5. ELLIE

ELLIE

I barely make it through a few more conversations, making sure to avoid Nathan at all costs. Watching Macon cart out a tipsy Savin tugs at my heartstrings, especially when I catch the Omega’s lovey-dovey smile reserved for his Alpha. How did they think that was going to go over? That I would just step into their arms, spend a night with them, and then drag my ass back to my apartment at midnight?

Tati jabs me in the side and hands me another shot. She looks freshly fucked, covered in a myriad of scents but I’m not even sure where she found the space to do that. “Having fun? The Astors looked real interested in you. Savin is sweet but he’s pretty choosy with his partners. Oh! And Nathan Fox? I’d let that hottie rail me any day.”

I snort. “Tati, it looks like someone or someones already railed you. No judgment, I’m just saying.”

She giggles, leaning into me so that I’m the only one to hear her words. “There’s too many beautiful people here and a few Beta models. I couldn’t pass it up.”

At least there’s that. Tati is hardly a pack chaser. She doesn’t want to settle down the same way some of the other girls do, which is refreshing. I grab the shot and throw it back, needing it to settle my nerves. I’ve been on edge ever since they sat beside me, Savin’s scent lingering on my cheek. Macon was respectful, not as forward as his Omega, but his sharp whiskey scent still hovers around me and I’m a few well-placed touches away from an orgasm.

“What did they want?”

I shrug, not wanting to get into the specifics. Macon’s hotel room key chafes in my bra but I’d rather forget about the proposal. What he’s offering is pure trouble. If something goes wrong, I’ll lose my job. If something goes right… I refuse to think about that.

“No idea. Just said to show up when all this shit is done. I’m going to grab one of those crab things.” I point at one of the trays being walked around and snag two of them before popping both into my mouth. My stomach grumbles and I pat it, promising to feed it a full dinner when I get home. No doubt Carleen will have snagged a few leftovers stuffed in the fridge that didn’t make it to the party so that I can gorge myself.

One of the other girls bumps into us, grinning as she hands us a poorly written list. “We’ve all picked who we want. Here’s who’s left.”

I stare at the paper, hating the way that the girls’ names are written haphazardly by packs that have attended for the night. I might be just a Beta but that doesn’t mean I have to force myself into situations to get chosen. A night with Macon and Savin would be easily cheapened by antics such as these. And yet, moments with them felt real.

Tati grabs the paper, scanning the list. “Ellie, here, doesn’t do that.”

“It’s an extra payday!” The girl squeals and then slaps a hand over her mouth. “Fine, if you guys aren’t interested, I’ll ask the others. Have funnnn.” She draws out the last word before waving to us and I just shake my head.

The rest of the party passes slowly as I entertain whoever I can to forget about the two men who have wedged themselves into my head. The longer I dwell on Macon’s proposal, the more I want it. The more my body reacts to their lingering phantom scents. The more my panties grow slick with need and my breathing quickens at fantasies of them taking me apart.

My cheeks heat and my body feels hot as I maneuver my way through the attendees, ducking my head until I get to the kitchen and can prop open a window. A long moan falls from my mouth as the chill night air hits my face, sudden relief following after.

“Hey, hey, Ellie. What is going on?” Carleen comes up beside me, patting my back softly as I choke on the fresh air. “Ellie, talk to me.” I twist to face her and she sighs, understanding without any explanation. “Too many people? You seemed to be enjoying yourself earlier.”

I frown as I turn around to sit on the window sill, the cold air now blowing against my back. It’s a revelation not many people know and the one reason I don’t sign up for parties all that often. The cacophony of scents, people, and chaos eventually becomes too much. I prefer the barrier of a stage or attending to one table at a time.

However, tonight, it’s not that at all.

