His lips twitch in return. “Little omega.”
Hearing him rumble that to her in such a soft, teasing tone makes that heat that had already been burning at the base of my spine, flash into an inferno. Florence’s cheeks flush the most intriguing shade of pink and I have the sudden urge to kiss it, to feel the heat of that flush against my lips.
Duty, I remind myself.Do your duty, Forsythe.
Florence Karlin may be the sweetest omega in the bunch, but she’s not the kind of omega my grandmother had in mind when she said I need to pick someone who lifts the crown. No, in my grandmother’s eye there can be only one choice.
I still don’t fully understand why we’re going through all this rigmarole when the outcome has already been decided, but it is not for me to question.
“I think it's far too early for you to be calling me omega. Don’t you, professor?”
The corner of Thayer’s mouth tips up. “Perhaps. What would you prefer I call you then?”
“As with his highness and Lord Courtland-”
“Pretty boy,” Court corrects her. Florence ignores him.
“You can call me Ren. Or Lady Florence.”
“Flo?”
Her brow wrinkles. “I’d really prefer not.”
Thayer just hums, taking her delicate hand in his and brushing his lips over her knuckles. A jolt of jealousy hits me. Why didn’t I think to do that? Why did I not bend and feel that soft skin with my lips?
She moves down the line to Grieves when Thayer releases her hand, looking up at him with a sort of considering air that most of the other omegas didn’t bother with. He stares back at her with that same glower he’s regarded all of the omegas tonight. As though he’s assessing a threat, rather than looking for a future mate.
They don’t exchange any words, which is normal for him. The only one he made any effort with is Isadora and that was likely more out of habit than anything else. It’ll play well with the narrative the crew is building for us though.
Florence’s mouth quirks into a little smile eventually. Then she laughs softly and shakes her head like she’s just had an amusing thought. I want to know what it was. What made that tiny giggle pull from her. See if I can replicate it. I want to make her laugh too.
“My lord,” she eventually murmurs, tipping her head at him, and then she turns, displaying the long line of her spine to us, that gorgeous curve that my fingers ache to trace. Her steps are measured as she follows the path laid out for her, retreating into the ballroom with the other omegas.
All four of us are still staring at the door she disappeared through when the faceless voice calls out the next omega’s name.
Episode 4: All Hail the Pack
The rest of the omegas swarm the four alphas, each vying for attention, clambering to make a good first impression, to entice them into a relationship.
I… don’t.
The thought of going up to them, being close to them, makes sweat slick my palms. It was hard enough to make it through the arrival ceremony without fainting.
Withoutpanicking.
My hands were sweaty then too, which is why I not so subtly wiped them on my skirt after Courtland touched me. He was just too good looking and my brain short-circuited to the point where I didn’t realize how that would look to him, to the cameras, to the world. Like I couldn’t stand his touch—when really it was the opposite.
I liked it too much in that moment. But now I can’t even bring myself to approach them, to linger on the outskirts of the nineteen other omegas flocked around them. Anxiety and fear forcing me to keep my distance.
Relax, Ren,I tell myself.They aren’t going to alpha command you on national television.
Or at least, I sincerely hope that they won’t.
Alphas using their bark on omegas is frowned upon in the US, but not illegal. I’m banking on that being the case for Bravonne as well. I should have done some research into laws surrounding omegas before I came here. But I didn't, so now I’m suffering from paralyzing anxiety.
I do know that the pack of the crown princess, Forsythe’s older sister by mere minutes, has an omega, and it's clear that the female alpha adores her. So, surely their laws reflect that. Surely this pack respects omegas enough to not denigrate them.
Still I can’t bring myself to approach the pack. I’m just not ready. Even if I’d felt totally safe when I ran into Thayer earlier on the dock. I think that has more to do with his calm, steady presence than anything else. He reminded me of Haven’s alpha, Tic, and that put me at ease.
