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“You think they’re going to match the Barclay?” That was the first female voice. “Get two omegas.”
“If they have a dark bond, they can’t have two.”
“Some get a second by title, though, not unheard of…” The voices trailed off and there was a long silence.
“Two omegas?” Oliver repeated into the silence. “You know, I don’t think it’s impossible that’s what they’re going for.”
“Let’s go back in. I need another drink.” Jasmine sounded bitter. “You watch. By the time I’m done, no one will even remember that gold pack shit.”
We waited for the sounds of their footsteps to vanish entirely before Roxy spoke. “I bet she was planning on being queen omega tonight, securing a spot with the Lincoln pack and being the centre of it all.”
I was silent.
I knew they’d taken pieces of that video and put it together all wrong. I knew that the Lincoln pack were getting attention tonight, that omegas had been approaching them for a chance to join their pack before my very eyes.
Yet, hearing it like that, how easy it was for Jasmine to write me off, to claim I’dwantedthe Lincoln pack to bite me like that?—
My thoughts cut off as Roxy’s hand squeezed mine.
“She’s delusional,” she said. “And for the record, you manage your alphas better than I ever thought was possible.”
I smiled, trying to shove away the ache in my chest. “It’s okay,” I told her. “We knew this was going to happen.”
“You still shouldn’t have to hear it.”
We’d waited long enough for them to be long gone, and headed back. Ransom was waiting by the doors back into the ballroom, his hand slipping around my waist as he drew me from Roxy’s supportive grip.
I leaned my head against him, happy to inhale his cool, earthy scent.
I took my seat between Roxy and Dusk again, tuning into the conversation between an alpha named Percy, who I recognised as the lead of a pack that had a booth in our Arkology classes. He was talking to Dusk with enthusiasm.
“...foundation has real personal meaning to me. Thank you again, and...” His eyes slid to me, snagging on my neck before he forced them back up. He gave me an odd smile, then frowned as if he wasn’t sure he should have. “And uh...” He returned his attention to Dusk. “Congratulations to your pack for the new bond. All of you.” He made sure to nod at Ransom, too, then awkwardly gave me and Roxy a half nod. I could see the effort it took for him not to look back at my neck as he did.
“Thank you,” Dusk replied.
“No one knows how to react,” Roxy said with a giggle once he was gone.
I only planned on one drink tonight, and I sipped it slowly, listening to Roxy’s social commentary and forcing myself to relax.
I wasn’t used to being on display like this, but the rich, deep amber of midnight opium grounded me, and Dusk’s fingerstangled in mine, tracing my palm soothingly as the music played on.
I’d tried so hard to ignore the Lincoln pack, but it was difficult. Their lack of attention didn’t last long. There seemed to be a new omega speaking to them every time I dared glance. Every time I did, I saw, even from this distance, one of them looking at me. As if my attention drew theirs.
Once I swear Gareth cut off mid-sentence as his eyes met mine, and the omega perched on the arm of his seat was forced to nudge his shoulder to drag his attention back to her.
My memories were still vile, recent enough that their thorns hadn’t dulled. Not entirely.
But I didn’t regret tonight. They had hurt me, but they hadn’t broken me.
And now, they couldn’t ever hurt me again.
They didn’t have that power anymore.
I glanced down, finding a smile as I watched Dusk’s finger trace my palm.
“Ransom’s a total diva if you give him attention,” Dusk chuckled. I glanced up. Ransom had gone to fetch us another bottle of red. “Literallystrutting. Look at him.”
I smiled, watching Ransom as he picked up a bottle from the long set of serving tables. He was getting stares as much as I was, and Dusk was right, I could practically see him puffing up at the attention. I pouted a little when I realised how much of that attention was from omegas.
