“And you’re an alpha?” Exasperation laces Coach’s words as she looks Foster up and down. There’s no scent coming off him, probably out of courtesy to his clients. But his designation is clear. The man is too big to be anything but an alpha. “This is unacceptable. I thought security was intended to protect her from alphas.” Ana pounds numbers on her phone, calling who-knows-who to complain.
I’m not sure what she’s so upset about. Foster seems more than capable of protecting me. In addition to having muscles for days, he’s got that alertness I’d expect from a bodyguard. His eyes never stay on one place for long, gaze scanning the room as if some predator could strike at any moment.
“Sorry about her,” Harriett says, holding open the door. The room where the press conference was held opensinto a wide, curved hallway that circles the arena. I’m curious to see the ice skating rink, but I don’t bring it up. It’s late, and after the long flight, I’m sure everyone is ready for bed.
“It’s just…” Harriett looks Foster over, and a strange spike of jealousy strikes my chest. Doesn’t she have her own alpha at home? “We were expecting a whole team and assumed they’d want betas, you know?”
“No. I don’t know.” Foster crosses his arms and glares at her.
Harriett raises a brow. “Alphas are usually less in-control around an omega, you know how it is. We just want to be sure?—”
“I assure you, I’m not going to lose my head over some pampered little omega.”
“Hey!” I glare at him with my hands on my hips.
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “Sorry. I don’t like being stereotyped because I’m an alpha.”
“I don’t like being calledpamperedjust because I’m an omega.” He holds my gaze for a beat before dipping his head.
“Fair,” he says.
“I’ll let it slide this time. But talk about me like that again, and I’m going to slap you.” My statement kind of surprises me. Normally, I’d be the one to boil internally when someone offends me, not threaten them. The only people I usually talk to like that are my siblings and my best friend Sadie. I don’t like conflict, but something about Foster makes me feel at ease. Safe enough to show a little of myself. I mean, he’s here to protect me, after all.
One corner of his lips twitches ever so slightly. “Understood.”
“So, why is it just you?” I ask as we head down the hall. “We were expecting a whole security detail.”
Harriett lingers behind, waiting for Coach Ana to catch up now that she’s off the phone.
“They wanted to keep the security contained and limit the number of people allowed in the village. Each omega’s been assigned one security guard who will be with them at all times.”
“Wait,all times?” Ana asks, reaching us.
“Yes.”
We all wait for him to say more, but he doesn’t. I’m beginning to suspect this guy is not an alpha of many words.
“So… um… does that mean you’ll be staying in my apartment with me?” I ask, trying my best to keep a squeak out of my voice.
“Yes.”
“Uh… okay.” I move forward again with Foster right behind me.
“Wait just a minute!” Ana yells after us. “You can’t stay with her! It would be scandalous.”
Foster levels her with an unamused glare. “I’m her security guard.”
“And analpha!”
Foster stops walking. “I assure you, my reputation is on the line as much as hers.”
Harriett and Ana huff and whisper to each other. A muscle twitches in Foster’s jaw, but when I keep walking, he ignores the rest of my team to keep pace with me.
“Don’t worry about them,” I whisper. “I trust you.”
“Why?” His eyes narrow.
“Should I not?”
