Page 21 of A Baby for the Beast
"Hey, why does that make it sound like I'm scary?" I ask, shooting him a glare.
Brad tosses his head back and lets out a deep laugh that has me cracking a smile, even if his laughter is at my expense.
"I've seen you chew through alphas and spit them right back out. You might've ended up pregnant because of a jackass but you're not about to settle for a life with one. So, if he was worth you saying he's yours, he's a good guy in my book. A good guy isn't getting scared away because his chosen omega is a little drama. Knowing your type, he's probably strong enough to withstand it."
I sniffle a little, liking how Brad has made me sound good instead of like the hot mess we both know I am. It's sweet. He's giving me way too much credit, but he's sweet.
"Thank you for saying all that," I say, wiping my eyes and the tears that managed to sneak out now that I'm feeling better. At least I didn't cry while those douches were recording. "I know you're just being sweet, but I still liked it."
Brad huffs and shakes his head. "Think what you want, but your guy will be back."
"Why do you think that?" I ask, needing to know so maybe I can believe it as much as Brad does.
He gives me a crooked smile and tilts his head toward the older TV model that he gets to keep in the back to watch while he's reheating food and smoking. "Kyle's been running his mouth, and the alpha who's always out there looked a little too familiar. Based on how your alpha has always portrayed himself to be, he's not going to let how you've been talked about slide."
The show Brad's been watching back here comes back from its commercial break, a headline across the bottom stating 'Breaking: Kyle Ward doxxing pregnant ex on social media live stream.'
On the screen, it shows a still from a video Kyle must have posted on his social media, where he looks raging mad. I don't know what I did to him or why he's taking this all out on me, but it's clear now that two douches coming to visit Night Owls isn't going to be the end of whatever game he's playing. Whether or not I wanted to be in the middle of his and Lucas's feud, I am now.
Brad looks through the window in the door that leads back out into the bar before turning to me and smirking. "Your boy's back, and I don't think he was out on a stroll."
I try to get out of the chair, and fail miserably as my center of gravity has been drastically altered thanks to the little girl growing inside me. Brad laughs before coming over to help me up.
"Thanks," I mutter, running my hands over my tank top as though there are wrinkles in the material that clings to me like a second skin.
"No thanks needed," Brad tells me, holding open the door for me so I can head back out to the bar.
I've barely taken a single step back out before Remus's dominance has me looking at my shoes. The rest of the bar is silent, not a single growl or rumble of displeasure at being forcedto submit. No, my alpha is too strong to put up with that kind of disrespect, and no one is going to give it to him.
"Omega," Remus says.
If I could smell myself I know I'd smell my scent blooming through the whole place with how his voice has a straight line to my pussy. I lift my head just enough that I can scan the room through my lashes, not surprised to see Remus in front of me, just on the other side of the bar. His hands are laid flat on the wood, his knuckles bloody. I bite down on my lip to keep myself from making a sound that would embarrass me more than the fact that I'm perfuming in front of everyone. I take a few more steps until only the bar separates us. His fingers twitch on the bar top, and I reach out to stroke my fingers across his knuckles, knowing without him needing to tell me what he left to do.
"Can you leave?" Remus asks. I'm surprised he isn't growling and demanding I leave with him now, but I appreciate that it's up to me whether or not I leave work early.
"My shift is over in two hours," I tell him, not wanting to put extra work on Steven and Chloe even though they'd both tell me to go without hesitation. There's also a part of me that wants to pretend that everything is normal, and that douchebags aren't about to come out in droves to harass me.
I risk a higher look to see how Remus is taking my answer, and am unsurprised when he looks unhappy with it. He doesn't growl at me to lower my head, though, no, if anything, his expression softens when I look at him. He lifts his hand to my chin, nudging my face the rest of the way up so I can look at him in all of his fearsome glory. I want to peer around the room to see if everyone truly is submitting right now, but Remus wants my eyes on his. I can be a good omega sometimes.
"Come to my apartment tonight," Remus says, but he doesn't add a bark. Before I can tell him that I'm not sure if that's smart, he adds, "Nothing has to happen, but I needto know you're safe. You know how I feel about your apartment."
I can't stop the smile from spreading across my lips thinking about how, all of a sudden, my apartment complex updated security features on specifically the floor my apartment is on. Even my deadbolt, which I put a ticket in for months ago, was finally fixed. I don't know for certain that it's because of Lucas, but I also wouldn't be surprised in the least to know it's all thanks to him.
"Is that a yes?" Remus asks, cocking his head to the side in an almost predatory way. It has me curling my toes in my shoes, forgetting about all of my problems, with just the hint of a promise of what he's capable of.
"You still want me?" I ask instead of answering his question. My voice is barely above a whisper, but I need to know this is real, that this isn't some kind of cruel joke being played on me now that I think he might be everything I've ever wanted. "Things are going to get so much worse."
"Let them," Remus says, his features hardening again. "Because, however bad things can get, I promise I can handle it."
"Kyle has a huge following and a whole bunch of dude bros who want to be just like him. If he thinks I'm his enemy, they'll all think the same."
"Let them. Any who try to come for you will answer to me," Remus growls. He silences it quickly, almost like he and Lucas have come to an agreement that he's allowed out so long as he doesn't cause too much trouble. "Please, come to my apartment when your shift is over."
I chew on the inside of my cheek, giving him a quick nod. He's still tense, but there's a softening in his shoulders when I agree.
"Good omega," he whispers, stroking his thumb across my cheekbone before his eyes switch to dark brown, Lucas back incontrol of their body. He grabs the bill of his baseball hat and rounds it some before giving me a bashful smile. He points over his shoulder toward the table he sits at. "I'm going to sit over there."
"We all know!" Steven yells from the other side of the bar, earning a rise of laughter from my coworkers and some of the regulars as Lucas and I both blush.
