He’s not so tired that he doesn’t notice my interest in said popcorn, for he motions for me to go back to the couch. “I’ll make you some.”
“It’s okay,” I say. “I can do it. Just show me where it is and you can go back to bed.”
“No, I’m going to make it for you.” Even though he’s tired and was clearly asleep, it’s more than evident he won’t take no for an answer, so I do the only thing I can do: I go back to the couch and sit down.
I am not used to being waited on hand and foot. It’s no wonder some omegas are totally fine with being in a pack if this is how they’re treated all the time. It’s not, though; not every omega is so lucky. Frankly, I don’t know what I did to be this fortunate, but I am glad I didn’t let the doubts and negative thoughts stop me from agreeing to give Redd, Monroe, and Lev a second chance.
Although, I mentally correct myself, I really only gave Redd a second chance. The others I never met before that day in the courtyard.
He grabs a bag of un-popped popcorn from one of the upper cabinets and opens up the outer plastic wrapping. About two and a half minutes later, he’s pouring the freshly-popped popcorn into a large bowl and bringing it over to me. Instead of handing it to me, he sits down beside me and holds the bowl between us, his eyes on the TV. After all that, he doesn’t look quite as tired as he did when he first found me in the kitchen.
“What are we watching?” he asks, tossing some of the popcorn into his mouth.
I grab a handful. Popcorn is one of the cheaper snacks; it’s one thing we were able to get at the academy. This stuff, however, comes buttered and delicious. I shove a few pieces into my mouth and try to explain the show to him: “There’s an omega who is searching for her forever mate. Producers go through the list of alpha applicants and pick a bunch of them. Week after week, she has to narrow it down.”
“How long does it take?”
“Um, I’m not sure. I’ve never watched one of these things before. I think it said there were thirteen episodes in season one, but that might include the live reunion.”
“Come on. It has to be scripted. Wouldn’t the omega know right away which alpha she likes best?” His voice is skeptical, but also interested, and it makes me smile to myself.
“I thought that too before I started it. They agree to take weekly shots that dull their sense of smell, so they go through this whole thing not being able to smell each other. It makes it fairer… but I imagine, once that sense of smell comes back, it could also lead to some drama.”
Monroe scoffs, “Which is probably what they want.”
I shrug and grab another handful of popcorn. “Yeah, true, but really, what do you expect, signing up for a show like this? It’s still fun to watch. I never got to see any of this stuff when I was at N.O.A., and back when it was Solus Academy, we only got the local news stations. Whatever they could grab off the antenna for free. Streaming services were a luxury we didn’t have.”
“Wow,” he whispers. “That’s… depressing. It wasn’t all that different for us, but it sounds like our TV privileges weren’t as policed.”
“Of course not. You’re alphas. Even as pack-less, family-less alphas, you’re still treated better. That’s just how it is.” I try not to sound too bitter, but I don’t think I manage, and when I realize how I come across, I toss him a glance and add, “It is what it is.”
He stares deeply into my eyes for a few moments before he quietly says, “It’s not right.”
I don’t argue with him on that, because he’s right. It’s not right.
The omega on the screen is narrowing down her suitors. Monroe and I settle down, share the popcorn, and watch. This episode, three alphas are going home, and let’s just say numberthree doesn’t take it well. He storms off the screen, off the staged area, and starts ranting and raving about how, if she had her sense of smell, he would’ve been the last alpha, that all omegas swoon over him. Basically, that attraction to him is a fact of nature.
A conceited alpha through and through.
“She dodged a bullet with that one,” Monroe mutters.
“She sure did.” Maybe I shouldn’t, but I feel strangely comfortable sitting with him, like I could tell the über alpha anything and he won’t judge me, so I say, “I used to think all alphas were like that.”
All he does is give me a concerned look.
“I know now they’re not. I just… I never thought I’d wind up in a pack like this. A pack where—” Gosh, how do I say this without sounding totally cheesy? “—I feel so at ease. Ever since I came out as an omega, I assumed I’d be miserable.” In case it’s not already clear, I am compelled to add, “I’m not, though.”
The smile Monroe gives me is one that makes my insides tingle all over. “Good.” His voice comes out quiet, strangely gentle, and it makes me believe he really is happy I’m here and I don’t regret my choice in giving them a second chance.
Tonight is the night of crazy admissions, huh?
“I was,” he pauses, seemingly to think of what to say next, “scared we lost you after Redd walked away from you at the mixer. I didn’t know you at the time, never even saw you, but I knew you were meant for us, and the feeling I had that night… it was terrifying. I’ve never felt so helpless in my entire life.”
I listen to the alpha say all this in hushed whispers, and as I listen, I can feel myself melting. I had no idea alphas could be so sweet, so earnest, especially an über. I thought they were all jagged, rough edges that took you a while to get used to.
Not Monroe.
Quietly, he adds, “I never want to feel that way again.” The way he stares at me, like nothing else exists in the world, like I’ve just become the most important thing in his life, makes me lean closer to him. “I can’t imagine how you felt that night.”
