The Omegas Second Chance

Chapter 5

***Content Warning. This chapter contains themes of domestic violence, s*x, and physical harm. Read at your own risk***

Shayna

I released a shaky breath as I made my way down the street towards the coffee shop where I placed my order. With every step I took, I breathed in the scents of the town and felt the breeze against my face and in my hair.

I never thought I would see Levi again. I had spent the last 15 years of my life stuck in fight or flight mode that I hadn't thought about how my high school life still affected me still to this day. Truthfully, I have been in fight or flight since my designation.

The smell of espresso and coffee beans flooded my senses and the tension floated out of my body like a river the closer I got to the cafe. I needed this coffee like I desperately needed this job, even if I didn't want to deal with my new boss.

The bell on the door chimed as I walked in, and I eyeballed all the sweets in the glass case as I made my way to the counter to get my mobile order.

The door chimed again, signaling someone walking in behind me, and I scented Christina. I felt my face flame with embarrassment as I thought about their conversation that I had overheard.

"This place has some of the best coffee and treats in town!" She exclaimed. “I am sorry about earlier.”

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked, being direct, and I hated the way it made me feel anxious.

"Honestly?" She asked. When I nodded, she took a big breath before huffing it out, her bangs blowing with the breath. “I know about y'all's history. I didn't want that to be the reason you didn't take this job. You are literally the perfect fit for this position. Flexible hours, you have experience doing admin work and your recommendations only sealed the deal. I know my brother is an ass, and I don't condone the way he treated you back then, but I can promise you he's changed. He's still an asshole, but he's not cruel. I think things were put into perspective for him after you left town. He's a good man, a good alpha and truly cares about the people that work for him, for us, and he cares about the clients and the town. He just comes off a bit aloof or standoffish. I know I'm rambling, and I seem biased because he's my brother, but truthfully, I wanted you to have the job and I have a feeling you needed this. Needed it more than we needed the help and trust me when I say we desperately needed the help.”

“How about we sit, and you can caffeinate yourself while we wait for my order, and you can tell me all about what had you running back here willing to work for my asshole brother.”

"You know, for someone who wants me to stay here, you're not doing a good job of convincing me that working for your brother is a good idea." I chuckled and she smiled.

She placed both hands on her cup of coffee. “Now, want to spill the beans?”

I took a deep breath and decided I should start with the most recent incident that forced us to flee in the middle of the night.

There were half-drunk wine glasses on the counter and shoes kicked off haphazardly. The lights were turned down low and the mood was certainly romantic. There was an unintelligible noise upstairs, so I told Miles to wait there while I went and investigated what I inevitably knew I was going to find. I was trying to quickly build the wall around my heart, knowing it was about to shatter even more.

There was moaning and groaning coming from the master suite. The room I stayed in. The room I still shared with Derek. I had been planning to leave for a while now, but knowing what I was about to witness further solidified my need and desire to get out of here.

The tell tale sound of skin slapping against skin was echoing in the room around me as I opened the door and saw Derek behind my sister. Her blonde hair, so similar to mine was wrapped around his fist and her bright red lipstick was smeared all over her face as if they had just disconnected themselves from each other.

They hadn't heard me come in or open the door and his stamina clearly was at its peak. Sweat coated their bodies and the scent of s*x hung heavily in the air.

I dropped my keys and phone on the floor and the echo of the clang slapped them out of their reverie and Eliza screamed.

"Derek! Do something!" She squealed. Her voice sounded like a strangled pig.

"You f*****g b***h, you always have to ruin everything!" he yelled as he charged towards me.

Fear flooded my veins and my eyes widened as I took hasty steps backwards. His fists were clenched and he continued to charge forward so I turned and ran.

Before I could get out of the doorway, his hand was wrapped in my hair.. “Just where do you think you're going?”

I finished my recount of my last day at my old house and looked at Christina. She had tears in her eyes and her cheeks were flushed. She had been crying and it was clear my story was taking its toll on her.

"How did you endure all of that?" She asked, and I shrugged.

"I did it all for Miles. Everything I endured was for him."

