“Stella House is about sisterhood.” Delilah takes my right hand then squeezes gently. “It’s about becoming a family. Sisters. Trust.”
“Before people really understood designations and there were laws to protect omegas, some omegas naturally came together in groups, vowing to protect and look out for one another,” Kady tells me.
“I’ve heard about that.” I nod slowly, recalling some stories from my gram’s history lessons. They’re not deeply binding, like an alpha bite that ties you together forever, but they’re more of an invisible marking. A sign of deep friendship.
“Whether we find a pack or not, this means we will always have each other, whatever happens.” Delilah’s lips curve up into a warm smile. “Scent sisters.”
Kady dips her thumb into the sacred balm then rubs it on the spot between Sabs’s eyes and says, “We are Stella.”
She passes the box onto Sabs who does the same, painting her own finger in the balm before swiping it across Delilah’s third eye. “We are Stella.”
She hands the box to Delilah who pauses. “Faye.” I meet her gaze. “It’s up to you if you want to complete the circle.”
I bow my head to let her know I want to do this. The heady smell mixes with my scent as Delilah gently dabs the mixture on my face then hands me the box.
I swirl my thumb into it. All of our unique scents seem to intermingle, the buzzing energy feeling deeply intimate and special. I turn to Kady to complete the circle, gently touching her head. An indescribable hum swims beneath my skin like an invisible force is attempting to bind us together.
“We are Stella,” I say.
Kady smiles, taking the box from my hands. A warmth blooms in my chest, erasing all my worries and filling me with the sense that I’m exactly where I need to be.
“The circle is complete.” She shuts the lid. “Welcome to Stella, Faye. Your initiation is complete. You’re one of us now.”
“That’s some powerful balm, huh?” Sabs nuzzles into my shoulder. “It’s probably just some old lady’s crusty Vaseline, but still!”
Delilah snorts but quickly turns somber as Kady glares at her in disapproval.
“I’m not saying it isn’t magical!” Sabs attempts to redeem herself. “I’m so glad you joined us, Faye.”
“So am I,” I agree.
Delilah lies back and looks up at the ceiling. “You know, I always feel like I’m floating on a pink, magical cloud whenever I’m in here.”
We all join her, sprawling out across the den. I’ve never really been a touchy-feely omega, which is unusual for my designation, but being around these girls—vibing off their energy and their scents—makes me realize what I’ve been missing. Their physical presence is deeply comforting. In my bones, I know I could say anything, and it’ll never leave this room.
None of us speak for a few minutes. We lay here, the smell of the balm still lingering in the air.
“Dad had me spend the summer going on pack dates again,” Kady sighs.
“No way,” Sabs groans. “What were they like?”
“Unbearable,” Kady grumbles. “None of them even listened to what I had to say. They were all too busy trying to impress my father. Knot-heads. Dad’s obsessed with me bonding to a pack that will help the family business like a good little omega.” Kady rolls over onto her stomach. “He doesn't care about me or what I want.”
“My family is the opposite,” Sabs chimes in. “My brothers want to kill any alpha who comes within a mile of me.”
“My mom and dads keep telling me that my scent match will come along because that’s what happened to them,” Delilah confesses. “But maybe they were just lucky? Scent matches are so rare. Is your mom an omega too, Faye?”
I come back to myself, remembering I’m actually in the room and not listening to characters in a movie.
“Yes, she was. And my dad was a beta. Both of them died when I was young, so I grew up with my gram. She’s a beta herself, but she helped my mom when she was younger, so she’s been there for me.”
The Stella girls have opened their hearts to me and welcomed me like a sister. I want them to get to know the real me.
They don’t say anything immediately. They don’t need to. It’s as if they can sense my pain, all sliding a little closer.
Delilah takes a strand of my hair and twirls it around her finger while Sabs snuggles into my chest. Their touch takes me by surprise, but I appreciate the kind gestures. Physical touch is one of an omega’s innate needs, but it’s been so rare until this point.
“I’m sorry about your parents, Faye,” Kady says. “I’m sure they’d be proud of you now.”
