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My steps falter, causing the man behind me to bump into me. His curses roll right off me as he shoulder bumps me and walks off.
Tilting my head, I spin around in a full circle.
Nothing.
Shaking off the odd sensation, I continue to the bar just outside the ballroom. There’s no way I’m going in there. Naturally, I find my packmate Max standing at the bar, more than likely hiding from the world.
“Dev,” he greets me, handing me a drink as I approach.
Maximillian Harrington is the last member of our pack, also an alpha. Despite his disheveled appearance, he’s as sharp as a whip. Most days, he looks like he’s been living on the streets, including today. Despite the fact this is a formal event, he’s dressed in tan cargo pants, untied sneakers, and a white shirt—his small slight against those who planned this gala.
“Dev,” Max says, his voice low and cautious, “you seem on edge. Tell me what went down.”
I take a long sip of the drink Max handed me, feeling the warmth of the alcohol soothing the turmoil inside me as it goes down my throat. “My father,” I mutter, “gave me an ultimatum. Thirty days to find an omega or face consequences.”
Max furrows his brow. “That’s absurd. You can’t just find an omega like you’re picking up groceries.”
I nod in agreement. “Exactly, but he’s determined, and he’s using the gala to showcase his power and influence. I have no idea what he has planned tonight.”
Max takes a thoughtful sip of his own drink. “So what’s our plan?”
The wordourcatches me off guard, reminding me once again that I’m not alone in this. These men are my packmates, my family, and we’ll face whatever challenges come our way together. I smile at Max, a surge of gratitude welling up inside me that he’s home from his expedition.
“We’ll do what we can to find an omega, but we won’t rush into anything,” I reply. “Is it too much to ask that it happens naturally?”
Max’s eyes shimmer with determination. “Agreed, and no, I’m on your side here.”
As we clink our glasses together in silent solidarity, movement in my peripheral vision catches my attention. I turn my head and spot a group of omegas entering the gala, their faces a blend of excitement and apprehension. It serves as a stark reminder of the weight of responsibility I bear.
“Dev.” Max interrupts my thoughts, drawing my focus back to him. “Don’t worry. Hey, have you seen the twins?”
“Yeah,” I respond, sliding onto a barstool and scanning the room. “Ashton is on duty, and Avery is up to something.”
“When isn’t he up to something?” Max growls, his hands threading into his hair, tugging out his bun, and then reworking it. It’s his tell, his tick when he’s uncomfortable. “How long do we need to stay?”
“One round just to appease my father,” I explain. As a council heir, my presence is required. I have to show up, make the rounds, smile, nod, mingle, and even flirt with the older omegas and their packs, many of whom are donors to this very event.
Max shifts his gaze to me, and his bond mark peeks from beneath his collar. Surviving three years without him is nothing short of a miracle. “Let’s get this show over with,” he declares. “I’m not dancing,” he adds as a warning.
“I’ll dance, you…” I toss back my drink. “Try not to scare everyone away.”
“I’m nice on the inside.”
“You look like you want to cut everyone’s throats out,” I hiss at him.
“I do.”
“Try to curb the intrusive thoughts.” I lean in and sniff him. “You need to shower in bleach. I can barely catch your scent.”
He buries his nose in his armpit, uncaring of anyone watching us. “Damn, I showered once today already.”
“Three years of not showering,” I tease, clapping him on the back. “It’s going to take a while. Maybe all that sweat clogged your glands.”
“Leave my glands out of this,” he grumbles, embracing his bear-like persona.
We make our way into the ballroom, where the opulence of the gala unfolds before us. Music wraps around us from every corner, fighting against the tide of chatter. Chandeliers cast a soft, golden glow, and the sound of laughter and music fills the air. Omegas and alphas mingle, dressed in their finest attire.
One hour, I promise myself,and then we are out of here. Just one hour.
