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Chapter One
I’dbeensmilingsolong that my cheeks had started to hurt, and the camera flashes might have caused permanent damage to my eyes. Tonight was my father’s re-election party, and our family had been congratulated and photographed all evening. It had been a while since an alpha had been elected to more than one term as governor, especially a Hispanic alpha, and I couldn’t be more proud of him. But I was also ready to get off this stage.
“Mia, be a dear and head back to the table with your sister. We need to shake some hands.” My mother dismissed us, so I escorted my younger sister, Anna, down the stage steps and across the room to our family’s table.
My sister and I were so close in age and looks that we were occasionally mistaken for twins. We were both petite with the dark hair and warm complexion we inherited from our parents, but where Anna’s hair was as wild as her personality, mine was sleek and straight. Forced into submission over years of making sure it lookedjust right. Tonight we both wore dresses of dark blue, to match the New York state flag, of course, so the similarity between us was extra strong.
The ballroom of the governor’s mansion here in New York was full of society’s elite tonight. The holiday season wasn’t quite here yet, but no one had told the event planners. The room was lined in gorgeous fir trees, and the chandeliers looked like they were made entirely of icicles. Beautifully set round tables filled most of the space, but there was mingling room left in front of the bar, and of course, there was the stage where my father had given his acceptance speech earlier. The evening was a grand affair, and I loved every minute of it.
Anna successfully snuck a glass of champagne off a passing waiter’s tray, but I grabbed it from her and took a sip as we maneuvered the ballroom.
“No fair. If you get to drink at this thing, I should get to too,” she pouted.
“I’m twenty-one and legally allowed to. You are nineteen, and not.”
“Rule follower.” She sank into her chair, crossing her arms and glaring around the room. She still surprised me with flashes from her angsty teen stage. I, on the other hand, perched daintily on the edge of my seat, my back straight and my smile still plastered on. I wish she would remember we were always under scrutiny.
Anna’s sour mood lasted all of two minutes until her best friends, Sophie and Lauren, plopped down at our table. I liked the two of them and was glad my sister had such loyal friends. Being in the spotlight like we were, it was hard to tell if people actually wanted to be friends or just wanted to use us to climb the social or political ladders.
Thankfully our parents let us invite some friends tonight, so we weren’t completely bored. My best friend, Tanner, was around somewhere, probably charming some pretty girls.
Anna and her friends were whispering amongst themselves and sneaking peeks my way. I finally looked over with an arched brow.
Lauren looked about ready to burst. “Are you excited for your Season?”
The Season was the courting period for young alphas and omegas to find their mates. As I was now in my final year at our school, Briar Lake Prep, it was my turn to potentially participate. This year’s Season started in a few short weeks. Not that I was counting down to it or anything.
“We don’t know that I’ll reveal as an omega,” I hedged, even though every fiber of my being hoped I would be. “I could reveal as a beta. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.” And that was true. Betas were the norm. The standard. But I didn’t want to bestandard.
My sister waved her hand around. “Of course you’ll be an omega. You are the definition of one!” I blushed at the compliment.
Sophie chimed in, “What kind of alpha would you want?” Her eyes glazed over as if she was imagining her own dream alpha.
“Girls,” I scolded lightheartedly. “You know it’s bad luck to talk—”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, we know. But come on, you’re definitely going to be an omega, and we’re just curious!” Anna pleaded.
I looked around the room at the men milling about, trying to picture who my dream alpha would be. “I hope he’s kind. Smart and ambitious—”
“Handsome!” Sophie interjected.
“Yes,” I laughed. “And hopefully handsome.”
The girls all sighed dramatically, giggling and going back to their own conversation. I kept looking around the room, truly letting myself wonder what my alpha might be like,ifI was going to be an omega. While openly admitting to hoping to reveal one way was in bad taste, my heart was set on being one of the cherished few. Omegas were considered the prize of society. They found their perfect match, their fated alpha mate, during their Season and lived happily ever after. I wasn’t usually so fanciful, quite the opposite typically, but when it came to one’s true love, a girl could dream.
Several people smiled when I caught their eyes as I scanned the ballroom, but my gaze stopped when I saw Grant, one of my father’s summer interns, looking back at me. He tipped his head in greeting and winked. I could feel the blush creeping back up. He was exactly the kind of guy I would be interested in. He had interned for my father’s office the past two summers, and I’d seen him around a bit. He was tall, but not too tall for my petite 5’-1” height, and his blonde hair was neatly combed back. His political ambition would work perfectly with my own philanthropic goals. He’d be at the reveal ceremony with me, and I would definitely be paying attention to his results.
The girls all turned back to me with excited expressions. “What about Tanner?” Lauren asked eagerly.
“Tanner?” I looked around the room and smiled when I saw my best friend was headed our way. He joined me at my father’s functions from time to time and always looked incredible in a suit. And he knew it. He looked like a classic boy next door with his shaggy, brown hair and big brown eyes. “What about Tanner?”
Anna rolled her eyes at me. “What if Tanner is your alpha?”
I laughed. There was no way. We had been friends our whole lives, since our mothers were pregnant together, but our relationship had never once veered romantic.
“What are you lovely ladies laughing about over here?” Tanner reached our table and held out a hand for me to join him.
“The girls are wondering if you will turn out to be my alpha.” I smirked at him. “If you’re an alpha at all.”
