Page 4 of Their Perfect Omega

Not saying another word, because I didn’t trust myself not to rip Cal’s head off, I grabbed my bag and went up the stairs. Sometimes the best thing for all of us was to separate. Being together was just a reminder that we were falling apart.

CHAPTERTHREE

Kara

The second I stepped foot in Kayla’s house, I felt a wrongness about being in her space. The scents were overwhelming, and I pulled up the neck of my tank top to cover my nose. I’d never experienced anything like it before, even when visiting my parents.

I set my bags against the wall so they were out of the way and the sound of the deadbolt locking made me jump. There was no turning back now.

Kayla had matched with a pack of professional Alphaball players who also had multiple businesses that made them millions and millions of dollars. They’d recently entered billionaire territory and their house showed it.

The expansive living room was sleek but inviting and looked right out to the Los Angeles skyline. It was probably breathtaking at sunset and at night. I walked through the living room and to the windows. The backyard wrapped around the side of the house with a small amount of grass. Most of the outdoor area was taken up by concrete and an infinity pool.

Kayla was laying on a large pool float in the pool, a tray with cans of soda and snacks next to her. She really looked like she was working hard on her business plan.

Snorting back a laugh, I knocked on the window, not wanting to scare her too badly. She didn’t move, and I went to the open door, stepping outside onto the patio. “Kayla?” She was either sleeping, had her EarPods in, or both.

I moved toward the pool, letting my tank top fall back into place, and squinted as the bright sun hit my eyes. I’d left my sunglasses in the car, not thinking I’d need them, but after scenting all of Kayla’s mates in the house, I probably would be spending a lot of time outdoors.

“Kayla!” I said louder, stopping at the edge in her line of sight. I couldn’t tell if her eyes were shut under the sunglasses she had on.

I got down on a knee, reached into the pool, and splashed water at her. She jerked away, her body flailing like she was underwater. The float was so big she at least wasn’t at risk of falling off.

Ew. Did she have sex with them on that thing?

I scrunched my nose as she sat up and looked in my direction. Her mouth fell open in shock and then she squealed my name. She put her EarPods in the tray and rolled off the float into the water.

As soon as she trudged up the pool steps, she flung herself at me, and I didn’t give a shit that she was sopping wet. This was the longest we’d ever been apart, and damn, it felt good to hug her again.

“What the hell, Kara?” Kayla squeezed me so tight that it hurt. “What are you doing here and why do you smell like a bunch of flowers jizzed all over you?”

“Well, the short version is I stole Ella’s car and spent the last two days driving here.” I cringed as she stepped back, her mouth hanging open again. “I bought perfume at a gas station to cover up my scent.”

Scent blockers worked decently enough, but with all the stress of not matching and committing a crime, I had been perfuming more than usual. Enough that it would attract an alpha’s attention if he happened to walk a few feet away from me.

“You… stole her car?” She had a tight grip on both of my upper arms. “Do our parents know?”

I raised an eyebrow, and her shocked expression turned into a grin. “Don’t start. I’m already worried I’m going to be picking up trash along the highway.”

Kayla looped her arm through mine and led me to the outdoor sofa under the awning. “They wouldn’t make you do that. How did you even manage to steal Ella’s car and get away without anyone noticing? Or, oh shit! Did they chase you? Wait. How did you even drive?”

“All of the omegas are going to hate me even more when they beef up security. I think the guard was half asleep and didn’t even really look at me. He just thought I was Ella and didn’t know she’d already left town.” I doubted they looked at the security footage very often if there wasn’t a reason to and, for the most part, only Ella would notice that I was missing, but she wasn’t there.

“But you drove. You don’t have a license.” She went to a mini fridge in the outdoor kitchen area. “Want something to drink?”

“Water would be good.”

“Phew. I was starting to worry you’d been body snatched and were going to ask for a soda.” She grabbed two bottles of water and a towel from a cabinet before coming to sit next to me. “Driving? How?”

“I just got my license last week. Ella had been teaching me.” I took my bottle from her and took a sip. “It was easy.”

“Of course it was. You didn’t tell me.” Kayla watched me with a hurt expression as I took another sip of water. “I’m so happy to see you, but I’m worried about you, Care Bear. It’s unlike you to do something like this.”

I sighed and slouched down on the couch, putting my neck on the back cushion. The truth was, I was disappointed and scared. Disappointed that I couldn’t handle even the slightest bit of a roadblock and scared that I would never find my place with a pack. I hadn’t been uncertain of my future before, but now that I was, I was losing my mind.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I got my license. It wasn’t even that exciting since I don’t have my own car, and well… I didn’t want a big deal made about it.” I shut my eyes, stopping the tears. “My apartment was just a reminder of what I didn’t have, and I needed to get away. Ella gave me a spare key for the summer while she’s away so I could use her kitchen gadgets and streaming services. I saw the car keys on the counter, and something snapped.”

My apartment wasn’t a home because I hadn’t made it one. I had no intention of staying long.

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