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I don’t even have half a month now. I have ten days, and I don’t get paid for twelve more. So that leaves me one day without. Maybe I can call in sick. Maybe I can—
″Kinsey, what are you doing? You’re late.” Madame Tamsin’s voice shocks me in the heart, and I nearly drop the pill bottle.
I whip my attention to the Vixen Lounge’s owner and quickly get to my feet and tuck my pills into my apron. I say a silent prayer to the universe that she didn’t see anything. If she did, she doesn’t call me out on it. It’s the only thing that gets me to stride forward and dust my hands on my jacket.
″I’m so sorry, Madame. The strap on my heel came undone without me knowing, and I fell.” My voice shakes with the words, and I keep my gaze trained on the ground, knowing better than to meet her eyes. No one can look at Madame Tamsin without permission, and I would never risk it.
″I’m going to have to deduct an hour’s worth of pay for this. We have visitors who are waiting for you. You know how Mr. Doyle doesn’t like anyone else serving him.” Madame Tamsin latches her fingers to my elbow, rubbing her thumb over my sleeve, purposefully leaving her scent on me. She wants to ensure all her guests know that’s all they are to her. Guests. She is the true alpha of the Vixen Lounge, and even though I’m not one of her Gorgeous Girls, I’m still hers.
I should feel bad about it. I should hate it, and maybe a part of me does, but this is life for me. One day at a time. One pill. And hopefully, one day, I can just escape.
Who am I kidding? No one leaves the Gutter District unless they are either bought, kidnapped, or killed. I’m stuck here, relying on the generosity of others because I can’t even rely on myself. Without a pack, I’m just another nameless, powerless person. At least I have my freedom. No one cares about a beta—we’re the ones who just fill space, bringing only workers and servers to the Pack Regimes. With the suppressant pills, I leave no desirable scent, can skip any chance of going into heat and dying to breed, and my only purpose is to serve the community. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
″Good evening, Ms. Kinsey. It’s a full house tonight. Watch yourself. They smell a bit rowdy.” Mr. Holt offers me a waning smile, his eyes not lighting up. He’s in the same position as I am, except he was born a true beta. He’s asked me out a couple times, but I learned early on that I have to keep my distance from everyone. The pills can only do so much, and if I get too worked up, someone might notice. If that happens, it’s over. I’m a lawbreaker, after all. The crime of pretending to be a beta will end with me behind bars or worse. The Pack Regime doesn’t take kindly to omegas trying to be anything more than what they deserve. An unbonded omega serves no purpose to society. We are only as good as our pack and what we can offer—children, families, and pleasure. The leaders love and hate us. They control us when no one else does.
I push my thoughts away. If I continue to dwell on my circumstances, I’ll think about the trauma that led me to the Vixen Lounge. It’ll ruin my entire night, and I have enough stress to battle.
″Mr. Doyle is waiting in section three,” he adds, holding out his hand. “Hurry up and serve him, so Anita can take him in back.”
″That bad?” I don’t have to ask specifically, because I can smell Mr. Doyle’s scent from here, and it leaves me on edge.
″Worse.” Mr. Holt tightens his jaw and wiggles his fingers, waiting for me to hand him my belongings.
I shrug out of my jacket and hand it to Mr. Holt. I force my mouth to smile as music fills the air. The collection of scents assaults me in a hot wave of lust, annoyance, and something I can’t decipher. I glance around, trying to avoid eye contact with a couple of alphas and their beta packmates, those whose packs take care of them and give them a purpose. I can’t stop the jealousy coursing through me. If I don’t get myself in control, I’ll need to douse myself in perfume to be safe.
″Kinsey, sweetheart. You’re late. Where have you been?” Mr. Doyle doesn’t even let me get to the bar before he sets his sight on me. The husky man rubs his hands together and smacks his lips. “I need my usual and make it double. Madame Tamsin is letting me have a moment of Anita’s time, and you know how much that darling loves what I have to offer.” He strides toward me, flaring his nostrils. I’m glad Madame Tamsin touched me now. He bares his teeth, growling lowly under his breath. Her scent sets almost every man off in a bad way because they crave the power she has here. Swinging out his arm, he smacks my ass, making me jump. “Be quick. Time is money.” His friendly demeanor vanishes, and I straighten my shoulders and ignore the looks of a couple other patrons watching our interaction. I can’t let them get to me. They will fuck with me if I do, because I’m unwanted. They will never let me forget it.
″Sure thing, Mr. Doyle,” I say, gritting my teeth. “Anything for a fucking bastard asshole.” I regret my words immediately because the song changes, and I hear my voice echo through the air.
″What did you say, bitch?” he snaps, jerking out his arm to latch onto my shirt.
I freeze, my eyes widening. A shadow materializes at the edge of my vision, and my heart crashes in my chest. It’s another alpha, and he smells like vetiver and wood, the fragrance of his dominance overwhelming me.
″Back off, Doyle. You don’t fucking have power here.” The smooth, throaty voice snatches my attention, and I meet the stunning blue eyes of a dark-haired man I’ve never seen in the Vixen Lounge. I don’t recognize his scent either.
Mr. Doyle drags me closer. “Mind your business, Wilder.”
Another figure towers behind Mr. Doyle, blocking him. I cower at the sight of another handsome alpha with sapphire blue eyes and hair so dark it could be black. His presence alone freezes my insides as if his existence can drain the drugs from my system, turning me into the powerless omega I truly am. His deep blue eyes lock onto mine, his features similar to his packmate’s. His hair hangs on his forehead, and he cracks his neck, whipping it from his vision. I shift on my heels, my body begging me to run. To flee and get out of harm’s way.
″Show some respect. It’s Prince Wilder, asshole, and this is our business. The lady is trying to do her job, and you need to show her some respect,” the blue-eyed, attractive alpha says, caging me between him and Mr. Doyle. His sharp jaw accents his high cheekbones and full lips, his handsome features drawing me in.
″Fuck off.” Mr. Doyle swings his arm, punching the man over my shoulder.
I spin out from between them and yelp, catching my heel on the edge of the dance floor. I twist my ankle and lose my balance. The midnight-haired alpha lunges for Mr. Doyle, but he stumbles out of his reach and into my path. I can’t avoid him, my voice cutting through the air as I scream. My terror gets the best of me, and my body slackens. Mr. Doyle snatches my apron, trying to use me as a shield, but it tears and breaks free, sending me sprawling on my ass.
I can’t move fast enough as my pill bottle smacks against the wooden dance floor, and the blue suppressant pills scatter everywhere.
Oh fuck.
Oh shit.
I grab as many as I can and jump to my feet. Turning toward the kitchen, I spot a clear path and break into a sprint. I’ll leave out the back. I have to. I was so concerned about not getting my pills and being caught by Madame Tamsin that I failed to take the one I needed to tonight. And now I know why Mr. Doyle and the new alphas grew aggressive and hostile. They sense me as an omega. They just don’t know it yet.
If I don’t leave now, someone will call the Pack Regime leader of the Gutter District. My life will be over.
A strong hand locks onto my hair and rips me off my feet. It’s too late. I fucked up, and there’s no hiding it now. “Kinsey, what is all of this?” Madame Tamsin’s eyes flash with the colorful lights above the stage. Two security guards break up the fight behind her, escorting the unfamiliar alphas out while guiding Mr. Doyle toward the VIP lounge. “I don’t understand.”
I can’t get my words to work. I can’t find the will to fight against her as her dominance fucks with my head, her fragrance weakening my resistance.
