Page 11 of Omega Scorned

Jude was still staring at me, but for some reason it didn't make me uncomfortable like it normally would.

"Um, not really?"

"Great. I made lemonade earlier and it's hot out here, so want to come over and have some with us? We can be civilized, I promise. Well, maybe not Jude, but the rest of us."

"How many of you are there?"

"Four, plus Gertie," Oren answered. "So, will you come over?"

"Sure, why not?" I had nothing better to do and it was the neighborly thing to do, right?

I was about to go around to the front of the house, but Oren hopped over the fence and held out his hands. "Jude, help her over."

Jude wasted no time in grabbing my waist and hoisting me over the fence into Oren's waiting arms. I could have sworn something electrical shot through me as each man touched me. They weren't even touching my skin and I felt prickles everywhere. And Jude's Earl Grey scent swirled around me in a way that made me feel alive. There was something about these men…

"So, I'm an omega, as you've probably guessed. Jude is the grumpiest beta in the world, and then we have Grayson and Santi. They're both alphas, but they're nicer than Jude."

"I'm nice," Jude protested.

"You're weird as fuck, Jude," Oren told him, with a sidelong look.

"Weird is not the same as grumpy," Jude pointed out.

I chuckled. "I cannot wait to see what your pack dynamic is."

"Crazy," Oren admitted. "But fun."

We walked into their house through the back door, with Gertie bounding ahead of us into the kitchen. Their house was somewhat similar to ours in layout, but the colors here were warm and inviting. Rich ochres and deep forest green made the living room feel more alive than ours. And their furniture went along with it, mismatched, but somehow comfortable looking.

"Here you are." Oren handed me a frosty glass of lemonade. He gave one to Jude a moment later. "Want to sit on the deck?"

"Sure. I was out there to get some Vitamin D," I said, sipping the drink. It was perfect, tart with just the right amount of sugar. "Is there mint in this?"

"Yes! I learned that from my gramma. She was the best cook in the world."

"It's very good."

We settled into the outdoor chairs and watched Gertie running wildly around the backyard.

"When did you move in?" I asked.

"A week ago. I'm surprised you didn't see the moving truck."

"I've been a little distracted," I admitted.

"Wouldn't have anything to do with the other omega your alphas have been hanging around, would it?" Jude asked.

"How do you know about Candace?" I raised an eyebrow.

Jude gazed back at me with eyes so pale they were nearly transparent. "I see things. I smell things. They were at the same restaurant we went to the other night." He tilted his head again. "You weren't with them."

"No, I stayed home."

"Why?"

I shrugged. "They didn't invite me and I don't really like being around her. She smells funny."

"You smell delightful," Jude said with a crooked smile.