Dorian’s hand twitched on me. I looked up at him. It took him a few seconds but he jerkily nodded, still not looking at me. Sliding my hand out of his grip, I stood with my shoulders straight.
I wouldn’t cower.
“Girls.” Elias snapped his fingers.
Women flooded into the room, as if they’d spawned out of thin air. It was almost choreographed how they entered. Sweet, tangy, flowery scents played along my senses as the Betas strutted in, lots of Beta women. They must have doused themselves in those faux Omega scents that were all the rage on the market because Betas didn’t have a scent.
As cloying as it was, it was easy to ignore with all the Alpha pheromones in the room. None would smell like my ScentMatches—ever—so I couldn’t be too picky. I just had to find a Pack with pheromones I could handle. That I could grow to like.
I watched the women titter past in barely there outfits. Two went to Cade, framing him and hands grazed over his arm. His eyes rose to mine. I yanked my gaze away. My stomach turned as if I’d been punched. I couldn’t breathe.
Another woman slithered onto Dorian’s lap. He stiffened, straightening. The last two pushed against Rafe’s side, grabbing at his arms. Alpha-Chasers. They had it written all over them. Women who only cared about fucking Alphas. No matter what.
“Omega.” Elias’ voice slapped me out of my stare down with Rafe.
I curled my lip and turned on my heel, my steps echoing even over the low thrum of music. I stopped in front of Elias and stuck my hand out.
He looked at it, raised his eyes, and burst into laughter. He took my hand and shook once, his grip hard. I breathed his scent in, tasting it. Even though his pheromones coated my tongue, leaving a too sweet taste, his knot was a knot—damn, now I sounded like an Alpha-Chaser. I turned to the sharp-eyed man and did the same. But as soon as my hand slid into his, he jerked me onto his lap. I gasped in shock.
He inhaled loudly, his nose settling in the crook of my neck where my Scent Gland was. A shiver coasted down my spine.I think this pack may be a good option . . .
“Enough!”
The bitten-out word ripped my eyes open. Dorian stood towering, and the woman who had been on his lap was on the floor. Cade leaned forward, his jawline bunched and accusatory eyes on mine. All three looked pissed.
And I liked it.
I met Rafe’s eyes. If I thought he looked angry before, it had nothing on the storm cloud on his face. He swatted the groping woman.
“Let’s not quarrel,” Elias murmured. “After all, Omega pussy is Omega pussy. It makes us all a bit crazed. Let her go.”
At his order, the Alpha groping my hip sighed and released me. I landed between them. The Ironwyld Alphas didn’t relax.
“I looked into you lot. I read you were all housed in the same orphanage.”
I stiffened, eyeing them.
“Similar to your pack,” Dorian drawled. Elias stiffened almost imperceptibly. If I weren’t right next to him, I wouldn’t have realized it.
“So you looked into me as well.” His smiled widened. “Wouldn’t have expected any less.” His eyes went to the disgruntled woman brushing at her miniskirt. “Take this lovely Omega to the changing rooms.”
“Yes, Alpha,” the Beta flounced over, waiting. I met Dorian’s eyes.
“Go,” Dorian growled. “Now.” I jumped to my feet, almost tripping after the girl waiting by the curtain the Betas had entered through. On the other side of the shifting curtains, I hesitated, stopping to listen in.
“You’re looking for a woman named Susanna.” Elias’ voice reached my ears. I rubbed my arms, nerves making me want to bolt. Cade’s laugh was sharp and abrupt.
“Yes, she’s our Omega.” Dorian destroyed me with one sentence. I buckled in half, holding my stomach. It felt like knives sliced into my stomach.TheirOmega.
“He—” I burst forward and clamped my hand over the Beta’s mouth. It went silent inside the room. Fuck, they’d heard us. I balanced on the toes of the shoes, not allowing my heels to click, and I shuffled away.
Each step away was a slam against my heart. And my body, the damned betrayer, pulsed for them. Even now.
“Oi! Stop runnin’, I need to show ya where you’re goin’,” the Beta crowed as she scurried faster toward me.
I zoomed past another layer of curtains and came to a stop at the hallway branching into different directions. She caught up to me; the perfume she’d doused herself with singed my nose.
She hooked her arm with mine to tote me after her. I didn’t want her touching me. “. . . so hot. I hope he chooses me to . . .”
