24. Jade

twenty-four

Isit at the bar and nurse this horrible drink called a beer. It tastes a bit like vomit, and I don't even know, I'm not game to take another mouthful to find a proper description. The bar is dark and smokey, even though no one is smoking inside. The scents of betas and alphas are heavy and push at me, telling me this isn't safe, but I keep my ass planted on the stool and my back straight and watch the mirror behind the bar. Just in case.

According to Kandi's notes on her phone, this is Sven's favourite place to drink. I came in and asked loudly for Sven, then sat back and watched several people get their phones out. I feel no regrets for snooping. Nor for calling my wayward alpha out in front of his drinking ‘friends'.

It's kinda nice here, I guess. Everything is wood and a little bit scuffed and worn. But there are some pretty stained glass windows, and it's clean, well, kind of clean.

The man behind the bar is a barrel-chested giant of a beta with a beard down to his navel and squinty little eyes that crinkle at the sides when he smiles.

I like him.

"Let me get you a coke," he says in exasperation and takes the beer away from me. He drops it in front of an old man almost laying on the bar.

"Thank you, Fern," I say with a gracious smile. This is kind of exciting!

He cringes. "Nando. Fernando, not Fern."

"Fern's so friendly, though."

His cheeks turn crimson, and he turns away and returns a minute later with a different drink.

"Why are you looking for Sven, anyway? You seem like a nice girl. He's got a girlfriend now, too. He's not going to agree to anything below board, if ya know what I mean." I can tell this big bartender just wants to save me, so I don't let his words offend.

"Oh, I know what you mean, but I think you'll find he will," I whisper to him confidently.

"Is that right?" Sven's voice cuts through the chatter, straight into me, lighting me up from the inside.

I spin on the stool and beam. "Svenny."

He cringes. "Jade, we had words about that."

"Then perhaps you should stop hurting my feelings and causing our pack to hurt my feelings."

"Pack?"

"None of your fucking business, Fernando. Lose your hearing," Sven barks out.

When I turn back to the bar, I find a coke and a rainbow drink beside it. I cautiously pick up the rainbow drink and put the straw to my lips. I take a sip and pull back, almost gagging. It's like pure sugar that burns. Oh, yuck! "Most packs aren't ashamed of their omegas."

Sven steps closer.

I turn away, but he grips my arm and pulls me back.

"What's this? Tears? Another ploy, Omega?"

"Yes, tears, you ass! I can only be so strong and defiant for so long. You, Kandi, and Adrian are the meanest pack anyone ever had." I shove his chest hard enough that he stumbles back a step.

The bartender wheezes and staggers back, well out of reach. I glance at him, checking to make sure he's okay. "That's one hell of a line-up," Fernando mutters with a pale face. "Scary fucking line-up. Yeah. Want to stay on the good side of that pack!" He eyes me with more interest than he did before.

"You get me, don't you, Fern? None of them want me or a pack. It's like herding cats. One runs away, the others get depressed and sits around sulking. I can't be happy without Sven, boohoohoo. All I'm waiting for now is hairballs. "

Fern's eyes are dangerously wide. They flicker between me and Sven. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean-"

"It"s damn insulting. I had an alpha, you know. My mother gave me to him. I mean, at least he wanted me, even if he beat me near to death."

"He hurt you?" Fern growls in a deep bear"s voice that makes him suddenly very menacing.

I blink rapidly. "I'm sorry? Isn't that what packs do? Because in my experience, omega is synonymous with thing and possession."

Fern holds up his hands. "Look, I just work here. But if you need somewhere safe, I know some people!"

"Go away, Fernando. I've got this," Sven hisses. His temper is pounding the air around us.

"Yeah, it's just…" he looks between us and swallows hard. "You're not going to hurt her, are you, Sven? She just said you hurt her. Look, she's real little, and I don't hold to hurting women, especially omegas."

Aww, be still my heart. "Why couldn't he be my pack? You're a sweetheart, Fern."

Sven lets out a noise like a boiling kettle. "Go. Away."

Fernando finally loses what's left of his courage and goes up the other end of the bar. Sven steps closer to me in a slow, menacing sway until he ends up standing between my legs.

"You came to my bar, making lots of noise, knowing I'd come back. What's this really about, Omega?"

I reach up, peering through my tears, pressing my fingers against his chest. "You look really good, Sven."

He heaves a sigh like he's hanging on to the last thread of his temper. "You came to get my attention because I look good?"

"No. Don't be conceited. I came because I wanted you to come home, and rather than sit and cry over your nice ass, I thought I'd do something constructive."

"And come to a bar full of dangerous men while you"re being hunted by your ex?"

"He's not an ex," I say stubbornly. "I never agreed to date him."

"Jade."

"Svenny."

"Jade," he growls and leans closer.

I'm mesmerised by the scent and heat of him. By his big hazel eyes.

"You smell really good," I whisper.

A woman comes up behind us. I don't pay her that much attention until she puts an arm over Sven's shoulder and leans in to him.

"Hey, baby, I heard you and Kandi broke up. So, you're a free agent now. Want to get out of here?" Her fingers walk across his shoulder.

