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The welcome balls aren’t really the place to find an alpha or a pack anyway. They’re too uncomfortable, too much pressure. It was why we have to stay for twelve weeks at each new stop. Some omegas spend years doing this, stuck and never settling down, never finding their home.
Rose is one of those. She’s my age and joined right out of high school.
We exchange sighs and strained smiles as we make our way from my room and head outside, joining the others walking through the street towards the town center, arm in arm.
The town still charms me, and I’m glad I’m at least stuck in a pretty place. Tomorrow, I’ll check out the library and see how bountiful the research materials will be for the next twelve weeks.
All the shops and buildings are lit up with twinkly lights that wink and dance at us like fireflies as we wind our way over the cobblestone sidewalks, wobbling on our dumbass heels. Thankfully, the evening is mild, the Southern spring night warm with the song of tree frogs and katydids ringing through the air.
I want to keep going, keep walking, to shed my clothes and lose myself in the woods at the edge of town, following the call of the stars and forest. Something primal in me responds to the wildlife sounds around me. Probably something in my biology from when we were still animals, wild and feral and free. In a time before all these rules and expectations and bullshit.
My steps falter at the bottom of the stairs, eying the grand mansion in front of them. The place is old, likely built in the 1700s, but kept well, lights shining from all the windows, lighting up the grounds below, string music joining to harmonize with the night song.
Rose and I blow out heavy breaths before stepping forward to make our way up the intimidating stairs, our heels clacking against the stone.
At least this place doesn’t have a literal red carpet for us to walk up while local reporters take photos, blinding us with flashes like the last place. It had been ridiculous and I had barely stopped myself from flicking them all off.
But this place is still ostentatious and too much.
I’d be impressed if they decided to throw a backyard barbecue, with beer and ribs and lemonade instead of all this shit that's supposed to impress omegas. It isn’t like every alpha here could afford to wine and dine their omegas like this. It’s just one more way to appeal to omegas, even though there's nothing in our actual biology that says we need to be spoiled and pampered.
Nature versus nurture. Society has formed those desires and needs.
Inside, laughter and conversation and purrs and growls morph into a loud din that overwhelms me, making me want to back the hell right back out of there, but Rose tightens her grip on me and marches me the rest of the way inside.
My stomach objects to the myriad of scents, the mix making me nauseous. They really should have these blasted things outside.
I breathe through my mouth as we move deeper into the mansion. Once we make it through the narrower halls crammed with flirting couples and groups, and into the main ballroom, some of the thick scents clear away, easing my discomfort. I’ve always been even more sensitive to scents than the average omega and it makes crowded events like this miserable.
"Are you all right?" Rose leans over to yell the question in my ear so I can hear her over the music and noise.
I nod. “Yeah. Though I'm going to need to find a corner to hide away in. Or a library. A place this big has to have a library, right?"
"I'm sure there is. If not, you can always wander the garden like an eighteenth century debutante and I'll be your chaperone." Rose smirks.
I snort. “If I don't find a place to hide out in, I will certainly take you up on that."
"Come on. Let's see if their food is any good."
"It better be." I’m starving.
If the food is good enough, maybe I can shove some in my pockets and smuggle them back to my nest for movie time with Rose later.
We barely make it into the ballroom before alphas surround us, growls in their chests as they eye the two omegas like they're steaks hanging in the window instead of fucking women.
With a few words and a couple smooth moves, we escape the alphas with no respect for personal boundaries, their hungry gazes falling on another group of omegas. I keep an eye on them, making sure the other omegas welcome the attention. When they make it clear they do, I drag Rose through an opening towards the refreshments table.
Halfway there, a scent unlike anything I’ve smelled before stops me in my tracks. Rose eyes me in alarm, but I’m too afraid to open my mouth, afraid the scent will grow even stronger.
Caramel and cinnamon, like the perfect sugary treat.
I force myself to take a step. And then another. And another. Until the scent is left behind, leaving only the memory teasing my senses.
"What the hell was that?" Rose eyes me with worry.
"Nothing. Just... nothing. I'll explain later." I just want to pretend it didn’t happen.
Rose doesn't look convinced, but she drops it, grabbing a couple stuffed mushrooms from the table and passing one over to me. "Let's find the library, eh?"
