Bee and the Honey Crew: Contemporary Sweet Omegaverse: The Candyverse, #1

By Mona Black

Bee Robinson's dream is to be an omega. What she is, though, is a weird beta on the run from her ex and her small town.

 

Weird as in unusual, as in being a lot like an omega rather than her official designation. It's what got her into trouble with her ex and her family.

But now she's about to get her life straightened out. A new town, a new job, new friends, and a chance to accept who and what she is.

Learn from your mistakes, isn't that what they say?

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Only her new friends also seem to think she may be an omega, and so do the members of the St. Laurent pack who instantly start courting her.

A pack of four gorgeous males, each with their own insecurities and doubts, a pack needing her to cement the bonds that make them a family, needing her to join them as their mate.

A family…

Does it matter if you're a beta or an omega when all you need is to accept yourself as you are and see where it takes you?

Her new friends and the pack seem to think so, and in the end Bee may have to let nature take its course, come what may.

At the end of the rainbow, there will be a happy ending.

 

* This is a sweet omegaverse standalone novel with low angst, four gorgeous guys and a curvy girl who find happiness together, accepting themselves and finding trust and love in each other. This story contains M/M, knotting, heats and ruts. *

• Language: English
• Publisher: Black Wing Press
• Release date: Jul 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215680636

Book preview

2

BEE

Idefinitely don’t ogle Nate and Kade as I serve their coffees, nor do I watch them from the back of the café as they sip at their bitter black brews, their big masculine hands wrapped around those lucky mugs.

Oh Jesus, Bee. Don’t obsess.

I’m not obsessing. They’re pretty, that’s all. A girl can look.

I make myself turn away and unpack a box with books that arrived this morning. I take out chick-lit, romance, mystery, thrillers and some horror books. Is there a system to the shelves? I can’t see it. I’ll have to ask Sawyer during a lull if I’m doing this right.

My fingers itch for my pencils and my sketch pad.

I’m jittery. Out of sorts.

It’s normal. I’m in a new city. A big city. I just need to get to know it, get used to the job and the people.

And the people have been nice so far. No complaints there.

Though Kade had been… prickly. Maybe. Hard to tell from a few words, really—then again, sometimes you do.

Black and bitter like my soul. Like, really, dude? Who says things like that outside of the pages of a cringy novel? Bet he still gets the girls with that line, though, looking the way he does.

The boys, too.

Wait, what did Gigi say about their omega’s name? Was it Jae? Is that a boy or a girl? Do they even like girls?

And what do I care? I don’t.

Nanana. Watch me not caring. I jam a romcom title between two undefinable novels with swords and hearts on their covers, and reach into the box for more books. Honestly, it’s good that they’re unavailable. It’s all good.

Surrounded by books and coffee, I’m living the dream.

Be grateful, Bee. Live in the moment. Sooner or later, this mess will blow over and you can go wherever you want.

Are you good back there? Sawyer’s voice floats over to me, followed by the man himself. Need help with anything? You know you can always ask.

He likes to sneak up on me, not the best thing under the given circumstances. I drop a dog-eared sci-fi title to the floor and squeak as he suddenly looms over me.

Everything all right?

Yeah. I didn’t smell him, and that’s with my weirdly strong sense of smell. He’s using scent blockers, I guess, as most omegas do. I paste on a smile. All good here, boss.

Did you figure out my sorting system? He props one shoulder against the shelves, stuffs his hands in his pant pockets and gazes at the rows of books.

Is he cute, like Gigi said? I suppose he’s not bad-looking, with his boyish face and large eyes, his soft dark curls and slender body. A classic omega man. I wonder how it feels to fit your designation so perfectly, to never have to cut off your toes to fit the shoe…

And then his words sink in. "So there is a system?"

He chuckles. Sorted by color. Don’t you see it? Well, I guess now you can’t, not anymore.

I step back, frowning, and then I see it. The shelves I haven’t touched do have a color theme. Who sorts books by color?

He shrugs a little. Frowns, too. Never mind. I’ll just go see if any more customers came in.

I don’t say that you can see very well from here that nobody has come in. Hadn’t meant to upset him. Cranky though he was this morning when I arrived at the café, he’s been nice to me.