I stand up, edging around Sven and shoving her hand off him.

"Sorry, love, but he's taken."

She barely glances down at me. I curl my lip and reach for the fruit concoction that Fern discreetly slides down the bar towards me.

"Sven, I've missed you around," she says and somehow manages to get right up against him again. Her scent is offensive.

I roll my eyes. "Who's your friend, Svenny?"

The bitch finally looks at me. I smile widely and sip the fruit drink. Ew, this is as nasty as the beer. It really is. How do people drink this? She's pretty, with white blond hair and legs that go on forever. She's almost as tall as Sven.

"And who are you?" She sneers at me.

"I'm sorry. My name's Jade, and this is my alpha that you're pawing."

She lets out a peal of laughter that should be in a movie. I grind my teeth. Not okay.

"Aw, sweetheart, you need to be over the age of sixteen to be in here. Best get home to mummy."

I twist under Sven's arm, putting me between the woman and Sven. I hold up my drink. "Want to try?"

"Uh, no." She smirks over me, straight at my alpha. MY alpha!

"Listen, Angelica, it's fine. I'm busy tonight," Sven says in a bored tone.

I snap my head towards Sven. "And every night hereafter. Forever," I enunciate clearly.

Sven rubs the bridge of his nose.

"Oh, don't go down this road, Alpha. It will get bloody, and I promise you won't win," I whisper up at him. "You belong to me, so tell your harlot friend, and let's go."

"You promising me a good time, Jade?" Sven whispers, and I'm surprised to find this crazy SOB smirking at me.

I raise an eyebrow. "Lose the bitch, Alpha, and we can talk."

Sven's lips quirk upwards, but the truth is neither of us has paid the woman even a shred of attention.

She says something else, and my temper spikes at the coral-coloured nails on his shirt. I take a step, pretend to trip, and spill my fruity cocktail all over her.

"Oops."

She squeals. I wince but can't hide my smile.

"You bitch!" she shouts.

She lashes out, but Sven's faster.

"You don't lay hands on my omega." Sven steps in front of me and lets out a low warning growl.

Angelica gives him a scathing look of disgust and turns on her heel and stalks off.

Oh, be still, my poor little omega heart. That was the hottest thing I've seen him do. And I've watched him workout with Kandi.

He barely gives her a second glance before he's pushing me up against the bar. I can smell the sticky scent of alcohol and more powerful licorice.

"You lost the bitch." I lick my lips and tilt my head back so I can look up at him.

"You promised me a good time," he says with a hooded gaze.

My lips twitch upwards. "So, blood and losing, coming up."

Sven barks a laugh and leans in, pressing his mouth on mine. "I can make do with another form of losing."

"Does that mean you're coming home?"

Sven laughs into my shoulder. "Persistent, tiny, little tyrant."

"That's Queen Dictator to you, sir."

He huffs another laugh. "All right. I'll come home, but you're coming back to my house first. I need to get some things, and I'm not leaving you alone in this bar. You'll have an army by midnight."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure, you don't."

He grins at me, and I feel my heart lurch in my chest. Is this real? He holds his hand out and waits.

I place my hand in his and step into his space. "Take me home, Alpha."

"My pleasure, Omega."

We don't make it out of the bar. I'm just washing my hands in the bathroom when the door opens, and Sven slides in, glancing around. I watch him in the mirror with raised eyebrows.

"Are you lost? Or did you grow some girl parts while I wasn't checking you out?"

"I'm not lost," Sven growls in a voice that sounds unhinged.

"You realise this is the little omega's room, right?"

Sven growls at me and flicks the lock on the door. "Perhaps if you weren't perfuming all over the place."

"Don't you shame me for what I can't control, and having a healthy sexual appetite is perfectly natural. I'm not apologising for finding you hot."

He growls. "What do you know about sex?"

I raise an eyebrow and smirk at his scowling face in the mirror. "Sven. My darling, darling Sven. The first thing I did when my mother turned her back was get rid of this atrocious baggage called purity. I like sex. I like sex with others, and I like it on my own. But I am not, and will never be again, a virginal little purity flower ready to be plucked."

"You're not a virgin?" Sven asks with a frown.

I frown back. "Does that upset you? Did you want me to be?"

"No. Fuck no. Just, thank god," Sven growls and presses up against me. His hands slide up my sides and cup my breasts, molding them. I groan at the assault, on fire. "Now I can fuck you how I need."

We're fucking? Praise Fernando and his quick fingered texts! I'm getting laid!

"I thought you wanted a pure little omega to sit in your perfect little nest and-"

"Shut up. I want an omega who gives me sass, who I want to spank raw, who fucks me in the bathroom of my favourite pub."

I groan. "Well, then. Whip it out, big boy, and let's see what I've got to work with." I'm still staring at him in the mirror, half terrified if I turn around this will be just another fantasy.

He snarls a laugh and leans over me.

"Well?" I say tartly, feeling my stomach flip.

"Well, what?" Sven bites my ear, making me wince.

"Well, get on with it, then."

