Chapter One
OLIVIA
“Flight attendants, prepare for landing.”
Righting my seat, I stretch my arms overhead, eyeing the happy omega across the aisle and fighting a twinge of envy. The male omega sits in the middle of two packmates, while the other two packmates sit directly in front of them—taking up five seats total—and the pack has been hard to ignore. If it was a short flight, it wouldn’t be so bad, but I’ve been listening to them take care of the omega for well over twelve hours.
The love and adoration are enough to make me consider stopping my scent control so I can catch their scents. The tiny round pill I take every morning like clockwork not only blocks my pheromone and sweat-gland production, but it also blocks my olfactory receptors. Basically, someone could pass gas right next to me, and I wouldn't know the difference. The scent control, in combination with heat control, is what’s helped me focus on my career, though.
Scents can mess with an omega’s head, but it’s the quarterly heats that really would have complicated things. An omegas scent manifests early, and it gradually strengthens withage until their heat manifests at eighteen. Biology says omegas are ready to bear children by that age. My brain very much said not yet. There’s so much to learn. More to do before becoming a parent. Besides, with the mom I have. . . I’m not sure I’d make a good one. I’m not sure I know how to love correctly. If you asked my mother, she’d say I don’t even know how to behave.
Hence working abroad.
I’ve spent the last year trying to learn who Liv Wellington is while assisting with research to develop medicine to help feral omegas whose packmates died or have experienced severe trauma. It’s an ongoing effort. Both discovering who I want to be and working toward a cure. Though, the research may actually be easier. Especially considering I’m awkward and introverted.
I want what the happy pack across the aisle has. I just have no idea how to get it.
The descent into Chicago is quick, and before I know it, the plane’s wheels are touching down. The brakes scream as they slow the aircraft, an echo of my internal cry when I realize that, within the hour, I’ll be home. I’m both looking forward to seeing my parents and dreading it, because they don’t understand why I’m still unmated and packless. In my mother’s eyes, that’s a cardinal sin. So I’m certainly not going to tell them it’s because I haven’t been looking.
Maybe it won’t be so bad. It’s been a year, after all. Maybe they’ll be happy to see me.
I repeat the positive thoughts as everyone disembarks, watching the pack out of the corner of my eye, fascinated with how easily they work together. Moving in a coordinated dance. A familiarity that only comes with years of knowing one another.
My phone buzzes with a text notification as soon as I turn it on. Henry texted me. I smile as I make my way down thelong corridor and into the main part of the airport. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him, and he’s one person I really missed.
HENRY
Welcome home, Liv! I missed you so much. I can’t believe it’s been a whole year since I’ve seen my favorite sister. Dinner soon, okay? Don’t let Mom get to you.
Favorite sister? I shake my head, smiling. I’m hisonlysister. And I’m sure he’s missed me, but Henry is all loved up with his pack and their omega, which is the only reason he never came to visit me in London. I’m happy for him, I am. But I also can’t deny the twinge of loneliness pinching my insides when I think about it.
At baggage claim, I find that pack from the flight again, almost like the universe is taunting me. The omega glances over his shoulder, catching me observing them. He tips his head and grins. My cheeks burn, and I glance away.Way to be a creep, Liv.
I grab my bag as soon as it’s launched out of the baggage chute and hightail it out of the airport, sucking in the crisp morning air of an early Illinois autumn and berating myself for being weird. Being caught by the omega is going to haunt my dreams for a minimum of two years, at least.
Maybe this is punishment for waiting so long to settle down.
“Liv?”
The familiar voice draws me out of my inner spiral, and my gaze zips to Nigel. He’s been my parents’ driver for well over thirty years, but he’s always been so much more to me. Nigel has aged since I last saw him, the gray in his hair a little whiter and the wrinkles around his gray eyes more pronounced as he beams at me. His smile is warm enough tocut through my worries. I launch myself at him, wrapping my arms around his sturdy frame.
“I thought that was you!” he says with a laugh, patting my back and squeezing me tightly. “Welcome home, Livvy.”
Tears prick my eyes, and I blink rapidly, pulling back to look at him again. It’s been so long since I’ve seen my family, and although Nigel is seventy, he’s like a second dad. Honestly, sometimes he feels more like a father than my own. “Hi, Nigel.”
His features soften, hands squeezing my shoulders and eyes watering a little. “I didn’t expect that,” he murmurs.
Nigel is a beta whose pack lives in the staff house on my parents’ property. His omega, Emeline, is the chef, and Theodore, the alpha, leads the landscaping team. Trevor, their other pack member, who died while I was in London, worked side by side with Theodore. I’ve always considered Nigel’s entire pack to be family.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t make it back for the funeral.” I choke on the last word, vision blurring. I’ve come to terms with the grief of Trevor’s passing, but seeing Nigel reopens that wound.
“It’s okay, sweetie. I understand.” He hugs me again. “He loved you, you know.”
Sniffing, I nod and blink away the tears. The last thing I want to do is make Nigel sad by bringing up memories. “I missed you so much.”
He pulls back and studies me. “Missed me, huh? Even the bad dad jokes?”
Giggling, I nod and swipe at an errant tear. “Yeah, even theterribledad jokes.”