So… Thank you for everything, Sawyer. I mean it.

He stops, flashes me a brilliant smile, his shoulders relaxing. I hadn’t realized he’d been so tense until now. Don’t mention it. I see you met Gigi already. She’s great. Sophie, too. Watch out for Ronin, he’s rarely seen.

A cryptid, I mutter.

Sawyer’s mouth twitches. Something like that. Our very own Bigfoot.

I’ll look out for any extra-large footwear.

You do that. He gestures at the café at large. Right. I’ll leave you to it. I’ll just…

I watch him go, a smile playing on my lips. Okay, he’s not that bad after all. I mean, he’s funny.

See, Bee? Easy as pie. Maybe this will work out just fine.

Got to believe it.

My room faces south and is pleasantly warm from the last rays of the sun when I enter it in the evening. Winter is almost over, with the promise of blue skies on the horizon—and if that means that my room will get too hot come Summer, well… I’ll get a fan for that burning bridge when I reach it.

Why is it so hard to live day by day, live in the moment, and not worry about tomorrow?

Because my parents are worriers, of course. Speaking of whom, I should call them. They asked how I get on in my new city and new place, and they should be home by now.

So I flop onto my narrow bed, staring up at the ceiling and bare walls. I really need to get some posters or maybe some macrame to break the white monotony. Or paint. I could paint my walls pink or mauve or paint flowers and…

No. That’s so not a beta thing. Pink, really? Flowers?

Pressing my lips into a line, I hit dial on my parents’ number.

And why? Why can’t I be myself for a change? I don’t have Craig to tell me what I should and shouldn’t be doing. If I’m a weird beta, so what?

Sawyer sorts his books by color. Why shouldn’t I like pink? Why…?

Honey, there you are! my dad’s voice booms over the phone. His face appears a second later, his bearded face creased in a huge smile. We were waiting for your call.

Hi, Daddy. Where’s Mom? Despite all my affirmations and having had an easy time of it, it’s good to see his face. Don’t tell me she’s at cousin Lina’s house again?

I’m an only child and have no children—yet—so my mom has sort of adopted my omega cousin Lina who has already found a pack and had her first baby a few months ago.

Lina is my age. It’s insane.

No pressure. Although I’m a beta, my parents keep talking about grandchildren as if I’m about to go into heat and grant them their wish. I mean, if I found my mate, I could, but that’s not going to happen anytime soon.

And my parents didn’t find each other until they were much older than me, a fact I never fail to remind them of. My mom is an omega, though, so she can’t help herself with babies. I’ve often asked her how come she didn’t look for a pack, like most omegas do. She said she fell in love with Dad, a beta, and that was it.

Apparently, when you find the right person, you know quickly enough.

Your mom is here somewhere. Corinne! Kiddo’s on the line.

Heat suffuses my face. Dad. Stop calling me that. I’m a grown-up woman.

He grins. You’ll always be our kiddo. So tell us all about it. How did the move go?

Bee! My mom appears beside my dad. What took you so long? I almost died of suspense! Did you arrive well? Did you settle in okay? How is the new job? Did you meet your roommates? Did you⁠—?

Yes, Mom, I cut through her questions. Everything’s fine. Sawyer is nice and I met the⁠—

Sawyer? That a guy? Suddenly her nose is all but pressed to the screen. He’s nice, huh?

Mom—

Corinne, my dad says. Leave the girl be. After Craig…

Yeah, after Craig. AC. And they don’t know half of it. If it’s up to me, that’s how it’s going to stay.

Oh, honey. Mom draws back a little, makes a face. Was Craig really that bad? That time we met him he was so attentive and pleasant. Maybe you should have given him another chance. He was good for you.

I roll my eyes. He wasn’t good for me. We kept arguing because he thought I was acting up. Acting like an omega.

And is that such an irrational thing to say? He was probably concerned, as we are. You can be a little too… impulsive sometimes.

"Impulsive?" It comes out as a gasp.

You know what I mean. Not accepting your designation and doing things that have people pointing a finger at you. He was just⁠—

Can we not talk about him, please? I whisper.

My parents exchange an eloquent look. They sound too much like Craig tonight, and though I know they love me, that they may have a point, I don’t want to hear it.

