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A knock at my door silenced us all. My hands shook and I clasped them together in front of me. I didn’t want to do this.
Kienna waved goodbye to our friends and turned off the computer, winking at me before she hurried over to the door. She gave me one more once-over look and a you-can-do-this nod. Then she opened the door.
The butler stood like a soldier at attention in the hall. His voice was even more stiff. “Miss Birk, Senator Grant has arrived. He’s waiting with your parents in the foyer.”
“Thank you, Gerard.” I nodded to him and smoothed out my dress. My heart hammered in my chest. God, I hoped I didn’t look as scared as I felt.
“Have fun. I’ll see you when you get back.” Kienna gave me an air-kiss before whisking out the door. She wiggled her fingers at Gerard before she disappeared down the hall to the guest room she was staying in. There was a very slight movement of his eyes that might count as an eyeroll.
Gerard led the way down our manor’s stately upstairs corridor. When he had his back turned, I adjusted the dipping front of my dress to show less of my chest, but it sat off one shoulder instead. Well, a shoulder falling out was better than a boob.
I wet my dry mouth as I descended the stairs which curved around to open up in the grand foyer. The crystal chandelier glimmered from the afternoon light which streamed through the twelve foot windows on either side of the entrance. A pair of sculpted Greek busts and polished marble floors added to the opulent decor. It made me crave natural beauty. If only Nicolette and I could trade places.
“Ah, there’s my lovely daughter now.” My father, Julian Birk, stood the nearest to the end of the stairs with a too-wide fake smile. My mother, Georgina, was beside him, silent and perfectly put together in a brand name lavender dress suit. They made a striking pair, but I knew the coldness which lurked beneath the warm facade.
Carson stepped forward. His smile contained too much that I didn’t want to read into. He was a handsome Alpha with short trimmed brown hair, hypnotizing green eyes, and a dimple in his chin. He was tall and leanly muscled dressed in a tailored black suit with a red tie. He had only recently become a senator in Washington state and was the youngest in American history at thirty-two. My father had funded much of his campaign.
I had once tried to imagine Carson holding me close, kissing me, coaxing me into his bed. It did nothing for me. I’d even tried fantasizing his face on that of my favorite movie stars in the roles that made me swoon, but again, no desire could be roused within me.
Like my father, I felt that he was emotionally hollow. All these types of Alphas cared for was power.
“Callista,” my name sounded foreign accompanied by Carson’s northwestern accent. He held out a hand toward me. “You look absolutely beautiful.”
I didn’t want to touch him. Revulsion slithered through my veins. It didn’t bode well for my future that I was feeling this before he even officially staked his claim on me. “Thank you, Senator.” I took his hand as I walked down the last two steps into the foyer proper. “It’s wonderful to see you again. I’m looking forward to our evening together.”
“Please, you must call me Carson.” He’d told me that before when we chatted at one of my father’s parties two months ago. Let him think I forgot. He lifted my hand and brushed his lips over it. My stomach tightened, and not in a good way.
Everyone was silent for several seconds as if they’d expected something to happen. Did they really think I would suddenly fall into heat from one simple gesture?
“Carson then.” I nodded once and turned to my parents. “Father, Mother.”
Julian lifted his chin and smirked. He actually smirked. “You have my permission to leave the family home with Senator Grant, Callista.”
I hated the sickening formalities we had to adhere to. No female after she had been officially declared an Omega was allowed to go anywhere unchaperoned until an Alpha approved by her guardian—my father in this case—gave permission. Permission was only granted when there was a certainty that the Alpha would claim her as a mate.
It wasn’t a law, but I’ve heard of Omegas leaving their families or mates only for the police to bring the females back again. Couldn’t have rogue Omegas roaming around. We were too valuable to Alphas as only Omegas could produce Alphas. Betas could have babies, but they were almost always Betas, and rarely Omegas. No Beta could produce an Alpha, though.
“Thank you, Father.” We didn’t bother with the charade of affection.
My mother didn’t even try to seem as if she was excited for me or sad knowing what tonight meant. “You look beautiful, Callista. You make the Birk family proud.”
I smiled, glad I didn’t have to say anything as Carson reached out to shake Julian’s hand. “Thank you, Julian, for everything. I’ll have your daughter back at a respectable hour.”
“I trust you will.” Julian didn’t add anything else. Without even gesturing to the butler, Gerard opened the front door and sunlight poured in. It warmed my skin and begged me to make a run for it.
It was tempting. So very tempting.
Carson tugged my hand and led me outside. His black limo sat without a speck of dust on it in our circular drive. It was flanked by two black Sedans, each with four men seated inside of them. Two more men sat on motorcycles in front of them. They wore black helmets and leather which clung to their very big and muscled bodies.
What was with all the security? Had becoming senator given his already inflated ego another puff of hot air?
“Don’t worry about all the guards. Politics can be a nasty business, as you well know.” Carson explained as he led me down the front steps. When my father was senator, he never had a security detail like this, and even though he wasn’t a senator now—preferring to work out of the public eye—he had way more influence than Carson. “You won’t even notice they’re here this evening. With the night I have planned…” His voice trailed off as his cell rang. He took it out of his pocket and dropped my hand. “I must take this.”
Without an apology or any further explanation, he answered the phone and started talking. He went ahead of me to the limo and slipped inside as the driver opened the door.
Wow. Asshole.
If I ran now, I could hide in the garden and no one would find me for days. But no, Birk family pride, blah, blah, blah.
