Page 8 of Golden Omega

“Tell me more about the books,” I urged. “Are they fiction?”

Jenny would gladly talk about books all day, and I was super happy to let her. “History. Nonfiction, all over a hundred years old. And so delicate. It’s such an honor to be able to even handle them. The sheer perspective of the authors at their time.”

The server brought our food, and I squirted some ketchup onto the small plate and dipped a fry in it. The salad was nice, all fresh and crisp, but with my mind in a twist over the alphas, I needed junk food.

“Earth to Hema.” Jenny waved a hand in front of my face. “Did you hear what I just said?”

“The books?”

“No, I was asking if you know those alphas?”

“Huh?” I looked around. “What alphas?”

“Behind you. Don’t look.”

“If you don’t want me to, why did you point them out?” And why did I have a feeling I knew who it would be?

“Okay, you might as well. But fair warning, they are eating you up with their eyes.”

I took a glance over my shoulder and confirmed what she’d said. “Ohhh. They came into the shop before.”

“Pretty cute. Interested?”

“I thought you were all against hooking up.”

“For me. And for permanence. But I’m not against a night of fun.” She sipped her tea and grinned at me.

I wasn’t so sure about that night of fun stuff. It sounded dangerous to me. “Do you happen to know them?”

“No. I’ve seen them around, but I don’t know their status. I’ve never seen them with an omega.”

“Well, they were buying wedding flowers, so gonna guess they are taken.”

“What a shame. They had potential.” She giggled. “Hey, I know you’re not quite finished with your lunch, but do you mind if I take off? I need to run a few errands while I have the chance.”

“No, it’s fine. I need to get back soon anyway.” We hugged and agreed to do this more often, and off she went. Leaving me in the sights of three alphas who had no business looking at any omega but their own.

Chapter Eight

Altan

I was one bite into my meat loaf when her scent took over as the bell above the door rang, announcing a new customer.

I’d only met her once but I would know her scent anywhere. She was one daisy in a field of sunflowers, but my wolf could find her in an instant.

All three of us stopped eating. Our eyes met.

“It’s a small town, Altan. There are only about four places to get lunch. We’re bound to run into her.”

“Sovann, do you think I’m complaining? I’m not. I…damn it. I don’t understand. This is not how it’s supposed to work.”

Sovann and Orin were on the other side of the booth, their backs turned to Hema and her friend. They came in and our eyes met, only for a fraction of a second.

“Look, all I’m saying is that if she is who we think she is, then it will work out. It might not be us at all. Maybe she thought of something or had a bad experience with weddings. Maybe she’s even been married before. We don’t know. It’s too early to make any kind of assumptions.”

The thing was, I was already making inferences in my head. Reasons she might not like us. The ways she would reject our pack and leave us to go on alone. Because even though we’d only met Hema a few minutes ago, less than an hour, I didn’t see myself with anyone else but her.

Ever.