The Omegas Second Chance

Chapter 6

Shayna

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

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 affected me still to this day. Truthfully, I had 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. I needed this coffee like I desperately needed this job, even if I didn't want to deal with my new boss. I was so frustrated with myself for not putting two and two together. I had thought it was strange when Christina wouldn't tell me my boss' name. I hadn't even put together that Levis' last name was on the building. This was clearly his firm, well his family's firm, and now that I thought of that, he had the same last name as Christina. Were they siblings? I vaguely recalled him having a sister, but she was much younger than we were. She was so nice and so relatable that I could see us becoming friends, but could I really be friends with someone who was related to the person who made my life a living hell growing up? Was she like him? Was her kindness all an act or a ruse to get me to take the job? What was the reason she was so insistent on me taking this job?

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. I didn't really have the extra funds for this, but I wanted to make a good impression and I wont lie, the look on Levis' face when I stood up for myself was totally worth it. 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.

"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.

"Honest answer?" 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, don't get me wrong, 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."

"Order for Shayna Akers," one of the workers called, and the sound of my last name made me flinch, which wasn't missed by Christina.

"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. I didn't want to talk about my past, but I knew bottling it up wouldn't do any good. It was about time I let it all out to someone besides my grandmother and Miles. I grabbed Levis' coffee while gripping mine for dear life and making my way to an empty table in the corner of the café.

Christina smiled and hugged the cashier before grabbing her order of coffee and making her way to the table I selected as I took in my surroundings and checking out the place I was surely going to be frequenting a lot. There were green plants hanging all over the room and a big glass window that let in a ton of natural light. It was calming and cozy. There was a row of bookshelves that seemed to be calling my name begging to be read.

"That's Taylor Nadol. I don't know if you remember her or not. She was one grade under you and Levi. She owns the shop. She opened it around 5 years ago, and I don't think there is a morning I haven't come here for coffee, girl talk, or just a breather from the office."

I looked at the woman behind the counter. She had long brown hair that was tied back in a slick ponytail and warm brown eyes that looked like molten caramel. She was short like me and had curves that I would kill for. I scented a little more in depth and caught on the scent of omega and my eyes widened. Christina chuckled at me.

"Yup. She's an Omega too. She's the feistiest one I know. I think y'all will get along well." She said before turning to face me and placing 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.

"You played well tonight", I told Miles as I slid my key into the lock on the front door. We had just gotten home from his football game and were home earlier than expected. I saw Derek's car in the driveway, so I knew he was home and the rage I felt at him blowing off our son was growing stronger by the second. He had promised he would come and here he was at home.

"Mom, why is Aunt Eliza's car here too?" Miles sounded concerned and when I turned, sure enough, I spotted the shiny blue Lexus sitting in the driveway right next to Derek's car. I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. I knew he had been having affairs, but seeing my sister's car here with both of them alone and knowing how much she hated me had me nervous.

"I don't know" I whispered as I finally got the door unlocked and charged into the house. 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 sounding 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. Instead of the loving and erotic touch he was giving Eliza, I got the harsh, bruising, painful touch of a man who clearly despised me.

"Just where do you think you're going?"