The Warehouse

Swanley

T he SUV rocks as I pull off the road and into the large open field. The road is shit on this side of the warehouse, but Finn likes to keep the paved road out front free for deliveries. I get it. He has some pretty fragile stuff delivered here for his art galleries, but it still annoys the shit out of me. The rocks out here are hell on my tires.

I step out of the car, then suck in a deep breath. I don’t want to be here, but I have to be. Finn needs me, and in this line of work, trust and loyalty are the only two things that matter. And if he can’t trust me to be here when he needs me, then he doesn’t have a reason to keep me around anymore. And I can’t risk that.

Omegas are expensive. They require special clothes and blankets and even soap. I have to work.

I wish I had been able to claim her before coming back to work. I’m so amped right now, every muscle in my body pulling tight as a fucking rubber band. Here’s hoping I don’t snap at the wrong person.

No one ever tells you what hell it is to sleep next to an omega but not be able to claim them.

“Look what the cat dragged in.” Carison approaches me with his hand out. I clasp it, bumping our chests together and slapping each other on the back. “I heard you got an omega.” He raises his dark brows. “Is she keeping you busy?” The young alpha smirks, making it clear what he really wants to know.

“She’s perfection.” And I leave it at that.

I don’t want to admit that I haven’t fucked her yet. I would be looked down on, and seen as a pathetic alpha. My kind are tasked with taking, claiming, and owning omegas. No one here would understand, and they’d probably mock me endlessly if they knew Carys had been sleeping in my bed for the last week, but I haven’t gotten my cock inside her once. But she’s too fragile for that. She needs time.

So much fucking time.

I just want to track her piece-of-shit ex down and break his fucking face.

“Are you back because of what happened?” Carison asks.

“What happened?” I give the warehouse a sweeping look. But it looks the same.

Alphas and betas work quietly, unloading crates of varying sizes from a truck. The shipments hold all kinds of artwork, as well as antiques. At first I thought it was all a front for Finn’s real work, but I came to learn that the alpha really does enjoy art. It’s kind of weird.

“Things got pretty bad the other night.” Carison leans in, whispering, “Some shit went down, and we lost a few guys on the night shift. Drop-off gone very wrong.”

“Really?” It’s upsetting, I knew a lot of those guys, but I’m not really surprised. There’s a reason I haven’t done drop-offs since I mated Isaac. The pay is amazing, but it’s hard work with hard consequences. It’s not worth it anymore with loved ones waiting at home for me. Especially now that we have Carys.

My stupid fucking mind wonders and suddenly I’m thinking about her delicious smell, vibrant taste, and the feel of her hot mouth around my cock.

Forcing myself to focus, I adjust my erection in my jeans, then motion to an unknown alpha on the other side of the warehouse. “Who’s that?” I squint at the stranger walking next to Hartley—Hart is Finn’s packmate. He manages the more questionable side of Finn’s business. I don’t fuck with him much, but we’re friendly when we see each other.

“New guy,” Carison says. “Jake or some shit like that. I think he’s going to be working with you.”

My brows shoot up. “That’s news to me.”

“That’s just what I heard,” Carison smacks my upper arm. “See you around, man.”

I nod, then cross my arms. I stare at the stranger next to Hart. He’s an inch or two shorter than me, with overly styled black hair and a tan complexion. He looks young. Maybe mid-twenties.

He should do fine.

“Swan!” Hartley smiles when he notices me. “Thought you were taking a few weeks off.” He shakes my hand, his fingers and arms covered in vibrant tattoos.

“Finn called.” I eye the young alpha next to Hart, but he stands there, looking at me as if he already belongs here.

“I’m not surprised he called you,” Hartley says. “We had some problems a few nights ago.” He scratches the underside of his beard. “Let me find Finn for you.” He turns to the young alpha. “I’ll be right back, Jud.”

“No problem,” Jud says. He’s dressed the same as me. All black. Most guys I know dress this way. These clothes make it easier to get lost in a crowd or in the shadows when you’re in a pinch.

“Where you from?” I ask, not wanting to outright ask him if he’ll be working for me. It would make me look out of the loop, and that’s an impression I don’t want to give.

