But then Jasper's nose wrinkles, his head tilting slightly like he's trying to place something.Oh god, can he smell me? Does he recognize my scent even through the bar smells and the crowd?
One of his buddies—another Alpha I don't recognize—elbows him with a grin.
"Yo, is the Omega catching your sweet buds?"
Jasper huffs, taking a long drink from his pint before answering.
"Fuck no. But she smells better than our ex-Omega, I'll give her that."
Ex-Omega. He's talking about me. Right in front of me. And he has no idea.
Another Alpha at the table laughs—harsh and loud, the kind of laugh that's designed to make someone feel small.
"That girl? Man, she was so cringe. Too fat, all hyper and happy like every day is supposed to be joyous. What kind of Omega acts like that? It's unnatural."
"Right?" Jasper leans back in his chair, warming to the subject like they're discussing the weather instead of tearing apart someone's entire personality. His voice gets louder, more animated. "Apparently, she's doing TikToks now or something. Dancing around, talking about books, and showing off. Anything to sell that body of hers, get those desperate followers. As if anyone would actually want such a fat woman. Probably the only attention she can get."
A third Alpha chimes in, "Bet she's not even making money from it. Just embarrassing herself online for views."
They all laugh—harsh, mocking sounds that cut through the general noise and music of the bar like knives.
The kind of laughter that's meant to dehumanize.
To make someone feel worthless.
To remind Omegas that they're less than.
I finish placing the last pint on the table with hands that want to shake but don't. My customer service smile stays frozen on my face even though it feels like a mask made of glass—fragile and about to shatter.
They're talking about me. About my body that I've worked so hard to love after they spent months convincing me it was wrong. About my content that brings joy to thousands of people. About my personality that they systematically tried to crush because happiness threatened their need for control.
And somehow, even though I know their opinions are trash, even though I've done the therapy and the healing and the affirmations, even though I've built an entire life proving them wrong—the words still hurt. They still have the power to make me feel small. To make me question if maybe they were right. Maybe I am too much. Too fat. Too happy. Too everything.
No. Stop. They don't get to do this. They don't get to take up space in my head anymore.
I left…survived…am thriving.
They're just bitter that I'm happy without them.
I turn to walk back to the bar, my professional smile plastered on my face even though it feels like it's cracking at the edges.
"Hey!" one of them calls after me. "Hurry up and get us some more pints! We'll be chugging these down fast, so keep 'em coming, sexy slave!"
More laughter. The kind that makes my skin crawl.
Sexy slave. Like I'm not even a person. Just an object for their entertainment.
I keep walking, ignoring them, but I know my smile is going to be fake for the rest of the night. The revelation that Jasper is here, that Kael's pack is in my safe space, has shattered the easy joy I usually feel when working at the bar.
How long until they figure out it's me? How long until this disguise fails and they recognize the Omega they threw away?
I make it back to the bar, my hands gripping the edge of the wooden counter harder than necessary. Walter is busy pulling drafts for another order, so I take a second to just breathe.
Don't let them get to you. They're not worth it. They're just sad, bitter Alphas who probably peaked in high school and never got over it. Their opinions don't matter.
You've built something amazing.
You're happy now.
