughed hysterically.

  Olivia came to her and patted her shoulder. “We will get you out of here, and Ford can get you some commercial-grade nullifier that they use for crowd control. I had to use it on a video once.” Olivia looked at her and whined then said, “Sorry.”

  Nora sighed and said, “Would you like me to sit so you can crawl in my lap?”

  Her smile was bright. “Yes, please.”

  Nora sat down, and Olivia cuddled against her, breathing her in.

  She was fine until wide shoulders filled the doorway. She tensed, and he laughed. “This is not a situation that I thought I would find you in.”

  “Sabin, I appear to be stuck here. Feel free to laugh.”

  Olivia was making happy sounds and nuzzling at her neck.

  “Grigory asked me to get you out of here. I don’t want to handle the feline omega, but she isn’t going to come off without a crowbar.”

  Nora texted Yemeen. Lexa’s study. Code Olivia.

  “So, you are one of those bait betas that no one believes existed. Bringing fertility to omegas and insanity to alphas. What an interesting combination.” He walked over and crouched near them. “You smell like omega and fruit, but the main scent is just like my office, all chocolate. I have replaced Marnie, and she is working elsewhere. I have a temp working at your desk, and if you can come back, I can double your salary and not lose my mind. I promise, no funny stuff.”

  She swallowed. “I can’t come back. I can’t work with you knowing that you could kiss me and let me go.”

  Olivia made a sad sound and hugged her, licking at her neck where her shirt exposed it.

  “I couldn’t kiss you and keep you. Isn’t that part of the issue?”

  She swallowed. “Yeah. It is a no-win situation.”

  “So, Nora. If I get you out of here, what will you give me?”

  She kissed Olivia lightly to stop the whimpering.

  “What do you want, Sabin?”

  “One night with you to prove to you that you are safe with me.”

  She stared at him, and Olivia was touching her jaw again, and Nora kissed her softly. Olivia sighed in relief, and then, her voice hitched and the air flooded with peaches.

  Yemeen came in, and he blinked at the sight. Nora still had her lips just over Olivia’s, and then, she looked up in relief. “Here you go, Olivia. One of your nice, big alphas. There you go, sweetheart. Yemeen, use protection. If she isn’t ovulating now, she will be within two days.”

  “But, she’s not in heat.”

  “Just use protection for the next week or warn the others and sneak in.”

  He snorted and carried his omega away.

  The slick stain on her dress made her wince. “I can’t do that, for the record. I don’t slick like that, and stretching is iffy. If you want one night, you aren’t going far.”

  He smiled. “I will settle for getting you hot, using lube, and a lot of patience. I have waited five years. I can work you for a few hours.”

  She blushed. “Oh. Right. So, when would this night occur?”

  “Tonight. I have already brought Grigory his present, and he has agreed to help me with mine. My grandmother won’t miss me if I send her a text, and my father would cheer.”

  “Interesting rundown. Your siblings?”

  “They are fine and will be happy that I am finally getting some recreation.”

  Nora fidgeted, her body humming with the urge to tackle him right there. She swallowed at the lack of terror that was running through her. “Fine.”

  He smiled slowly. “Fine? I will take that as an enthusiastic endorsement.”

  “I would give you one, but your heart might explode.”

  He nodded, and when she went to stand, he simply picked her up. “Face against my neck or chest, try to look small and helpless, and whimper if you can.”

  She frowned. “What?”

  “They don’t know you are not an omega. Your scent will confuse them, and it will let me get you into my car. From there, we go to your place, and you grab an overnight bag, and then, we will spend the night at my place as I seriously doubt your bed is large enough.”

  She bit her lip and tucked her head against him, her face against the crook of his neck. “Just get moving, Skarov.”

  He chuckled, but he got moving.

  Chapter Four

  Sabin stopped and spoke to someone. “Nora isn’t able to remain at the party. She has to leave.”

  Lexa’s voice was calm. “Got it. Grigory told me what happened with Illyana.”

  “You should have seen what happened with Olivia.” He chuckled. “Two light kisses, and she came all over Nora’s dress.”

  “Ah, that explains why Yemeen said he would come back with her in a few minutes.”

  Lexa asked, “Nora, are you leaving on your own?”

  Nora lifted her head and nodded. “I can’t stay here. If you weren’t pregnant, I would be setting you off, and I don’t know what happened to poor Ford.”

  Lexa’s eyes were wide. “Oh.”

  “It’s a biochemical thing. I will explain it the next time I am over. If we are alone.” She sighed. “Glad to see you are doing so well, Lexa. Congratulations on the twins.”

  She hid her face back against Sabin’s neck, and her lips found his pulse. He chuckled.

  “And on that note, I am going to get her out of here for her own safety.”

  “Take care of her, nephew, or it is your hide. I will tell your grandmother that you are keeping a friend safe. Don’t make me a liar.”