The Omega's Safe Haven

By Mandy Rosko

Sean and Markus have been rescuing Omegas from facilities that sell them and working with Esme Baer to connect them with their fated mates.

 

When their associate calls to inform Sean that she's found a special Omega for him and Markus, he's so distracted that he falls off a ladder and hits his head! When the fearful Omega arrives, she's met with an amnesiac Alpha who has no idea who he is, or that she is meant to be his.

 

Though Tara knows the Alpha is rumored to make Omegas who displease him disappear, Sean is nothing like she thought he would be. He seems to think he's a servant in the house, and Tara doesn't dare tell him the truth, even when everything about him makes her feel safe.

 

Until his lover, the Beta, comes back from a business trip and triggers Sean's memories to return.

 

Will Tara's deception ruin her chances at the safe haven she's always dreamed of?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mandy Rosko
• Release date: Mar 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215457856

Mandy Rosko

USA Today Bestselling and award winning author Mandy Rosko loves writing paranormal romances with werewolves, dragons and people with special powers. She is the author of the Things in the Night Series, Night and Day, and the Dangerous Creatures Series.She does M/F, M/M, a touch of medieval under her other pen name, Rizzo Rosko, and pretty much anything else she's in the mood to write (which makes things confusing for readers since that means she's too much of a flake to stick to any one brand).Favorite authors right now are anyone who writes dangerous and tortured heroes ;)If you want to keep up to date on the sexy guys in my hot new releases, then sign up for my Newsletter and receive a free copy of The Vampire's Curse: http://mandyrosko.com/contact.htmlAnd on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MandyRoskoRomanceThings in the Night Series:The Vampire's CurseThe Legend of the WerewolfThe Shepard's AgonyThe Dragon and the Wolf (A prequel novella)Night and Day Series:Night and DayThe Calm Before The StormAll Hell Breaking LooseBook Four Coming Soon!Dangerous Creatures:Burns Like FireA Shock To Your SystemAs Cold As Ice Coming December 8th 2015

Book preview

PROLOGUE

You really should hire someone else to do that, Esme warned, watching from his tablet screen as he slid down the rickety step ladder.

Sean had been up and down this ladder plenty of times. He knew when it was dangerous.

It’s fine, just a couple of lightbulbs that need changing. He grinned at Esme’s unimpressed face on the screen. Have to make a good impression, right?

You look like you work in that house instead of own it. Just don’t break your neck. I want you changed into something acceptable when she arrives.

I will be.

You should have gone with Markus.

Sean grabbed the box of bulbs fit for the fixture above, then stopped himself, looking at Esme on screen. Why? He’s gone alone before.

Esme shrugged. I told you this one was a bit different.

You worried something might happen?

"You know me better than to know that worry isn’t something I do," Esme laughed.

Yes, I suppose that’s true.

Esme had introduced Sean to his mate, a beta named Markus. Both of them had been searching for that right person and heard that Esme had some sort of magic touch when it came to these things.

They’d been so impressed with her ability to match shifters that they’d continued working with her—the two men being the ones to go out and find people who needed to be matched. Esme being the one who located their true fated mates.

Not that Esme needed help in finding shifters who wanted to be matched, but Sean and Mark located people typically in areas Esme didn’t frequent… specifically, they sought out Omegas who had been used and tossed aside, who now had no money or connections to allow them to even think of such a person, let alone find Esme.

The problem was that sometimes, people who had been stepped on a little too much, who had seen the worst in others, often allowed themselves to become the worst right along with the rest of the world.

One Omega they’d brought to this house tried stabbing Markus in the face with a fork. No way were they bringing someone like that to Esme. So they vetted everyone thoroughly to ensure they weren’t throwing someone violent at her.

But this situation was different. Instead of them finding a woman to bring to Esme, she had found this Omega. Not that it made any difference to Sean, but it did make him a little curious.

So, what’s going on with this one, then?