Tell us about Sawyer, Dad says. I mean, you know. The café. Is that your room? He squints at the screen. A little empty, isn’t it?

I’ll decorate, I say. And the café is nice. Actually… I should turn in. I’m beat. I feel bad about the lie. Well, I am tired but that’s not why I’m hanging up. I’ll call you another day to chat more.

Promise, Dad says. Or anytime you want. Yeah?

I love you, I tell him, both of them.

Let us know if you need anything, Mom says. We’re always here for you, you know that, right?

Of course. I blow them some kisses and turn my phone face down on the sheets beside me with a sigh.

I know they love me and want the best for me. I want the best for me, too. But after Craig, I’m not sure what that might be anymore.

I’m more confused than ever.

And scared. Though I tell myself that nobody knows where I am except for my parents, that Craig definitely doesn’t know, my pulse won’t slow down.

Throwing an arm over my eyes, I sink into the soft mattress, allowing myself to tremble for a long moment, now that nobody can see. One moment, that’s all I allow myself, because if I let the tremble set in, I might never stop shaking.

Which would be a terrible idea. After all, what happened was probably a one-off. I panicked, and I ran. It’s not as bad as that. Even though Craig showed his true colors and I hope never to meet him again, that doesn’t mean…

Yeah, I’m fine here. I just need to pick up the pieces and put myself together again, allow myself to be as I am, try it out. See if it makes me feel better.

If others accept me as I am.

And although I shouldn’t need a stamp of approval—again—sometimes… Yes, sometimes seeing yourself through the eyes of others helps gain some perspective.

Or so I hope.

3

NATHAN

Aheavenly aroma wafts out of the kitchen, and a grin splits my face when I realize that Jae is home and indulging in his favorite hobby:

Feeding our eternally hungry pack.

I poke my head through the door and there he is, stirring something in a pot.

I take a minute to look at him. For an omega, he’s pretty muscular with wide shoulders, and pretty tall, almost as tall as me. His soft shorts are slung low, hugging narrow hips, his white T-shirt stretching across his back, showing off his strong arms. His dark hair curls at the back of his neck, and his sloe eyes and high cheekbones are model-worthy.

It’s his faint scent of blackberries winding through my senses, though, that hooks and reels me in.

Hi, I say, walking inside and wrapping my arms around him from behind. I rest my chin on his shoulder. What are you making?

I’m fine, thanks, and you? he teases, a laugh vibrating in his voice. Oh, nice to hear you’re doing well, and you’re right, the weather is looking great.

Shut up. I gaze into the pot where he’s stirring a brown sauce. Mushrooms, right? And white wine.

You have a nose like a bloodhound.

I sniff at his neck, making him shiver. I lick at his salty-sweet skin. Mm… I like smelling you.

His sweet scent reminds me of that girl at the café, the new girl… Bee. I can’t get her out of my mind.

She’d smelled so sweet. Sweeter than anything I’ve ever smelled, and yet it wasn’t overwhelming or too sugary. No, it was subtle and fresh, a candied apple, a strawberry cream pie.

You just want to get into this pot and eat the sauce.

I want your sauce, I growl, and I want into your pants.

Don’t distract me, Nate, or there won’t be any dinner for all of you hungry wolves. Speaking of wolves… Is James home?

Didn’t see him. I nip at his neck, at his scent gland, worry the skin between my teeth until he shudders and bucks against me. He’s probably jogging.

Jogging, lifting weights… One day he’ll hulk out on us.

I snicker, slide my hands down his hips and then to the front of his shorts to palm his cock through the soft cotton. Then I want to be Thor. And you’re Iron Man.

Why? He hisses when I massage his hardening cock.

Because you’re so hard, I breathe in his ear and bite his earlobe, tugging on the silver stud there. His cock jerks against my palm. Iron-hard.

He laughs. That was so bad.

Bad are the things I want to do to your body.

"And cheesy."

What omega has ever complained about cheesy lines? I mutter, without thinking.

He pulls away from me. Set the table, will you? I’m almost done with this.

He tends to retreat from me when I speak the o word.

That word being ‘Omega.’