Savin and Macon’s scents are taking over my rational mind but I don’t know why. Even an Omega in heat has never bothered me as much. ”Leenie, there was an Omega in heat and-”

She scrunches up her face and shakes her head, laughing at my words. “Every single Alpha in a half-mile radius would have noticed. Ellie, I’m an Alpha and I would have noticed. What? I might not be attracted to the Omega but our biology would draw us to an Omega in need regardless of the circumstances.” Carleen takes a sniff of the air, confirming that I’m wrong.

“But he was…”

Carleen bites her lip, obviously trying to find the right words to say. I’m strung out, confused, and horny which are not the things I need to be to finish out this party. “Okay, answer me two questions. Strong scent? I’m talking all-consuming and does it make you wet between the thighs? Oh, you don’t get to be all shy on me, not with the positions you’ve painstakingly detailed when you come home from your nights out on the town.”

My cheeks heat. Sometimes I forget how close I am to my sister. “Yeah, to both of those.”

“I think you found your mate, Ellie. Not just a pack. But a mate.” A grin splits across her face but I don’t feel like smiling. How can I? I didn’t come here for that. I came for a paycheck. There’s also one little problem with my sister’s words.

“Betas don’t have mates.”

Carleen turns away from me and it takes me a moment to realize that she’s holding back a growl. Her scent sours and then sharpens as she takes a few breaths before looking at me again. I’ve never seen her so disappointed with me. “Ellie, who told you that? I know you have some self-hatred for your Beta status but everyone can have mates. Scent matches aren’t reserved for Alphas and Omegas. They’re just rare with Betas.”

That makes no sense. They don’t teach that in schools. No one shouts that from the rooftops. Not one of the girls I work with squeals about finding a possible scent match. They squeal about finding a pack with money, one that takes them in for more than one night. Not one Beta I know has ever longed for their perfect pack because of scent matches.

“I don’t believe you,” I spit out.

She shrugs, “Don’t discredit my words, Ellie. I wouldn’t lie to you but this is something I thought you knew. Explore it or don’t, but don’t leave this chance behind just because you’re a Beta.”

I hate where this conversation is going, the nasty voice in my head yelling at me to just steer it somewhere else. “But I am. Just a Beta, that is.”

Carleen’s lips turn up in a growl before she’s able to pull it back making me curl in on myself. She hardly ever gets this emotional with me. She’s always been the loving, understanding sister. Not tonight. Tonight, she’s pushing me past my limits. Limits that I would rather not bring up but that I know she’s going to address. “God, I wish I could slap some sense into you. Ellie, how Vinn broke your heart is not your fault.”

“I beg to differ,”I whisper. An Alpha friend and classmate turned boyfriend left as soon as he found his Omega. I didn’t fault him for it, not in the slightest. Instead, I turned that hatred in on myself, telling myself that I was just a Beta. I haven’t found anyone that will refute it. I also haven’t tried to believe anything different. Steeling my emotions, I push off from the wall, ready to rejoin the party for however long there is left.

Carleen catches my wrist for one last piece of wisdom. I have no idea how she can be so optimistic. “Ellie, you are worth so much and I hope someone can show you that one day. Show that you are needed and loved. That they would do anything for you regardless of your baseless protests. For now, go outside. Take a walk. I’ll cover for you.”

I open my mouth to argue and find that I don’t want to fight. The silence is something I’m more than happy to embrace so I make a quick exit for the elevator, Tati frowning when she catches my disappearing act. I wave her off, letting her know that I’m fine before the metal doors close and take me down a level. They open, refusing to close again and I growl in frustration when I realize I’ll have to take the stairs.

This is the opposite of finding a moment to relax as I stomp out into the hallway, determined to make it outside.

Until I hear a low whine that tears my attention away from my mission. The whine comes again and I find myself following the sound until I’m standing in front of a door with the golden number, 1432, written delicately across a plaque. This is Macon’s room.

I don’t even have a chance to knock before the door swings open, a very sweaty Alpha filling the frame. His suit pants cling to every thick muscle in his lower half but I’m distracted by the muscles along his chest and stomach almost pulsating. His whiskey scent is bold and fierce as he tumbles out into the hall, his expression hardened. “Ellie,” he rasps, my entire body responding to his voice. “I… it’s not a good time.”

