Chapter 7

Seven

OLIVIA

L ater that morning, a walk on the beach was everything I needed.

I strolled between Ian and Evan, feeling the sun on my face and the breeze flowing around me, occasionally lifting my dress. The warm sand underneath my feet felt so amazing to me as I walked with the two alphas.

I must have taken freedom for granted. Absorbing the air and the breeze, I was lost to the sounds of the ocean waves crashing against the shore.

The smell of Ian's cologne would waft to me every couple of minutes.

"Whatever cologne you put on smells really nice," I commented, looking over at him. He smiled proudly.

"I collect them," he said.

"There's a shit ton of them in his room," grunted Evan and I giggled. "Hoarder, that one."

"Hey! I like collecting them," said Ian. "By the way, may I hold your hand while we walk?"

"Oh," I said. "Sure."

Evan also offered his hand, and it felt almost natural as they entwined their fingers between mine.

My heart pounded a little faster, and my body felt warmer as we walked.

My hands encircled with their large paws made me feel warm and safe. My little omega heart within me was flipping out, being so close to these alphas. Their pheromones and their scent were clouding my judgment, but I didn't care at this moment. I was so happy to be out of that building.

Looking around, I noticed the second building I'd never stepped foot in.

"What goes on in that building?" I asked, gazing at the tall glass building. It was even fancier than the current building I was staying in.

"You don't want to go in there," said Evan darkly as he gazed at it. "It's where pregnant omegas reside and give birth. It's also where leftover omegas who never go into heat rot in there or for rowdy omegas to get punished."

"Oh damn," I said, my stomach clenching with disgust.

"Older omegas who can't go into heat would be abandoned there," Ian pitched in.

"That sounds terrible," I said, and the alphas nodded in agreement. "Why do you work here if you think it's terrible too?"

I didn't mean for it to sound judgemental, but I was honestly confused.

"I was eighteen when recruited," said Ian. "I was addicted to drugs and no longer lived at home with my parents. My life would've gone down a miserable hole if Henry hadn't recruited me and forced me to stay off drugs."

"But how did you meet Sergio then?"

"I thought this place was my mission," said Ian. "A place to help omegas who couldn't go into heat and to just cuddle them all night long. I didn't think anything sinister or dark was happening."

"Oh," I said, listening intently. It was interesting to hear an alpha's perspective on breeding omegas like cattle and what he thought.

"When I snuck into the Birthing Building and saw the true horrors of what was going on, I met Sergio, who was outside the building taking pictures," he said. "I asked him why the hell he was doing that, and I guess he saw how freaked out I was to trust me with his secret."

"And that's how you joined his pack," I whispered, and he nodded proudly.

"He's a trustworthy alpha and brave as fuck," said Ian in a low voice when we started to see the beach populating with alpha handlers and their omegas.

"I agree," said Evan. "I was friends with Sergio before we both arrived here at the same time. Sergio is the one who found out about this place while searching for his mother, but he never found her."

"Sergio's mom was here?" I asked in shock. It was crazy to me that his own mother had stayed here.

I was starting to see them in a new light. Maybe they weren't as conniving as I thought.

"He believes that's the case," said Evan. "It's the only reason we ended up here. He didn't tell me the specifics, but I was willing to support him as a friend in whatever way he needed."

"That's nice, what you did for him," I said, blinking as the ocean water droplets hit my eyes. "I wish I could see my friends again."

"You will," said Ian, squeezing my hand comfortingly.

"I don't think I ever will," I said, eyes burning with impending tears. Then, in a lower voice, "Do you think you can help me see them again?"

"Let's just say it's in the works," said Evan, kissing my forehead. His kiss was tender and soft, communicating to me that he cared, and my heart thumped in my chest.

"Just don't forget me," I said in a low voice.

"We most definitely won't, and that's a promise," said Ian, and I blushed. I suddenly noticed Brett approaching us, his electric blue hair standing out from the crowd. My heart rate increased, and I slowed down. The alphas noticed this, immediately standing in front of me to block me from Brett's view.

"Don't be scared," Evan quickly said to me, looking back briefly to check if I was okay.

"Brett, what do you need?" asked Ian when he approached. "Clearly, this omega doesn't like you, just like all the other omegas. What did you do to her?"