He reaches down over my jeans and grabs my pussy, pulling me up with it, until I'm standing on my tiptoes. His long, strong fingers stroke the thick material until I'm nearly sobbing.

"Get on with it?" Sven whispers. "Are you sure? Just get on with it? I want to torture you for every second you've tortured me. There will be no getting on with it!"

"Have you forgotten how? I can do a primer lesson for you, if you need?" I bite out and moan louder when he grabs me roughly and forces the hard ridge of his cock against my back.

"Someone might hear." Sven drags my jeans down my hips, slowly exposing my skin.

"Good. I hope they do. Make me scream, and I'll reward you later," I say, winking at his reflection. But his touch. Oh, it's so hard to think with those enormous hands stroking my thighs and stomach.

"They might yell at us to stop." Sven dips his fingers under the waistband of my panties.

"With any luck. We'll just hear it as an invitation to go harder." My voice is hoarse and coming out in rough pants. My head falls back on his chest. His hard, muscled, hot chest.

His middle finger slips between my folds, and his whole body tenses. "How are you so wet?"

"Do you need omega lessons, Alpha?" I ask sweetly, watching his face in the mirror.

He pinches my clit in retaliation. I gasp, arching my back and barely able to form a coherent thought.

"I do not need any lessons."

"Get on your knees, then." I don't know what possessed me, but as soon as the words leave my throat, I need him to.

He studies me in the mirror, and then grins wolfishly. "I think, perhaps, Omega, we understand each other quite well."

He drops to one knee, spins me around, and then leans forward. I watch it all in slow motion. But the moment his hot tongue glides in-between my folds, languidly lapping at my clit, I'm lost.

"You're very good at this," I stutter out. "A+ for effort and all that."

"You're still talking, so I must be losing my skills."

He nudges my legs apart and pushes one thick finger into me. I catch the counter before I collapse.

"I don't think my ability to talk vs. your skills is a good reflection of talent."

"I do," Sven says shortly and redoubles his efforts. I rise on my tiptoes, moaning, but he grabs my hips, anchoring me in space and fucking me with his tongue and fingers.

I've never felt anything like this. Kandi licked me like she wanted to savour me. Sven eats me like he's going to devour me.

I grab the back of his head, fucking his face as my orgasm nears, and then I fall over the edge, my head thrown back, muffling a shriek with my fist.

"Oh, that was delicious," Sven purrs and stands up. He pulls my jeans off and drops them on the ground, grabs my panties, and rips them from my thighs. I whimper but watch as he brings them to his nose and inhales. When he looks at me, his pupils are blown out, and he looks like a starving man. He grabs my ass and lifts me up with one hand, while the other rips open his own pants.

"Line me up, my not virgin, hot as fuck omega."

"With pleasure my not a virgin, excellent at cunnilingus, hot as fuck alpha." I grip his cock, trying hard to hide my shock. He's so freaking big. Wow! I need a better look at his meat stick.

"Nothings going to stop that mouth running, is it?"

"Nope" I let the p pop, and then I twitch my hips and sink down onto the tip of his cock.

Oh, god, he's big. So big. Must not let him know. He grips me by my hips and pulls me down, impaling me in one quick jerk.

I whimper at the feeling of being deliciously full. It almost hurts, but I don't even care. My slick is running down my thighs, coating us both.

"I want your knot, Alpha," I whisper.

"Not here."

"It's mine," I whine.

"Not here," Sven growls at me.

I hiss and press my lips to his. "Fine, then I'll have everything else."

Sven groans and walks me back until I'm sitting on the counter. He pushes in and pulls out and drags a pleasure-filled groan from my lips.

I want to give him words, but I have none. All I have is how amazing he feels inside me, how incredible the taste of him is. I'm drowning in the taste of licorice. The feel of his hands on me, holding me like I'm his plaything.

He's not gentle. And I'm glad. He takes from me and offers it back in a vicious thrust of his hips.

I suck hard on the side of his neck, and then lick a stripe up to his jaw.

"You taste good."

"Still, with the words," Sven grumbles.

I let out a laugh that turns into a moan.

"You should…"

He growls and fucks me harder. For several minutes, all I can do is hold on to his shoulders and groan at the feel of his balls hitting my ass.

"Sven!"

He laughs and leans back, looking between us. Watching where his cock enters my body. It's a heady feeling watching him watch me. Seeing that hunger on his face.

He reaches down with his thumb and strokes over my clit.

"Stop talking and start screaming," Sven growls.

I laugh, and it dies when he pinches my clit. I come suddenly, unexpectedly. The laugh turns to a strangled scream, giving the surly alpha what he demanded. I clench around him, feeling the whole thick length of him inside me as he slams into me and goes rigid. He growls, and I feel his cum spray my insides in long pulses.

"Shit. Oh, shit," Sven moans. He rests his face on my shoulder and shudders.

I pat his back while I try to regain my breath. "That was incredible, my not virgin alpha. 10 out of 10, would recommend."

"Shut up, smartass."

I end up laughing until he pulls himself out of me. Yeah, this was the best decision ever.