2. SIN

“If she refused to answer you the first time then it means that she’s not interested so why don’t you take a hike before I make you?” 

The Alpha scoffed and turned, giving me a view of the person who came to my rescue. “Mom won’t let you lay a hand on me.” 

“I don’t really give a fuck about your mother,” she said as she moved closer. “I’m sure your father—” 

“You know nothing so stop making assumptions. What are you doing here anyway? Is my uncle too busy to keep you occupied?” 

Her eyes narrowed on him but she didn’t answer or back down when he turned his full attention on her. Rolling her eyes, the woman moved closer. She walked around him and surprised me by moving in front of me. 

Her presence made some of the fear fade. 

“You have a very nasty habit of sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong,” she hissed. 

He smirked. “What are you going to do about it, Bella? Run to daddy?” 

She growled and took a step forward but at that moment, Draven and his mate appeared. 

“What’s going on here?” Draven questioned as his eyes darted between the three of us. 

“Uncle Tyrone’s toy is being a bitch again,” the Alpha said. 

Draven growled. His hand shot out to grip the back of his son’s neck, making him groan and hunch down to try and ease the pain. “Is that how you talk about women? Apologize. Now!” 

Other words were spoken but they flew over my head. My full focus was on the Beta in front of me. There was something about her that made me want to step closer and snuggle against her. She was offering me protection even though we were strangers. 

I took a small step towards her and sucked in a breath. 

She wore a few scents but three of them stood out amongst all the others. Lemons, woods, and dark chocolate with a hint of cinnamon. The last one made a flood of wetness pool between my legs and a moan slipped from my lips. 

Colour flooded my cheeks when I realized that they were all staring at me. Pressing my thighs together, I shifted from foot to foot as my eyes dropped to the floor. 

“B-bathroom,” I croaked. 

Draven gave me directions which I quickly followed. I pushed the door closed, turned the lock, and then sagged against it. Frowning, I pushed a hand into my pants and panties and brushed my fingers along the wetness that coated my sex. Pulling my hand out, I studied the wetness and breathed out a relieved breath when I realized that it wasn’t slick. 

The doctor had explained what would happen to my body when my heat hit. For a moment I feared that she might have been wrong with her calculations. 

A soft knock on the door made me jerk upright. I spun around and stumbled away from the door as another soft knock came. 

“Sin?” It was the Beta. “Are you okay?” 

I swallowed and stupidly nodded, only realizing too late that she couldn't see me. Walking over to the faucet, I opened the tab and splashed my face with some cold water. There were no towels so I used my shirt to wipe my face. After sucking in a deep breath and blowing it out, I walked over to the door, unlocked it, and then pulled it open. 

She stood there, only a few feet away with a small smile on her lips. 

“Are you okay?” she repeated her question. “Did Damien touch you? If he did I’m going to kick his ass.” 

“H-he didn’t,” I whispered. 

“Good.” Stepping closer, she held out her hand. “I’m Bella.” 

I stared down at her hand. It was clean and it looked soft and a part of me wanted to touch it but the thought of it made me feel sick. Luckily I was saved by Draven once again. 

“Bella,” he said softly as he stopped next to her. “Sin doesn’t like being touched.” 

“Oh.” Bella’s hand dropped. “Sorry. It’s nice to meet you.” 

“Can I ask you a favour?” Draven glanced between us. “You’re staying here tonight, right? Can you show Sin to one of the guest rooms and make sure that she has everything she needs? I need to get back to the station.” 

“Sure.” She didn’t look happy about it at all. 

“Thanks.” Draven looked at me. “Make a list of everything you need and I’ll take a day off to take you shopping.” 

I nodded. Draven hesitated a few more seconds before he walked away. The silence lasted only for a few seconds because he only made it to the front door when his mate started yelling again. 

“I told you—” 

“She has nowhere to go,” Draven growled. 

“Take her to the Omega Centre!” she yelled. “It’s what they’re there for.” 

His reply was too low to hear but a moment later the door slammed shut, leaving us surrounded by silence. 

Bella didn’t comment on what had been said but she offered to show me my room. I silently followed her up the stairs as I tried to ignore the eyes burning into my back. When we reached the landing, I glanced over my shoulder at Lauren. Our eyes locked for a few seconds before I turned around.

Staying here was going to cause more problems than any good. Omegas hated it when other Omegas invaded their space, especially if they were already bonded. 

“Sin?”

 

My eyes snapped up. I realized that I had stopped following her. “I can’t stay,” I whispered. 

Her chocolate brown eyes darted over my face. “Where will you go?” 

I shrugged. The center wouldn’t allow me to go back because they wanted me to mingle and find an Alpha on my own since I turned their choices down. 

“Is it because of Lauren?” Bella ask. “Don’t mind her. She’s always a bitch to everyone so it’s not just you.” 

I shook my head. My body jerked when she placed her hand on my arm. Bella instantly jerked her hand away. 

“I’m sorry,” she instantly apologized. “I forgot.” 

“I-I. . .” I could feel the panic clawing up my throat. 

“Do you want some fresh air?” 

I nodded. I needed out of the house and away from the overwhelming stench of Lauren’s sweet perfume. It was her house and although Draven’s intention was good, he hadn’t thought things through before he agreed for me to stay here. 

“How about a ride to town?” 

“No.” I winced when I realized how it sounded. “I don’t want to be around. . .others.” 

Bella studied me silently again but this time she had a small smile playing around her lips. “You don’t like being around people, do you?” 

I shook my head. 

“Me neither.”

“They always stare at me,” I told her, remembering the few times I had been obliged to go on the trips to towns. “And touch me.” 

“Where did you stay before?” 

I hesitated as I studied her. “You already know.” 

Bella’s cheeks flooded with colour but her stiff nod confirmed my suspicion. The town was small but not only that, I knew that my story had been plastered all over the news when Draven found me in that room. There wasn’t a person in this town that didn’t know my past which was why they always stared and why some Alphas tried to take advantage of me. 

“Come with me.” She turned and walked off in the opposite direction we were headed in, not even pausing to make sure that I followed. “I have an idea but I need to call my mate before I do anything.”

Curiosity had me following her to what happened to be her bedroom or guest room. There was nothing personal in it. Just a bed and other furniture that matched the decorations of the house downstairs. All that belonged to Bella was a gym bag that was on the bed. 

“I’ll be right back,” she said as she grabbed something from the bag. “I’m just going to make a quick call.” Bella paused at the door and turned to look at me. “You don’t have to stay in here if—” 

“I’ll stay,” I interrupted her. “The room smells like you and I like your scent a lot more than. . .Lauren’s.” 

“Oh.” She blinked at me, seeming surprised by my words. “Okay. Uhm. . .I’ll be back.” 

I smiled at the door when she left. I liked her blush, and I like the fact that she wasn’t like all the others who only stared at me and silently judged me. 

But my smile faded when I took a seat on the edge of the bed well away from her bag. Maybe taking the center up on their offer wasn’t such a bad idea.

 Alpha Jackson was willing to bond me despite all the issues I had and my troubled past. He said that he would wait, but I didn’t trust him. Jackson was a snake of a man and one of those Alphas who took pride in hurting what he owned and if I accepted him as my Alpha I would be owned. I’d be a breeding machine with no say of my own. 

A shudder raced down my spine. I was not going to be just another Omega breeder.