"Nothing at all," he said in his obnoxious weaselly voice. "You might want to consider sharing her with me. It's not fair you get all the good ones."

Evan growled from deep within his chest, and I could even see the back of his white shirt vibrating from the intensity of his growl.

"Leave, Brett," said Evan.

"You're going to regret it," said Brett, threateningly. He sounded annoyed at the same time, and everything in my body screamed that he was a danger to me. I couldn't see him, but my heart was still racing by the time he walked away from us.

Ian turned first and cupped my chin between his fingers.

"Did Brett ever do anything to you? You can't exactly hide your emotions from us," said Ian.

"His presence, that's all," I said quickly. "I heard bad things."

The tension on his face eased, "Well, he won't dare touch you. And if anything happens, he's dead. But you'll need to tell us if he does."

I nodded, and Evan hugged me.

"You're not like other omegas," said Evan, pulling back and holding me by the shoulders. "I don't want to leave your side even if I just met you. Don't you feel like that about her too, Ian?"

"I mean, I wasn't ready to admit it, but Evan is right," said Ian, and my inner omega self did back flips, excited and overjoyed at the feelings she arose in the alphas. It was a natural response for me. A calling to join a pack that I never felt before.

"I'm glad you like me," I said, twirling a strand of my hair that had come loose. For years, I had fended off asshole alphas, and I was way too afraid to admit my feelings whenever I met a decent one. "Could you both walk me to my room?"

Ian puffed out his chest proudly, and I could feel the alpha pride oozing from them. Alphas naturally felt a need to be the protector and provider for an omega. I wasn't trying to take advantage because I was actually terrified of Brett coming into my room and doing what he did like last time. I was scared to be alone now.

We stopped in front of my room, and the alphas had a hard time leaving me alone.

"Are you sure you're okay?" asked Ian.

"I'm much better now after the walk on the beach," I said.

"There's going to be a dance tomorrow during dinner," said Evan, still holding my hand. "I would love it if you came. It's in the Social Room and redesigned to be a party room."

I sighed heavily. I hated taking part in any of the planned activities.

But I was starting to enjoy spending time with Ian and Evan. And I missed Sergio and his calming presence, which I felt very safe around.

"You look like we invited you to a funeral," said Ian. "It's just a fun gathering. You don't even need to dance."

"Are you sure ?"

"Yes," chuckled Ian, pushing back his wavy hair, revealing more of his jawbone. His youthful good looks weren't lost on me, and I couldn't help but stare at the thin sideburns on his face. "It's very annoying being surrounded by clingy omegas, so having you would fend off everyone."

"That's not nice," I said, my face falling.

"Hey, I'm kidding," said Ian, rubbing my arm. "Our job is to cuddle omegas, and I enjoy that part, but after spending time with you- you make it so that you're the only omega I want to be around. You're the first and only omega I actually enjoy hanging out with."

"Oh wow," I said breathlessly. His words ignited something deep within me. It was like I wanted to make him even more happier with me. "I enjoy being around you too."

His eyes were on my lips, and my heart pounded wildly the closer he came.

He very gently lifted my face and pressed his warm lips onto mine.

Oh my god, my first kiss .

I allowed my eyes to flutter closed as I stood there, unsure what to do except kiss him back. After a few seconds, my lips naturally molded around his, and my heart rate increased the more he kissed me. My body pressed against his, and I felt Evan coming around behind me, planting kisses on my neck.

Evan's hot lips burned a trail across my collarbone, igniting more flames of desire to rush through my body and coat my pussy. I was throbbing now between my legs as I inhaled Ian's alpha cologne and Evan's woody scent.

Breaking the kiss, I licked my lips and opened my eyes in uncertainty.

"You were my first real kiss," I said.

"Damn," said Ian in wonderment, gazing at me with something else in his eyes that I didn't recognize. His glowing eyes were darker and more feral. All I knew was that it made the slick between my legs slide down my thighs while my pussy throbbed even more. "Beat that, Evan."

"Our moment will be special," promised Evan, giving me one last peck on the neck. "But I won't make you wait for long."

Oh fuck .

No matter how hard I tried to avoid having feelings for an alpha pack, it was naturally happening, and I was going to get my heart broken once I found a way out of this camp.