Page 21 of An Alpha’s Guide to Finding the One

The man, who I can tell now is an alpha, glares at Rhys. “How could you possibly know that?”

Rhys shrugs, the corner of his mouth twitching. “Shep, this is my omega Lainey. Lainey, this is our shop boy, Shepard.”

Shep’s posture finally relaxes as he sags into the desk. “Oh thank god. I like you, boss, but not enough to step in front of a pissed-off omega.”

Rhys bites down on that damn lip again, drawing my attention to the holes on either side of his bottom lip. Is he pierced there? He finally cracks a smirk, making me wonder if he can read my thoughts. “Come on, darlin’,” he drawls playfully. “Let’s go have a chat. Shep, lock up when you leave?”

Shep nods, making a hasty exit out the same door I just came through, though this time, there’s an audible click when the lock latches. I don’t even register the pitiful growl shaking my throat until Rhys’s tattooed finger crooks under my chin, lifting until my eyes clash with his piercing blues. “Enough of that now, omega.” The bark is subtle, but the power behind it is clear as a bell when my omega releases her hold and clarity drops down my spine like a bucket of cold water.

Panic slithers after it, so much I’m nearly shaking. “I am so sorry, Rhys. I have no idea what came over me. I was just watching you through the window and thinking about…” I trail off, too ashamed and embarrassed to admit the truth. I was jealous, horribly so, at the idea of him touching anyone but me. I have never been jealous over a man in my life. Why now?

A large hand press against mine as my alpha twines our fingers together and leads me up a small set of stairs at the back of the shop. Later I want to come back down and study all the art on the walls, but right now it’s all I can do to stop myself from having a panic attack. My mother’s cruel words echo in my ears, calling me needy, dramatic, pathetic leech of an omega, and each new word makes me itch to run and hide.

At the top of the stairs is a small studio space with one black tattoo chair, a little rolling stool, and lots of storage along the back wall painted a pretty light blue. The whole room gives a very soothing vibe, which is somehow not what I expected from this larger-than-life man with his delicious scent. Though I can tell he probably wears blockers when he’s with clients, since that’s the professional thing to do in an enclosed space like this, hints of his sugar cookie scent are everywhere in this room. “This is my private studio space,” he reads my mind again, answering my unspoken question. “Perks of owning the place.”

My head whips sideways, shock parting my lips. I kind of assumed he worked here, not that he owned the damn studio. He doesn’t seem offended by my surprise, just smiles and guides me to sit on the large black chair.

“Now, you wanna tell me what all that,” he points downstairs, “was about?”

I have never been so confused, turned on, and concerned all at once. Lainey showing up at my shop was a wonderful surprise, but then I heard her precious little growl and despite my dick not getting the memo, I was concerned. Omegas rarely, if ever, growl. Only when them, their mates, or children are being threatened, or… if they’re feeling jealous or territorial.

A lightbulb flicks on above my head, and now I feel like an idiot for not thinking about this sooner. I never explicitly told Lainey what I did for work, but now that she knows, I can’t imagine her omega enjoys the thought of me touching people all day long. Fuck. I would still like to hear her side of things just to make sure I’m on the right track, so I sit her down on my bench and take a seat on the little rolling stool so we’re face to face. “Now, you wanna tell me what all that,” I point in the general direction of the door downstairs, “was about?”

Lainey chews on her thumbnail anxiously, her scent souring so much it makes my jaw clench. “Not really.” Her voice is small and sad and it makes my chest clench. She almost seems afraid to tell me what she was feeling, which guts me. I never want her to be afraid of me for any reason, especially not because of something like this.

“Darlin’.” I soften my voice as much as possible and cup her face, bringing her eyes to mine again. “Whatever it is, it’s okay. I know we still don’t know each other all that well, but it’s important to me that you know you can tell me anythin’. In fact, tell me everything. Every single thought that crosses that pretty little mind can bypass your filter and come right out when you’re with me. And if it’s too much to say out loud, whisper it in my ear. Text me. Write a note. Hell, send a fuckin’ carrier pigeon. I don’t care how you do it, but tell me. You can’t say, feel, or do a single thing that’ll send me running.”

