It is the perfect Christmas gift like finally having a part of my soul seen and then accepted.
It fits with Piper’s punky outfit; it has slashes across the stomach and chains hanging down the sides.
Growing up, I would never have believed that an Omega could wear something like this.
Icarus firmly brushed my hair, pulling it down around my shoulders. “I’ve wanted to see it like this every day for years. Staffruleson hair have no place in my pack any longer.”
The dance floor is polished and gleams.
Guests wearing glittering ballroom dresses and designer black tie dance to the music, which is being played by the orchestra to the side of the stage not filled with a microphone and electric guitar ready for Zero’s performance.
The room’s marble columns have been decorated with branches to transform the entire space into a winter forest. A giant decorated fir tree towers over the stage.
The ballroom has been meticulously decorated by the staff in a nostalgic but glamorous style with garlands of holly and feathers around the arches.
My stomach clenches at the memory of how excited I would be when Dad brought me and my brothers to peer at the beautifully decorated ballroom, before the party each year.
I bet that neither Dad, Papa, nor Ellington will be allowed to attend tonight.
Perhaps, I’ll get lucky and I’ll even avoid Maya’s notice.
But that would be a Christmas miracle.
I avoid thinking about the matching ball when I was selected by the Alcotts.
I can’t deal with it right now.
The room’s high ceiling is vaulted, glowing with candle-like crystal chandeliers. Beta staff glide between the packs of laughing and chatting guests with silver platters of champagne flutes and canapes.
I nod to Lashonda, when she catches my eye.
She shoots me a secret smile, before ducking her head and weaving away amongst the guests.
“Okay, mio tesoro?” Lionzio asks.
He is standing at my shoulder, wearing a black tie suit with a silver waistcoat and chains looped between the buttons that make him look like a steampunk Bond.
I reach up to adjust his bow tie. “I couldn’t be better because I’m walking in on my Alpha’s arm.”
Lionzio looks surprised, before he glows.
He offers me his arm. “I never imagined that I would be able to publicly claim two Omegas like this.”
Then he offers his other arm to Piper.
Piper arches his pierced brow at me. “Ready to blow these Traditionals’ minds?”
I tilt up my chin. “Let’s do this.”
I focus on Icarus’ broad back. He looks amazing in black tie like I always knew he would. I have fantasized about him being dressed like this and accompanying me to a ball ever since I was a teenager.
Back then, I thought that it would just be as my friend.
Self-delusion is not my forte.
Neither is self-awareness.
Icarus has placed himself one step in front of the rest of us protectively. He is dressed in the same adapted suit as Lionzio is wearing.
