Page 43 of The Beta: Part Three
“Is she alright?” Alex whispers as he stretches out on the other side of her. “Now that she's through it, Jasper is starting to wind down, too.”
I nod, “she's alright, Alex. She's just very tired. I think it was more intense for her since they were both in heat.” I'm not going to bring up the change in her scent. I want to see how long it takes the others to notice.
“Reid went down to take care of the kitchen. We've all been cleaning up when we leave, but he wants it to be perfect for when she's ready to leave the nest. How long do you think it will take the rest of them to notice?” He flicks his eyes down Talia's body and I fight back a smile.
“Not long, but they might not know the difference as quickly. Don't say anything.”
“My bet is on Jasper first, then Reid. Then Kaleb. Then the rest of them all when they figure out the rest of us know something.” Alex always enjoys being in on a secret.
Jasper whines at something Nathan is or is not doing and Talia stirs. “Do it right, or I'll do it for you. Don't make him whine,” she growls without opening her eyes. “Fucking drawing it out. He doesn't need that. Just fucking give him what he needs, for fuck sake.” Then she goes right back to sleep. Alex chokes on his laughter and it takes a few long moments for him to collect himself.
When he can manage it, he whispers, “you know, I'm half tempted to buy her a strap and see what happens.”
I thought she was back asleep. Her sour little tone is tinged with a bit of her own laughter, “I just need a new harness. Jasper would love that. And you'd love to see it. Now be quiet.”
“New?” Alex whispers, “what do you mean new? Why did you have an old one? What did you get up to while you were away?”
She shrugs and pulls his arm around her waist and across mine, “I spent some time with a pack that didn't know how to properly treat their omega. Omegas shouldn't have to suffer because their alphas are assholes.”
“You rotten girl,” Alex continues, trying to sound scandalized, “I didn't know you enjoyed females.”
“I don't. Not like that, anyway. But I was there more for the omega than the alphas. She needed something and I did my best to give it to her. With minimal success, but it was better than being left to suffer alone. Bianca gave me the most ridiculous toy, by the way. It's got a fake knot at the base. It definitely doesn't work for a heat, but I think Jasper would enjoy the change in pace. It's fun to throw him off balance.”
Everything she just said is complete news to me. I had no idea Talia tried to help an omega like that. One day, I might take the time to fully enjoy imagining her with another female. I'm not so noble that I don't like the thought. And the knowledge that she has a fake cock somewhere in her room, complete with a fake knot, is incredibly sexy for some reason. Then the thought of her dominating Jasper in that way... “Black leather? Nylon? Something more sturdy?”
She pinches my side, “pervert. You've got the rest of them fooled, but I know how lecherous you can be.”
“It isn't lecherous to enjoy beautiful things, bella; and Jasper on his hands and knees with you behind him would be exquisite.”
Alex groans, “shut up, Corso. My dick is sore and I need more fluids than I think we have.”
Jasper's heat lifts completely by nightfall. He has been asleep for a few hours, tucked between Nathan and Reid. Talia has continued to be reluctant to leave the nest, but her stomach growled so loudly that Devon threw her over his shoulder and carried her down to the kitchen. The aroma of something delicious is drifting through the manor, and now I'm experiencing my own reluctance to wash the scents of my omegas off of me so I can go out and release the security details of their duties. I could easily send a text, but they've done such a service for us that I want to thank them in person.
“She's making beef stew,” Trent sighs. He crawls out of the nest and walks out the door with his nose in the air. It's possible that he'll discover the difference in Talia's scent before Jasper simply because he's a bottomless pit.
I go to Reid's side and touch his shoulder, “I'm going to speak with the people Elizabet and Anthony sent over. I'll make sure Trent leaves some food for the rest of us.”
He nods and curls his body more closely around Jasper's.
The shower leaves me feeling cold regardless of the temperature I set. Talia's reaction to my shower is even colder. “Is there a reason you don't want to smell like us, Corso?” She isn't looking at me at all, she's stirring the huge pot bubbling on the stove top.
“Not at all, bella. I just didn't think it would be appropriate to speak with the men outside carrying the scent of your and Jasper's heat.”
“Why would it be inappropriate? We are your omegas. We've just come out of heat. You washed our scents off to go outside and speak with people we don't know. They should know who you belong to.”
“I…” don't know what to say. I look at Devon and Trent for a sense of comradery but all I find are two men with spoons in their hands smirking at me. Devon is at least trying to hold his back, Trent is practically grinning. “I didn't know it would bother you, bella. What would you have me do?”
“I'm not telling you what to do. I don't know why it bothers me so much, but I'm fucking furious,” she clips, then goes back to stirring the stew; leaving me standing there with furrowed brows and a slack jaw.
“Here,” Devon says, and starts stripping down to his boxers. He hands me his shirt first, then his jeans. “Change into that, it might be an odd fit, but it'll work. I'd go out instead of you, but I'm enjoying someone besides me doing something wrong way too much.”
As I'm changing Trent chimes in, “the absolute worst thing you can do after a heat is remove your omega's scent. The first punch Jasper ever threw at me was when I left the house to go get Chinese food freshly showered and in clean clothes. He was mad at all of us for a couple days because I did that. Lesson fucking learned.” He's smiling so hard, thoroughly enjoying my plight. “And good luck getting back in her good graces. This is a huge offense, Alpha Zaphir.” Smart ass or not, Trent's mirth is infectious.
“I hope I'm not out of your good graces for too long, stellina mia,” I whisper against her neck when I walk by her on my way to the back door. “I didn't want to broadcast your scent to the outsiders. I didn't enjoy washing it off and I hope you'll give me the opportunity to replace it after you've eaten some of this stew.” Then I nip her shoulder between the marks Devon and I left on her and head outside.
The men who meet me outside are not the ones I wanted to find. I don't know them, but two of them smell heavily of the same scent permeating the rogue compound. I stop a good fifteen feet away from them and pull out a phone from the pocket of my borrowed jeans. I dial Alex, he answers before the first ring finishes, and I say very clearly so there are no misunderstandings between myself and Alex or the men standing around the trucks in my driveway, “outside now. Bring everyone but Reid and Devon. Move quickly.” I don't end the call, but I lower the phone and keep it in my hand. If something is said, I want someone other than me to hear it.
“Alpha Zaphir,” a tall, lanky beta drawls, “is everything alright?”