Another whine meets my ears and I realize that it’s one of distress. It’s filled with pain. “Is that Savin?” I cry, clutching at my chest. The sound pricks at my skin, discomfort exploding through me. My Beta wants to nurture him, pull him into me so that I can comfort him. I feel it down to my soul–something that shouldn’t be possible for anyone other than mates–and I meet Macon’s eyes, feeling my own glaze over with tears.

These powerful emotions are foreign to me and I hate them.

“Let her in,” a ragged voice calls from behind Macon. He’s gently pushed out of the way as Savin stumbles toward me, dragging me into the room. The door closes behind us as Savin presses himself against me, not even moving from the foyer.

The Omega stuffs his face into the crook of my neck, lapping up my scent in little licks. His trembling slows when I strum my arms around his back, my Beta sighing with relief now that I have him in my arms. The position is a little awkward since he’s taller than me, Savin’s back bowed over as he clings to me. It’s only then that I realize I’m holding Macon’s Omega naked. Even so, I can’t find the energy to let Savin go.

“What’s wrong with him?” I mouth.

Macon sighs, sagging against the wall. He seems tired and stressed out, yet hopeful at the same time. The fact that he isn’t pulling his Omega away from me is a testament to how much he wants me here. Or maybe it’s just this mate bond that I refuse to believe in. Macon drags a hand down his face before speaking. “A few things. We’re not entirely sure and the specialists haven’t been able to put a name to it. It’s not a secret but we don’t advertise it. Had I known it was this bad, we wouldn’t have-”

“Yes we would,” Savin murmurs against my neck. He kisses the sensitive skin there before twisting around to face his Alpha. “It’s part of the damn contract.”

Macon’s gaze dips to my hold on his Omega and I immediately release him. “Savin-”

Savin tsks at his Alpha and I feel like I’m intruding but the Omega tugs me closer. “No. Her scent is helping. Ellie, I’m not sorry.” It’s said so matter of factly as those sea-glass eyes are turned back on me. The color is returning to his pale cheeks, his scent calm and bubbly again. His hands move to my cheeks as he searches my expression and I’m not sure what to do.

Macon asked me to be here but he’s obviously protective of his Omega. Yet, Savin is silently asking for a kiss and I’m standing with a naked Omega pressed against me, his half-naked Alpha a few steps away. “This is weird,” I finally say, trying hard to keep my eyes focused on Savin’s face. A giggle peels from his lips as he catches on, disappearing into the living room for something more acceptable.

“I don’t expect you to stay, Ellie. This… wasn’t planned.”

I shrug, knowing that my break for fresh air is long over. I should return to the party but my heart hurts for the men I barely know. “It’s fine. He’s okay, though?”

“For now, I suppose.”

“So, you just wanted me for my scent? Because it eases the pain? How does that even work?”

I nearly miss the flash of anger that clouds his expression. It reminds me of how my sister looked when I mentioned I was just a Beta. Preemptively, I take a step back not wanting to anger a man that could derail my entire career and I don’t mean the one in the club. “You think I just scoop up outsiders for Savin? Ellie, fuck, I can see how you’d see it that way but I’m not his pimp. Truly. I’m his husband and sometimes we share a night with a third. I didn’t ask you here to placate his pain and I’d be lying if I said it was just for him.” He steps up to me, caging me in against the wall. “The question is whether or not you want to stay.”

For several seconds, it’s just the sound of our heavy breathing, Macon leaning closer until his lips brush against mine. One of his hands moves to my side, the heat of it bleeding through my clothes. My back arches toward him, a gasp tearing from my throat just as his hand moves north, his thumb flicking the metal through my nipple.

In this room, I’m not here with the famous Astor couple. It’s just Macon and Savin.

“Stay or go, Ellie?” He purrs.

Staying is the wrong decision but it’s all I want. “Stay,” I grunt before smashing my lips to his.