Her pretty eyes fill with tears and before I can brace myself, she throws her body into my chest, nearly knocking me off the stool and rolling us back a few feet. I grunt when her elbow hits my abs, but instead of saying anything I let my girl curl herself into a ball on my lap, wrap my arms around her, and just hold on. Her warm breath hits my chest through the fabric of my muscle tee, and it’s enough to have my cock thickening in my pants and my scent leaking through the blockers I put on this morning. My omega is seeking comfort from her alpha and here I am acting like a horny teen. It makes me feel like a total knot head.

But Lainey doesn’t recoil from my arousal like I expect her to. Instead she starts to squirm in my lap, her scent ballooning around us and turning the room into a pie shop.

Fuck she smells good.

The more she squirms, the more off-balance I feel on this ridiculous little stool, so I pick her up and move us both to the bench I use for clients, settling her between my legs with her back against my chest. It takes a conscious effort, but within a few seconds I’m able to kickstart my purr. She melts into my chest, her scent sweetening into something syrupy and so thick I feel like I could take a bite out of the air and all I would taste is Lainey fucking Ryan. “I’m sorry,” she whispers.

I shake my head, pressing kisses against her crown. “What for?”

She releases a shuddered sigh. “I don’t know what happened. One minute I was excited to see you and surprised your shop was so close to mine, and then I started thinking about what your job actually entails, and…” she trails off.

I stroke the silky strands of her hair. “And you got territorial?” I hazard a guess, wanting to know if my initial instinct was correct.

She barely nods, turning her face to peek up at me. Her cheeks are pink, and there’s something that looks a hell of a lot like shame lurking in her eyes. “It didn’t feel like me. I don’t get jealous. I never have. But I’ve also never had a bonded alpha and scent matches… or been pregnant. It was like this tidal wave of possession I couldn’t control and then I was growling and, yeah.”

“Thank you for telling me,” I whisper. “What a sweet, perfect girl you are. Trusting your alpha with your feelings.” Lainey sniffles, but I keep going, needing to erase all of those negative things she’s likely thinking about her reaction. “Darlin’, your feelings and reaction were all perfectly normal. I knew my job would likely have to change a bit once I met my scent match, and maybe I didn’t expect to so soon, but I am so incredibly happy we found you. The fact that your omega, that you are feeling possessive over me is both reassuring and hot as fuck.”

That startles a laugh out of her. “It’s hot that I wanted to scratch the eyes out of every person you touch that isn’t me?”

I nod, more serious than ever. “My alpha is doin’ a fuckin’ jig in my chest knowing your omega sees us as hers.” She looks at me questioningly, and I shrug. “You’re pregnant with Lucky’s baby, bonded to Lawson, and it’s clear you’re sweet on Wyatt. It feels good to see there’s room for me, too.”

“Oh, Rhys.” She sighs softly, turning herself in my lap to straddle my thighs. Her legging-covered pussy rests directly over my still painfully hard dick, but I try to focus on the way her hands cup my cheeks and the fierce look in her eyes. “I know I was hesitant at first, and maybe I’m still scared. But there was never any doubt in my mind that all four of you are perfect for me. My attraction to you isn’t dependent on your pack mates. I was attracted to you from the very first moment I saw you in the hospital, before I ever caught your scent.”

I raise my eyebrows and she giggles. “Okay so maybe I was intimidated for like, a second. But then it was all thoughts about your sexy, bad-boy, emo rockstar thing you have going on.”

That makes me laugh. A true, full laugh. “Sexy bad boy emo rockstar, huh?”

She nods, mock seriousness lacing her features. “The worst kind of bad boy. That’s the kind that sings sad love songs but then breaks hearts and leaves ruined panties everywhere they go.”

“Well then I have great news. I sound worse than a dying barn cat when I sing, I have never broken any hearts that I know of, and I don’t talk to enough people to ruin any panties.”