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Anna took a step back from applying my lipstick to give me a critical look.
“You do realize that tonight is only the beginning, right?”
I sighed again, fidgeting. “Yes, of course. I just don’t know how it’s going to go, and I haven’t been allowed to see Tanner in days because of some stupid ‘No Early Fraternizing’ policy, and he always knows how to make me calm down and laugh—”
“Stop,” she interrupted me. “Take a deep breath. Hold it. Now let it out slowly. You are a Torres. You are an omega. You were made for this. Tonight is the first night of the rest of your life.”
I laughed at her. “Really? You’re pulling cheesy quotes like that out?”
“First, you laughed, so who needs Tanner? Unless he’s your mate?” She winked at me provocatively. “Second, it’s true!” She grabbed my hands and swung them around. “This is exciting! You’re going to meet your alpha! Your one true mate!”
“Okay, okay, you’re right. I can do this!” I shook out my tense shoulders.
Anna looked at the clock. “And you need to do thisright nowbecause it’s time to get dressed.”
I walked across campus bundled up in my coat. It wasn’t helping my outfit, but I was pretty sure there would be a coat room. It was incredibly cold out tonight, and flakes were starting to fall. They were sticking to me, and I smiled at the idea that they would look like little white pearls on my coat and in my hair. Pearls everywhere tonight.
I put my mask on before I reached the Great Ballroom to ensure my anonymity. While I initially wasn’t sure the masks would truly be effective at hiding our identities, there were several others waiting to check in, and I didn’t recognize them, so I guessed it worked well enough. As I approached the desk, the swirl of scents bombarded me. The scent blockers had certainly worn off. I could smell a million scents around me, and I couldn’t wait to smell them all. At least all the alpha scents…
My own perfume had finally come in, and now I smelled like sweet peas all the time. Similar to the roses that Simone had initially thought but with a touch of citrus. I knew that whatever my scent was, my alpha would love it, but I was secretly proud that I had such a feminine scent.
“Hi—” I was immediately cut off with a glare and a finger to the beta’s lips. That’s right. Silence. She pointed to the screen next to her. I typed in my access code and when it was approved, the beta gestured toward what I assumed was a coatroom and then to the large doors at my right. One more glare and another gestured reminder to be silent and then I was dismissed for the next person in line.
I dropped off my coat, smoothed out my dress, adjusted my mask, and headed for the doors. It was time.
Chapter Eight
Apairofbetasopened the doors for me like I was some foreign princess, and I soaked it up. I had lived the past few years in the spotlight as Governor Torres’ daughter, but here I was, cherished simply as me, Omega Mia. No amount of my father’s political sway could have given me that title. I curtsied to the betas and continued into the ballroom.
I immediately gasped as the princess dream had come to life. The ballroom was absolutely glowing by candlelight. Tiny glittering bursts of light danced around the room, reflecting off the glittering garlands strung on the walls and the champagne fountain by the bar. I thought I was early, but the room was already bustling with other attendees, some meandering through tables beautifully draped in red satin, others already twirling on the dance floor. The whole room felt fit for royalty.
I expected the combinations of scents to overwhelm me, but as I started to walk around the room, I noticed that I was able to pinpoint exactly which scent belonged to which student. The warm sugar cookie scent was coming from the omega in red. An odd french fry scent came from the alpha by the champagne fountain. I grabbed a glass and quickly moved away.
As I was finishing my first glass, an alpha appeared and held out one hand for my glass and his other for my hand. My first invitation to dance. Joy bubbled up in me. I handed him my empty drink, which he set aside, and let him lead us out onto the dance floor.
Fresh squeezed orange juice, that was this alpha’s scent. It was strong and based on how well he wore his suit, he was strong too, but the way he led me as we danced was surprisingly gentle. He knew his way around a dance floor, politely steering me to avoid the other couples.
When the music came to an end, we bowed to each other, and as I started to turn away, he ran a hand down my arm. Goosebumps pebbled my skin, and I glanced back to see his comically wide eyes staring at me, like he was shocked and proud of the effect he’d had. I laughed as I turned away again and was glad the music was loud enough to cover my slip-up.
I strolled around the room a little more and wondered which alpha was Tanner. Would I recognize my own best friend? I smelled brownie batter and then fresh laundry, warm smoke, and cherries. I didn’t think any of those were him. And none of them enticed me like I knew my mate’s would.
Suddenly I was hit by dreams of cocktails on the beach. Limes and salt. Strong hands gripped my arms and spun me in place.
Alpha.
This wasmyalpha.
He had to release me to pull me out to the dance floor and I almost whined at the loss, but once we reached the edge of the hard floor, he pulled me back in close, like he couldn’t bear to walk another step farther without me in his arms.
My alpha filled out his dark gray suit perfectly. He was tall and lean, and as I ran my hands up his arms and shoulders, I could tell there was real strength hiding under his suit. And I wanted to feel it all.
He wrapped his arms around me as we swayed and danced through several songs. It was improper to dance more than one or two songs with the same partner, but I couldn’t pull myself away. I didn’t want to.
He spun us and twirled me until I was giddy with joy, breathing rapidly from the exertion and from the nearness of him. I barely noticed that the music was getting quieter and the lights were getting lower until he pressed me back against a wall. He surrounded me until all I could smell was him. He lowered his head until his lips were right beside my ear and whispered, “Mine.”
And then those lips were on mine.
Warm.
