CHAPTER 1
Emery
“Breathe, Emery,”Eloise intones with a little giggle as she looks at me in the mirror. “It’s going to be okay.” She’s standing behind me, her hands on my shoulders, and looking down at me with an amused smile on her face. “Seriously, Em.”
She’s right. I breathe in deep and hold for a five-count. Today shouldn’t be as anxiety-inducing as I’m letting it become, but it alsoisthat important.
Omega Selection Day. Ravencroft Hall. A hall filled with royals from all over the world, many of them eligible alphas and alpha packs.
Today is—hopefully—the day my fairytale gets its happy ending.
I let out the held breath slowly and smile brightly at my best friend in the mirror. “Thank you, Eloise. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Eloise snickers. “Likely worry your way into an early grave. But you’ve got this. You’ve been preparing for today foryears. The Designation Council will select you to an alpha pack, I just know it.”
I just know it.Famous words from Eloise that did often end up being true, to be fair. Today it’s harder to believe but I know that’s just pressure talking.
That and the fact that, for the first time ever, I can besuremy name will end up onRoyals Anonymousone way or another. Something I’ve always dreaded. But when you’re up for omega selection to a noble or royal pack, your name will end up in all tabloids, press, and gossip blogs.
I’ve trained for today. Maybe not for theRoyals Anonymouspart, but I’ve studied hard for four years at finishing school on how to be the perfect omega, and today I will be someone’s. And in two months all of my other hard work will pay off too. Luckily, my portfolio for my graduate art exhibition is nearly finished so I can focus on making the perfect nest after today and settling into my royal omega duties.
Iamready. I hope the alphas are, too.
My smile grows larger as I come to this conclusion. “You’re right, Eloise. I’m ready, it’s just last-minute nerves.”
She pats my shoulder gently and adds a final decorative butterfly hairpin into my blue and pink cotton candy colored hair. The Council at the finishing school wasn’t very excited about my abnormal hair color, but my advisor, Violet Brentwood, championed it.
Alphas will immediately notice you. They’ll enjoy the boldness even if their royal families may shy away. We could use some change if you ask me!
She said things like that often. I already miss Violet. But this is my story to make now, and I’m going to write an ending worthy of a fairytale.
There’s a knock on my bedroom door. The door opens and my parents enter dressed for the occasion with Mom in a light blue dress, a little make-up, and her hair done up into a cute bun with loose blonde ringlets hanging from either side of hertemples. Dad is wearing a simple suit, the same he’s worn to all suit-requiring occasions since I can remember.
Our family isn’t well-off. Mom and Dad had to save every penny for years to send me to finishing school the second I was given an omega designation at sixteen. Finishing school was all I ever asked for and they made sure it happened.
It’s not smiles they greet me with today, though, but wrinkles of concern around their eyes and across Dad’s forehead just beneath his slightly receding red-head hairline.
“Hi, honey.” Mom comes over to hug me. I stand and meet her halfway. “You look beautiful.”
Dad watches from afar. The crease in his forehead has not gone away.
“Emery picked out the outfit.” Eloise beams. I’m wearing a short pink dress, small pink heels, and a pearl necklace Eloise let me borrow. “What do you think?”
Mom’s smile falters just so. “I think they’ll fall at your feet, Emery.”
Dad makes a disapproving sound, although I’m not sure what in particular he’s upset about.
Eloise’s gaze meets mine and I shrug. It’s Mom’s clearing of her throat that solidifies it for me.
“What’s wrong, Dad?” I ask even though I have a sneaking suspicion I know the answer, and it makes my heart sink.
“Nothing, honey,” he says entirely too dismissively.
Mom holds my shoulders and looks at me like a proud mother would. But the tightness in her eyes betrays everything she’s trying to keep hidden. “Everything is fine, Emery. Your father and I are very proud of all the work you’ve put in at finishing school, and especially the passion you’ve put into your art. We just…” She glances at Dad and then back at me. “We just want more for you than to be someone’s omega.”
My face scrunches together as my confusion sets in. “Being an alpha’s omega doesn’t mean I cease to exist as I am. It’ll mean I have a home and family and children. I’ll be happy and loved, and as a royal omega, I’ll have a chance to do some real good in the world.”
Dad’s expression softens. “We know that, Emery. But you could be so much more.”