“Cassville.” He pushes his hands into his pockets and it instantly makes him look like a little boy, hanging out at dad’s work.

“That’s pretty far west,” I say, trying to make conversation. “What brings you all the way down here?”

“I’ve been looking for an old friend,” he says. “Heard she lived out here.”

“Old girlfriend?” I ask, curious if he’s trying to stay in town or bounce if she’s not interested.

“Just someone I used to know. I want to check up on her. Make sure she’s okay.” He turns as Hartley steps out of the office with Finn at his side.

“Good luck with that,” I admittedly say it a little dismissively, but I don't really care if I come across as a dick. I want to get this over with so I can get home and be with Carys. She needs me. She needs my scent, and cock, and my bite.

“Eleven days ,” Isaac’s words pop into my head.

I don’t know if I’ll be able to wait eleven fucking days to have Carys, but it’s not really up to me.

Fuck, I feel like I’m going to explode.

“Thanks for coming in,” Finn says, the gel in his perfectly styled hair throwing off a sheen. He’s in his usual suit—pressed slacks, fitted jacket, and today’s tie is a deep purple. I’m so thankful he doesn’t make us wear suits. “I don’t want to take up much of your time, Swan,” he says. “But we lost a few guys, and it’s going to affect your team.”

I nod, wishing like hell he’d talk faster.

“This is Judson Lancaster,” Finn motions to the young alpha. “We’re bringing him on to help you manage your crew.”

My head jerks back. “To help me?”

My anger rises when Finn nods.

“I don’t need any help,” I say, much more forcefully than I intended.

“Swan,” Finn’s voice drops. More serious. “I needed you here the other night.” Cold guilt slams into me. “And I get that it’s unrealistic of me to ask you to give up your life. Hell, the only reason I leave my mate at home is because at least two of my packmates are always with her. But with your added commitments at home, I need someone here that can back you up.”

I cut a glare at Jud, hating that we’re having this conversation in front of him. This has nothing to do with him. “Are you getting rid of me?” I ask, knowing exactly how this shit plays out. “Because if you had called, you know for a fucking fact that I would have been here.”

“We’re not getting rid of you,” Hartley says a little too casually for my liking.

I give him a hard look, reminding him that I know this procedure too well. Someone fucks up, they bring in a replacement, then suddenly the idiot that started all the trouble disappears. Except, I didn’t do shit to deserve this. In fact, I had Finn’s blessing to take a few weeks off.

“I don’t need this asshole.” I hitch a thumb at Jud, making the young alpha scowl. “My vacation is over. I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere.”

“Calm the fuck down,” Finn says flatly. “You’re acting like I’m putting a hit out on you.” It takes everything in me not to flat-out ask if he is. “I need someone who can manage the library when you’re gone. I had to leave my omega in the middle of the goddamn night the other day because no one knew the fucking passcode but you.”

They needed the library opened? Shit. Things must have gotten real bad.

“I don’t want to question your decisions,” I lower my voice, trying like hell to be more respectful. “But do you even know this guy?”

“This guy ?” Jud says, clearly offended by my tone. But fuck him. I don’t need him. “I’m not some random asshole Finn pulled off the street,” Jud says, pushing his way into the conversation. “Hart and I did time together back in the day. We’re practically family.”

“Jud is good people,” Hartley says in a tone that tells me he’s sympathetic to my situation, but not enough to do anything about it. “He’s young but eager to learn, and I trust him ,” he says those last few works like they’re the only thing that matters.

“Which means I trust him,” Finn says forcefully, flashing his teeth. “But if you got a problem with that?—”

“No problem at all, boss.” I immediately take a step back, holding up my hands in surrender. It sucks basically having two pack alphas you have to answer to, but unless Kofi wants to start up a drug ring, there’s really no helping it. This is my life.

“Why don’t you head home,” Hart pats my arm. “Go see your mate. Enjoy the rest of your time off.”

“No,” I say as respectfully as I can. “My vacation’s over.” I turn and glare at Jud—the child who is now somehow my responsibility. “I need to speak with my crew.” Then I march past him, making it clear that he’s not invited. But the fucker follows me anyway.