Nothing to fear, Esme replied from the tablet screen. I think Tara is a lamb. You’ll just have to be careful with her.

Sean tapped the box against his thigh. So you’ve met her?

The little pity-looking woman dared to look mischievous. I may have taken a brief trip down. I hate those facilities. More predatory than protection, she shook her head.

Sean agreed, which was why he and Markus wanted to get as many Omegas out of there as they possibly could.

So…. why did you want to see her? Sean was growing more suspicious.

In a good way.

I know you and Mark have been looking for a third—

Sean’s stomach clenched, but he played it off, not knowing the right thing to say. Thank you seemed too small. Cool… cool, so this will be interesting… Anyway, how’re the preparations for that cruise going?

Esme chuckled, knowing the alpha was a bit awkward when it came to gratitude. Would be much better if you were here, but I know it’s going to be lovely. I can still get you all a suite if you decide to join us.

Trapped on a boat in the middle of the ocean, I’ll pass, but thanks. Sean shook his head. He didn’t know how much Esme was worth, but with the clients she had and the favors she was owed through years of her matchmaking services, he wouldn’t be shocked to find out if she had ten times what he did in the bank.

And that was really saying something.

He circled back to the elephant in the room. So you’ve been sneaking around trying to get our triad going, huh?

Only because you like to drag your feet, darling, and I don’t like to leave loose ends. I saw her file, had a good feeling, and decided to check-in. She barely noticed me. I arrived under the guise of a potential client, just looking around for a nice Omega to do my laundry, or whatever else those vile places like to pretend to offer.

Sean nodded. When he stayed silent, Esme continued. She’s pretty.

Yeah? Sean smiled. He couldn’t help it. Despite his performative aloofness, he was excited at the prospect of finding their third.

Broken, as to be expected, but an absolute sweetheart.

His heart fluttered, and his pulse quickened. Not wanting to start waxing poetic like a teenager, he cleared his throat. Well, thanks all the same, Esme. Knowing you’re still keeping an eye out… it means a lot.

And it did.

Esme smiled at him brightly. Coming from such a stoic Alpha, your words mean a lot.

I’m not that stoic, Sean grumbled. At least, Markus says I’ve been getting better at being more open… vulnerable… emotional… whatever.

I’m sure you are! Love does that for you, Esme replied. Now, finish what you’re doing quickly, get changed, and remember to be gentle. She’s rather…. timid. Though I can tell, her smile will light up a room. Your hearts, too.

They said their goodbyes and ended the call.

Sean shook his head.

That woman was a whirlwind at times. He could forget that whenever she was being soft and unassuming, usually because she was trying to get what she wanted.

The fact that she’d specifically sifted through the files and located this particular Omega for him and Markus…

He stepped up to the ladder, staring at the lightbulb box in his hands.

Could it be? Had Esme finally found the Omega who would complete the triad he and Markus were trying to make?

Alpha, Beta, and Omega: Perfect harmony.

When Esme introduced him and Markus, they’d fit well together… but it had only been nearly perfect. They’d both known that something was off.

Someone was missing.

Another true mate.

An Omega was needed.

If she’d really done it, found their other mate, how would he ever repay her?

Sean climbed the step ladder. He’d have to text Markus. Why hadn’t Markus texted him? He would have known instantly if the woman he picked up was their mate…

Suddenly, Sean wondered if Esme had been wrong this time, and his heart sank.

She wouldn’t get my hopes up for nothing… but why wouldn’t Markus have sent me a message?

Sean twisted the old bulbs out of the socket. The ladder beneath him wobbled. Worse than it usually did.

Okay, maybe the screws on this old thing were a little too loose.

Sean held still a moment, balancing himself until he felt the wobble stop, and then screwed in the proper bulbs.

The ladder wobbled again.

Even ten feet up, the ceilings being high in most rooms of his house, he should have been able to land on his feet without a problem.

But he was a wolf, not a cat, so balancing acts weren’t his thing. As Sean reached out for the hanging lights, the ladder moved one way, his body another, and his foot caught in the rungs.