He’s our omega but he’s strangely touchy about the topic. Granted, he’s not one hundred percent your traditional omega type, well, apart from the cooking, the cuteness and sweet scent. But who cares about that? Not every omega is the same.

He’s clever, pretty, amazing. Hot.

And he’s ours.

Even if he rarely lets us tap his ass. Hasn’t gone into heat yet, either, so there’s also that. A late bloomer. I told him many times, we don’t have to wait for his heat to fuck. That he doesn’t have to save himself for that. And he’s relaxed a bit since then.

I mean, I couldn’t care less about waiting for his heat, especially since male omegas rarely have babies and I don’t expect him to. We don’t need babies. We have our pack, we have each other. We’re awesome.

Still, his wishes are law where we are concerned.

No ass-tapping unless it’s one of the rare occasions when he’s in the mood.

Fine by me.

Other packs are big on breeding, on teasing their omegas into heat, knotting them and knocking them up as quickly as possible.

Best of luck to them. I care about my pack and their happiness is my number one responsibility as one of their alphas. And if some frown upon having a male omega in the pack—only a male omega, where some packs go for both, at the very least—that’s none of their business.

Something smells good. Kadence steps into the kitchen, running a hand over the cropped sides of his head. His white-blond spikes glint as much as his gray eyes when he takes us in. Is it you, Jae?

It’s the mushroom sauce, Jae says, deadpan, tasting the sauce off the wooden spoon.

Kade chuckles. Ambles up to us and peers into the bubbling pot. Nope. It’s you.

I barely have any scent, Jae snaps, uncharacteristically snarky. Other omegas have to use scent suppressants, I don’t have enough scent to go around.

Kade barely reacts to the snark, taking the attitude better than me or James. You smell like my favorite dessert, Jae, as well you know. So shall I start by licking you all over, or shall I stuff that pretty mouth of yours until you relax?

I got this covered, I growl, the alpha in me craving to be in control.

Kade bares his teeth at me. He looks like a feral elf with his light coloring and handsome face, that crazy hairdo and all the piercings in his face—and other parts of his strong body. Want to play with your food, alpha?

Jae turns around, pressing his back to the stove, panting harshly. His shorts are seriously tented with the hard-on I coaxed earlier. Now it looks like his cock is drilling a hole through the fabric. Guys…

His fine face is a magnet, pulling me in. I kiss his mouth and he grabs my chin, kissing me back. Demanding, not yielding. Taking, not asking.

I wonder suddenly how Bee would kiss. If she’d let me take over, push her against the wall, cradle her face.

Why am I still thinking about that girl?

Jae pulls back, brown eyes questioning, and before I can think how to explain or even if I should, Kade takes advantage and turns Jae’s face his way and kisses him.

Damn hot. Seeing them together overlays the image of the pretty girl from the café and gets my dick fucking hard. I slide my hand around Jae’s neck, caress his throat with my thumb, feeling it when he swallows. I press my mouth to his jaw, drawing in that scent that drives me wild and⁠—

Shit, the sauce! Jae pushes both of us off, spins back around, then curses some more as he grabs the pot. He lets it clatter back onto the stove. Ow, hot.

Fuck, did you burn yourself? I grab his wrist, turn his hand over, a roar rising in my throat. Kade, get the first-aid kit.

On it. Kade is off like a bullet and I use my grip on Jae’s wrist to pull him against me.

He yelps softly. Nate…

Don’t ever hurt yourself, I growl, looking into Jae’s slightly dazed eyes.

But I didn’t… The sauce burned.

I don’t fucking care about the fucking sauce. We’re almost nose to nose now and Jae’s eyes widen. I don’t care if the fucking building burns down. You. Don’t. Hurt. Yourself.

Yes, alpha, he whispers, a rare moment of submission, and damn if my cock doesn’t twitch, despite my worry over his reddened palm.

At least, it doesn’t look very bad. I even have the presence of mind to turn off the stove and check if the pot isn’t on actual fire.

When Kadence returns with the first-aid kit, I decide that some burn cream should do the trick. Though my instinct is howling at me to punish myself for not keeping him safe, to roar and carry Jae away and hide him from all harm… I resist.

Fuck, no. My brain can be a trap sometimes. He’s fine, brain, see? He’ll be fine.