She smiled and grabbed my hands across the table. "You are an amazing mother and I'm sure he is proud to call you his mom. Is that why you have so much concealer on even though your face is practically perfect? I mean, you are drop dead gorgeous and the only reason someone with your looks wears that much makeup is if they're trying to hide something. If you'll let me, I'd like to be your friend. Not just your coworker. Not just the sister of the man who used to bully you. I'd like to truly be your friend.”

“I'd like that, very much.”

"Aren't you worried he could take Miles? Or that he'll come here and bring you back or try to hurt you again?" There was genuine worry in her voice.

"Right now, his pride is hurt. He is licking his wounds with his tail between his legs, so to speak. He will come, eventually, but he'll have to find me first. My grandmother cut off my parents when they arranged my marriage. She cut off everyone, including my sister, except for Miles and me. He has never been to my hometown, and I'm counting on that giving me a little more time. I can't exactly afford a lawyer right now. So my plan was to get started and learn the ropes and try to handle this myself as quickly as I can."

She looked down into her coffee cup as if she was thinking hard about something. I looked out the window, trying hard to repress the memories and the steps I knew I still had to take.

Truthfully, I was terrified that Derek would come here, but I knew his pride was more important. He was so afraid of Miles being like me, being an omega, but if that night proved anything, it was that Miles was powerful. Powerful enough to ignore familial bonds, pack bonds, and powerful enough to ignore the command of an Alpha. Only an Alpha could do that, or an Alpha's bonded mate.

Now it made sense why Derek had never fully marked me. It was his way of keeping his control over me and keeping me obedient. But that also plays in my favor because I am not eternally linked to him. I don't have a built-in homing beacon telling him where I am.

“I could look into some resources that Saunders and Jones have available to employees. Give me the week to see what I can dig up for you.” Christina offered. Her blue eyes were so bright and reminded me of the crisp blue sky in the morning.

After Christina and I returned to the company, we went our separate ways. I tapped my foot on the elevator floor as it climbed ever so slowly to the floor I needed. I looked at my watch and felt the sweat bead up on my brow.

I was cutting it close to the time limit I had.

The smell of the coffee and the pastry I shoved in my mouth on the run back to the building filled the air with an aroma that felt more like an aphrodisiac than anything else.

The doors chimed as they opened on the floor I needed, and I jogged as quickly and steadily as I could with a coffee in one hand, a brown paper bag with a bagel, cream cheese, and a strawberry cheesecake muffin inside and my coffee without spilling it.

My heels clicked on the floor as I passed my desk and rapped quickly on Levi's office door. The glass was fogged up indicating he had the privacy setting on. I waited for him to give me permission to enter - old habits die hard- and tried to catch my breath.

"Come in." His gruff voice called out.

I opened the door once. I was sure I looked presentable, and my chest wasn't heaving due to being out of shape.

"Cutting it close, Miss Penza." Levi said, using my maiden name. As much as I wanted to change my name back to its original form, Miles had Derek's surname, and I wasn't willing to sever that connection.

"It's Akers," I mumbled.

Levi huffed a breath and looked at me with a furrow in his brow. I set the bag on his desk and handed him the coffee. I stepped back and clasped my hands, my fingers twisting against each other with anxiety.

This was it. My job was riding on this one cup of coffee.

He looked from me to the cup before smirking. I wouldn't call it a sneer, but it was definitely teasing.

The light flowing in from the large windows caressed his face in an angelic glow. He truly was beautiful. His hard as dark as Ebony, much like his sisters, was tousled like he had been running his fingers through it furiously. His gray eyes regarded me as he lifted the cup to his lips. Lips that were full and looked extremely kissable.

Stop it, Shayna.

His broad shoulders and strong arms filled out his white dress shirt perfectly as he leaned back in his chair and finally took a sip of coffee. His gray eyes never left mine even as he swallowed. He didn't say anything, didn't make any noises. Neither of disgust, surprise, or pleasure.

I know if I drink an amazing cup of coffee you'd certainly know about it. But Levi is a lawyer, a successful one and he has an amazing poker face. I didn't know what his lack of response meant.

Was my job secure? Was I fired?

Levi sighed before turning in his chair and facing the big windows, looking at the view outside. I sighed in defeat as my shoulders slumped. I backed up before starting to return to my desk. My mind running a million miles an hour, trying to plan what the hell to do next.

"I will clear my desk within the hour," I said, regretfully.

Sorry Miles.