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“Safe doesn’t mean wrong,” I defended, but even I thought it sounded weak. “Besides, I can’t justdecide. Mating is… fated.”
Anna actually clapped. “Yes! That’s the spirit!”
“Come on, lovebug.” Tanner pulled me away. “Our advisors await.”
I blew Anna a kiss as we walked off. “I promise to fill you in as soon as I get home.”
Chapter Four
OmegaReidwaswaitingat the top of the basement stairs with a handful of other excited new omegas. She was probably in her early 60s, with kind eyes and a flawless twist in her silver hair. She carried herself with a level of grace that I could only dream of.
Once the last of us arrived, we started downstairs. I’d never been below the Great Hall before, and the grand stone staircase waiting for us was more than I expected. I trailed my fingertips along the carved railing as we descended, appreciating the workmanship.
Omega Reid talked as we walked. “Ladies, we’re heading down to the lower hall. Now that you have revealed as omegas, your scent blockers will wear off over the next few days. Don’t be alarmed if you don’t recognize your own scent at first; it may take a day or two to settle in, and then it will just be a part of you, as if it’s always been there. Each of your scents will be unique to you and the same for the alphas and betas. You’ll be drawn to some scents more than others, but your mate’s scent will be irresistible to you. And you’ll be irresistible to him.” She turned and gave us a knowing grin. The excitement among the omegas was electric.
When we reached the large double doors at the bottom of the staircase, Omega Reid turned and gathered us around. “The next few weeks will be some of the most exciting of your life. You’ll be courted by handsome alphas who will do damn near anything to win your bond. It’s a heady feeling, and it’s easy to get carried away, but getting a bonding bite from an alpha that is notyouralpha can be catastrophic. Even bonding your own alpha before the mating ceremony is highly discouraged. To ensure the safety of our omegas and to keep the alphas in line, we have a solution for you.” She took a breath and then threw open the doors. “Collars.”
The synchronization of the gasps from the omegas would’ve been funny if I wasn’t just as enchanted as my classmates. The ballroom behind our advisor was full of draped tables, each one covered in collars of all sizes and styles. We started to walk between the rows as Omega Reid explained. “Your collar will help prevent a mating bite during the Season, whether you think you want it or not. So one of these collars is yours. Only one. Look around, and try them on, but you’ll know which one is meant for you. When you put yours on, it will latch closed and won’t unlock until the mating ceremony at the end of the Season. Let me, or the assisting betas, know if you have any questions, but otherwise, please enjoy the jewelry.” She gestured around the room, and we dispersed, giggling like the schoolgirls we were.
I slowly walked the rows, admiring the vast array of options. Some collars were thin and dainty, and some wide and solid. Some were metal, others made of leather. I didn’t think a wide leather band would be for me, but I was curious what it would look like, so I stopped at a table to try one on.
“May I try on that one?” I asked the waiting beta, pointing to a brown leather collar with a buckle in the front. It looked oddly like a belt, and I couldn’t help myself. She gently handed it to me, and I put it on myself. A giggle bubbled up when I looked in the mirror.
“I don’t think this one’s my style,” I told the beta, laughing at my reflection.
“Oh, your personal style doesn’t matter,” she explained. “I’ve seen omegas leave with collars they’ve loved, and collars they’ve… been surprised by.” At the last second, she tried to add an optimistic twist to the end of her sentence, but I heard the truth.
“You were drawn to this collar for some reason. The only way to know if it’s truly your collar is to try to take it off. If it stays, it’s yours.”
I scrambled for the buckle on the collar and let out a big sigh of relief when it slid off.
“Not yours,” the beta smirked. I thanked her and backed away, telling myself not to try on any more just for fun.
I strolled a little more, looking closely at a few, but none feltminein the way that I expected my collar would. Every so often, I would hear a little gasp or cheer from an omega who had found her collar. Mine was in here, I just needed to find it.
I passed a table where two omegas were trying on just about every collar. They were admiring themselves in the tabletop mirror, and I glanced over to politely add my appreciation when I saw the collar that one of them was wearing. It was mine. I knew it. Just like they said I would.
My face must’ve looked murderous because both girls took a step back.
“I’m sorry,” I spit out, “but you’re wearing my collar.”
The omega closest to me touched the jewelry on her neck. “This one?”
“Yes,” I snapped. Omegas were known for being territorial of their alphas and their nests, but apparently I was becoming territorial over that collar.
She took one more look in the mirror, then sighed. “It wasn’t really my style anyway.” She took it off and handed the collar back to the beta at that table. I decided not to share the insight I’d gotten about personal style not mattering.
I took a deep breath and turned to the beta, putting on my best smile. “I’d like to try on my collar, please.” She handed it to me, and it just felt right. When I put it on, I swear I could feel it seal shut, and when I tried to take it off, it wouldn’t budge. I knew it. There was no hiding my satisfied smile.
The beta pointed me to the mirror, and I slid over. I reached up to caress the piece of jewelry I’d be wearing for the next few weeks and smiled at the irony. Personal preference might not have mattered, but I couldn’t have picked anything more my style if I’d tried.
It was three delicate strands of wire woven into a wide, loose braid threaded with dozens of pearls in all sizes. The wire almost disappeared against my skin, giving the illusion of floating pearls surrounding my neck. It was gorgeous.
“You’re glowing,” a voice complimented me. I looked over, and Kara, the omega that Tanner had ogled, had stopped her browsing to admire my collar.
“Thank you. I actually feel like I’m glowing.” I laughed, reaching up to feel the warmth of my cheeks.
“You are! I hope I feel like that when I find mine.”