Here, let me, Kade says, taking the tube from my hand and opening it. You okay, Jae? You’re very quiet.

Not screaming in pain is generally considered a good sign, Jae mutters, but his mouth twitches just a little.

Do you feel like screaming in pain?

It’s really not that bad. Stop fussing.

Let us take care of you, I say and Jae looks away, jaw working.

Kade grunts something under his breath, his focus on slathering the ointment on Jae’s palm.

And that’s the scene James walks into when he enters the kitchen. Too late, I catch his dark amber scent under the stink of burned sauce and the sourness of Jae’s pain.

He stops at the door, taking us in, one hand braced on the doorframe. He hasn’t gone jogging today, after all, I realize. He’s still dressed in his power suit, dark slacks and jacket, crisp white shirt and tie. Working late again. His blond hair is messy, as if he’s been tugging on it, at odds with his otherwise immaculate appearance, and his green eyes look bloodshot.

His growl is deeper than mine. What the hell happened here? It smells of burnt and… Jae?

We’re good, I say, injecting calm authority into my voice. He’s fine. It’s under control.

James ignores my words, coming to take Jae’s injured hand, examining it. Were you cooking or setting things on fire?

Jae smiles, an unexpected flash of sunshine, melting a little against James, gazing up at him through long lashes. Can’t it be both?

James bares his teeth in a savage grin. No. You won’t ever endanger what I own, Jae, and I own you.

Even I shiver at his words.

I’m alpha through and through, but James is somehow… more. And Jae probably feels it, which is why he’s more submissive with James, accepting his power.

Hell, I find myself bowing my head when he acts all bossy and possessive.

Jesus.

Kade makes a sound and I glance at him. He’s gripping the edge of the counter, his knuckles turning white. Unlike Jae, he responds to James’ power by stepping back and unthinkingly I reach for him.

Don’t, he says, "fuck."

He turns around and walks out of the kitchen, and I start after him, not sure what happened.

Our pack dynamics have some kinks. Hopefully, we’ll iron them out. We’ve known each other for a while. James and me, we go back ages, to our childhood. We met Kadence and Jae a couple of years ago, when I started giving classes at the community college in my spare time.

We clicked. James and I felt protective of the two of them, and they liked us. The attraction was there from the start. I mean, they’re gorgeous. James is fucking hot, too, but we needed more. We needed a pack, the softer side of an omega and a beta.

And here we are. A perfect circle. We should be peachy.

So why aren’t we?

4

BEE

W hat are you drawing? a voice says and I almost jump out of my skin.

Holy crap, you scared the bejesus out of me, I mutter, then peek at Gigi who’s standing at my room door dressed in jeans and a black hoodie with the logo ‘Betas do it better.’ Hey, I’m a beta, too.

I unfold my legs, stretch them out on my bed. I’m still in my jammies, since the café isn’t open yet, my workplace is right below my room and, truth is, I haven’t found the energy to explore the apartment yet.

You don’t sound happy about being a beta, though, Gigi says.

I shrug. I don’t care either way, I lie.

She hesitates, twirls a lock of fire-engine red hair around a finger. "Something’s bothering you. Am I bothering you? Should I leave you alone?"

Oh, no. I drop the drawing pad on the bed and swing my legs off. I smile at her, scratch at my unwashed hair that I hastily pulled back in a messy bun when I woke up. I’m just… a little out of sorts. New in town and all that.

Want me to show you around the neighborhood?

I brighten. You would? That would be so great! But I have one important question to ask you first.

Shoot.

Who do I need to murder for some coffee? I’ll die if I have to wait until the café opens.

You won’t have to murder anyone. I’ll keep you out of prison. She steps inside and reaches for me, cheeks dimpling. Come on, I got you covered.

I take her hand and let her pull me to my feet. She’s a bit taller than me, all freckles and sunshine. I wish I had her confidence and calm. I wish I felt that easy in my skin.

What’s with the long face? Gigi pulls me through the apartment to a big kitchen with a long table and chairs. Sit. I’m convinced that there’s nothing coffee can’t fix.

I hope you’re right, I whisper, though poor coffee can’t work real miracles. I watch her buzz around the kitchen, selecting a rainbow mug for me, pouring the coffee.