He went down hard, tangling and flipping until he was upside down. His head collided with the floor, hard, and behind his eyes flashed white and then black.

In the distance, he heard the crash of the old ladder and the soft shatter of thin glass from the old bulbs

Markus would have a field day rubbing this in. He’d always told Sean to replace that damn ladder. He could afford to, after all.

Markus and the Omega, Tara, would be there soon. Maybe… maybe he could rest there, on the floor, just for a few minutes.

He’d change his clothes later.

CHAPTER ONE

The road was a bumpy one. It was the only thing Tara could think about as she sat awkwardly in the back seat of the fancy black Mercedes-Benz.

The Beta driver had seemed… nice enough, but Tara didn’t want to push her luck by asking any questions about where she was going.

Bought, married, and divorced five times over, she was an Omega on thin ice, and getting snooty by trying to learn anything about her new master didn’t seem like the best idea.

Maybe five years ago, she would have done that, as a young twenty-year-old who had yet to be taught the real hard lessons of life. She would have poked and prodded without a thought, brushing it off if the Beta snapped at her for being so inquisitive.

She wasn’t so brave anymore.

She just wished the damn road wouldn’t make her queasy. No one liked a carsick Omega.

Usually, those who could afford to buy an Omega were rich, though. The car seemed to suggest that, but why then did the road to their house seem like it wasn’t even paved?

She knew why.

At least, she was pretty sure she did. She knew where she was going, and there were one of two outcomes. She’d either be sent back early… or she’d never be heard from again.

That’s how it had been for the others. That’s what she’d heard, anyway.

Almost there now, the driver spoke softly.

His voice was a gentle one, making Tara shiver and ache, yearning to cling to the feeling of safety that came with it.

She shook away the idea.

When he’d arrived to pick her up, the sense of unease within her melted, and she’d felt something akin to relief, though she had no idea why.

He was good-looking enough, but not a knockout. The sort of male who might genuinely want companionship instead of… what others typically wanted.

The kind of Alphas who purchased Omegas were rich, handsome men who looked like they could get anyone they wanted. Tara quickly learned that the reason they bought an Omega was that underneath the glossy exterior, they tended to be into stuff that someone in a normal relationship would reject.

More like run screaming from.

Usually painful kinks, and she shuddered to think of it.

Good-looking Alphas and Betas, who at first made her feel safe and secure, had always, eventually, revealed their true colors. She would not be lulled into a false sense of security by whatever off-base instincts told her Beta was different.

But this Beta had already demonstrated behaviors that were unlike anything she’d dealt with before. He was gentle, but not in a way that seemed insincere. When he entered the room where they had her waiting, he spoke softly to her. He didn’t seem to look her up and down to assess her in any way. He hadn’t demanded that she call him master or turn around so he could get a good look at her. In the short amount of time it took him to fill out the paperwork, Tara found herself glad that he was the one to buy her.

Until she found out he wasn’t. He was just the driver.

And her dread had picked up all over again.

You, uh… You doing all right back there? The driver asked.

That was the most he’d said to her since picking her up from the facility.

I’m fine, thank you.

If fine meant that her imagination had been running wild for the entire ride.

She was on her sixth try. She wasn’t top-tier Omega material. She was a failure. Whoever she was going to… well, that Alpha would have reasons why he was willing to settle for such a poor Omega.

She’d heard the stories.

The Omegas who disappeared, never to be seen again.

It’s not like anyone searched for them. No one cared when an Omega went missing.

So Tara was determined to be on her best behavior. She didn’t want to get passed around in some private resale.

Or worse.

She wasn’t worth much anymore, not with how many people had her before, so she doubted anyone would care if she vanished and got buried alive in the middle of the woods, either.

Which looked to be exactly where they were.

Tara glanced out the window. She hadn’t been told he couldn’t do that, and she wasn’t so broken down that she needed