When Ellington was in the penthouse, Jelani wasn’t allowed out of his room because Jelani wasonlya Hotel Omega who Maya had chosen as a breeder.
I didn’t understand that then.
Yet I fucking do now.
I’d wrapped upAlphas Todaymagazines to turn into swords. Bird, my Merry Man, had my much younger brother backed against the wall with his sword.
I was trying to look menacing, but it was ruined by Hatton’s giggling.
Hatton was overdressed, as he always was, in a fussy designer suit and waistcoat, despite not even coming up to myshoulder. His tumble of brunette hair fell over hazel eyes and soft olive skin.
I put my hand on my hip. “I will not rest until every Omega within this hotel is free. Now, show me where you are storing the taxes, Sheriff. I am Robin Hood and I will return the gold to every Omega you stole it from.”
“You tell him,” Dad praised.
Dad has always encouraged my independent streak but only in private. In public, he has taught me to follow rules that would keep me safe.
It was like we were playing a game, dressing up.
I nodded at Dad.
Dad had the same platinum hair as I did, turning now to gray, as well as sparkling aquamarine eyes. He was small for an Omega, which was why I was. He was dressed simply but still more warmly than the threadbare t-shirts and joggers, which were all I ever saw Jelani in.
Hatton tossed his head in a way that he was well practiced from in his role as the pampered, favored son. “Stole them? You are the outlaw.”
Jelani chuckled.
Bird grinned, glancing out of the corner of his eye at Papa to make sure that he was paying attention.
He was as happy as I was to hear Jelani laugh, before dramatically sticking his play sword to Hatton’s throat. “Robin is not the outlaw. She’s a hero.”
“What the hell is going on here?” Maya’s shrill, educated voice called from the doorway. “Why are you attacking your brother, Bird? Why the fuck is Jelani out of his room and in the presence of my precious Hatton?”
The stink of burned coffee, furious Alpha, made me gag.
Bird and I cowered in horror.
Dad scrambled off the couch, putting himself in front of Bird and me. He attempted to shield Jelani as well like he always did.
But I knew that it wouldn’t matter.
Mom could use Alpha Commands to control all of us.
How could Omegas fight back against the Head Alpha?
I balled my hands into fists.
I was the Omega Robin Hood. One day, I would free all the Omegas. Then I would steal the money that Maya loved more than any of us.
Now, I shiver in the cold, wishing that the staff uniforms were warmer.
“Hatton isn’t an Alpha; he’s not a liar. You can’t trust an Alpha’s love.” I clench my jaw. “Omegas must be the ones who take the lead and court the people who they let into their lives. I’m going to teach that to my daughter.”
Bird’s face scrunches in concern. “I’m sorry, sis. I didn’t mean to trigger you. I know that those assholes Alcotts matched with you at the Christmas Ball three years ago. Did you…? I mean, I know that you weren’t their scent matches, but did you like them?”
I wander away from Bird to lean against the wall.
“Maya put me into the ball because I was twenty-one,” I say, quietly. “I didn’t want to leave Hatton, Dad, Papa, or you, but I was excited too at the idea of finding love. I was fucking naïve. Maya had already picked out the Alcotts because of their parents’ prestige in the service industry. The Alpha was a surgeon and his Beta a nurse. I thought that they would be good people. Although they were cold and clinical, I believed that I could create a home for us. You know how we were raised; we’d barely met any Alphas or Betas. I didn’t know what they were like. When I hesitated to accept their courting, Maya threatened Dad. Then she offered better conditions to the Hotel Omegas if I agreed. It didn’t feel like much of a choice.”