I smile when she hands it to me, turning it around in my hands. It’s pretty.

She frowns a little. It’s Coco’s. She thinks she may be an omega, after all. She’s a beta, but she likes all the glittery, flowery, pretty stuff.

Like me, I think and put the mug down.

Hey, what’s wrong? Gigi asks. Seriously. If it’s just a case of homesickness blues, I’ll stop asking.

No, it’s… I swallow the words back down. Is there any milk and sugar?

Oh. Of course. Sorry. She brings me the milk and sugar and I bite my lip, feeling guilty.

Thank you. I appreciate this. I give her a genuine smile this time. Won’t you sit with me?

I should get going. I’ll be late for my classes.

What are you studying?

I’m taking psychology and biology, and some political science and… you know. She shrugs. Haven’t decided on my major yet.

I nod. I’m starting some courses at the local college.

Art? she guesses. I’ve seen you drawing at the café.

Yeah. Photography, drawing… Not sure what I want to do yet.

I feel you. Sometimes I wonder if studies are any use. Maybe I should become an influencer instead. Make more money that way. She sighs, pulls on the hem of her hoodie. Well, I hope we can chat again later. Holler if you ever need anything, I’m just two doors down from you. And help yourself to whatever is in the fridge. You’re new, it will be fine. I’ll explain our system later.

Great, more organization systems. But I’m still smiling as I watch her go.

See, Bee? Such nice people. It’s going to be great. Just take it a day at a time, relax. There’s nothing to it. And the guys you can’t take your mind off of? They’ll probably never even talk to you again. Become friends with Gigi. Get along with Sawyer. Work, go to class, and find out what makes you happy.

Piece of cake.

But later that day, Nate is back.

Bee, right? He smiles at me when I go to take his order, and I find myself staring at his square jaw, the faint beard shadow on his cheeks, then gazing into his honey-gold eyes.

Bad girl, Bee. Stop staring at the handsome, unavailable alpha.

Focus on your work.

He just smells so good. Like… whiskey and dark chocolate with a deep layer of musk and cedar. Like an alpha.

I become aware he has said something more. I swallow hard. I’m sorry?

His lips part, his nostrils flare. He shifts in his chair, spreading his legs a little, and my mouth goes dry. I said, are you new in town?

Yeah. I’m… His scent has tied my insides into knots. I’m sweating. Is it too hot in here? New. Um… coffee? Black and bitter?

He chuckles, and the sound washes through me like sweet liquor. Gah. You remembered. Though that would be Kade’s thing, not mine. The bitterness, I mean.

Oh. I’m pressing the tip of the pencil to the notepad hard enough to break it clean off. Right. So…?

Black with sugar for me. Who needs extra bitterness in their lives, right?

I nod vigorously, still sweating, still trying to control my wayward body. Down, girl. Sure. I mean, yes. Black. With sugar. Got it.

Get yourself together, Bee.

Turning about, I make a beeline—ha!—for the back of the café.

Pleasure seeing you, he calls after me, and I almost stumble.

I’m breathing hard.

This is screwed up.

Slut, Craig’s voice echoes inside my head, and I lean against the bar to steady myself.

You okay, Bee? Sawyer gives me a funny look, his hands stilling on the espresso machine. You’re sweating.

I’m fine, I whisper. In fact… got some coffee for me, too?

While Sawyer prepares the coffees, one more table is taken by a rowdy group of students. They seem like students from the level of noise, at least.

I grab my drawing pad and doodle, stealing glances at Nate.

Yeah, I’m still watching him. He’s the prettiest thing in this whole café, even prettier than the covers of my favorite YA fantasy series.

Sexier, too.

His brow is furrowed as he checks his phone. He’s scrolling. I wonder if it’s social media or something work-related. He’s dressed up today in a sleek gray suit. Corporate. Rich.

I wonder where Kade is. And the rest of his pack.

When I glance down again, I find I’ve drawn him in simple lines, the intense look in his eyes, the symmetry of his features, his short dark hair, his broad shoulders and corded neck.

Bee.

Huh?

Sawyer sighs. I said, the drinks are ready.

Sorry. I put away the notepad and scramble to get the drinks on the tray without spilling them. Sorry, I⁠—